1. Farmers Help a Neighbor

In farming communities, neighbors are known for looking out for each other. That was never more true than in the town of Avon, Illinois, this fall. When farmer Andy Percharich had to undergo a double lung transplant, other farmers stepped up to make sure he didn’t lose his crops. On October 19, 80 farmers gathered at Percharich’s farm with harvesting combines and shipping trucks to harvest 500 acres of corn, beans and other vegetables. Harvesting that much land normally would take two weeks or more, but the big group was able to do it in just one day. Percharich was grateful for the “overwhelming response” from his neighbors and said it was “certainly quite humbling.” People often make news by helping others. In the newspaper or online, find and closely read a story about someone helping others in a special way. Use what you read to write a letter to the editor, explaining this person’s efforts and how they could inspire others to offer help to other people.

Common Core State Standards: Reading closely what a text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; producing clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization and style are appropriate to the task.

2. Underwater Restaurant

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a fish or sea creature living in the ocean? Visitors to a new restaurant in the European nation of Norway soon may be able to find out. Plans are in the works to create Europe’s first underwater restaurant on Norway’s southern coastline. The restaurant — called “Under” — will lie on the sea bed five meters below the surface and feature a 36-foot wide window that will give diners an up-close look at the sea life outside. Construction is set to start in February 2018 with completion the following year. Unusual attractions like the “Under” restaurant often get large numbers of visitors. In the newspaper or online, find and closely read a story about an unusual attraction. Use what you read to design an ad for the newspaper that would make people want to visit this attraction. Discuss ads as a class. Which were the most effective?

Common Core State Standards: Using drawings or visual displays when appropriate to enhance the development of main ideas or points; engaging effectively in a range of collaborative discussions.

3. A Royal Hero!

In Pearland, Texas, Claire Jeffress made history when she became the kicker for the boys’ varsity football team. This month she made some more. After being voted Homecoming Queen, she kicked a game-winning field goal in her very next game. With the scored tied 35-35, Jeffress drilled a 30-yard field goal with a minute left to give Dawson a three-point win over city rival Pearland High. “I just wanted to do what I’ve always done and not think of it as any big deal,” Jeffress told the Houston Chronicle newspaper. Two weeks earlier, she booted the game-deciding extra point in a 14-13 victory over George Ranch. Claire Jeffress is making her mark as a girl playing on a boys’ sports team. In the newspaper or online, find and closely read a story about another girl or woman finding success in a field that does not have a lot of women. Write the word SUCCESS down the side of a sheet of paper. Use each letter to start a phrase or sentence explaining how this girl or woman became successful.

Common Core State Standards: Producing clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization and style are appropriate to the task.

4. Art for the Birds

John James Audubon was a scientist and artist whose paintings called attention to the wide variety of birds in North America. Now his work is inspiring a group of artists in New York City to create art that calls attention to birds that are endangered. With spray cans and paint brushes, they have turned buildings and walls in upper Manhattan into a portrait gallery of endangered birds. Led by art gallery owner Avi Gitler, the artists have created outdoor paintings of 80 birds identified by the National Audubon Society as being threatened by climate change. The brightly colored murals brighten the sides of apartment buildings, alley ways and the security gates that shopkeepers roll down in front of windows when they close. Audubon lived his last years in upper Manhattan and is buried there. Art is often used to call attention to issues. In the newspaper or online, find and closely read a story about an issue that is important to your state or community. Use what you read to create a drawing or other artwork calling attention to the issue. Share with the class and explain your artwork.

Common Core State Standards: Using drawings or visual displays when appropriate to enhance the development of main ideas or points; engaging effectively in a range of collaborative discussions.

5. All the Queen’s Horses

Queen Elizabeth II is the head of Great Britain’s royal family and the longest serving queen in the history of the European nation. She has been an inspirational leader and the symbol of British traditions for more than 65 years. She also, it turns out, is a bit of an expert on horse racing. As owner of top thoroughbred horses, she has earned nearly $9 million in prize money over the last 30 years, according to new figures from the British Horse Racing Authority. The Queen's horses earned 451 victories in 2,815 runs since 1988, a winning percentage of 16 percent. In the last two years the Queen’s horses earned nearly $1.3 million in prizes. Now 91 years old, the Queen has been a horse lover since age 4, when she was given a Shetland pony. People often have interests or activities outside their main job. In the newspaper or online, find and closely read a story about one person’s outside interests or activities. Write a paragraph explaining how the person got involved in the activity and what skills are required for it.

Common Core State Standards: Writing informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly; citing specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions.