1. UNDER THE SEA

A very old and special ship is going on one last trip! The SS United States is a giant ocean liner that was once the fastest ship to cross the Atlantic Ocean. It started sailing in 1952 and broke speed records. But now, it’s too old to carry people, so it’s getting a brand-new job—becoming a home for fish! The ship is being moved from Philadelphia to Alabama, where workers will clean it and get it ready. Then, they will sink it off the coast of Florida to turn it into an artificial reef. A reef is a special place under the sea where fish, crabs, and other sea creatures can live. This ship will become the biggest artificial reef in the world! Many people are excited because this new reef will help sea animals and bring more visitors to Florida. Scuba divers will get to explore the sunken ship, and the town will make money from people coming to see it. But before the ship goes underwater, workers have to make sure it’s safe for the ocean, which will take a long time. Imagine you are turning a big ship into an underwater reef. What would it look like? Would it have secret tunnels for fish? Maybe a castle shape for crabs to hide in? Draw a picture of your reef ship and label the different parts where ocean animals might live. Then, write 2–3 sentences explaining why your design would be a great home for sea creatures!

2. AN AMAZING FIND IN EGYPT

Archaeologists in Egypt just made an amazing discovery—they found the tomb of a pharaoh named Thutmose II! This is the first royal tomb found near the Valley of the Kings since the famous discovery of King Tut’s tomb in 1922. Thutmose II ruled Egypt a long time ago, around 1480 B.C. His wife, Queen Hatshepsut, became one of the most powerful pharaohs after he died. The archaeologists found broken jars with his name on them, blue and gold ceiling decorations, and pieces of an ancient book about the afterlife inside the tomb. However, the tomb was flooded thousands of years ago, and most of the treasures inside were moved somewhere else. This discovery is very exciting because it helps us learn more about Egypt’s past and how pharaohs were honored after they died. Scientists will keep exploring to see what else they can find! Imagine you are a news reporter in Egypt when this tomb was discovered. Your job is to write a short news story (3–5 sentences) about the exciting find. Think about these questions: Who was Thutmose II? What did archaeologists find? Why is this discovery important? After writing your article, think about why it’s important for people to learn about history. How does knowing about ancient Egypt help us today? Write 1–2 sentences explaining why discovering old tombs is exciting and important!

3. EXCITEMENT IN ITALY

A huge volcano in Italy called Mount Etna has been erupting, sending hot lava down its snowy slopes! This has made people excited to visit and take pictures. But there’s a big problem—it’s really dangerous! So many people are going up the mountain that they are blocking the roads, making it hard for rescue workers to do their jobs. The hot lava is melting the snow, which can cause explosions that send rocks and fire flying into the air. This could hurt or even kill people who get too close. Officials in Italy are telling people to stay far away. They have made rules to keep visitors safe, but some people are still sneaking up the mountain to get close to the lava. Some have even gone skiing near the eruption! Scientists and rescue workers say it’s not worth the risk. magine you are a safety officer in Italy, and your job is to warn people about the dangers of getting too close to an erupting volcano like Mount Etna. Create a bright and eye-catching safety poster to help people understand the risks. Your poster should include warnings like “Stay Back!”, “Danger: Hot Lava!”, or “Explosions Can Happen!” to make sure visitors know to keep their distance. Use big letters and bold colors to grab attention. Along with your drawing, write 2–3 sentences explaining why it is important to stay far away from an erupting volcano and what could happen if people get too close. Your goal is to help keep everyone safe!

4. PRESS FIGHT

In the United States, there is an important rule called freedom of the press. This means that news reporters can write and share information without the government telling them what to say. This helps people learn the truth about what is happening in the world. Recently, President Trump banned reporters from a news group called The Associated Press (A.P.) from going to White House events. He said they couldn’t come because they used the name Gulf of Mexico instead of a new name he wanted, Gulf of America. But many other news groups, including Fox News and CNN, think this is unfair. They wrote a letter asking the president to let the A.P. back in because reporters should be able to choose their own words. Reporters help people understand what leaders are doing. If the government only allows some reporters and blocks others, people may not get the full story. That’s why freedom of the press is important! Imagine you are a news reporter, and your job is to write an article about a big event at your school, like a talent show, a sports game, or a class party. Think about these questions: What happened? Who was there? What made it exciting? Write a short news article (3–5 sentences) about the event. Make sure to only write facts and not change the story to make someone happy. Then, think: Why is it important that reporters can write the truth, even if some people don’t like it? Write 1–2 sentences about why freedom of the press matters!

5. SUPER COMPUTER

Did you know that everything around us is made up of three states of matter? Things can be solid, like a rock, liquid, like water, or gas, like the air we breathe. But now, scientists at Microsoft say they have created a new state of matter—something that could help build super-powerful computers! These new computers are called quantum computers. They use special parts called qubits (say: cue-bits) that can do many things at the same time! A normal computer, like a phone or laptop, only works with 0s and 1s, but quantum computers can hold both at once. That means they can solve super hard math problems, help make better medicine, and even create new kinds of technology faster than ever before! Microsoft is using something called a topological qubit (say: top-oh-loj-uh-kul cue-bit) to help make quantum computers better. Some scientists aren’t sure if it will work yet, but if it does, it could change the world! Imagine you are a scientist creating a brand-new super-powerful quantum computer. What problems would you want it to solve? Would it help people invent flying cars, find cures for diseases, or explore faraway planets? Draw a picture of your quantum computer and what it would look like. Then, write 2–3 sentences explaining what your computer can do and why it is important!