1. PENNIES ON THE OUTS

The U.S. government is getting ready to stop making pennies. That’s because it now costs more to make a penny than the coin is actually worth — about 3.69 cents per penny! This is mostly due to the rising prices of the materials used to make them, like zinc and copper. President Trump ordered the change to help save money. The U.S. Mint will keep making pennies until it runs out of materials, but once those are gone, the production will stop. The government estimates this will save taxpayers about $56 million every year. Penny use has already been going down — in 2015, over 9 billion were made, but only 3.2 billion were made last year. Even though there are still a lot of pennies in circulation, they will slowly disappear. That means stores that use cash might start rounding prices to the nearest nickel. But nickels aren’t cheap either — they cost almost 14 cents to make! Imagine you’re part of a team deciding what to do now that pennies are going away. Write a short paragraph explaining whether you think stores should round prices up, down, or to the nearest nickel. How do you think this change will affect shoppers, especially those who pay with cash? Be sure to include at least one reason to support your opinion.

2. INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS UNEASY

A judge in Boston has temporarily stopped President Trump’s plan to block international students from attending Harvard University. The Trump administration had said it would take away Harvard’s ability to enroll foreign students, which would have affected thousands of current and future students from other countries. Harvard quickly sued the government, saying this move was unfair, illegal, and harmful. The university said that international students are an important part of the school, and losing them would hurt its community and finances. The judge agreed for now and said a full hearing will happen on May 29. Many other schools and students around the country are watching closely because the decision could affect students from all over the world who come to the U.S. to study. Write a short paragraph explaining how you would feel if you were an international student and found out that your university might not let you attend anymore. What would you do if you couldn’t go back to your home country safely? Why do you think international students are important to schools like Harvard and others across the U.S.?

3. CHILDREN’S HEALTH REPORT

A new White House report says that many kids in the U.S. are getting sicker because of their diets, screen time, and exposure to harmful chemicals. The report warns that today’s children are facing more chronic health problems like obesity, diabetes, and mental health issues than past generations. It blames much of this on ultraprocessed foods, such as chips, soda, and instant noodles, which make up a big part of many kids’ diets. It also raises concerns about how much time children spend on screens and social media, which could be affecting their mental well-being. The report questions whether children are getting too many vaccines, although health experts say vaccines are safe and have saved millions of lives. Finally, it mentions that chemicals in plastics and pesticides may be dangerous, but some experts say the report should have been more forceful in addressing those risks. While the report brings attention to serious health issues, it doesn’t offer many specific solutions yet, and experts are waiting to see what actions the government will take next. Think about your daily habits, like what you eat, how much time you spend on screens, and how active you are. Write a paragraph about one change you could make to help your health. It might be choosing a healthier snack, spending more time outside, or getting more sleep. Explain why this change would help you feel better now and stay healthier as you grow up. Then, share one idea you think schools or communities could try to help more kids live healthier lives.

4. AMERICANS HEADED TO THE U.K.

More Americans are applying to become British citizens than ever before. Between January and March of 2025, over 1,900 Americans applied for British citizenship — the highest number ever recorded in a single three-month period. Experts think this might be happening because some people are unhappy with recent political events in the United States, especially after President Trump was re-elected. Immigration lawyers in Britain say they’ve seen a big rise in questions from Americans wanting to move to the U.K., not just to become citizens, but to live and work there. Most people who were approved to stay in Britain permanently had family connections or jobs there already. The British government is planning to make the rules tougher, so more people may be applying now before those changes take effect. Imagine you’re considering moving to another country like Britain. Write a short paragraph explaining what would make you want to live somewhere new. Would it be for better schools, a safer community, family connections, or something else? Do you think it would be easy or hard to adjust to life in another country? Be sure to include how you think it would feel to live somewhere far away from home.

5. TRUMP TAKES ON SOUTH AFRICA

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa met with President Trump at the White House hoping to improve relations between their countries and focus on trade and business. But the meeting took a surprising turn when Trump focused on false claims that white people are being targeted and harmed in South Africa — something experts say is not true. Ramaphosa tried to keep the meeting positive by giving Trump a book, joking about golf, and thanking him for past help. However, Trump played videos showing violent political chants and used the meeting to suggest white South Africans are in danger. Ramaphosa struggled to respond, especially since Trump interrupted him and didn’t allow much discussion. Even though Ramaphosa said the private part of the meeting went better, many people believe the event hurt South Africa’s image and could make it harder to get support from the U.S. South Africa wants help to grow its economy and reduce problems like unemployment and inequality. Now, it must work even harder to convince the U.S. to stay invested and engaged. In a paragraph, explain why President Ramaphosa wanted to meet with President Trump. What did he hope to talk about, and what actually happened instead? Then, discuss how world leaders should handle situations where misinformation is brought up in a meeting. What would you do if you were in Ramaphosa’s shoes? Use details from the article to support your ideas.