1. CEO’s Voice Muted

Although he is Google’s chief executive, Larry Page has been avoiding speaking in public, and now he has explained why. Page has a rare, chronic health problem that makes him hoarse and restricts his breathing. One of his vocal cords was paralyzed 14 years ago after a viral infection, and a cold last summer left the other with limited movement. Since then, his voice has been weak and raspy. The condition cannot be reversed, doctors say, and could be life-threatening if it inhibits Page’s breathing, so he undergoes regular exercises. It probably makes him a better CEO, Page says, “because I choose my words more carefully.” Health conditions or injuries often are in the news. Find an example in the newspaper and read up on it. Then design a poster to educate the public about the condition. Give your poster an eye-catching headline and present it to the class.

Common Core/National Standards: Conducting short research projects that build knowledge about a topic; integrating information presented in different media or formats to develop a coherent understanding of a topic; using drawings or visual displays when appropriate to enhance the development of main ideas or points.

2. Interleague

On June 12, 1997 interleague play began in Major League Baseball, ending a 126-year tradition of separating American and National League competition until the World Series. Interleague competition was designed to create more midseason interest in baseball and to allow teams that had geographic "rivalries" to play each other. Some fans have liked interleague play, while others feel it is a distraction from league competition. Use the newspaper and Internet resources to learn more about which teams are playing interleague games this summer. Write a short sports column discussing which rivalries are most successful for fans and which are not.

Common Core/National Standards: Conducting short research projects that build knowledge about a topic; citing specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions; writing informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.

3. Condors Facing New Peril

As recently as 20 years ago, the California condor was on the brink of extinction, but thanks to a remarkable conservation effort, an estimated 234 of the huge birds are now living in the mountains in the center of the state. But they remain endangered. The latest peril is a wind-energy project in the Mojave Desert, which has windmill turbines that a condor could fly into. It has not happened yet, but conservationists have expressed horror that developers of the project have been assured they would not face criminal charges if one of the blades were to kill one of the birds, whose wingspan is almost 10 feet wide. Endangered species often are in the news. As a class, find and read a story about one in the newspaper or online. Use the story to write a short creative story or poem describing the dangers this species can face.

Common Core/National Standards: Engaging effectively in a range of collaborative discussions; reading closely what a text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; citing specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions; writing narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events.

4. ‘Great’ After All?

Critics have not been kind to the movie remake of “The Great Gatsby.” Opening-weekend ticket sales were not promising, but since then the movie has become a box-office hit. It is now expected to take in as much as $330 million worldwide, plus about $200 million from DVDs and showings on cable channels. Whether that will be enough for the movie to turn a profit, however, is uncertain, since the film by director Baz Luhrmann was extremely expensive to make. “The Great Gatsby” is a flashy retelling of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic 1920s novel that stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire. In the newspaper or online, find a review of “The Great Gatsby” or another movie that is popular this summer. Then review a movie you have seen, giving specific evidence from the film why you liked or disliked it.

Common Core/National Standards: Reading closely what a text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; citing specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions; writing opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.

5. How White the Teeth

State dental boards all over the country are battling against teeth whitening services offered in salons and spas and at mall kiosks. Teeth whitening has become a multibillion-dollar industry, but dental boards insist it should be performed only by dentists and dental hygienists. By policy or statute, at least 14 states have defined teeth-whitening services as a practice of dentistry, but a law firm representing teeth-whitening services in Alabama and other states describes it in the context of hair braiding, microdermabrasion and permanent makeup procedures. In a broader sense, it is seen as part of a wider debate over the limits of occupational licensing and the leeway given to professional boards. As a class, discuss teeth whitening and who you think should be allowed to do it. Then do some research and write a short editorial for the newspaper detailing your opinion.

Common Core/National Standards: Reading closely what a text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; citing specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions; writing opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.