1. Tsunami

On December 26, 2004, an earthquake under the Indian Ocean triggered a giant wave, called a tsunami. When the tsunami came ashore, it wiped out entire towns and killed more than 200,000 people in 13 countries. In the newspaper or online, read about a natural disaster, such as a hurricane, tornado or earthquake. Write a paragraph or two explaining how this type of natural disaster occurs or is formed. Include ways people can try to prevent major damage from this type of disaster, such as early warning systems.

Learning Standards: Asking questions that help students learn about the world; designing and conducting investigations using appropriate methodology and technology; learning from books and other sources of information; communicating findings using appropriate technology; and reconstructing previously learned knowledge.

2. Kwanzaa

December 26 is Kwanzaa, a seven-day holiday that celebrates African American heritage. Read an article about an African American who is accomplishing great things. Write a summary of the events described in the article. Draw an illustration or design a poster to showcase this person's accomplishments.

Learning Standards: Reading and writing fluently, speaking confidently, listening and interacting appropriately, viewing critically and representing creatively; identifying and explaining how people demonstrate good character and personal virtue; identifying who was involved, what happened and where it happened in stories about the past.

3. Boycott

This month leaders of countries around the world met in the European country of Denmark to talk about the environment and ways they could tackle global warming. Some of the developing (i.e., poorer) countries boycotted some of the meetings because they thought the richer countries were trying to take back some of their promises to cut greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. They returned to the meetings once their point had been made. Look through the newspaper and find an example of people boycotting or using another non-violent method to protest something. Or find an example online. Write a newspaper editorial that summarizes what the people are doing and explain whether or not you agree with them and their methods.

Learning Standards: Acquiring information from multiple sources; writing fluently for multiple purposes to produce compositions, such as stories, poetry, personal narratives, editorials, research reports, persuasive essays, resumes and memos.

4. Texting

The federal government is talking about passing a law that would make it illegal to send text messages while driving. But studies show that younger drivers often ignore laws against using cell phones while driving, and there is concern they would ignore an anti-texting law too. Read about safe driving in the newspaper or online. In groups, make a poster for teens about driving safely.

Learning Standards: Responding to a variety of texts by making connections to students' personal lives and the lives of others; designing a communication environment for maximum impact on the receiver; using various strategies to regulate the effects of variables on the communication process.

5. Naturalist

Environmentalist John Muir died on December 24, 1914, at age 76. Called the "Father of Our National Parks," Muir studied nature and fought to conserve land. He was also one of the founders of the environmental Sierra Club. In groups, find a newspaper article about an environmental issue. Research in books and online to learn more about the issue. Then create a presentation about it to give to the rest of the class.

Learning Standards: Describing, comparing and explaining the locations and characteristics of ecosystems, resources, human adaptation, environmental impact and the interrelationships among them; describing the environmental consequences of major world processes and events.