1. Talk Some Science

Benjamin Franklin began life as the son of a soap maker. His father wanted him to become a minister, but couldn't afford to send him to college, so young Ben went to work with his brother James as a printer. He worked for newspapers, started an almanac, was an inventor and a politician. As a politician, he was a key player in the American Revolution. As an inventor and scientist, he invented bifocal glasses. But he probably was most famous for his demonstration of electricity. He used a kite with a metal key attached to show that lightening was fluid electricity. As a class, find an article in the newspaper on science. Read and discuss it together. What is the most important information in the article? What kind of science do you think will be the most important in the future?

Learning Standards: Engaging peers in constructive conversations about topics of interest or importance; organizing ideas around major points of information and sharing them.

2. Summer Wear

School's almost out for the summer. Hunt through today's newspaper and cut or print out pictures of clothes that would be right for your favorite summertime activity. Paste the pictures down on a sheet of paper and draw a picture of yourself as if you were wearing the clothes. Write a complete sentence explaining why you like your favorite summer activity.

Learning Standard: Reading and writing fluently, speaking confidently, listening and interacting appropriately, viewing strategically and representing creatively.

3. Time for Breakfast

Without Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, there would be no Tony the Tiger. Dr. Kellogg changed the face of breakfast in May 1884 when he patented his "flaked cereal" -- corn flakes. The invention led eventually to the creation of Tony the Tiger's Frosted Flakes and many other varieties of "cold cereal." Before cold cereal, people would have to cook breakfast every morning, making eggs, meats, potatoes, oatmeal or other foods. Now there are dozens of cold cereals you can choose from every day. There are cereals made from oats, wheat, rice, corn and even soybeans. As a class, search the food section of the newspaper to see what kinds of recipes are out there that use cereals or the grains that go into cereals. Or find an example online. Copy one recipe and draw a picture of what you think the food would look like when it is finished. Take the recipe home and try to make it with your family. Be sure to have an adult help you with any cooking.

Learning Standards: Acquiring information from written, visual and electronic sources; writing instructions in logical steps; following step by step directions; representing creatively.

4. Superheroes

Mild-mannered Clark Kent works for the Daily Planet newspaper. He is a quiet reporter until trouble strikes. He pops into a telephone booth and re-appears as Superman - crime-fighting superhero. Superman first appeared on June 1, 1938, in the first issue of Action Comics. Today there are all kinds of superheroes with all kinds of different super powers. They can shoot spider webs out their wrists, climb up the sides of buildings, lift tanks, stretch their bodies, run unbelievably fast or throw a bubble around themselves. In the real world, heroes can be everyday people. They don't have to have super powers; just be super caring. Look in the newspaper to find a story about an everyday person who has done something heroic. Draw a picture showing what the person has done and write two or three sentences about how he or she changed someone's life.

Learning Standards: Using the craft of the illustrator to express ideas artistically; writing summaries that contain the main idea of a reading selection.

5. Tales That Have a Message

Happy Birthday, Aesop! The famous writer of short stories called fables was born in June of about 620 BCE. He was born a slave in ancient Greece and had two masters before being granted his freedom. He wrote such stories as "The Hare and the Tortoise," "The Lion and the Mouse" and "The Ant and the Grasshopper." All his stories had a moral - or life lesson - attached to them. Many news stories have life lessons in them as well. Find a newspaper story that teaches people about life and its ups and downs. Use what you find to come up with a fable that teaches that life lesson.

Learning Standard: Writing fictional narratives that include characters, setting and plot.