1. Bah! Humbug!

On December 17, 1843, Charles Dickens' famous novel “A Christmas Carol” was first published. In the story, three ghosts representing the past, the present and the future visit a man to get him to change his selfish ways. Find a short article in today's newspaper that interests you. Write down one thing that happened in the past and one thing happening now, according to the article. Then write a paragraph predicting what might happen next.

Common Core/National Standards: Producing clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization and style are appropriate to the task, purpose and audience; distinguishing among the past, the present and the future.

2. Kwanzaa

Next week, many African Americans will celebrate the seven-day festival of Kwanzaa. Kwanzaa is a holiday begun in the 1960s to honor African American heritage. Each day families celebrate an idea or principle for better living, such as creativity, unity or purpose. As a class, discuss what principles are and how they affect the way people act. Then pair off and draw up seven principles of your own to live by in the new year.

Common Core/National Standards: Engaging in a wide range of discussion topics; understanding diverse communities and cultures.

3. Loaded for Bear

It’s illegal to hunt for bear in Yellowstone or Glacier National Parks — at the moment. In a couple of years, however, the bears may be in danger again. Grizzly bears are a threatened species, so hunting them is now banned. It’s taken decades for grizzlies to rebound from near-extermination, but bear populations have recovered to the point that federal government officials say they may lift the protection in two years or so and allow limited hunting. This, they say, would probably be in areas where “bear-human conflict” and livestock attacks are increasing. Some wildlife advocates insist it’s still too soon to talk about a hunt, even as the federal-state committee that oversees grizzlies is considering a pro-hunting policy change. As a class, read in your newspaper or online about threatened species. Write a paragraph describing the best way to protect them.

Common Core/National Standard: Producing clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization and style are appropriate to the task, purpose and audience.

4. Cheating in School (but Not by the Kids)

Cheating, of course, is against the rules in every school. But what if the people in charge are cheating? In the state of Texas, the elected board of trustees for the 64,000-student El Paso Independent School District has been stripped of its power because administrators had been found boosting test scores in struggling schools by pushing low-performing students out of the classroom. The board is being replaced by a state-appointed board of managers, with a state official overseeing the district until the new board is installed. This action was taken by the state’s education agency, which already had penalized the district for allowing the misconduct and reporting data that was false. In the newspaper, find a story about someone breaking a rule or a law. Write a paragraph describing what action should be taken against the rule-breaker.

Common Core/National Standard: Producing clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization and style are appropriate to the task, purpose and audience.

5. Healthy Living

Childhood obesity used to be considered a problem only for a few overweight kids. But in recent years, the problem has become one of the nation’s worst health problems — contributing to heart disease, diabetes, even cancer in later years. Aggressive advertising and a push from First Lady Michelle Obama may now be influencing some children to be more careful in their eating habits. Kids have become more calorie-conscious about deep-fried snack foods and are drinking fewer sugary drinks, as those drinks are eliminated from school vending machines. A recent study indicates that a major drop in childhood obesity is under way, the first hint in years that the obesity problem may be reversing its course. “I think we are beginning to turn the tide,” said a city health official in Pennsylvania. As a class, find stories in the newspaper or online about childhood obesity, the importance of exercise and healthy eating habits. As a class, discuss ways that schools and families can help kids eat better and get more exercise.

Common Core/National Standards: Engaging in a wide range of collaborative discussions.