1. Deep Sea Diver

A new robot submarine has dived deeper into the ocean than any sea vehicle in history. The robotic Nereus sub dived 6.8 miles into the famous Mariana Trench in the western Pacific Ocean to explore a region known as the Challenger Deep. The Challenger Deep is the ocean's deepest point. The Nereus sent back video of the ocean floor and scooped up biological and geological samples with a moveable arm controlled by scientists on the surface. As a class, talk about things scientists could learn by studying deep regions of the ocean. Then pick a partner and use the newspaper to find examples of high-tech devices used in science or other fields. Write a sentence or two describing what one device does.

Learning Standards: Showing how common themes of science, mathematics and technology apply in real world-contexts; writing fluently for multiple purposes.

2. Be Safe

June is National Safety Month. Using the newspaper for ideas, pick a safety-related topic. It can be learning CPR, knowing what to do if there's a fire, making sure to wear a helmet when riding a bike, or anything else. Create a poster about your topic, using words and images to promote safety.

Learning Standard: Communicating information accurately and effectively and demonstrating expressive abilities by creating written, visual and oral texts that enlighten and engage an audience.

3. Old, Old Pottery

In a cave in the Asian nation of China, broken bits of pottery are causing great excitement among scientists and archaeologists who study the past. The discovery in the Yuchanyan Cave may prove that this area in southern China was the first in the world to make ceramic pottery containers. Pottery was one of the first materials made by humans, and the Chinese pottery bits are about 18,000 years old, according to the scientists who have studied them. As a class, talk about what scientists can learn by studying places where ancient people lived. Then draw a comic strip for the newspaper, showing what a future scientists might learn if he/she uncovered the site of your home. Share with the class.

Learning Standards: Reading and writing fluently, speaking confidently, listening and interacting appropriately, viewing critically and representing creatively; comprehending the past.

4. Sniff

For years, dogs have been used by police to sniff for drugs or bombs or explosives. Now they have been trained to sniff out DVDs. In the Southeast Asian country of Malaysia, a DVD-sniffing black labrador retriever uncovered 35,000 illegal DVDs in a warehouse in the city of Kuala Lumpur. The DVDs were "pirate" versions of movies reproduced illegally without the permission of the companies that originally made them. Many were going to be sold in other countries in Asia. In groups, talk about some of the amazing things animals can be trained to do to help people. Then find stories or photos of animals in the newspaper. Pick one and write how this animal could be trained to help people in some way.

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; engaging peers in constructive conversation about topics of interest or importance.

5. Green Ballparks

In Major League Baseball, thinking "green" means more than deciding what kind of grass to plant in the outfield. Major League teams are now "going green" by reducing the amount of energy they use, extending recycling efforts and taking the first steps to use "renewable" energy for electricity at ballparks. Four teams already are getting some of their ballpark power from solar energy generated by the sun, according to "E -- The Environmental Magazine," which is published on the Internet. As a class, look for stories in the newspaper about businesses, schools or governments "going green." Use what you find to design a poster showing how businesses, schools or families could take steps to "go green" themselves.

Learning Standards: Understanding and explaining how science and technology affect society; showing how common themes of science, mathematics and technology apply in real world-contexts; showing how science concepts can be interpreted through creative expression such as language arts and fine arts.