1. Labor Day

On Monday, September 7, the nation will celebrate Labor Day. Labor Day is a holiday set aside to honor working Americans. Find an article in this week's newspapers about a person with a job you find interesting. Write down ideas for a short story about what your day might be like if you had that job. Give your story an exciting or fun title. Then write the beginning paragraph of your story.

Learning Standards: Reading and writing fluently, speaking confidently, viewing strategically and representing creatively; demonstrating the ability to write clear and grammatically correct sentences, paragraphs and compositions.

2. One, 2, III

Numbers are used in many different ways. And the newspaper is a great way to see how. Numbers make news in everything from sports to entertainment to government. With a partner, look through the newspaper to find examples of numbers used in the different ways below. Then clip or print out examples and share with the class.

Learning Standard: Recognizing that numbers are used in different ways such as counting, measuring, ordering and estimating, understanding and producing multiple representations of a number, and translating among equivalent representations.

a. I found numbers used to count on Page ______.

b. I found numbers used to represent money on Page ______.

c. I found numbers used to order a list on Page ______.

d. I found numbers used to show sports scores on Page ______.

e. I found numbers used to represent the temperature on Page ______.

f. I found numbers used to tell time on Page ______.

g. I found numbers used to show the date on Page ______.

3. Fast, Fast, Fast

Track star Usain Bolt of Jamaica is the fastest human on Earth. If anyone had any doubt, what Bolt did at the 2009 World Championships track meet in Germany this August should end the discussion. Bolt set new world records in both the 100-meter dash and the 200-meter dash, easily outdistancing top runners from around the world. In the sports section, find a story about another athlete setting a record or doing something outstanding. Write a paragraph describing the most important things this athlete had to do when training for top or record-breaking competition.

Learning Standards: Acquiring information from multiple sources and then organizing and analyzing it; writing fluently for multiple purposes.

4. Worm 'Bombers'

There are some amazing creatures in the world. And scientists are always discovering new ones. Consider the worm "bombers" scientists have discovered deep in the waters of the northern and western Pacific Ocean. In dark waters up to 12,000 feet beneath the surface, species of sea worms have been found that shoot off green, glowing parts of their bodies to confuse attackers. These "bombs" of light have earned the worms the nickname "green bombers" from the scientists who studied them. The worms, some growing up to four inches long, are later able to grow back the body parts they threw off for self-defense. In the newspaper, find a story or photo involving an unusual animal. Draw a comic strip for the newspaper showing one unusual thing this animal can do.

Learning Standards: Reading and writing fluently, speaking confidently, listening and interacting appropriately, viewing critically and representing creatively; acquiring information from multiple sources.

5. Extra! Extra!

In the history of newspapers, September 4, 1833 is an important day. That was the day the first news carrier was hired to sell and deliver newspapers in a community. News carriers still deliver newspapers to homes and offices around the country. But people also get news in lots of ways besides newspapers. Look in today's newspaper as a class and see if you can find 10 different ways people can get information about the world. Discuss which one you and your family use most. Write a complete sentence explaining why.

Learning Standard: Explaining how transportation and communication link people and communities; writing fluently for multiple purposes.