1. The Next President

After a campaign that went on for months, the United States has elected a new president. President-Elect Barack Obama will take office on January 20, 2009 at an event called the inauguration (in-OG-your-A-shun). The event gets its name from the word "inaugurate," which means "to begin." In the United States, the first thing a new president does at his inauguration is give a speech to the nation. In this speech he tells people what he hopes to do and how he wants to change the way Americans think, act or do things. As a class, review and talk about stories in the newspaper about the new president. Then pretend you have been elected president and will be giving a speech to the nation at your inauguration. What would you tell the nation, and why? Learning Standards: Generating questions about issues that affect students or topics about which they are curious; engaging peers in constructive conversation about topics of interest or importance.

2. Fireballs in Space

When you look at the night sky, you sometimes can see bright balls of light shooting through the dark. These "shooting stars" are actually meteors, and when they are really bright they are called "fireballs." Shooting stars are caused when junk or rocks from space enter the air of the Earth's atmosphere and burn. They are no threat to people on Earth, but from now until November 12 sky watchers can expect to see some bright orange fireballs thanks to the yearly Taurid meteor shower. The Taurids are caused by junk left in space by Encke's Comet, and get their name because they seem to be coming from the star constellation called Taurus, the Bull. From earliest times, artists and writers have been inspired by stars, planets, meteors and other things they could see in the night sky. Think like an artist or writer and create a poem, story or artwork inspired by stars, shooting stars or other things in the night sky. Use words or images from the newspaper to create your work. Then write a newspaper headline to describe it.

Learning Standard: Reading and writing fluently, speaking confidently, listening and interacting appropriately, viewing critically and representing creatively.

3. Rare Reptile Nest

A reptile whose early relatives were on Earth with the dinosaurs has caused excitement in the nation of New Zealand by making a nest and laying eggs. The rare reptile, called a tuatara (TOO-uh-TAR-a), is known to nest on islands off New Zealand's coast in the Southern Pacific Ocean, but is not believed to have nested on New Zealand's mainland for 200 years. Tuataras are dragon-like reptiles that grow up to 32 inches long, with two rows of top teeth closing over one row of bottom teeth. As a class, talk about what scientists can learn by studying rare animals or reptiles. Then work in teams to find rare or endangered animals in the photos, ads and stories of the newspaper. Pick one and make a list of reasons explaining why the animal has become rare or endangered. Learning Standards: Explaining ecosystem concepts and processes; understanding the nature of scientific inquiry; describing positive and negative effects of humans on nature, wildlife and the environment.

4. Water Problems

Water is something every living thing needs. In the state of California, however, lack of rain has left people with less water than they need to grow food, run businesses and live. This month the state government said that dry conditions have forced it to cut the amount of water delivered from collecting areas known as reservoirs. The reduced deliveries may mean that families will have to limit their use of water and farmers may be forced to grow fewer crops. As a class, talk about all the things water is used for in your lives, in your community and in your state. Then talk about where your community gets its water. Finish by creating a public service ad for the newspaper urging people to use water carefully in their lives and businesses. How could students at your school use water more carefully? Learning Standard: Responding to visual, written and electronic texts by making connections to students' personal lives and the lives of others; describing and understanding the role of water in the hydrosphere; representing creatively.

5. A Breakthrough Find

Sometimes the smallest things can lead to big breakthroughs in what scientists know about the past. Consider the small chunk of pottery a teenager found this summer in the Middle East nation of Israel. The pottery discovered in the ruins of an ancient town contained five lines of markings that scientists believe are the oldest example of writing that led to the written Hebrew alphabet. The scientists say the markings on the 3,000-year-old pottery piece show that ancient residents of Israel could record events in writing. That may mean that religious stories told in the Bible may have been based on written accounts as well as on oral histories passed on from grandparents to parents to children. As a class, talk about what people can learn by studying the past. Then use what you have learned to draw a comic strip for the newspaper, showing how someone could learn about the past in your community by studying the oldest parts of your city or town.

Learning Standards: Locating and describing the diverse places, cultures and communities of world regions; comprehending the past; using the craft of the illustrator to convey ideas artistically.