1. Disinfect

A new study shows that Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a type of bacteria that can cause infections in people, is resistant to disinfectant and to some antibiotics. One of the study researchers said that scientists are now concerned that the use of disinfectants could actually help the bacteria grow stronger. Find another article about science or medicine in the newspaper or online. Research to learn more about the topic. Put together a short presentation for the class about the topic and what impact it has had, or could have, on people's lives.

Learning Standards: Asking questions that help students learn about the world; designing and conducting investigations using appropriate methodology and technology; learning from books and other sources of information; communicating findings using appropriate technology; reconstructing previously learned knowledge..

2. Fiction

Science fiction writer Isaac Asimov was born January 2, 1920. Some of his many novels and short stories have been made into movies, including "I, Robot" and "Bicentennial Man." Follow Asimov's lead and write your own science fiction story based on a location, person, organization or event in the newspaper. It can involve robots, distant planets, time travel or anything else you care to come up with.

Learning Standard: Writing fluently for multiple purposes to produce compositions, such as stories, poetry, personal narratives, editorials, research reports, persuasive essays, resumes and memos.

3. Happy New Year

The start of a new year is typically a time when people look ahead, making resolutions for things they want to change and predictions for what will come. Read the newspaper this week to see what's going on in the world. In groups, come up with five predictions for things that you think will happen this year, in science, technology, politics or anything else. Share your predictions with the rest of the class.

Learning Standard: Engaging peers in constructive conversation about matters of public concern by clarifying issues, considering opposing views, applying democratic values, anticipating consequences and working toward making decisions.

4. Literature

Poet T.S. Eliot died on January 4, 1965, at age 76. In addition to being a poet - and winning the Nobel Prize for Literature - Eliot was a literary critic.

Write a poem based on something in the newspaper. Then trade your poem with a classmate and edit each other's poems. Trade them back and discuss the suggestions you each made.

Learning Standards: Planning, drafting, revising and editing texts; analyzing and critiquing the texts of others in such areas as purpose, effectiveness, cohesion and creativity.

5. Energetic

Several companies are coming up with ways to make solar energy systems more affordable so homeowners don't have to spend tens of thousands of dollars installing them. For example, one of the companies, SolarCity, is offering a "SolarLease" program, which allows people to rent a solar system rather than buy it outright. Read about solar energy or another type of environmentally friendly technology in the newspaper or online. In groups, make a presentation about one technology for the rest of the class.

Learning Standards: Evaluating alternative long range plans for resource use and byproduct disposal in terms of environmental and economic impact; explaining how energy is distributed to living things in an ecosystem; analyzing how humans and the environment interact.