1. FOOD WASTE

Many families throw away food without meaning to. In the United States, all that wasted food adds up to a lot of money and causes a lot of pollution. Experts say we can waste less by making a shopping list, using what we already have at home, storing food the right way, and cooking with parts we usually toss, like stems and peels. We can also freeze leftovers and have “clean out the fridge” meals so good food doesn’t end up in the trash. Imagine a real or pretend kitchen and choose three foods that might go bad soon, such as berries, bread, or leftover rice, and then write a short paragraph of 4–6 sentences that tells what each food is and explains one way you could use it before it spoils (for example, turning old bread into French toast or leftover rice into fried rice). End your paragraph with one sentence that clearly explains why saving food instead of wasting it is important for the Earth.

2. INDIGENOUS LAWYER FINALLY RECOGNIZED

Ely Samuel Parker was a member of the Seneca Nation who lived in New York a long time ago. As a young man, he studied law and wanted to be a lawyer, but he was not allowed to join the bar because he was Native American. Instead, he became an engineer, helped Ulysses S. Grant during the Civil War, and later served as a leader in the U.S. government and for his own people. Now, many years after his death, New York has finally admitted him to the bar to honor the work he did and to admit that the old rules were unfair. Write a short paragraph of 4–5 sentences that first explains what unfair thing happened to Ely Parker when he tried to become a lawyer, then describes what people did in 2025 to fix that unfairness, and finally gives one specific idea for how schools or communities today can help make sure people of all backgrounds are treated fairly.

3. SCHOOL HELPS DISPLACED KIDS

A big storm flooded several Alaska Native villages and washed away many homes. Some families had to move far away to the city of Anchorage and live in hotels. Many of the children there speak Yup’ik, a Native language, so a school invited them to join a special program where they learn in both Yup’ik and English. The classes and activities help the kids keep their language and culture while they adjust to a new place. In 3–6 sentences, pretend that a new student has just joined your class after a big disaster, like a flood or fire, and explain one way your class could help them feel welcome, one way you personally could be a good friend during their first week at school, and one clear reason why it is important to respect and protect other people’s languages and traditions.

4. THE STORY OF A MEXICAN MYTH

Mexico’s flag shows an eagle standing on a cactus and eating a snake. This picture comes from an old Mexica story about a god who told the people to search for a special sign that would show them where to build their city. After many years, they finally saw the eagle and cactus on an island, and there they founded Tenochtitlan, where Mexico City is now. Even after Spanish conquerors arrived, this symbol stayed important and is still used on buildings, in churches, and in art to show Mexico’s history and identity. Write a descriptive paragraph of 4–6 sentences in which you invent a new symbol for your town or school, naming two or three objects or animals that would be in your symbol, explaining what each part stands for (such as history, teamwork, bravery, or nature), and telling how this symbol would help people remember the story and identity of your community.

5. METEOR SHOWER KICKS OFF

A meteor shower happens when Earth passes through tiny bits of rock and dust in space, and those pieces burn up in our sky as bright streaks of light. The Leonid meteor shower happens every November and creates very fast meteors with long glowing tails. This year, the moon is small in the sky, so its light will not block the view as much. People who stay up late, go to a dark place, and give their eyes time to adjust may see shooting stars from the Leonids and from other showers nearby. Create a set of written directions in one paragraph of at least 5 sentences that teaches a friend how to watch the Leonid meteor shower, including what time of night they should go outside, what kind of location they should choose to avoid bright lights, what they should bring to stay safe and comfortable, one safety rule they must remember, and what they should do with their eyes once they are outside so they can see more meteors in the dark sky.