1. Retooling America’s Workforce

With 7.9 percent of Americans unemployed, there are hundreds of thousands of people looking for work. On the flip side, the United States currently has 3.2 million unfilled job openings. CEOs and leaders from many American companies say they have jobs, but are having trouble filling them. The Number One reason these jobs go unfilled is that companies can’t find workers with the skills to match the jobs. Look in the newspaper for local job openings. Find what types of jobs are available and use the Internet to research the training and education needed to fill one of those positions. Write a summary detailing what you learned.

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

2. Candles

Candles will be lit this weekend by the millions of Jewish people who celebrate Hanukkah. The candles are a reminder of an ancient victory over oppressors. Sometimes groups that want to make a point, or oppose something, hold a rally called a "candlelight vigil." In this form or protest, they light candles at night, and gather at a site that is important to the issue. They may stand quietly, or chant, or sing. Look through the news today or for several days. Find a story about group that is protesting or speaking out about something. Would a candlelight vigil be more effective, or less, than what the group is doing? Write a paragraph offering your views.

Common Core/National Standards: Producing clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization and style are appropriate to the task, purpose and audience; using themes and central ideas in literature and other texts to generate solutions to problems and formulate perspectives on issues in the lives of students and their families.

3. Moral Dilemma

How do you justify participating in something that goes against your beliefs? Angus T. Jones, the teen actor who plays the “half” in the CBS hit comedy “Two and a Half Men,” is facing that dilemma right now. Jones has been on the show for the past 10 years, but his growing religious faith is causing him to wrestle with his role on a show he now calls “filth.” The show is known for its sexual themes and innuendos, and Jones said in an online video that he wishes viewers wouldn’t watch it. In fact, he said he doesn’t want to be on the show any more, but is under a legally binding contract with CBS. Search your newspaper and the Internet for stories of people facing moral or ethical dilemmas. As a class, share opinions on how these dilemmas could or should be resolved.

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

4. From History to Silver Screen

The screenwriters of “Lincoln,” “Argo” and “Zero Dark Thirty” have tapped into American history and brought it to life in the movies. Filmmaker Kathryn Bigelow won six Academy Awards for her 2008 film “The Hurt Locker,” which depicted the Iraq war through the eyes of bomb disposal technicians. She and writer Mark Boal have now teamed up again for “Zero Dark Thirty,” a film about the search for terrorist leader Osama bin Laden that is told through the eyes of CIA operatives. The movie doesn’t shy away from telling how information was obtained, including torture techniques that were used to make people talk. Search the newspaper for an event or person you think would make the subject of a great film. Write an outline for the plot, using details from the article you read.

Common Core/National Standard: Writing narratives to develop real or imagined experiences of events using effective technique, well-chosen details and well-structured sequences

5. Fan Lockout

Lockouts seem to have become the bargaining tool of choice for professional sports team owners. Last year, the owners of the National Football League and the National Basketball Association locked out their players when agreements between the owners and the players’ unions couldn’t be reached. This year, it’s the National Hockey League’s turn. Lockouts not only affect the players, but also fans who look forward to attending games and people who work at the games. Search your newspaper and the Internet for stories about the NHL lockout or other lockouts. Write a letter to the editor expressing your opinion as a fan, detailing how the lockout affects you or the community.

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