For Grades 5-8 THE WEEK OF Nov. 30, 2015

1. Whale Breeding Banned

The California Coastal Commission recently approved a multimillion-dollar expansion of the killer whale exhibit at Sea World in the city of San Diego. But in giving approval, it set some restrictions. It banned breeding of the whales in captivity and restricted how future whales can be brought into the park. This affects the 11 whales now in the park and calls into question the future of the killer whale shows at Sea World. Animal rights activists applauded the decision, but Sea World protested, saying, “depriving these social animals of the natural and fundamental right to reproduce is inhumane.” Sea World’s killer whales — also known as orcas — are at the center of an ongoing controversy over keeping wild animals in captivity for entertainment. In the newspaper or online, closely read stories about the controversy. Use what you read to write a short editorial or personal newspaper column, giving your opinion on whether wild species should be used in entertainment shows like those at Sea World. Support your views with facts learned from your reading.

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.

2. Oil Spill Worse Than Believed

Damage from the massive BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is more extensive than previously thought, according to a new study. The study revealed that there are sick and dying corals throughout the deep-water ocean environment off the coasts of the U.S states of Alabama and Mississippi. More than 400 coral colonies were damaged, according to researchers who explored the Pinnacle Reef in the Gulf. A scum of dead tissues and oil residue is still covering sea whips, sea fans and black corals in an area 35 to 68 miles north of BP’s blown-out well, which spewed more than 130 million gallons of oil into the Gulf in 2010. The BP oil company has paid millions of dollars in damages for environmental problems caused by the Gulf oil spill. In the newspaper or online, find and closely read a story about another incident that caused environmental damage in the United States or another part of the world. Use what you read to write an essay or short paper, describing the damage, who or what was responsible for the damage and what is being done to correct it.

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.

3. Few Border Fence Donations

The Arizona legislature had hoped the state could raise enough in private donations to build a fence along its border with Mexico but only a tiny fraction of the goal was reached in the effort to stop people from illegally immigrating into the country. As a result, the legislature’s border security advisory committee has decided to give the money to the Cochise County sheriff’s office to buy equipment for enforcement. Backers of the 2011 legislation had hoped to raise as much as $50 million; instead, the state received about $265,000. There has been great debate on what should be done to curb illegal immigration into the U.S. In the newspaper or online, find and closely read stories about different views on the issue. Use what you read to brainstorm an idea for a short video or film explaining the issue. Write an outline for your video, including images you would use. Then write the opening scene in the style of a movie screenplay.

Common Core State Standards: Writing narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events; conducting short research projects that build knowledge about a topic; reading closely what a text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it.

4. Automatic Voter Registration?

A group of former aides to Presidents Clinton and Obama are campaigning to make voter registration automatic when a person gets a driver’s license. They are spending up to $10 million in an iVote effort to “supercharge” a 1993 law that offers license applicants the option of registering to vote at the same time. The iVote effort by the Democratic leaders is an effort to counter Republican efforts to tighten voting laws, which the Democrats say would target young, poor or minority people. Those people, iVote’s leader said, tend to support Democratic candidates. Voter registration is very important in every election, and it will be when the nation chooses a new president in 2016. In the newspaper or online, closely read stories about the campaigns of candidates running for president. Pick one and write an analysis of what type of voter supports the candidate and what type of voters the candidate will need to attract to win the presidency.

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.

5. Suspended from Track

Russia has been provisionally suspended from international track and field competition, in the wake of doping allegations against its athletes, coaches, trainers, doctors and officials. The ruling by the International Association of Athletics Federations also strips Russia of the right to host next year’s world junior track championships in Kazan. The ban — approved 22-1 by the Federation’s council — could disrupt Russia’s preparations for next summer’s Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro in South America. The ruling follows a report from the World Doping Agency that charged an extensive state-sponsored drug enhancement program in Russia. Sports news today involves more than what happens in competition. It often involves the behavior of people off the field or court. In the newspaper or online, find and closely read a story about off-field sports news. Use what you read to write an analysis or essay discussing why the issue involved is important to both the public and the sport