1. Warring Peoples

Palestinian and Israeli leaders may have signed a peace accord on September 13, 1993, but that hasn’t ensured peace in a part of the Middle East that is rife with conflict. Israel instigated a blockade of the area where the Palestinians live, and now the infrastructure of roads, bridges and buildings is crumbling there, according to a recent Reuters article. The article said a United Nations report found that the Gaza Strip area will not be livable by 2029 if action isn’t taken to improve its water supply, power, healthcare and school facilities. In the newspaper or online, find articles about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As a class, discuss what you think could be done to create or promote peace in that area.

Common Core/National Standard: Coming to discussions prepared, having read or researched material under study.

2. High-Flying Flag

The United States may be 236 years old, but “The Star Spangled Banner” didn’t become our official national anthem until 81 years ago, in 1931. Francis Scott Key wrote the words to the anthem on September 13, 1814, after he watched the British bomb Fort McHenry near Baltimore, Maryland, in the War of 1812. The British were unable to take the fort, and Key wrote a poem about seeing the Stars and Stripes still flying. Eventually, the poem was put to music and became a popular song, before becoming the national anthem. Find a newspaper story about an event that interests you. Write your own lyrics for a song, rap or rhyme based on this event. Share with the class.

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

3. Hispanic Heroes

Anthony Marc Robles was born with just one leg, but that didn’t stop the Mesa, Arizona, resident from becoming one of the nation’s top high school wrestlers. According to an Arizona Republic article, Robles was 14 when he decided he wanted to try out for his high school wrestling team. He ended his high school career with 96 wins and no losses. He won two state wrestling titles and one national championship. Robles is one of just six outstanding Arizona citizens receiving the Profiles of Success Hispanic Leadership Awards. The awards are part of Arizona’s National Hispanic Heritage Month celebration, which runs from September 15 to October 15 each year. Also being recognized are people in education, business, nursing, professional sports and breast cancer treatment for the underprivileged. In the newspaper or online, find an article about a Hispanic American leader in your community. Using the article as a jumping off point, write a short biography of that person and his/her achievements.

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. Eating Fresh

Fresh fruits and vegetables are important to a healthy lifestyle. So why shouldn’t school districts buy produce for school lunches from the nearest farmers? A new online company called Ag Link wants to make it easy for school districts to communicate with nearby farmers and buy their produce with just a click of a mouse, according to an Associated Press news article. The California company is helping districts like the state’s Turlock Unified School District meet new federal rules requiring more fresh fruits and vegetables in school cafeterias. The children in Turlock used to get fruits and vegetables shipped from outside the state, but now they are getting fruit picked fresh from nearby trees each day. Other online companies around the country are doing the same thing and are becoming known as “food hubs.” Find a newspaper story about school nutrition. Or find one online. As a class, discuss what your school could do better to provide healthy food choices.

Common Core/National Standard: Engaging effectively in a range of collaborative discussions

5. Young Star

Jurickson Profar made his place in baseball history last week when he was called up by the Texas Rangers to play his first game in the Major Leagues. The 19-year-old from Curacao, an island in the Caribbean Sea south of the United States, is the first player born in 1993 to play in the majors. He also is only the third player in baseball to hit a home run in his first at-bat. He followed up with a double in the Rangers’ game against the Cleveland Indians. Profar, a second baseman, was drafted by the Rangers when he was just 16 years old. He played in their farm leagues for two years before being called up to the majors. Find a story about the young standout. Using the article as a jumping off place, do further research on him and create a biographical Power Point presentation for the class.

Common Core/National Standards: Gathering information from multiple print and digital sources; using search terms effectively.