1. Fewer Frogs

Frogs, salamanders and toads are disappearing. In the last 10 years, their numbers have declined at the alarming rate of 3.7 percent year, scientists say. What’s threatening the amphibians? Researchers for the U.S. Geological Survey link the decline to loss of habitat, climate change and disease. As a class, discuss the effects on the environment when a species increases or decreases significantly in number. Then find a wild animal in the stories, ads or photos of the newspaper. Write a paragraph explaining how an increase or decrease in the number of this animal would affect the environment.

Common Core/National Standards: Engaging effectively in a range of collaborative discussions; producing clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization and style are appropriate to the task, purpose and audience.

2. Summer Art

Newspapers can be fun as well as useful. Look through today’s newspaper and cut out pictures and words that remind you of summer. Create a “summery” art collage by pasting the pictures and words on a sheet of paper. While the paste is drying, use the collage as an inspiration to write a short poem. Read your poems aloud for the class.

Common Core/National Standards: Integrating information presented in different media or formats to develop a coherent understanding of a topic; using drawings or visual displays when appropriate to enhance the development of main ideas or points.

3. At Age 80, Atop Everest

An 80-year-old from Japan who has had four heart surgeries is the oldest person to conquer Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain. It was the third time that Yuichiro Miura had reached the Everest summit, but he now holds the record as the oldest climber. He was accompanied by his son, two other Japanese climbers and six Nepali sherpas on his climb, and — speaking by satellite phone from the summit — said reaching the top was “the greatest feeling in the world.” His record is already being challenged. Nepal’s Min Bahadur Sherchan, 81, is making plans to climb the 29,029-foot peak. Nearly 4,000 climbers have reached the Everest summit since Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay first reached it 60 years ago in May 1953. Climbing Mount Everest is an adventure many people want to have. In the stories, photos and ads of the newspaper, find an adventure you would like to have. Write a paragraph explaining why you would like to have this adventure.

Common Core/National Standards: Conducting short research projects that build knowledge about a topic; writing informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.

4. With Leo in Space

A Russian living in the European region of Monaco will go into outer space with actor Leonardo DiCaprio, thanks to his high bid in an AIDS research fund-raising event at the Cannes Film Festival in France. Vasily Klyukin, 37, will spend three days training with DiCaprio before blasting off on a Virgin Galactic space flight. DiCaprio signed up for a flight with the private Virgin Galactic company and agreed to the auction to raise money for charity. As a class, talk about reasons you would like to take a space flight. Then draw a comic strip for the newspaper explaining why you would like to fly in space.

Common Core/National Standards: Engaging effectively in a range of collaborative discussions; using drawings or visual displays when appropriate to enhance the development of main ideas or points.

5. Not Too Cold for Mars?

Bacteria that are able to reproduce at a record-setting low temperature of -15 degrees Celsius have been discovered in the permafrost in the Arctic region near the Earth’s North Pole. The extremely cold environment was believed unsuitable to all forms of life, but researchers believe these organisms are capable of thriving at even lower temperatures. The discovery raises the possibility that forms of life may exist on other planets in our solar system, including Mars, and the moons of the planets Saturn and Jupiter. That’s why America’s NASA space agency offered its assistance to the Canadian researchers working on the bacteria project in the Arctic. Science discoveries often make news. Read one as a class from the newspaper or Internet. Write a paragraph explaining why the discovery is important and whom it will affect most.

Common Core/National Standards: Reading closely what a text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; engaging effectively in a range of collaborative discussions.