1. TREE TROUBLE IN L.A.

In downtown Los Angeles, a man was caught cutting down more than a dozen trees with a chain saw. The trees were important because they brought beauty and shade to the busy city streets. People were very upset because it took years for the trees to grow, but only minutes to destroy them. The police arrested the man on Earth Day, and he could face serious punishment. City leaders promised to plant two new trees for every tree that was lost, to help make the neighborhood beautiful again. Pretend you are the mayor of your town for one day. Some trees were damaged, and everyone is feeling sad. Write a short letter (5–7 sentences) to the people in your town. In your letter, tell them how you will help fix the problem, what you will do to plant new trees, and why taking care of nature is so important for everyone.

2. CREEPY CATERPILLAR

On the Hawaiian island of Oahu, scientists have discovered a very strange caterpillar they call the “bone collector.” Instead of just eating leaves like most caterpillars, this one eats other insects! But that’s not even the weirdest part — after eating, the caterpillar uses pieces of the bugs to decorate its body. The bone collector lives only in a small area on Oahu and spends its time on spider webs. It carefully picks parts from dead bugs, like beetle legs or weevil heads, and uses silk to stick them onto its case, kind of like building armor. Scientists think this disguise helps the caterpillar stay safe from spiders. These caterpillars are very rare, and their home is in danger because of other insects like ants and wasps moving in. Scientists hope to protect the bone collector and other special creatures in Hawaii. In 3 to 5 sentences, write what you learned about the bone collector caterpillar, such as where it lives and why it’s a strange bug!

3. UNUSUAL MUSICAL

In 1925, a man named Floyd Collins got trapped inside a cave in Kentucky when a rock pinned his ankle. Even though rescuers tried hard, they couldn’t save him, and he sadly passed away after 14 days. His story became very famous across the country. Now, Floyd’s story has been turned into a Broadway musical called Floyd Collins. The musical shows how Floyd never gave up hope and how people worked to help him. The show uses songs and set designs to help the audience imagine what it was like inside the cave. Imagine you are a news reporter in 1925, just like the ones who came to the cave to tell Floyd Collins’s story. First, write a short news report (about 3–5 sentences) explaining what happened to Floyd and why people cared so much. Next, create a headline for your story that would make people want to read it.

4. FOCUS ON FOOD DYE

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced it wants to remove some colorful dyes from foods like candy, chips, and cereal because they might not be healthy for kids. Scientists have found that some dyes could be linked to problems like hyperactivity, trouble paying attention, and even illnesses like diabetes and cancer. Eight dyes are being targeted, like Red 40, Yellow 5, and Blue 1. Some food companies agreed to start using safer, more natural colors instead, like colors made from flowers. Even though taking away these dyes probably won’t solve big health problems by itself, experts say it’s still a good idea because the dyes don’t help kids stay healthy. Researchers are continuing to study food dyes to learn more. For now, the government hopes companies will make foods that are colorful and better for our health! Make a colorful poster showing natural ways foods can get their colors! (For example, beets for red, spinach for green, carrots for orange.) Then, write one or two sentences about why eating colorful natural foods is good for you.

5. BONOBO GIRL GROUPS

In the wilds of Congo, girl groups of bonobos, which are close relatives to humans, work together to stay safe from bossy male bonobos. Scientists studied these animals for 30 years and found that female bonobos team up to chase males away from food and protect each other. Even if they aren’t best friends, the girl bonobos help one another. This teamwork helps them become leaders in their groups. The study shows that sticking together makes them stronger, just like it sometimes does for people too. Imagine you are a bonobo living in the forest. Draw a picture showing how you and your friends help each other. How does teamwork make your group stronger? Write at least 3 sentences explaining how your picture features teamwork.