1. Super Women

March is Women's History Month, a time when we celebrate the achievements and talents of women in all fields and professions. As a class, discuss what it takes for a woman to be a success in America, and whether the requirements are different from those for men. Then challenge yourself to create a composite "Super Woman" success from women making news today. You may use all parts of the newspaper to build your "Super Woman"--news, features, ads, quotes, even personal ads. Each trait should be taken from a different source. Your description may include physical traits, age, education, job, accomplishments, awards, opinions and more. Make sure not to forget quotes. Quotes can be used to give your "Super Woman" voice, and to let others speak about her. Share your creations with the class and discuss.

Learning Standards: Identifying and explaining how individuals in history demonstrate good character and personal virtue; acquiring information from multiple sources and then organizing it; creating a thesis or hypothesis.

2. Sci-Fi

Author Douglas Adams was born on March 11, 1952. Adams wrote popular science fiction novels that took place all over time and space, including "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy," which was made into a movie. Create your own science fiction story out of something in the news by adding on a quirky sci-fi twist to a news article. Give your story a creative title and share with the class.

Learning Standard: Recognizing and approximating authors' innovative techniques to convey meaning and influence an audience when composing their own texts.

3. Guns

Last week the Supreme Court said it might strike down bans on handguns in U.S. cities. If the court does that, it could expand nationwide rights to gun ownership. Using the newspaper and online sources, read about the arguments over gun ownership, and cases involving the Second Amendment of the Bill of Rights, which lists the "the right of the people to keep and bear arms." As a class, divide into two teams, one in support of banning guns and one against. Hold a debate and take a vote at the end.

Learning Standards: Synthesizing and evaluating information to draw conclusions and implications based on investigation of an issue or problem; 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.

4. Reporter

A massive earthquake struck the South American country of Chile. It was one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded. Read about what's going on in Chile in the newspaper and online. Then write a news article about one aspect of the situation. It can focus on the Chilean people, the government's reaction, the rescue or clean-up efforts, the response from other countries or anything else.

Learning Standard: Writing fluently for multiple purposes to produce compositions, such as stories, poetry, personal narratives, editorials, research reports, persuasive essays, resumes and memos.

5. Internet

Two high school seniors in New Jersey were kicked off the basketball team last week, right before the playoffs, because of Facebook posts they put up about their coach. Students Tina Porter and Dhrupa Rathod used Facebook to complain about a practice session and about the coach, and used curse words. The school district superintendent said they were being disrespectful and inappropriate. Rathod said: "I think what I do outside school is my own business and it shouldn't transgress into school and basketball." Write a newspaper editorial responding to Rathod's quote.

Learning Standard: Generating questions about important issues that affect students or society, or topics about which they are curious; narrowing the questions to a clear focus; creating a thesis or a hypothesis; composing coherent written essays that express a position on a public issue and justifying the position with reasoned arguments.