1. PANDA PROBLEMS

In the 1990s, China started sending giant pandas to zoos around the world to help them breed and eventually release more into the wild. However, things didn’t go as planned. After almost 30 years, more pandas have been taken from the wild than released back into it. While the breeding program has created many panda cubs for zoos, it has also caused serious problems for some pandas, including injuries and even deaths from medical procedures. Most of the cubs born in zoos have never been released into the wild, and the exact number of wild pandas is unclear because of bad record-keeping by the Chinese government. Some scientists believe that aggressive breeding methods have harmed the pandas and that the animals often don’t want to mate in captivity. There’s a debate about whether it’s ethical to force pandas to breed when they have little chance of living in the wild. The program was meant to help save pandas, but instead, it has mainly made more pandas for people to see in zoos. Even though there are many pandas in captivity, experts warn that this doesn’t guarantee their survival in nature. Using the internet or resource books in your classroom, look up facts about pandas, like what they eat and how long they live. Then, write a summary of what you learned, including at least 5 facts.

2. UNCRUSTABLES IN THE NFL

NFL players love Uncrustables, the crustless peanut butter and jelly sandwiches you can find at the grocery store. Many players eat them before games, at halftime, or even during training camp. Teams go through tons of Uncrustables each week—about 80,000 a year! San Francisco 49ers' George Kittle, for example, eats a few on flights to and from games, while other players, like Chiefs’ Travis Kelce, say they eat them all the time. Uncrustables were invented in the '90s by Len Kretchman and his wife, who wanted an easy PB&J sandwich without crusts. They made the sandwich round by cutting it with a glass, then figured out a way to keep the jelly from leaking. The name "Uncrustable" was suggested by an 11-year-old, and in 1999, Smuckers bought the idea. Now, Uncrustables are everywhere in the NFL, even making it to the Super Bowl! Are you surprised that professional football players like the same sandwiches lots of kids eat for lunch regularly? Do you think you’ll like the same things as an adult that you do now? Write at least five sentences about some of your favorite foods and whether you think they’re a kids-only treat.

3. NEW HEARING HELP

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new feature for Apple AirPods that can help some people hear better. This feature will work like a hearing aid and will be available through a software update for AirPods Pro 2 users starting this fall. About 30 million adults in the U.S. have trouble hearing, but many don't use hearing aids because they can be too expensive or hard to get. The new AirPods feature will let users take a simple hearing test at home and adjust their settings to hear better, especially for speech. While this is a big step for people with mild to moderate hearing loss, it's important to note that these AirPods won't work for everyone. They are meant for adults 18 and older. The goal is to make hearing help more accessible and to reduce the stigma around hearing loss. Write down at least 5 facts you learned from this story and write down who you think would benefit from this new technology.

4. TEEN ON TOP OF THE WORLD

At 18 years old, Nima Rinji Sherpa has done something amazing—he’s become the youngest person to climb all 14 of the world’s highest mountains, which are all over 26,247 feet tall! These mountains are so high they reach the “death zone,” where there isn’t enough oxygen for humans to stay alive for long. Nima started this challenge in August 2022 by climbing Manaslu, then moved on to climb even higher peaks, including Mount Everest. He finished his journey on October 9, 2024, by reaching the top of Shishapangma in Tibet. Nima comes from a family of famous mountain climbers. His dad, Tashi Lakpa Sherpa, was the youngest to climb Mount Everest without extra oxygen. His uncle, Mingma Gyabu Sherpa, used to hold the record as the youngest to climb all 14 of these tall mountains at age 30. In Nepal, Sherpas like Nima have always helped other climbers by carrying heavy loads and guiding them up dangerous paths. But Nima hopes his achievement will show people that Sherpas aren’t just helpers—they are incredible athletes too! He wants young Sherpas to know they can be more than guides; they can be explorers, athletes, and leaders. If you could talk to Nima, what would you want to ask him? Write down at least 10 interview questions you’d ask him about his life or advice.

5. HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN

Halloween, celebrated every October 31, is a fun holiday when people dress in costumes, decorate homes with spooky items, and enjoy treats. But do you know where it all started? Over 2,000 years ago, the Celts, a group of tribes in Ireland and parts of France, held a festival called Samhain. They believed that on this day, spirits of the dead returned to Earth. To stay safe, they’d wear costumes and light bonfires. Later, in the 8th century, the church made November 1 “All Saints' Day” to honor saints. The night before, called “All Hallows' Eve,” eventually became Halloween. Halloween came to America in the 1800s with Irish and Scottish immigrants. At first, people would tell ghost stories and dance, but it eventually became a nationwide celebration. The tradition of trick-or-treating began with "souling." On All Souls' Day, poor people would ask for food in exchange for prayers for the dead. Later, kids in Ireland and Scotland started dressing up and getting treats for singing or reciting poems, a tradition they brought to America. At first, kids would get fruits, nuts, or small toys. In the 1970s, parents preferred giving out packaged candy for safety reasons, and it became a big part of Halloween. Now, Americans buy over 600 million pounds of candy each Halloween! The Irish started the jack-o'-lantern tradition to ward off spirits, using turnips and potatoes. When they moved to America, they discovered pumpkins, which were easier to carve. That’s why pumpkins are now the go-to for Halloween jack-o'-lanterns. Using what you learned here, write your own summary of the history of Halloween in 3-5 sentences. To go along with it, draw a picture of what Halloween looks like to you!