1. BULGARIA WINS EUROVISION SONG CONTEST

Bulgaria won the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time after singer Dara surprised audiences with her energetic song “Bangaranga.” The competition took place in Vienna, Austria, and millions of people across Europe watched the performances. Dara was not expected to win before the show, but she earned many points from both judges and viewers at home. Eurovision is famous for colorful costumes, exciting music, and creative stage performances. This year, some countries chose not to participate because of disagreements about Israel’s involvement in the contest, but many fans focused on the music once the show began. Dara explained that the made-up word “bangaranga” was inspired by old Bulgarian traditions and can mean being your best self. Imagine your country is entering a huge international music contest. Design a performance for the show by describing the song, costumes, stage decorations, and dance moves. Then write a short paragraph explaining what message you would want your performance to share with people around the world.

2. LONG ISLAND RAIL ROAD STRIKE SHUTS DOWN TRAINS

Workers on the Long Island Rail Road went on strike for the first time in more than 30 years, causing trains to stop running. The workers said they wanted higher pay and better agreements about health care after years of contract talks that did not succeed. More than 270,000 people normally use the railroad to travel between Long Island and New York City, so many families had trouble getting to work, school, and events. Some people had to drive long distances or take buses and subways instead. The strike also affected businesses near train stations and even baseball fans traveling to games. Leaders from the railroad and the unions are still trying to agree on a solution. Think about how important transportation is in your community. Write a paragraph explaining what problems might happen if buses, trains, or roads suddenly stopped working for several days. Include at least three examples of how people’s daily lives could change and one idea for how communities could help during the problem.

3. ARCHAEOLOGISTS FIND MUMMY BURIED WITH THE “ILIAD”

Archaeologists in Egypt discovered a 2,000-year-old mummy buried with a piece of writing from the ancient Greek story called the “Iliad.” The “Iliad” is a famous poem about the Trojan War written by Homer long ago. Scientists believe the papyrus may have been placed with the mummy to help the person in the afterlife, almost like a lucky charm or spiritual guide. The discovery is special because it shows how Egyptian and Greek cultures mixed together during Roman times. Researchers found the mummy in Oxyrhynchus, an ancient city where many old writings and artifacts have been discovered. Experts say the finding helps people better understand what ancient societies believed about life, death, and the afterlife. Create your own “ancient artifact” that people might discover thousands of years from now. Draw or describe the object and explain what it would tell future historians about life today. Then write a few sentences about why you think people save special objects from the past.

4. LOUISIANA RELOCATION BECOMES A CAUTIONARY TALE

Families from Isle de Jean Charles in Louisiana moved to a new community because rising seas and storms were slowly destroying their island home. The government helped pay for the move to safer land, hoping it would become a model for helping communities affected by climate change. While many families are safer from flooding now, some residents miss their old way of life and feel unhappy with rules and problems in the new neighborhood. Some homes had leaks and repairs, and residents said they did not always feel included in important decisions. Scientists say climate change may force many more communities around the world to move in the future. The story shows that moving people to safety can still be difficult emotionally and culturally. Imagine your town had to move because of flooding or another natural disaster. Write a diary entry from the point of view of a child moving to a new community. Describe what the child would miss, what might feel exciting or strange, and how they would try to keep old traditions alive in the new place.

5. NASA SPACECRAFT FLIES PAST MARS

NASA’s Psyche spacecraft is flying close to Mars as it travels toward a rare metal asteroid far out in space. The spacecraft will use Mars’s gravity to help speed up its journey, a technique called a gravity assist. During the flyby, Psyche will take thousands of pictures of Mars to test its cameras and instruments. Scientists are excited because the asteroid Psyche may be made mostly of metal and could be the core of an ancient planet. By studying it, researchers hope to learn more about how planets formed billions of years ago. The spacecraft launched in 2023 and is expected to reach the asteroid in 2029. Pretend you are a scientist working on the Psyche mission. Write a short mission report describing what you hope to learn from the asteroid and why space exploration is important. Include at least two questions you would want the spacecraft to answer during its journey.