1. STANDING SOLO

Winzar Kakiouea is the only athlete from the tiny Pacific island of Nauru competing in the Paris Olympics. He ran in the 100-meter race and finished in 11.15 seconds. Nauru is a small island nation with fewer than 13,000 people, and it's worried about rising sea levels that might make it disappear. Even though Nauru is tiny, Kakiouea is proud to represent it at the Olympics. Kakiouea, who also fixes telecom cables, has only been training seriously for a few years. He has improved a lot, thanks to help from an Australian coach and his own hard work. He doesn't have a coach with him at the Games and trained on a dirt track back home. There are a few other athletes at the Olympics this year that are the only person representing their country, compared to countries like the United States, which sent hundreds of athletes to compete across the many different events. What do you think it would be like to be the only person from your country competing? How would it be different from being part of a big group all sent from the same country? Write a paragraph with at least three reasons comparing or contrasting what it would be like from those two perspectives. Share your answers with your classmates.

2. NO MORE NOODLES

Korean Air is removing instant noodles from its economy class menu. Starting August 15, 2024, passengers in economy class won’t be able to get Shin Ramyun instant noodles, which are made with hot water poured over the packaged cup of dry noodles. This is because turbulence can make it risky to serve hot foods, and the airline wants to prevent burns. Economy class will now have snacks like sandwiches, corn dogs, and hot pockets instead. However, passengers in business and first class can still get the noodles, as they are served in a way that reduces spill risks. In the past, airlines have faced problems when passengers got burned by hot drinks like coffee during flights, and safety concerns have been raised. Write a summary of this story, including at least three facts and explaining what will change for people who fly on Korean Airlines in the future.

3. FAMILY TIME

The United States government wants airlines to let families sit together on flights without charging extra. Right now, some airlines like JetBlue and American Airlines already do this, but others make parents pay more to sit with their kids. President Biden and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg are pushing for a new rule that would require airlines to seat kids 13 and under next to a parent or adult for free. This means kids could sit in the same row, or across the aisle, or directly in front or behind a parent. Airlines would have to tell passengers about this rule when they book their tickets. If a family can’t sit together, they could get a refund, choose to wait for seats to open up, or get rebooked on another flight. If airlines don’t follow the rule, they could get fined up to $40,000. The rule isn’t final yet and will take a few months to become official. Write three to five sentences about why you think this new rule would be helpful for families who are traveling, including at least one fact you learned in this story as part of your explanation.

4. ENVIRONMENTAL DOGS

In England, dogs are helping nature by spreading wildflower seeds around special areas. They wear backpacks that leak seeds as they run around. This helps grow new plants, just like wolves did a long time ago before they disappeared from the area. It’s called “rewilding,” and the idea is that it makes the land more like what it was naturally before humans changed it for their own purposes. It’s important to only use plants that would normally live in the area for rewilding; invasive species that aren’t part of the ecosystem naturally can take over and hurt other plants and animals. The idea started in Chile, where dogs were used to help regrow plants in damaged areas after wildfires. This project makes dog walkers heroes for nature! Draw a picture or series of pictures to explain what rewilding is and how dogs are helping accomplish it.

5. MOSQUITO SEASON

The late summer is when mosquitos are most active, which means its time to look out for these pests and learn why you should avoid them—other than the itchy bites. Some mosquitos can carry diseases, like one called West Nile virus, which mosquitoes spread after biting infected birds. West Nile virus can make you feel very sick with fever, headaches, tiredness, and rashes. Most people get better, but some can stay very tired for a long time or have serious problems like brain damage. The virus is most common in August and September. Scientists track it by checking mosquitoes for the virus. It’s more common in places with lots of mosquitoes, like rural and agricultural areas. Climate change might make the virus spread more. There’s no special medicine for West Nile virus, so doctors help with symptoms. To stay safe, use insect repellent, wear long clothes, and avoid going outside at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are active. Using what you learned here, create a poster that would help teach others about why mosquitos can be dangerous and what you should do to keep yourself safe.