1. REMEMBERING JANE GOODALL

Jane Goodall was a famous scientist who spent her life studying chimpanzees in the wild. She began her work in Africa more than 60 years ago and was the first person to discover that chimpanzees use tools—just like humans! She watched how chimps raised their babies, made friends, and even had their own way of “talking” to each other. Jane gave the chimps names like Flo and David Greybeard and learned to tell their personalities apart. Her discoveries changed what scientists thought about animals and helped protect chimpanzees and their homes. Jane became known around the world for her kind heart, love of animals, and her exciting adventures in the jungle. She wrote books, spoke to crowds, and even helped start a program that teaches kids to care about nature. Jane hoped that every child would grow up wanting to protect animals and the planet. She passed away at age 91, but her work and kindness will never be forgotten. Write a short letter to Jane Goodall. In your letter, thank her for something she did that you learned about in the story. You can thank her for helping chimpanzees, teaching kids about animals, or showing the world how to be kind to nature. Then, tell her one way you want to help animals or the planet in your own life. Write your letter in complete sentences and be sure to sign your name at the end.

2. THE RETURN OF “READING RAINBOW”

After almost 20 years off the air, the beloved children’s show Reading Rainbow is back—this time with a new host, librarian and social media star Mychal Threets. The original show, which ran from 1983 to 2006 and was hosted by actor LeVar Burton, inspired generations of children to read by exploring books, meeting authors, and encouraging imagination. Now streaming on YouTube through KidZuko, the reboot keeps the same heart but adds modern touches like celebrity guests and trivia segments. The classic theme song has even been rerecorded. Mychal Threets, known online as “Mychal the Librarian,” brings his love for reading and libraries to the show’s next generation. He began sharing videos online during the pandemic and gained a large following by promoting joy, literacy, and kindness. Threets says he hopes to remind all kids that they are readers, too—capable, worthy, and welcome in library spaces. The show returns at a time when funding for public media is shrinking, but producers say it’s more important than ever to make educational content free and accessible for young learners. While the faces may change, the mission of Reading Rainbow remains the same: to spark a lifelong love of reading. In a short paragraph, describe a show or story you loved when you were younger. Explain what it was about, why it was meaningful or fun for you, and what changes you would make to update it for today’s audience. Then, in one or two sentences, explain why you think stories and characters from the past can still be important today.

3. YOUNG PEOPLE PROTEST IN MOROCCO

In Morocco, a country in North Africa, thousands of young people have been marching in the streets asking their government to fix schools and hospitals. Many kids and teens say their classrooms are crowded, their teachers don’t have enough supplies, and hospitals don’t have enough doctors or equipment. They also say the government is spending a lot of money on soccer stadiums for the World Cup instead of on things people need every day. The protests started out peaceful but turned violent in some places after police clashed with crowds, and some people were hurt or arrested. Even so, the young protesters say they will keep speaking out until the government promises to make changes. Imagine you could send a kind message to the young people in Morocco. In 3 to 5 sentences, write a short note to show you support their hope for a better future. You can encourage them to keep speaking up, tell them they’re not alone, or share what you care about in your own school or community.

4. TOURISM HELPS ENDANGERED GORILLAS

5. TREASURE HUNTERS FIND SHIPWRECK OF LOOT

A team of treasure hunters in Florida made an exciting discovery this summer—more than 1,000 silver and gold coins from a shipwreck that happened over 300 years ago! The coins came from a group of Spanish ships that sank during a hurricane in 1715 while carrying treasure from Central and South America. The ships went down off the coast of Florida, in an area now called the Treasure Coast. The coins are very old but still in great condition. Many have dates and markings that help experts learn where and when they were made. Most of them came from places like Mexico and Peru, and some were probably packed inside sacks and wooden chests. The discovery is like opening a time capsule from the past, and historians are excited to study the coins and maybe even display some in museums. The team says they hope to find more treasure when they search again next year. Pretend you are a news reporter covering the discovery of the sunken treasure. Write a short news report to tell others what happened. Be sure to include where the treasure was found, who found it, what they discovered, and why it is important. Don’t forget to give your report a headline!