1. Spider Power

Spiders are amazing creatures, and the "silk" they spin to make webs is one of the most amazing materials in the world. Scientists say spider silk is tougher and lighter than steel --and now it's getting stronger. Scientists in the European country of Germany say they have added layers of metals to spider silk and have made it three times stronger than it is in nature. They say this new material could be especially useful in medicine or for making super-strength cloths and textiles. As a class, talk about some amazing things animals and other wildlife do. Then find a wild animal in the stories, ads or photos of the newspaper. Brainstorm a way a scientist could improve something the animal does. Write sentence stating why a scientist would want to do this.

Learning Standards: Engaging peers in constructive conversation about topics of interest or importance; understanding the nature of scientific inquiry; explaining how science and technology affect society.

2. Stress and School

In the Asian country of Japan, parents place high value on children getting a good education. As a result, they require their kids to work and study hard to get into the best schools and colleges. This puts a lot of pressure on kids, and now the pressure is getting worse. News reports from Japan say some parents are now pushing pre-school and kindergarten kids to study or take classes to get into the best elementary or primary schools! As a class, talk about what makes a child successful in school. Is it just grades and courses, or are other things important, too? Finish by drawing a comic strip for the newspaper, showing a kid your age doing something that would make him or her successful in school.

Learning Standards: Responding to a variety of oral, visual, written and electronic texts by making connections to students' personal lives and the lives of others; posing social science questions; using the craft of the illustrator to convey ideas artistically.

3. Old-Time Seals

Scientists have wondered for a long time if seals, walruses and sea lions lived full time on land before developing flippers and living in the ocean. Now the discovery of a 20-million-year-old fossil in the Canadian Arctic near the North Pole sheds light on how seals and other flippered wildlife may have changed over time to become sea creatures. Scientists say the fossil was of a "walking seal" that had four legs and webbed feet instead of flippers. They think it may have been one of the first land animals to swim regularly in the ocean and could have changed over time to become a full-time ocean dweller. The same thing, scientists say, could have happened with seals, walruses and sea lions. As a class, talk about ways scientific discoveries teach people about the world or life in the past. Pick an animal from the newspaper and write a paragraph discussing what it might have been like in earlier times. Give reasons for any differences.

Learning Standards: Explaining how fossils provide evidence about the nature of ancient life; comprehending the past; analyzing how species change through time.

4. Chicken Watch

Farmers and families used to raise a lot of different kinds of chickens. Today, however, most chickens raised for eggs or food are from a few species that live on giant chicken farms. About 90 percent of chickens raised in the United States today, for example, are from a few varieties like the Cornish-Plymouth Rock cross breed. That worries some animal experts, who are working to save 66 types of old-fashioned chickens they say are in danger of becoming extinct. Preserving the breeds will make sure there will be diversity in the future population of chickens, a group called the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy says. As a class, talk about animal issues that concern people. In the newspaper, find an animal making news today or this week. Write a paragraph explaining why this animal is in the news.

Learning Standards: Acquiring information multiple sources; organizing and presenting the information; interpreting the meaning and significance of the information; engaging peers in conversation about matters of importance or interest.

5. Flu Alert

An outbreak of a new kind of flu in Mexico, the United States and other nations has health officials worried. As a result, they are urging families, schools and children to take extra care to prevent the spread of germs from so-called "swine flu." Among things people should do is to cover coughs and sneezes with tissues that you throw away and to sneeze into your elbow instead of your hand. You also should wash hands frequently with soap and water, as flu germs most commonly spread when people touch their mouth or nose with unwashed hands. Hands pick up flu germs from doors, doorknobs or other surfaces, where they can live for hours. As a class, talk about ways you could make it harder for flu to spread in your classroom. Then design an ad for the newspaper showing ways to help prevent the spread of flu.

Learning Standards: Responding to a variety of oral, visual, written and electronic texts by making connections to students' personal lives and the lives of others; comprehending what constitutes good health and nutrition; representing creatively.