1. Reading Aloud

Reading aloud is an important skill. It helps you build the number of words you know and it helps you use words in an effective way. Find a story in the newspaper that shows some action. It can be a sports story, a news story or a feature story. Read through it and think about which words should be stressed to make the listener feel the action of the story. Practice reading your story aloud on your own. Then read your story aloud with family or friends and discuss how the hearing a story aloud helps listeners feel part of the action. For added fun, have family and friends pick stories they would like to read aloud and read them aloud together.

Learning Standards: Practicing verbal and non-verbal strategies that enhance understanding of spoken messages and promote effective listening behaviors. Examples include altering inflection, volume and rate while reading.

2. Love Poetry

William S. Merwin will become the 17th U.S. poet laureate. The poet laureate (LAW-ree-at) serves for one year and works to get more people to like and appreciate poetry. The Library of Congress recently announced that the 82-year-old Merwin will become the nation's chief poet this fall. Merwin studied poetry at Princeton University in New Jersey and has written more than 30 books. He has twice won the Pulitzer Prize (a big award for writers). As poet laureate he will do most of his work from his home in Hawaii. Choose a comic from the newspaper. Write a poem about one of the characters or about the issue in that comic strip today. Remember, poems don't have to rhyme. Read your poem aloud to family or friends.

Learning Standards: Writing fluently for multiple purposes to produce compositions, such as personal narratives, persuasive essays, lab reports and poetry.

3. Save the Turtles!

Biology scientists have started digging in beaches affected by the Gulf of Mexico oil spill to rescue loggerhead sea turtle eggs. The mission began along Florida's Panhandle (the most northwestern part of the U.S. state), where two loggerhead nests were saved. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will try to save as many as 800 nests across Alabama and Florida beaches, with the hope of moving about 70,000 eggs to safe places. Scientists are afraid that if the eggs aren't moved they will hatch, and the baby sea turtles will swim into the oil and die. With family or friends, search the newspaper to find an article about ways people have affected the environment for good or bad. With a friend or an adult, talk about this article and the good things you can do to make a difference for wildlife or the environment.

Learning Standards: Explaining how humans modify the environment and describe some of the possible consequences of those modifications.

4. Fashion Babes

Soon, babies may be making their own fashion statements. The Proctor and Gamble Co., the company that makes Pampers, is introducing disposable diapers created by fashion designer Cynthia Rowley. The diapers will come in 11 styles, including pastels, stripes and ruffles. But fashion will come at a price. A pack of 24 fashionable toddler-size diapers will cost about $6 more than plain diapers. Look through the display ads in the newspaper. Choose a product to redesign. Draw a picture of your new product and write a brief description of how you made it better. What will be the suggested retail price of your new product? Do you think people would pay a higher price for your new product? Why or why not? Share your ideas with your family.

Learning Standards: Reading and writing fluently, speaking confidently, listening and interacting appropriately, viewing critically and representing creatively; using economic reasoning when comparing price, quality and features of goods and services.

5. Dream Comes True

Fifty-five years ago 160 acres of California orange groves were turned into to a dream playground. That playground was Disneyland, which opened on July 17, 1955 in Anaheim, California. The price tag to open Walt Disney's vision was $17 million. Today, more than 14 million people spend nearly $3 billion each year to visit the theme park. Walt Disney World near Orlando, Florida, later opened in 1971. Now there is also Disneyland Tokyo in the Asian country of Japan, Disneyland Paris (often called EuroDisney) in the European country of France and the newest Disneyland in Hong Kong in Asia. Attractions at amusement parks often are inspired by other kinds of entertainment. Read the movie listings in the newspaper. Choose a movie title that would be a good name for a roller coaster. Write about your new roller coaster and why kids would like it.

Learning Standards: Reading and writing fluently, speaking confidently, listening and interacting appropriately, viewing critically and representing creatively; exploring and using the characteristics of different types of texts, aesthetic elements and mechanics to construct and convey meaning.