1. KENNEDY FLIPS FOOD PYRAMID

The U.S. government released new food rules that tell Americans to eat more protein and fewer sugary and highly processed foods. The new “food pyramid” looks very different from older ones because it puts foods like red meat, cheese, and whole milk near the top. Some parts of the advice sound familiar, like eating lots of fruits and vegetables and not eating too much salt, but other parts worry some health experts because red meat and full-fat dairy can have a lot of saturated fat. The rules matter because they can influence what foods are served in places like schools and hospitals. Some people also questioned whether the new experts who helped make the guidelines were too connected to food companies. Pretend you are planning a one-day lunch menu for a school cafeteria that wants to follow the new rules but also stay balanced and healthy. In one paragraph, describe what you would serve for lunch and snack, explain how you made sure there was “real food” and not much added sugar, and then write one sentence that names a food you would limit and why you think it could be a “sometimes food” instead of an “everyday food.”

2. COSMIC WONDERS IN 2026

Scientists say 2026 will have many exciting sky events involving the moon and the sun. Astronauts will travel near the moon again, and several robot spacecraft may try to land on the moon, including new landers from companies and countries around the world. There will also be special eclipses, including a “ring-of-fire” solar eclipse in February and a total solar eclipse in August that will pass over places like Greenland, Iceland, and Spain. Stargazers may get a chance to see a big “planet parade” where many planets line up in the sky, and there will be supermoons that look extra large and bright. Space weather from the sun might also make auroras appear in more places than usual. Imagine you are writing a short note to a friend who has never watched a space event before and you want them to get excited about 2026. In 5–7 sentences, choose one event from the story (like the eclipse, the planet lineup, the supermoon, or the moon mission), describe what it would look like from Earth, and explain what you would do to prepare to watch it safely and comfortably, even if it is just from your backyard.

3. “WORST IN SHOW” A.I. GADGETS

At a huge technology show called CES, some new products were criticized for being a bad use of artificial intelligence. A group of consumer and privacy experts gave “Worst in Show” awards to gadgets they said were invasive, wasteful, or too hard to repair. One example was a refrigerator with AI that can listen to voice commands and track food, but critics said it makes a simple job more complicated and could even try to sell you groceries. Another example was new AI features for doorbell cameras that raised privacy concerns because they could increase surveillance. The judges said they want companies to build technology that is helpful and safe, not just flashy. Think of a normal object in your home or classroom that already works fine, like a pencil, backpack, fan, or water bottle. Write one paragraph explaining why adding “smart” features to that object could create problems (like distractions, privacy worries, breaking easily, or wasting resources), and then end with two sentences describing one kind of technology you would want because it solves a real problem in a simple way.

4. RARE SUPERMAN COMIC SELLS FOR $15 MILLION

A very rare comic book that introduced Superman was sold privately for $15 million. The comic is called Action Comics No. 1, and it was first sold in 1938 for only 10 cents, but fewer than 100 copies are believed to still exist today. This particular copy has an unusual history because actor Nicolas Cage bought it, it was stolen from his home during a party, and it was missing for more than 10 years before being found in a storage unit. Because it was recovered and kept in good condition, it became even more valuable over time. The sale shows how old, rare items can become incredibly expensive when collectors want them. Pretend you find an old object in a family attic that turns out to be worth a surprising amount of money. In one descriptive paragraph, explain what the object is, how it was lost or forgotten, how it gets proven real, and how your family debates what to do next; make sure at least one sentence shows how you feel about keeping it versus selling it.

5. HOW ANIMALS SLEEP

Scientists are learning that animals sleep in many surprising ways, even when sleep seems dangerous. New tools like tiny trackers and devices that measure brain activity help researchers tell when wild animals are truly sleeping, not just resting. For example, chinstrap penguins caring for eggs and chicks can take thousands of tiny “microsleeps” that last only a few seconds, but those naps add up to many hours a day. Some birds like frigatebirds can sleep with half of their brain at a time while flying, so they can keep moving and still rest. Elephant seals can sleep while diving deep underwater, sometimes even drifting in a “sleep spiral” during a deep sleep stage. Choose one animal from the story (penguin, frigatebird, or elephant seal) and write a short paragraph as if you are that animal explaining your “sleep plan” to a curious scientist. In your writing, describe where you sleep, what makes sleeping risky, and how your special sleep trick helps you survive, and then finish with one sentence that compares your animal sleep to how you think humans sleep.