1. TRICK-OR-TREAT TRENDS

This year, Americans are buying more Halloween candy than ever, even though candy costs more than it used to. People are expected to spend almost $4 billion on Halloween treats! Chocolate is still the most popular candy, but its price has gone up a lot. Some candy pieces are even smaller than before. Because chocolate costs more, many people are trying gummies and sour candies instead. New candies have surprising flavors and textures, like freeze-dried sweets or super sour gummies with gooey centers. Mystery candies are also becoming popular—when you eat one, you don’t know what flavor you’ll get! Some families are also choosing candy made with more natural ingredients. Halloween candy shows that people want to have fun, even when prices are scary! Write 5 sentences describing what kinds of Halloween candy you and your classmates like best. First, ask at least 5 classmates what their favorite Halloween candy is (chocolate, gummies, sour candy, candy corn, or something else). Then write about which candy got the most votes and which got the least. Tell why you think kids like those candies the most this year. Finally, write one sentence about a new kind of candy you would invent for next Halloween.

2. MUSEUM ROBBERY

Police in France have arrested suspects after a big jewelry robbery at the famous Louvre Museum in Paris. Four thieves stole very expensive crown jewels worth over $100 million! They pretended to be workers and used a special machine to reach a window on the second floor. Then they broke in, smashed glass cases, and grabbed the jewels before driving away on scooters. One suspect was caught at the airport while trying to leave France. Police are working fast to find the rest of the thieves and to get the jewels back before they can be taken apart or sold. The museum plans to add better cameras and security so something like this doesn’t happen again. Write 3-5 sentences describing a new security plan to protect a museum. Explain what tools or helpers you would use to keep the artwork and jewelry safe, such as cameras, alarms, guards, or locked cases. Tell where you would place these security items in the museum. Share how you would stop a thief from sneaking in. Finally, write why your plan would keep the museum safe in the future.

3. DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME

Twice a year, people in the United States and Europe change their clocks for daylight saving time. In the spring, clocks move forward one hour to have more daylight in the evening. In the fall, clocks move back one hour to return to standard time. But these changes happen on different dates in the U.S. and Europe. Europe moves clocks back on the last Sunday in October, while the U.S. waits until the first Sunday in November. This means that for one week, the time difference between places like New York and London is one hour shorter than usual. During that week, some people get confused about what time to call their family or join online meetings! Leaders are still deciding if they want to keep changing the clocks or stop doing it someday. Write 5 sentences describing how changing the clocks affects part of your day. Explain how it might feel when the sun sets earlier or later and how that could change when you wake up, go to school, or play outside. Tell what you would do to help yourself remember the new time, like setting a reminder. Include one sentence about whether you would like daylight saving time to stay forever or go away. End by saying how you would help a friend who gets confused by the time change.

4. RARE RED LIGHTNING

Three photographers in New Zealand took amazing pictures of a rare kind of lightning called red sprites. These flashes of light happen high above big thunderstorms and only last a few seconds. The sprites look red at the top and blue or purple as they move downward, almost like glowing jellyfish floating in the sky. The photographers had gone to take pictures of the Milky Way, but they were surprised when a huge storm made the sprites show up. Red sprites are very hard to see and even harder to photograph, so this was a very special moment. The pictures help scientists learn more about the weather and what happens high above the clouds. Write 5 sentences as if you are a weather reporter who just saw red sprites in the sky. Describe where you are, what the sky looks like, and what makes the red lightning special. End with how the people around you react to seeing something so rare.

5. THE WHITE HOUSE LOSES ITS THEATER

The White House used to have a special movie theater just for the president and their family. It had 42 seats and cozy red chairs where presidents could relax and watch movies, sports, or TV shows. Many famous leaders enjoyed it—John F. Kennedy loved James Bond movies, Bill Clinton called it the “best perk,” and Barack Obama even invited movie actors to watch films with him. The theater was first built in 1942 and was updated many times to make it feel fancy and modern. Now it has been taken down as part of a big renovation, but officials say it will be rebuilt later. The movie theater helped presidents take a break from work, enjoy time with family, and have some fun inside the White House. Write 5 sentences describing a special room you would add to the White House if you were president. Explain what the room would be used for and what it would look like inside. Tell what furniture or equipment it would need and who would be allowed to use it. Include one sentence about why this room would help the president do their job better. End by saying how the room would make visitors feel when they see it.