1. NEW YORK CITY CELEBRATES RAMADAN WITH ITS FIRST MUSLIM MAYOR

Many Muslims in New York City said Ramadan felt extra special this year because the city has its first Muslim mayor, Zohran Mamdani. During the holiday, he visited many different groups across the city to pray, share meals, and break his fast with them at iftar dinners. These gatherings included firefighters, taxi drivers, teachers, children, and many other Muslim communities. For many people, seeing the mayor take part in Ramadan made them feel proud, seen, and included. At the same time, the holiday came during a hard season because many families were also worried about war, Islamophobia, and loved ones around the world. Even so, shared meals and time together helped people feel comfort, faith, and community. Create a short invitation for a community meal that welcomes people from many different backgrounds. Write a title for your event and 3 to 5 sentences explaining what the event is, what guests can expect, and how it will bring people together. End with one sentence explaining how your event helps people feel included and comfortable.

2. SRI LANKA ADDS A SURPRISE WEEKLY HOLIDAY

Sri Lanka’s government announced that every Wednesday would be a public holiday for now because the country is trying to save fuel during an energy shortage. Fuel shipments have been delayed, and the government is worried there will not be enough gasoline and oil for everyone. While some people understood why the rule was made, many were unhappy because shops and restaurants lost business, students missed school, and drivers had trouble making money. The government also limited how much fuel people could buy each week and made special rules about which days different cars could refuel. Some people canceled trips because they were afraid of running out of fuel far from home. This public holiday is a creative solution to a challenging problem. What creative ways can you think of that a community—or even a whole country—could save on fuel for a short time? It could be as simple as helping more people walk or bike to school or work, or something bigger like the public holiday in Sri Lanka. Describe what your idea is, how it would help people use less fuel, and how you would share your idea with people to get them to participate.

3. BASEBALL TRIES ROBOT HELP FOR BALLS AND STRIKES

Major League Baseball is using a new system that lets players challenge certain ball and strike calls during games. The system uses technology to check whether a pitch was really a ball or a strike, and only the batter, catcher, or pitcher can ask for a review. Each team gets two challenges, and if a team is right, it keeps the challenge. Supporters think this could help fix important missed calls and make games fairer. But the new system could also change how hitters, pitchers, catchers, and umpires do their jobs because the strike zone may be called a little differently than before. Some people are excited about the change, while others think it may cause confusion or arguments. Imagine your class is deciding whether to use technology to help settle disagreements in games or competitions. Write 3 classroom rules for how the technology should be used fairly. Then write a short paragraph explaining one good thing about using technology and one reason people might still want humans to make the final call sometimes.

4. A METEOR FLASHES ACROSS THE SKY

A bright meteor streaked across the sky over parts of the Northeastern United States and made a loud boom that people could hear and feel in northern Ohio. NASA said the space rock was about 6 feet wide and weighed about 7 tons before it broke apart. It sped through the sky at about 45,000 miles per hour and exploded over Ohio. The blast caused shaking and loud sounds that scared many people, and police got lots of calls about what seemed like an explosion. People in many states and even Canada reported seeing the fiery streak. Scientists said pieces may have fallen as meteorites in an area near Medina County, Ohio. Draw a four-box comic strip showing what happened when the meteor crossed the sky. In each box, add a caption that tells one part of the event, such as people noticing the bright light, hearing the boom, calling for help, and scientists explaining what happened. Under your comic, write 2 facts you learned about the meteor from this story.

5. THE “WAX BROS” HELP PARALYMPIC SNOWBOARDERS GO FAST

At the Winter Paralympics, wax technicians help snowboarders by putting special wax on their boards so they glide better on snow. For Team USA, two techs named Phil Fell and Jon Haaversen carefully tested many waxes to find the best one for changing snow conditions. The work is tricky because snow can feel different depending on the weather, the sunlight, and the time of day. The wax techs keep many of their methods secret because the right wax can make a big difference in a close race. Athletes said the techs are very important because the wrong wax can make a board feel slow, while the right wax can help win medals. Their job takes teamwork, science, careful testing, and quick thinking. Think of a sport, hobby, or activity where people need help from others behind the scenes, such as coaches, mechanics, costume makers, or equipment helpers. In 4 to 6 sentences, explain what those helpers do, why their job matters, and how they help others succeed.