1. The Florida Snake Hunt

Burmese pythons are among the largest snakes in the world. And they now are causing a problem in the state of Florida. Originally, they came to Florida as pets, but some escaped and others were let loose in or near Everglades National Park when they grew difficult to control. With no natural enemies, Burmese pythons have multiplied, snacking on native wading birds, small animals and even deer and bobcats. They have become so much of a problem that Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has announced a hunting contest called “Python Challenge 2013.” The state is offering cash prizes for snake hunters, and about 1,300 people have signed up. Finding the pythons should not be a problem — they can grow up to 19 feet long and it’s thought there are 5,000 to more than 100,000 in Florida. But to collect prizes, hunters not only must catch the snakes, but kill them. As a class talk about problems that can occur when too many of a species of wild animal live in an area. Write a letter to the editor of the newspaper discussing whether you think the python snake hunt is a good idea. If you don’t like the idea, what would you do to reduce the number of pythons in the Everglades?

Common Core/National Standards: Engaging effectively in a range of collaborative discussions; producing clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization and style are appropriate to the task, purpose and audience.

2. Here and There

When people in the past heard information that they thought wasn't important, they often would say "What does that have to do with the price of tea in China?" Now, China is an important nation in the world, and with planes, boats, cell phones, the Internet and TV news, China doesn't seem as far away. In today’s world, other countries all are important to people in the United States in large or small ways. Divide your class into five groups and assign each group a continent — Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia or South America. In each group, find an article in today's newspaper about an event that happened in your continent. As a group, look up any words that are new to you and talk about the article until you understand what it is about. Find the place talked about on a map.

Common Core/National Standards: Engaging effectively in a range of collaborative discussions; distinguishing between events in this country and abroad.

3. Cheese That’s Really Hot

A tunnel in arctic Norway is closed for repairs for a while, after 27 tons of burning cheese shut it down. That’s right, cheese. A truckload of brunost, a brown cheese that Norwegians consider special, burst into flame in the 1.9-mile tunnel near Narvik in the European country, and it took four days to extinguish the fire. Brunost’s “high concentration of fat and sugar is almost like [gasoline] if it gets hot enough,” a police official explained. Fire and highway safety are important concerns in every community, because fires and accidents can cause injuries or even death. In the newspaper, find a story about a fire or traffic accident. As a class, discuss what happened and why it happened. Then write a short paragraph giving three safety tips that could prevent such an event in the future.

Common Core/National Standards: Engaging effectively in a range of collaborative discussions; producing clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization and style are appropriate to the task, purpose and audience.

4. Another ‘Star Wars’

Got your light saber ready? The “Force” of the “Star Wars” movies is now with filmmaker J.J. Abrams. Abrams will direct “Star Wars: Episode VII,” a new movie scheduled to reach theaters in 2015. This represents a change in plans for Abrams, who previously had directed the “Star Trek” movie “Star Trek Into Darkness.” He had told reporters in the past he would not be involved with the “Star Wars” movies, but changed his mind. The “Star Wars” movies are some of the most popular science fiction adventure films ever made. In the ads and stories of the newspaper, find a science fiction or adventure movie you have seen or would like to see. Write a paragraph describing what you liked about it, or why you would want to see it. Draw a picture of the movie to go with your paragraph.

Common Core/National Standards: Using drawings or visual displays when appropriate to enhance the development of main ideas or points; producing clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization and style are appropriate to the task, purpose and audience.

5. 20 Questions

With a partner, find a picture that shows many objects in today's newspaper. Pick a part of the picture that you find interesting, but keep your choice a secret. Then challenge your friend to a game of 20 questions. Your friend can only ask questions that describe your object's position. For example, he or she can use the words front, back, inside, outside, right, left, over, under, next to or between. You can only say yes or no. When the object is named, switch roles.

Common Core/National Standards: Engaging effectively in a range of collaborative discussions; locating and describing the position of objects—front, back, inside, outside, right, left, over, under, next to and between.