Common Core State Standard L.CCS.1/2/3/4 Grades 6-12: Video of a current news event is presented for discussion to encourage student participation, but also inspire the use of evidence to support logical claims using the main ideas of the video. Students must analyze background information provided about a current event, draw out the main ideas and key details, and review different opinions on the issue. Then, students should present their own claims using facts and analysis for support.
02/16/2026
Surfers hailed for rescuing family after boat capsizes
A group of surfers pulled two parents and their four young children onto their boards last week after a small fishing boat capsized in heavy waves in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Santa Cruz, Calif. “Crazy. Unbelievable these small children made it out of this boat wreck," said surfer Darryl “Flea” Virostko. The children, ages 3 to 9, wore life jackets, but their parents did not. The family was examined at a hospital and only suffered minor injuries.
■Class discussion: Staff at the harbor office had warned the family not to go out into the rough sea with 8 to 12-foot swells. Do you pay attention to danger warnings when you want to do something or go somewhere? How often does overconfidence lead to a disaster? Could that boat racing to shore have endangered some of the same surfers who came to the family’s rescue? Would you rush to help someone in trouble? Or, would you avoid getting involved?
