1. Help for Haiti

All over the world, people have been working to collect money or materials for Haiti, which was hit by a deadly earthquake last month. And many of those working to help the nation in the Caribbean Sea are kids. Efforts range from small to big, but all have made a difference. In Milan, Michigan, for example, 8-year-old friends Sophia Morelock, Emily Runkel and Maxine Tewsley held a yard sale and bottle drive and raised more than $191. In Georgia, 8-year-old Hannah Lucas launched a blanket drive with her mother with a goal of collecting 10,000 blankets. And in the European country of Great Britain, 7-year-old Charlie Simpson made news for a benefit bike ride he promoted on the Internet that raised nearly $250,000 in pledges for Haiti through the United Nations Children's Fund! Alone or with a partner collect words and images from the newspaper involving kids making news. Use what you find to design a poster about news-making kids.

Learning Standards: Reading and writing fluently, speaking confidently, listening and interacting appropriately, viewing critically and representing creatively; acquiring information from multiple sources; organizing and presenting the information.

2. Roving No More

Since January 2004 America's Mars Rover spacecraft have been exploring the surface of the so-called Red Planet. But since May 2009, the rover named Spirit has been stuck in a sand trap and unable to move. But rather than abandon Spirit, NASA is planning to have it do experiments that require a craft that stays in one spot. NASA scientists say Spirit could do atmosphere tests, record weather and measure small changes in the way Mars spins on its axis in space. The axis studies could help scientists discover what the underground core of Mars is made of. Find stories in the newspaper about scientists using technology to learn things or solve problems. Then design a new high-tech machine to perform new tasks.

Learning Standards: Generating scientific questions about the world based on observation; showing how common themes of science, mathematics and technology apply in real world contexts; showing how science concepts can be interpreted through creative expression such as language arts and fine arts.

3. Incredible Journey

The European country of Poland has been having some bitter cold weather this winter. The weather has caused problems for both people and animals -- but none more amazing than an adventure experienced by a Polish dog. The thick-furred dog got caught on a moving piece of ice in Poland's Vistula River and floated more than 75 miles before being rescued 15 miles out in the Baltic Sea! The mixed-breed, brown-and-black dog survived below-zero temperatures and a dunking in the icy seawater before being rescued by a team of ocean scientists. Officials spent last week trying to locate the dog's owners. As a class, talk about some of the amazing things animals can do. Then find an animal in the newspaper. Write a paragraph describing things the animal can do and things it can be trained to do.

Learning Standards: Engaging peers in constructive conversation about topics of interest or importance; investigating and explaining the characteristics of living things; writing fluently for multiple purposes.

4. Help for Great Lakes

The Great Lakes are hugely important to Michigan and surrounding states. They provide a way to move materials from place to place, give people places to enjoy the outdoors and provide habitats for animals, birds and fish. Keeping the Great Lakes healthy is a goal of both the state and national governments. Now President Obama has proposed spending $300 million next year to reduce pollution and restore the environment of the Great Lakes. The money is included the spending blueprint for the next year that was announced by the President last week. If approved by the U.S. Congress, it would pay to battle the spread of non-native, invasive species like Asian carp and zebra mussels, improve wildlife habitats and reduce pollution from fertilizers used on farms. As a class, talk about ways people can help or harm the environment and find examples in the newspaper. Then draw a comic strip showing people helping or harming the environment.

Learning Standards: Explaining ecosystem concepts and processes; describing positive and negative effects of humans on nature and wildlife; reading and writing fluently, speaking confidently, listening and interacting appropriately, viewing critically and representing creatively.

5. Special Children's Museum

Children's museums provide special attractions for students from the early grades through middle and high school. But the New York Historical Society in New York City is taking a new approach to children's museums. The society has announced that its new DiMenna Children's History Museum not only will be FOR children, it will be ABOUT children as well. The museum will focus on the stories of children -- from famous figures like Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, who came to New York as a teenager to attend college, to the boys and girls who helped New York grow by working in factories or selling newspapers or other goods on city streets. With a partner, find a story or photo about children or teens in the newspaper. Write a paragraph describing why the child or teen is in the news and share with the class.

Learning Standards: Responding to a variety of texts by making connections to students' personal lives and the lives of others; acquiring information from multiple sources.