1. Not Quite as Revealing

Traveling by air may be a little less intrusive, now that the Transportation Security Administration is removing those full-body scanners from airports. They were a little too revealing, passengers complained, and privacy groups were even filing lawsuits. As a result, the 174 machines still in use are being removed, with removal costs covered by the manufacturer (another 76 have been stored away). That doesn’t mean you still won’t be “scanned” at airport security checkpoints. Another type of full-body scanner, which makes an avatar-like projection on security screens without being quite as graphic, will remain in use. Security scanners in airports are one of the measures adopted to make travel safer after the September 11 attacks in 2001. In the newspaper or online, find a story about airport security. Write a paragraph describing the most important aspect of airport security, and explain why.

Common Core/National Standards: Citing textual evidence to support analysis of what a text says explicitly, as well as inferences drawn from the text; producing clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization and style are appropriate to the task, purpose and audience.

2. Super Ads

Many people will watch the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 3 just to see the clever TV commercials. In honor of these fun advertisements, read an article in today's newspaper about a debatable issue. Take a side. Then, as a group, write a script for a TV ad that promotes your point of view in a clever way.

Common Core/National Standards: Writing fluently to produce various compositions such as personal narratives, persuasive essays, lab reports and poetry.

3. Is Fast Food Risky?

It’s quite possible that eating too much fast food may increase your chances of developing the breathing disorder known as asthma or the skin condition called eczema. Researchers have concluded that teens eating three or more weekly servings of fast food have a 39 percent chance of becoming severely asthmatic, and younger children a 27 percent higher risk. On the other hand, eating three or more servings of fruit appears to reduce the risk. Fast food was the only dietary category suggesting an association with these disorders. Asthma can be a disabling condition, and very complicated medically. See what you can learn in your newspaper and online about this worldwide health challenge. Then design a poster to educate classmates about the risks and treatments of asthma.

Common Core/National Standards: Engaging effectively in a range of collaborative discussions; using drawings or visual displays when appropriate to enhance the development of main ideas or points.

4. Discipline Too harsh?

A group of civil rights organizations has charged that “overly harsh school disciplinary practices” are common throughout the state of Mississippi. In one district, the report notes, 33 out of every 1,000 children were arrested or referred to juvenile detention centers, and in another, such referrals even included second and third graders. Few of these referrals, according to the report, were for felony-level behavior, with “disorderly conduct” the most often cited offense. This kind of discipline has created a “school-to-prison pipeline,” the report notes, and black students were disproportionately more likely to receive the punishments. As a class, talk about the kinds of discipline rules that are most important at schools. Then write a short editorial for the newspaper describing a rule you think would be a fair way to deal with a problem.

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.

5. Homecoming for a Masterpiece

A British art dealer considering the sale of a Matisse oil painting he had obtained from an 85-year-old man found that it had been listed as stolen 25 years ago. It had been taken by a burglar who had smashed his way into the Stockholm Museum of Modern Art in the European country of Sweden. The dealer learned this from checking the Art Loss Registry, a database of stolen, missing and looted artwork. Now, a lawyer for the Registry has negotiated the return of the painting, which is titled “Le Jardin” (“the Garden”) and is valued at $1 million. It is not clear where the most recent owner got the painting. It will be up to Swedish authorities to determine what legal action, if any, will be taken. Art is valuable to individuals and communities in many ways. In the newspaper or online, find a story, listing or photo of an artwork. Think like an art critic and write a paragraph describing why this art would appeal to people — or what kind of people would like it.

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