1. FANCY HAT DAY

Last weekend, a famous annual horse race called the Kentucky Derby took place in Louisville. At the Derby, people dress up in fancy clothes and wear big, colorful hats. Even though it rained this year, the hats were still the stars of the show! The Derby is famous for this fun fashion tradition, and each hat is different—some are beautiful and elegant, while others are wild and silly. People love wearing Kentucky Derby hats because it’s a special tradition that goes all the way back to horse races in England in 1711! At the Derby, your hat shows off your creativity and style—some people even say hats bring good luck. Write two sentences describing what kind of Kentucky Derby hat you would design. Think about the colors, decorations (like flowers or bows). Then write one more sentence explaining why you think people love to wear big, fun hats to the Kentucky Derby.

2. DONKEY RACES

In New Mexico, people and donkeys teamed up for a fun and unusual race called burro racing! The race honors Old West history when miners and their donkeys rushed to claim land. In the race, runners and burros (another word for donkeys) run together through trails and old mining towns. The runners don’t ride the burros—they guide them with a rope while carrying mining tools like a pick and a pan. Some burros run fast and love the race, while others stop suddenly if they feel nervous. Burros are smart animals that like to think before they move. To win a race, runners have to build a strong friendship with their burro. The winners get fun prizes like belt buckles, and even the last place team gets an award! Imagine you are going to enter a burro race like the ones in New Mexico. Write a short paragraph describing what kind of burro you would want to race with, what you would name it, how you would become good teammates, and what you would do if your burro got nervous and stopped on the trail. Be sure to include how you would take care of your burro and work together to finish the race.

3. BOOK BY BOOK

In the small town of Chelsea, Michigan, people came together to help a local bookstore move to a new location. Instead of using a moving truck, around 300 people formed a long line down the sidewalk and passed the books one by one from the old store to the new one. They moved about 9,100 books in just under two hours! The bookstore’s owner, Michelle Tuplin, said it was a fun and helpful way for everyone to be involved. Some people even talked about which books they liked as they passed them along. This event showed how friendly and helpful the town of Chelsea is, and now the bookstore is getting ready to reopen very soon. Write 5–6 sentences about a time you helped someone or worked together with a group to get something done. It could be moving, cleaning, building something, or even playing a game as a team. Then answer this question at the end: How is your story the same as what happened in Chelsea? How is it different?

4. DISAPPEARING PIGEONS

In New York City, people are worried because pigeons are disappearing from parks. A woman named Mother Pigeon loves birds and dresses like one to care for them. She thinks someone is catching pigeons with big nets and taking them away. One man was caught with over 25 pigeons, but people still don’t know who else might be doing it. Some believe the birds are being taken to be used in contests in another state. Even though pigeons are part of the city’s wildlife and it’s illegal to take them, it keeps happening. Mother Pigeon is trying to protect them and make others care too. Write two sentences explaining why you think Mother Pigeon wants to protect the city’s pigeons. Then write one more sentence describing what you think should happen to someone who steals animals from a park.

5. WORLD’S OLDEST PERSON

Sister Inah Canabarro Lucas was a nun from Brazil who lived to be 116 years old, making her the oldest person in the world until she passed away. She was kind, loved her Catholic faith, and even cheered for her favorite soccer team, Sport Club Internacional. Sister Inah taught school after becoming a nun and once got a special blessing from Pope Francis when she turned 110. People say she lived such a long life because of her strong faith and positive attitude. Sister Inah lived a long and meaningful life. Write a short paragraph about what you think helped her live to be 116 years old. Then write about something special you would like to be remembered for when you grow old, like helping others, being kind, or following your dreams.