1. High-Flying Pelicans

Pelicans are unusual birds because they can catch and hold fish in pouches connected to their bills. But brown pelicans were nearly wiped out because pesticides that were used to kill bugs made their egg shells too weak to hatch, and development destroyed their habitats. The U.S. government stopped the use of the pesticide DDT in 1972 and environmental groups won protection for pelican habitats. Now the brown pelican has recovered so much it is no longer on the nation's Endangered Species List. As a class, talk about ways people can help endangered animals. Then find a wild animal in the newspaper. Write out two ways people could help this animal survive in its habitat.

Learning Standards: Engaging peers in constructive conversation about topics of interest or importance; explaining how fossils provide evidence about the nature of ancient life; showing how science concepts can be interpreted through creative expression such as language arts and fine arts.

2. You Said What?!

You can learn a lot by looking at pictures. Find a picture in today's newspaper of a person who is talking. Don't read the story or the caption that goes with the picture. Write down something that that person could be saying, based on his or her facial expression, body position or what is around her or him. Get creative!

Learning Standards: Distinguishing between verbal and nonverbal communication; recognizing the impact of variations of facial expression, posture and volume on oral communication.

3. Food for Families

Hunger is something that can affect people of all ages. And a new study by the U.S. Agriculture Department has found that more than one in seven U.S. households struggled to put enough food on the table for family members in 2008. That's about 49 million people, or 14.6 percent of U.S. households. As a class, talk about the importance of getting healthy food to eat for families and children. Then brainstorm ways to provide more food for families that need it. Design an ad for the newspaper asking people to help provide food for hungry families. Make sure your ad has a headline that will catch readers' attention.

Learning Standards: Responding to a variety of texts by making connections to students' personal lives and the lives of others; using the craft of the illustrator to represent ideas artistically.

4. Help the Soldiers

Everyone knows how much soldiers do for the United States when they serve in the military at home and around the world. Now First Lady Michelle Obama wants Americans to say "Thank You" by supporting a new program to help military veterans. On Veterans Day this month, Mrs. Obama urged Americans to get involved with a new organization called Mission Serve, which has been set up to help veterans and their families. The program seeks to connect veterans who served in the military with community service groups that could use their skills. As a class, find a story about soldiers or veterans in the newspaper. Then design a Thank You card thanking the soldiers or veterans for what they have done.

Learning Standard: Reading and writing fluently, speaking confidently, listening and interacting appropriately, viewing critically and representing creatively.

5. Eye-Witness Account

Eye-witnesses are important to the news. Listen as your teacher reads an article about an interesting event in today's newspaper. Then read the article on your own. Find an example of an eye-witness account in the article. An eye-witness account is an explanation of an event from someone who was at that event. Based on what the eye-witness said, write a short explanation of what the person might have been feeling as he or she watched the events.

Learning Standard: Describing past events using the information of those who were there as revealed through their records.