1. Help Wanted

Newspapers are a great source of information. The Help Wanted ads are particularly useful to those who want to hire someone or to those looking for a job. Imagine you wanted a personal assistant--someone who could help you with your chores, work and other stuff. Use the ads in today's Help Wanted section as a guide, and write a pretend ad looking for a helper. Use details and get creative.

Learning Standard: Recognizing and using texts as models and employing varied techniques to construct text, convey meaning and express feelings to influence an audience. Examples include effective introductions and conclusions, different points of view and rich descriptions.

2. Great Sports

People love sports in America, and this is one of the busiest sports seasons. Read an article about your favorite sports team in today's newspaper. Now draw a picture of yourself as the coach of your favorite team, or as a friend of your favorite player. Write a sentence at the bottom of your picture that explains why you chose your favorite.

Learning Standard: Expressing responses and making connections between oral, visual, written and electronic texts and students' lives; representing creatively.

3. That's Wildlife!

The island of Borneo in Southeast Asia is home to one of the oldest rain forests in the world. And it is home to some of the most amazing wildlife in the world as well. Since 2007, wildlife experts have been searching Borneo for undiscovered species as part of the Heart of Borneo program. Last week they announced they had found 123 new species, including a frog that flies, a flame-colored snake, a frog that breathes through its skin and a stick bug 22 inches long! The report from the WWF wildlife group said that all told Borneo is home to 350 species of birds, 150 reptiles and amphibians and a staggering 10,000 plants that are found nowhere else in the world. With a partner, look at pictures of outdoor scenes in the newspaper. Brainstorm a list of different kinds of wildlife that could live there. Then write a funny or serious poem about the wildlife from your photo.

Learning Standards: Explaining ecosystem concepts and processes; describing positive and negative effects of humans on wildlife and the environment;

showing how science concepts can be interpreted through creative expression such as language arts and fine arts.

4. SpongeBob to the Rescue

The "SpongeBob SquarePants" TV show entertains a lot of kids. But recently it saved one kid's life. In Lido Beach, New York, seventh grader Allyson Golden choked on a piece of gum during a rehearsal with her school chorus, and best friend Miriam Starobin sprang into action. Miriam thought she remembered an episode of "SpongeBob" in which the cartoon character used a rescue move called the Heimlich maneuver to get a clarinet that was stuck in the throat of another character. She tried it on her friend, and as quick as you could say "SpongeBob SquarePants" the gum came out. Though the Nickelodeon TV show says there never was an episode in which SpongeBob actually used the Heimlich, Miriam is being hailed as a hero for her quick thinking. As a class, talk about things kids can do to stay safe at school, on playgrounds or in their neighborhoods. Then use photos, headlines and ads in the newspaper to design a poster telling people about ways to keep kids safe. Give your poster an eye-catching title and share with the class.

Learning Standards: Responding to a variety of oral, visual, written and electronic texts by making connections to students' personal lives and the lives of others; representing creatively.

5. Rules for Video Games?

The U.S. Supreme Court is the most powerful court in the nation, and it often reviews decisions made by "lower" courts. Now the Supreme Court has agreed to look at a case in which a state wants to limit the sale or rental of violent video games to children. The state of California passed a law blocking sale or rental of such videos to kids younger than age 18. A U.S. Appeals Court threw out the law, and said one reason was that it violated the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The First Amendment gives people the right to freedom of speech, which not only includes speaking, but speech contained in such things as movies, music, TV and video games. With a partner, go through the newspaper and find an example of someone or some thing that demonstrates freedom of speech. Share what you find with the class and explain your choice.

Learning Standard: Engaging peers in constructive conversation about matters of public concern by clarifying issues, considering opposing views, applying democratic values, anticipating consequences and working toward making decisions.