1. Great Wall Is Even Greater

The Great Wall of China is one of the most amazing things ever built by humans. It was built more than 2,000 years ago by emperors of the powerful Asian nation to keep out invaders, and it stretches thousands of miles across the northern part of the country. Now scientists studying areas around the Great Wall with high-tech equipment have found that the Wall was even longer than believed. The scientists have found evidence that more than 180 miles of the Wall have been buried, destroyed or even covered by rivers over the years, making the total length of the Wall at least 3,900 miles. That is longer than the distance from the East Coast to the West Coast in the United States and makes the Wall one of the greatest monuments in the world. As a class talk about how communities build things to be monuments or symbols of the community. What manmade things are symbols or monuments in your community? Draw a comic strip for the newspaper showing one thing that could be a community monument or symbol.

Learning Standards: Engaging peers in constructive conversation about topics of interest or importance; describing the human characteristics of places and explaining some basic causes for those characteristics; locating and describing the major places and culture of communities; using the craft of the illustrator to express ideas artistically.

2. Cleopatra's Tomb

The queen Cleopatra was one of the most famous rulers of ancient Egypt. With the Roman general Marc Antony she tried to overthrow the emperor of the powerful Roman Empire, but was defeated. Rather than be captured, Cleopatra and Marc Antony killed themselves, but their burial tomb has never been found. Now Egypt's leading expert on ancient life thinks the tomb of Cleopatra and Marc Antony may be under a temple of the Goddess Isis in northern Egypt near the Mediterranean Sea. The discovery of 22 coins bearing Cleopatra's name and a mask that could be Marc Antony have convinced Zahi Hawass that their tomb may be buried beneath the temple. As a class, talk about how scientists and archaeologists make discoveries that teach about the past. Then think like a future scientist and pick three photos or stories from the newspaper that would teach about life in your community. Explain your choices to the class.

Learning Standards: Responding to a variety of oral, visual, written and electronic texts by making connections to students' personal lives and the lives of others; posing social science questions about cultures or communities; comprehending the past.

3. Hawaiian Crow

The Hawaiian crow is one of the rarest forest birds in the world. Also known as the alala, the endangered bird is only found on the Big Island of the U.S. state of Hawaii and it only lives in captivity. Just 56 alala live in two conservation centers, and one hasn't been seen in the wild since 2002. Now U.S. wildlife officials say they want to spend more than $14 million to preserve habitats where alala could live and to re-introduce them to the wild. As a class, talk about ways people and governments can help wild or endangered species. With a partner, find as many wild or endangered species as you can in the ads, photos or stories in the newspaper. Pick three and write a sentence for each, explaining what people could do to help the species live or survive.

Learning Standards: Explaining ecosystem concepts and processes; describing positive and negative effects of humans on nature and wildlife; acquiring information from multiple sources.

4. New Panda Center

Pandas are endangered in the wild, but the Asian country of China has had great success protecting and breeding the black and white bears in wildlife preserves. Last year, however, an earthquake badly damaged China's world famous Wolong panda preserve and breeding center. But now the Chinese government will build a new preserve to replace the one that was destroyed. The new preserve will be about six miles from the old one and will cost about $200 million to operate. With classmates, talk about ways people can call attention to the needs of wildlife. Search the newspaper for a wild animal you like and clip out words and images to make a poster calling attention to it. Give your poster an eye-catching title and share with the class.

Learning Standards: Reading and writing with developing fluency, speaking confidently, listening and interacting appropriately, viewing strategically and representing creatively; explaining ecosystem concepts and processes; describing positive and negative effects of humans on nature and wildlife.

5. May Day

May 1 is May Day, an ancient festival that celebrates the arrival of flowers and warm weather at this time of the year. To celebrate the day, cut or write out words from today's newspaper that remind you of May and springtime. Use the words you find to create a May Day poem, rap or rhyme. Then go through the newspaper and find photos or images to illustrate your poem. Perform your poems for the class -- with feeling!

Learning Standard: Reading and writing with developing fluency, speaking confidently, listening and interacting appropriately, viewing strategically and representing creatively.