1. Super Power

On December 8, 1987, the leaders of the United States and the Soviet Union -- at the time the two countries known as the world's "super powers" -- each agreed to get rid of some of their nuclear weapons for the safety of both countries and the rest of the world. In the newspaper or online, find an article about people, groups or countries working together to reach a compromise. Write a summary of it. Then find another article about people, groups or countries in conflict. Write a paragraph explaining whether or not the tactics from the first article could be applied to the situation in the second.

Learning Standards: Writing fluently for multiple purposes to produce compositions, such as stories, poetry, personal narratives, editorials, research reports, persuasive essays, resumes and memos; generating possible alternative resolutions to public issues and evaluating them using criteria that have been identified.

2. Candles

Starting at sundown on December 11, candles will be lit by the millions of Jewish people who celebrate Hanukkah. The candles are a reminder of an ancient victory over oppressors. Sometimes groups that want to make a point, or oppose something, hold a rally called a "candlelight vigil." In this form of protest, they light candles at night and gather at a site that is important to the issue. They may stand quietly, or chant, or sing. Look through the news today or for several days. Find a group that is protesting or speaking out about something. Write a paragraph assessing whether a candlelight vigil would be more effective, or less, than what the group is doing.

Learning Standards: Using reading for multiple purposes, such as enjoyment, clarifying information and learning complex procedures; developing and applying critical standards for individual use; using themes and central ideas in literature and other texts to generate solutions to problems and formulate perspectives on issues in the lives of students and their families.

3. Survey Says

Polls are a common way to gauge the public's opinion on issues. Shoppers are polled to see which products they prefer, and voters are polled on their way out of voting booths to help predict an election's winner. In groups, come up with a poll question based on something in the news. Ask other students to answer the question. Then create a chart or graph to represent the results of your poll.

Learning Standards: Collecting and exploring data, organizing data into a useful form and developing skill in representing and reading data displayed in different formats; organizing data using tables, charts, graphs, spreadsheets and databases.

4. Health Care

Members of the U.S. Senate are currently debating a proposed health care bill that would require most Americans to have health insurance. It would also greatly expand the government program that insures the poor. Read about arguments over the health care bill in the newspaper or online. Then divide into two teams and hold a class debate about whether or not the health care bill should be passed.

Learning Standard: Engaging their 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.

5. History

On December 7, 1941, during World War II, Japan launched a surprise attack on an American navy base in Hawaii and declared war on the United States. Until that happened, the U.S. had not been involved in World War II. Read about the Pearl Harbor attack in the newspaper and online. Write a report explaining what impact it had on world history. Create a visual aid to accompany your report, such as a timeline, map or graph.

Learning Standards: Conducting investigations by formulating a clear statement of a question, gathering and organizing information from a variety of sources, analyzing and interpreting information, formulating and testing hypotheses, reporting results both orally and in writing and making use of appropriate technology.