1. Rare Dolphins

Indus dolphins are one of the most unusual species of wildlife in the world. These river creatures can't see, and they hunt for food by sending sounds out into the waters around them. Now the pinkish-brown dolphins, which can grow up to 8 feet long, are in danger from pollution and development in the Indus River region where they live in the Asian country of Pakistan. Fishermen have reduced the number of catfish the dolphins feed on, and pollution from farms, factories and sewer systems have made the water dangerously dirty for the dolphins. As a class, talk about the ways human actions can affect wildlife. Then find a wild animal that interests you in the newspaper. Use words and photos from the newspaper to design a poster showing dangers or challenges this animal faces.

Learning Standards: Explaining ecosystem concepts and processes; describing positive and negative effects of humans on nature and wildlife; acquiring information from multiple sources; representing creatively.

2. Back at Work on Mars

The rover spacecraft named Spirit has been exploring the surface of Mars for five years, but recently it has been acting oddly. It "overslept" three times when America's NASA space agency sent it wakeup calls from Earth. A backup timer finally got Spirit up and running, and it is again exploring a plateau area called Home Plate, though it has to move backwards because a front wheel is broken. Spirit's sister rover Opportunity is still chugging along on the opposite side of the so-called Red Planet, which is next out from Earth in our solar system. As a class, talk about things scientists could learn by studying other planets like Mars. As a class, use the newspaper and the Internet to find news about other space missions. Write a paragraph describing what one mission hopes to achieve.

Learning Standards: Engaging peers in constructive conversation about topics of interest or importance; understanding and explaining how we learn about the universe; understanding the nature of scientific inquiry; explaining how we learn about the universe; writing fluently for multiple purposes.

3. Cooling Chemicals, Global Warming

Scientists around the world are worried about the global warming of the Earth's atmosphere. And one of the things they worry about are chemicals used for cooling in refrigerators and air conditioners. President Obama this month called these chemicals -- known as hydrofluorocarbons (HIE-dro-FLOR-o-CAR-bons) -- a "very significant" threat to climate change from global warming. And the Obama White House said it would support greatly reducing their use around the world. As a class, talk about what global warming could mean in the future to people, animals and natural habitats. Then create a comic strip or cartoon for the newspaper showing one thing that could affect people, animals or habitats.

Learning Standards: Engaging peers in constructive conversation about topics of interest or importance; describing positive and negative effects of humans on the environment; showing how science concepts can be interpreted through creative expression such as language arts and fine arts.

4. New Look for Education

One of the nation's most important education laws is getting a new look from President Obama. And his top education adviser is traveling to at least 15 states to hear what teachers, students and parents think should be done. The law is the No Child Left Behind law first passed by the U.S. Congress in 2001. The law seeks to improve the success of students in reading and math, and it has put a spotlight on state tests to measure how students are doing. U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan wants to hear how people would change the law to improve it. As a class, talk about what things are most important to help students learn. Write your ideas as letters to the editor of the newspaper. Send your letters to the paper, and also to President Obama at the White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, D.C. 20500.

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; utilizing the persuasive power of text as an instrument of change in the community, the nation and the world.

5. A New Name

U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan doesn't know yet how he would change the education law known as No Child Left Behind. But he knows he would like to give the law a new name. Opinion surveys show that many Americans don't like the old name, and feel it gives people negative feelings about schools and education. Duncan would like students to come up with a new name in a nationwide contest. As a class, discuss stories about schools and education in the newspaper. Then divide into teams and brainstorm ideas for a new name for the No Child Left Behind law. What kind of name would encourage kids to succeed in school?

Learning Standards: Engaging peers in constructive conversation about topics of interest or importance; reading and writing fluently, speaking confidently, listening and interacting appropriately, viewing critically and representing creatively; demonstrating teamwork skills.