1. Picture Math A newspaper provides many ways to learn or build skills that will help you in life. For instance, you can use the pictures in today's newspaper to make a simple addition or subtraction problem. To make the problem 2 + 3, you could cut out a picture with two buildings and then cut out a picture of three apples. Or you could cut out a picture with two buildings and cut out three pictures of one apple. Think up a problem of your own and find pictures in the newspaper to show it. Paste your pictures on a sheet of paper, and write the appropriate +/- and = signs. Give your sheet to someone else. Have them solve the problem, and then show their answer using pictures, too. For the problem 2 buildings plus 3 apples, someone could paste down 5 babies as the answer.

Learning Standard: Using addition, subtraction, multiplication and division to solve problems; responding to a variety of written, visual and electronic texts; representing creatively.

2. Power to the People The United States, and countries all around the world, get their power from different sources. In some areas, electricity is produced through water generators. In others, coal is used as a source of energy. Natural gas, solar, wind and nuclear power are other ways energy is produced. Some types of power are considered safer than others. Japan recently found out how dangerous nuclear power plants could be when a tsunami tidal wave hit the northern part of the country. In a recent Associated Press article, Germany's government said it planned to shut down all of the nation's nuclear power plants. As a class, find a newspaper article about electricity or energy in your city. Or find an example online. Talk as a class about how power is produced in your area, the safety of the power supply and the different alternative energy sources that are available.

Learning Standard: Restating facts and details in a text to clarify and organize ideas.

3. Gotta Love Ice Cream! Mint chocolate chip. Cookies and Cream. Strawberry. Most everybody has a favorite flavor of ice cream, and as summer rolls around, more and more ice cream will be sold. The first commercially made ice cream was sold in New York City on June 8, 1786. Today, Americans consume an average of 23.2 quarts per person per year. The top three U.S. cities for eating ice cream are Portland, Oregon, Seattle, Washington, and St. Louis, Missouri, according to ice cream manufacturers. July is National Ice Cream Month, and more ice cream is sold during July and August than in any other months. And, in case you were wondering, it takes an average of 50 licks to finish a single-scoop cone. Search the newspaper for articles or advertisements about ice cream. Alone or in groups, come up with a new flavor and design a newspaper ad to promote it.

Learning Standards: Composing documents with appropriate computer formatting by using word processing skills and principles of design; representing creatively.

4. Quack! The world first met Donald Duck on June 9, 1934. This popular Disney character made his debut in the Silly Symphonies Cartoon called "The Wise Little Hen." Since 1934, Donald has been joined by hundreds of other Disney cartoon characters that have entertained children for years. They have come in all shapes and sizes, from Dumbo the flying elephant to Ariel, a singing mermaid. Cartoons are now featured in theaters as full-length animated movies, and many are coming out this summer. Search the newspaper for articles about animated movies, or talk about ones you would like to see. As a class, use a large piece of white butcher paper, pencils and markers to draw a mural of your favorite cartoon characters to hang in a school hallway.

Learning Standards: Applying artistic processes and skills using a variety of media, to communicate meaning and intent in works of art; engaging peers in constructive conversations about topics of interest or importance.

5. A Very Brave Teacher Many students think their teacher is the best. Kindergarten students in Monterrey, Mexico, know that theirs really IS the best. Martha Rivera Alanis received a certificate last week from the governor of the Mexican state of Nuevo Leon saying she showed "outstanding civic courage" during a gunfight outside her school. She coaxed her children to lie flat on the floor and sing while guns were going off down the street. In teams or pairs, search the newspaper for people doing courageous things in their jobs. Write a short paragraph about why you think one person was brave. Draw a picture to go with your writing.

Learning Standards: Writing persuasive compositions; identifying and explaining how individuals in history demonstrate good character and personal virtue; representing creatively.