1. THE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE

The United States has never had an official language before, but President Trump wants to change that. He plans to sign an order making English the official language of the country. Many people already speak English, but the U.S. is home to millions of people who speak other languages too. About 42 million people speak Spanish, and 3 million people speak Chinese. Some states have already made English their official language, but the whole country has never done it before. Some people support this idea, saying it will help Americans communicate better and feel more united. Others disagree, saying that America has always been a country with many different languages and cultures. What languages do you hear in your community or at school? Why do you think the U.S. has never had an official language before? Write at least 3-5 sentences for your answer.

2. VIRTUAL REALITY FOR FOOD

Scientists have created a special taste device that lets people try flavors from far away! It works by sending tiny amounts of flavored liquid through a tube into a person’s mouth. With this invention, people have been able to taste coffee, lemonade, fried eggs, cake, and fish soup—even when they weren’t actually eating those foods! Scientists hope that one day, people could sample food before cooking it or even try flavors while shopping online. The device is still very big and tricky to use, but in the future, it could be small enough to wear as a necklace or locket. If you could invent a new flavor for the taste device, what would it be? Write 2-3 sentences describing your idea!

3. LEARNING ABOUT RAMADAN

Ramadan is a special month for Muslims around the world. It is a time for fasting, prayer, and doing good deeds. Fasting means not eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset. People break their fast with a big meal called iftar. Families and friends gather to eat, pray, and spend time together. After Ramadan, there is a big celebration called Eid al-Fitr. Muslims believe fasting helps them feel closer to God and understand what it is like to be hungry. Many people also give food or money to those in need. Some places, like Egypt and Indonesia, have special traditions during Ramadan, like decorating with colorful lanterns or having parades. Ramadan is about kindness and giving. Imagine you are celebrating Ramadan and want to focus on doing good things every day. Create a Good Deeds Chart with five days listed. Under each day, write one act of kindness you could do, like helping a friend, donating food, or saying something nice to someone. Decorate your chart with drawings of lanterns, stars, or anything else you think represents Ramadan. At the end of the week, share your good deeds with your classmates and talk about how doing kind things makes people feel happy!

4. RECORD-BREAKING POLAR PLUNGE

In the Czech Republic, a group of 2,461 swimmers set a world record by jumping into icy cold water! This event is called a polar bear dip because people brave the freezing temperatures just like polar bears swimming in the Arctic. To break the record, everyone had to wear bathing suits, go into the water at least up to their waist, and stay in for one minute. The water was only 38 degrees Fahrenheit (3.5 degrees Celsius)—that’s colder than a refrigerator! The old record was 1,799 swimmers in Poland in 2015. Now, the Czech Republic holds the record for the most people doing a polar bear dip at once! Some people do this for fun, while others believe cold-water swimming is good for their health. Would you ever try a polar bear dip? Write why or why not, using 3 facts from the story in your answer.

5. BEARD BAN LIFTED

For 49 years, the New York Yankees baseball team had a rule that players could not have beards. The rule was started by team owner George Steinbrenner in 1976 because he wanted the players to look neat and disciplined. While mustaches were allowed, players had to shave their beards and keep their hair short. But now, the rule has changed! The Yankees’ current owner, Hal Steinbrenner, said the rule was “outdated” and that many young athletes like having beards. He hopes this change will help the team recruit better players as they try to win another championship. Some players in the past didn’t like the no-beard rule. Some even hesitated to join the Yankees because they didn’t want to shave! Now, Yankees players can have beards, as long as they keep them neat. The Yankees changed their beard rule because they wanted to help players feel comfortable while still respecting the team’s history. Imagine you are in charge of making a new rule for a baseball team. What rule would you make? it be about uniforms, hairstyles, or something else? Why do you think your rule would help the team? Write 3 to 5 sentences about your new rule and draw a picture of a baseball player following your rule!