1. Pen vs. Sword

May 3 is United Nations World Press Freedom Day. In the United States the freedom of the press is guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Constitution. In some parts of the world, the press must clear its stories with the government before publishing them or avoid certain topics altogether. Find a story in the newspaper that interests you. Read it and write a letter to the editor in which you state your opinions on the topic--because you can.

Learning Standard: Explaining the meaning and origin of key civic ideas, including the core democratic values expressed in the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and other foundational documents of the United States.

2. Mother's Day

Sunday is Mother's Day. In groups, create a poster celebrating moms. Look through the newspaper for examples of mothers making news for doing something positive, and incorporate them into the poster.

Learning Standard: Reading and writing with developing fluency, speaking confidently, listening and interacting appropriately, viewing strategically and representing creatively.

3. Windy City

Last week winds faster than 100 miles per hour knocked down power lines and left thousands of people without electricity in Reno, Nevada. Schools and roads were closed, and flights had to be canceled during the windstorm. What would you do without electricity? Look through the newspaper and make a list of all the products and processes you can find that rely on electricity. As a class, discuss what alternatives you would come up with if electricity disappeared.

Learning Standards: Describing energy and the many common forms it takes (mechanical, heat, light, sound, electrical, magnetic, chemical, nuclear); generating scientific questions about the world based on observation; engaging peers in conversations about topics of interest or importance.

4. Tweety

Cartoonist Bob Clampett died at age 70 on May 4, 1984, in Detroit, Michigan. At the time of his death he was visiting the city to promote his cartoon show "Beany and Cecil." Clampett was the creator of many famous cartoon characters, including Porky Pig, Daffy Duck and Tweety Bird. Show your own creativity by drawing a cartoon character based on something, or someone, in the news. Write a short biography of your character to go with the drawing.

Learning Standard: Identifying and using aspects of the craft of the speaker, writer, and illustrator to formulate and express ideas artistically.

5. Einstein

Some baby horses weigh more than 100 pounds at birth. But not Einstein. The tiny horse, born last week in Barnstead, New Hampshire, weighed in at only 6 pounds. Einstein might be the smallest newborn horse ever. Find other examples of small things - like kids! - making news. Pretend you're a TV news broadcaster and turn one of the items you found into a news broadcast, keeping in mind the differences between written and spoken news. Present your news report to the class.

Learning Standard: Comparing and contrasting spoken, written and visual language patterns used in different communication contexts, such as community activities, discussions, mathematics and science classes or the workplace; recognizing and using levels of discourse appropriate for varied contexts, purposes and audiences, including terminology specific to a particular field.