1. Furry Fliers

Unless you're a bird, flying is tough for pets. But a company based in New York plans to change all that, when it launches a new airline serving nothing but pets. Pet Airways plans to start flights July 14 from a small airport outside New York City and fly furry travelers to cities ranging from Washington, D.C., to Los Angeles, California. Passengers -- or "pawsengers," as the company calls them -- will get special care and attention from two pilots and a pet attendant on each $149 flight. As a class, talk about all the things pet owners do to pamper their pets. Then find a pet you would like to own in the Pets section of the Classified Ads. Draw a comic strip of this pet getting special attention from its owners.

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; using the craft of the illustrator to convey ideas artistically.

2. Amazing Rescue

Kids may be small, but they're also tough. Just ask the family of 3-yrear-old Joshua Childers of Arcadia, Missouri. Joshua got lost in Mark Twain National Forest and was rescued after spending two days and two nights in wet, chilly woods dressed only in a T-shirt. Joshua had gotten lost after slipping out of his home in southeast Missouri and trying to walk to his grandmother's house. Hundreds of volunteers searched for Joshua, and the local sheriff called his rescue "a miracle." As a class, talk about safety rules that families have for small children and why they are needed. Then find stories or photos involving children in the newspaper. Pick one and write several sentences describing ways children in the picture could stay safe.

Learning Standards: Engaging peers in constructive conversation about topics of interest or importance; using written and visual texts to identify and explore school and community issues and problems; generating questions about important issues that affect students or topics about which they are curious.

3. Lady Liberty

The Statue of Liberty is one of the most famous landmarks in the United States. But ever since the terrorist attacks of September 11 more than seven years ago, the crown of "Lady Liberty" has been closed to the public. That will change on the Fourth of July this year. After a review of safety concerns, the National Park Service will allow a limited number of visitors to climb the 168 steps to the crown of the statue in New York Harbor. As a class, talk about how the Statue of Liberty is a symbol of the United States and the freedoms Americans have. Then write a short letter to the editor of the newspaper telling whether you think reopening the crown is a good move.

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

4. Fire Safety

This month, the community of Santa Barbara California, was hit by a terrible wildfire that destroyed 31 homes, damaged 47 others and forced 30,000 people to flee to safety. But the damage could have been much worse, if home owners hadn't taken the advice of local firefighters before the fire broke out. Fire officials said the damage was less than it could have been because residents cleared dried-out brush and other plants away from their houses, making it harder for the fire to spread to buildings. As a class, talk about fire safety and things that every child and family should know. Then design a public service ad for the newspaper telling people about three important fire safety tips.

Learning Standards: Reading and writing fluently, speaking confidently, listening and interacting appropriately, viewing critically and representing creatively; generating questions about important issues that affect students or topics about which they are curious.

5. Food for Thought

The United States is the richest country in the world, but a new study says that about 3.5 million children under the age of 5 are at risk because they don't get enough healthy, nutritious food. Eating healthy meals is especially important for children younger than five years old. A lack of healthy food for young children can have a lasting effect on their future health, behavior and success in school, scientists say. Health and fitness are important issues for children and families. As a class, find stories about health in the newspaper. Or find stories about other issues that are important to children. Write a summary of one article in your own words.

Learning Standards: Acquiring information from multiple sources and then evaluating, organizing and communicating it in various contexts; responding to a variety of oral, visual, written and electronic texts by making connections to students' personal lives and the lives of others; comprehending what constitutes good health and nutrition.