For Grades K-4 THE WEEK OF Nov. 23, 2015

1. Pyramids to Be Scanned

The pyramids of ancient Egypt have been studied for more than 4,500 years, but scientists feel there is still more to be learned from them. So researchers will use new scanning technology to collect images of what is inside four of Egypt’s most famous pyramids. The new technology will use cosmic rays and heat imaging to produce images similar to medical X-rays. Scientists will begin at the so-called Bent Pyramid at Dashour south of the city of Cairo. Next will be the nearby Red Pyramid, and later, the two largest pyramids on the Giza plateau — those of the pharaoh kings Cheops and Chephren. Modern technology is helping scientists do research, but also helping people in other jobs do new things. In the newspaper or online, closely read a story about a job that interests you. Use what you read and your own knowledge to brainstorm a list of ways technology helps people do this job. Write a paragraph explaining the help that technology provides. Draw a picture to go with your paragraph, if you like.

Common Core State Standards: Producing clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization and style are appropriate to the task; reading closely what a text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; conducting short research projects that build knowledge about a topic.

2. Dog of the Year

A legally blind woman had her life saved by her guide dog Figo not long ago — and now they have been reunited after both underwent surgery and rehab. The golden retriever had jumped in front of a bus to save her, and stayed by her side after both were injured. After his trainers found him able to work again, Figo was returned to Audrey Stone in Brewster, New York. For his heroic actions, Figo was named Dog of the Year by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA). Animals often make news when they do amazing or unusual things. As a class, use the newspaper and Internet to find and closely read a story about an animal that did something special. Write the word “SPECIAL” down the side of a sheet of paper. Then use what you have read about the animal to write a poem or paragraph about the animal’s actions. Start each line of your poem, or each sentence of your paragraph, with the letters of the word “SPECIAL.”

Common Core State Standards: Demonstrating understanding of figurative language; applying knowledge of language to understand how language functions in different contexts.

3. Mountain Macs

Mount McKinley in the state of Alaska has been renamed Mount Denali, its original Native American name. As a result, Alaska’s McDonald’s restaurants have had to make a change, too. They are renaming the extra-large McKinley Mac the Denali Mac. The fast-food chain’s Denali (formerly McKinley) Mac has two quarter-pounders between the buns, instead of regular hamburgers. Companies and restaurants give a lot of thought to the names they give products and food items. In the newspaper or online find three product names you like in ads or stories. Think about what you like about the names and write a list of your reasons. Then use what you have written to write a paragraph giving your opinions about the three names, in the style of a newspaper critic or entertainment writer.

Common Core State Standards: Writing opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information; citing specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions.

4. Fossils of Giant Rats

Archaeologists have discovered fossils of rats that were up to 10 times the size of modern rats — “the size of a small dog.” Found in the Southeast Asian nation of East Timor, they are the largest rats ever known to have existed. Humans on the island where East Timor is located date back around 46,000 years, and apparently they lived with the rats for thousands of years. Researchers say the rats probably were part of the human diet as a source of meat. Fossils preserve species that lived long ago in rock and help scientists learn about their features and lifestyles. In the newspaper or online, closely read a story about a wild animal that lives on Earth today, or closely study a photo of the species. Then use what you have studied or read to write a paragraph describing what a fossil of this species would tell a future scientist.

Common Core State Standards: Reading closely what a text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; writing informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly; citing specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions.

5. Aid for Refugees

Nearly 400,000 people fleeing war and hardship have crossed the Mediterranean Sea and arrived in the European nation of Greece this year. That is more than three times the 131,000 refugees who reached Italy, the No. 2 sea-route destination. The United Nations refugee agency reports that in September alone, 168,000 people crossed the Mediterranean, the highest monthly average ever recorded (almost five times the number of a year earlier). Most are from the Middle East and Africa. The high number of people entering European nations as refugees is worrying government leaders, who are concerned how they will be taken care of. As a class, read a story in the newspaper or online about groups that are trying to help the refugees. Use what you read to write a short letter to the editor of the newspaper, discussing ways your community could offer help.