1. THANKSGIVING AROUND THE WORLD

Many countries celebrate their own versions of Thanksgiving, each with unique traditions. In Canada, Thanksgiving began in 1578, even before it started in the United States. Canadians celebrate on the second Monday in October with turkey, football, and family gatherings. Germany has "Erntedankfest," a harvest festival celebrated in September or October, where people thank God in church, parade with harvest crowns, and enjoy hearty meals. In Liberia, freed slaves from the U.S. brought Thanksgiving traditions. Celebrated on the first Thursday of November, it features spicy chicken, mashed cassava, and dancing. Japan’s "Labor Thanksgiving Day" on November 23 focuses on hard work and kindness. Children make thank-you cards for workers like police officers and firefighters, but there are no big feasts. On Norfolk Island, a small Pacific island, Thanksgiving began in the 1890s when a trader introduced American traditions. People decorate churches, sing hymns, and celebrate on the last Wednesday of November. Grenada’s Thanksgiving on October 25 remembers the U.S. troops who helped restore order in 1983, with celebrations inspired by American Thanksgiving foods. In the Netherlands, the city of Leiden holds church services on Thanksgiving to honor its connection to the Pilgrims, who lived there before traveling to America. Finally, in Puerto Rico, Thanksgiving is celebrated like in the U.S., but with local twists, including turkey stuffed with mashed plantains, roast pork, and traditional rice and beans. These celebrations show how people around the world find ways to express gratitude. Choose at least one of these other places and write a 3 to 5 sentence summary of how they celebrate a holiday similar to our Thanksgiving. Then, draw a picture to go along with your summary.

2. POETRY DURING WAR

Two poets, Mosab Abu Toha and Najwan Darwish, write about the sadness and struggles of war. Their poems show what life is like for people who have lost their homes, loved ones, and a sense of safety. Mosab Abu Toha used to live in Gaza, but his home was destroyed in 2023, and he lost 31 family members in the war. He now lives in the U.S. and writes poems to share his feelings about what happened. His book, “Forest of Noise,” talks about things like a family running from bombs or a soldier saying goodbye to his wife. Mosab says poetry helps him share the emotions behind the events. Najwan Darwish lives in Jerusalem and writes poems about losing his sense of home and history. In one poem, he asks, “Didn’t I have a history?” His book, “No One Will Know You Tomorrow,” shows how war makes people feel invisible, like they don’t belong anywhere. Both poets use their words to help others understand what it’s like to live through war. They believe poetry is important because it can show feelings that news stories can’t. Their writing helps keep memories alive and shows the strength of people going through tough times. Try writing a poem about something sad or difficult in your life. Focus on how the topic made you feel. Do you feel better after doing something creative to express those feelings? Write a few sentences about how you felt during this exercise.

3. LAST MOUND IN ST. LOUIS

St. Louis used to be called "Mound City" because Native Americans built over 100 large mounds there. These big piles of earth were sacred and sometimes used for homes, ceremonies, or burials. Sadly, settlers destroyed almost all of them to use the dirt for building projects. Now, only one mound remains: Sugarloaf Mound. The Osage Nation, a Native American tribe, is working to reclaim Sugarloaf Mound to honor their history. An elderly woman who owns part of the land has agreed to sell it to the tribe. They plan to turn the area into a cultural center to teach others about their heritage. However, another part of the mound is still owned by a fraternity, and it’s unclear if they will sell their property. For the Osage Nation, protecting Sugarloaf Mound is important to preserve their ancestors' legacy and history in St. Louis. Why do you think it’s important to the Osage Nation to preserve this part of their history? Using books or other resources in your classroom, look up the history of the Osage nation and write down at least 5 facts you learned, then answer the question of why you think this last mound is important for them.

4. HISTORY OF THE HOUSE CAT

Harold Sims, also known as "Catman," loved cats so much that he opened a museum just for them! In 2017, he started the American Museum of the House Cat in North Carolina, where he showed off 10,000 cat-themed items like old toys, cat paintings, and even a real ancient Egyptian cat mummy. Visitors loved it, and the museum became very popular. Harold didn’t always love cats, though. After retiring as a biology teacher, he adopted his first cat, Buzzy, and then kept adopting more. He ended up with 13 cats! He also started a no-cage cat shelter called Catman2, where he cared for cats until they found new homes. Over 30 years, his shelter helped 5,000 cats. Harold believed cats were peaceful and wise. He said they don’t fight over silly things like humans do and wished they could rule the world to make it a better place. Harold passed away at 89 but left behind a legacy of love for cats—and his three pets, Tortie, Clarissa, and Eskimo. If you were going to create a museum about something you love, what would it be? Write down your topic, what kinds of artifacts and exhibits your museum would have, and what kinds of things people would learn from visiting.

5. CHESS CHAMP

The World Chess Championship is about to start, and the current champion, Ding Liren from China, is facing a tough challenge. He won the title in 2023 but has been struggling lately. After winning, Ding took a break and came back not playing as well. He has lost many games and dropped from being ranked #3 to #23 in the world. Ding is worried about his upcoming match and fears he might lose badly. His opponent, Gukesh Dommaraju, is only 18 years old but has been playing amazingly well this year. Gukesh won the tournament that decided who would challenge Ding for the title. He is now ranked #5 in the world and is seen as a favorite to win the match. If he does win, he will become the youngest chess champion ever. Even though Gukesh is expected to win, Ding’s fans hope he can get back to his best form. The match will last until mid-December, with $2.5 million in prizes. Can you imagine what it would be like to be the youngest person ever to do something like win a world championship title? Imagine what feelings you would have leading up to it and after you won or lost. Write at least 5 questions you would want to ask Gukesh if you had the chance, like how he prepares for tournaments or what he does to calm his nerves before a match.