1. TEMPERATURES RISE IN ALASKA

For the first time ever, the National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory in Alaska. The warning is for the city of Fairbanks, where temperatures are expected to reach 85 degrees. While this might not sound very hot to people in warmer places, it’s unusual for Alaska, where June temperatures are usually in the 70s and most buildings don’t have air-conditioning. In the past, Alaska used general weather alerts for warm weather, but now they’re using the official “heat advisory” label to make things clearer. This change is part of a new way to warn people about unusual heat. Along with the heat, the Weather Service also issued a flood watch in northern Alaska, where melting snow might cause rivers to overflow. After reading the article, write a 3-5 sentences explaining why the heat advisory in Alaska is important. Describe how this kind of weather is different from what Alaskans are used to and why it can be dangerous. Be sure to include why the Weather Service decided to change how they give heat warnings.

2. A BIG CRICKET WIN

South Africa just won a big cricket tournament called the World Test Championship for the first time in 27 years! They beat Australia, one of the best teams, in a very exciting match in London. The players worked together, stayed calm, and didn’t give up. One star player, Aiden Markram, played for more than six hours and helped his team win. Their captain, Temba Bavuma, said the team wanted to do something special for their country. Many fans were very happy and proud of the team’s hard work and big win. Imagine you are a sports reporter in South Africa. Write a short news story about the team’s big win. Include who they played against, where the match happened, how the game ended, and how people in South Africa are reacting. Try to use exciting words to make your story fun to read, just like real news articles you see online or in newspapers!

3. PRARIE DOG PRACTICES

Prairie dogs are small animals that live in the grasslands. When they see danger, like a hawk or a fox, they bark loudly to warn others. Scientists just learned that a bird called the long-billed curlew listens to those barks! When the bird hears the warning, it hides by laying flat on the ground and blending in with the grass. This helps the bird stay safe from predators. Prairie dogs are not just good at digging burrows — they also help protect other animals by sounding the alarm! Draw a picture showing a prairie dog warning other animals about a predator. Include at least three animals in your drawing, including the long-billed curlew. Then, write 2–3 sentences explaining what is happening in your picture and how the animals are reacting to the prairie dog’s bark.

4. A HISTORY OF BEDBUGS

Bedbugs have been living with humans for a very long time—about 245,000 years! Scientists recently discovered that these tiny bugs first started feeding on people when early humans shared caves with bats, which were the bedbugs’ original food source. When humans stopped moving from place to place and started building cities, the bedbug population grew quickly. Bedbugs only feed on humans and need us to travel to new places. Even though they don’t spread diseases, they can be annoying because they bite while we sleep. They are also very good at surviving, even without food for a long time, and they can resist bug sprays. That’s why it’s hard to get rid of them once they show up. Bedbugs can spread quickly—just one pregnant bug in a suitcase can lead to thousands more! After reading the article, write a paragraph explaining how bedbugs became connected to humans. Include where they originally came from, how living in cities helped them grow in number, and why they’re so hard to get rid of. Try to use your own words and explain why scientists think bedbugs are one of the oldest pests that live with people.

5. THE LATEST ON LONG-NECK DINOS

Scientists have finally found real fossil proof that long-necked dinosaurs, like the sauropod, were plant-eaters. For a long time, people believed sauropods were vegetarians because of their peg-like teeth and slow-moving bodies, but there was no hard evidence—until now. In Australia, researchers discovered fossilized plant material inside the belly of a young dinosaur named Judy. This plant material, called a cololite, was found near fossilized skin, showing it likely came from the dinosaur’s last meal. The plants included leaves from tall trees and flowering plants. The leaves were whole, meaning the dinosaur didn’t chew its food but swallowed it whole. Then, bacteria in its belly helped break the food down over time. This exciting find confirms what many scientists believed: that sauropods ate lots of different plants to fuel their giant bodies. Imagine you are a young sauropod dinosaur living during the Cretaceous period. Write a short story about a day in your life. Describe what you see around you, what kinds of plants you like to eat, and how you find your food. Think about how big you are, how you move, and how you stay safe from predators. Try to include some details you learned from the article, like the fact that sauropods didn’t chew their food but swallowed it whole.