1. ATTEMPTING A RECORD

Faith Kipyegon is a super-fast runner from Kenya. She has already won many gold medals and broken world records, but now she is trying to do something no woman has ever done — run a mile in less than four minutes! That’s very hard and would mean running faster than anyone thought possible. Faith has special shoes, helpers called pacers who run in front of her, and trains every day in Kenya. Scientists and coaches are helping her by testing how her body works best. They say she’s strong and tough, and if everything goes just right, she might make history. Pretend you are a sports reporter covering Faith Kipyegon’s big race. Write a short news story explaining who she is, what she’s trying to do, and why it’s exciting. Be sure to include how she trains and what makes her a strong athlete.

2. WARMING PLANET

The Earth is getting hotter faster than before, and this is mostly because of things people do, like driving cars and using factories that release gases into the air. These gases trap heat from the sun, like a blanket around our planet. Scientists have known for a long time that this would happen, but now it’s affecting people more every day. The heat causes stronger storms, more wildfires, and big floods. The ice at the North and South Poles is melting faster, which is making the ocean rise. Even though scientists are still learning more, they all agree that we need to take care of the Earth and stop polluting to help keep it safe. Imagine you are a weather reporter in the future. Write a short weather report explaining how the Earth is changing because of global warming. Include at least one extreme weather event, like a heatwave or a flood, and explain what people are doing to help the planet. Then, read your weather report out loud to a partner or your class.

3. SECRET MESSAGES

Scientists have found a new and fun way to write secret messages—using bubbles inside ice! When water freezes, tiny air bubbles get trapped. By changing how fast the water freezes and how the ice is tilted, scientists can make the bubbles into shapes like dots and dashes, just like Morse code. They used this bubble code to spell letters and numbers. This discovery could help in the future with things like studying glaciers, building things on the Moon, or even making better ice for planes and power lines. Ice is more interesting than most people think, and now it might even be used to send secret messages! Pretend you’re a scientist using ice to send a secret message. On a piece of paper, draw what your ice message might look like using dots, dashes, or shapes for each letter. Then write a short note to a friend using your secret ice code and see if they can figure it out!

4. GREEN TEAM

The Vermont Green Football Club is a soccer team that also cares a lot about the planet. They play their games in Burlington, Vermont, and they do things to help the Earth, like wearing uniforms made from recycled materials and giving prizes to fans who ride their bikes to the game. They even have vegan food and free ice cream at the stadium! The team teaches fans how to recycle and compost their trash, and they share information about how climate change is hurting nature. Many people come to the games to cheer for the team and also to help the environment. The players and fans believe that taking care of the Earth is just as important as scoring goals. Draw a picture of your favorite sport or game, and show one way people playing or watching it could help the Earth — like recycling, planting trees, or riding bikes. Then write two sentences explaining what your picture shows and how it helps the planet.

5. VAULTING COMPETITION

Vaulting is a special sport that combines gymnastics, dancing, and horseback riding. In vaulting, athletes do tricks like handstands, spins, and jumps on the back of a moving horse. The horse walks in a big circle while being led by a helper called a lunger. Some vaulters perform alone, while others work in pairs or even in teams of six! Judges give scores based on how hard the moves are, how artistic the routine is, and how well the vaulter and horse work together. This weekend, top vaulters from around the world are competing in a big event in Aachen, Germany. The athletes practice a lot to move smoothly with their horses and choose fun music to match their routines. Vaulting is always a team effort between the vaulter, the horse, and the lunger! After reading about vaulting, pretend you are a reporter at the big competition in Germany. Write a short news article about what you see, including a description of the horse, the vaulter’s moves, the music they use, and how the audience reacts. Be creative and try to make your reader feel like they are at the event with you!