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For
Grades 5-8
, week of
Feb. 10, 2025
1. MUSK’S TEAM BLOCKED
A judge has temporarily stopped Elon Musk’s team from accessing sensitive government payment systems, like those used for Social Security or federal employee salaries. This decision came after a lawsuit from 19 state attorneys general (the people in charge of law in states) who said that President Trump allowed Musk’s team, part of a program called DOGE, to access important government data. They argued that Musk’s team could cause harm by leaking or misusing that information. The judge ordered Musk’s team to delete any data they accessed and stopped the administration from letting new people into these systems. This lawsuit is part of larger legal battles challenging Trump’s actions since he started his second term. What kinds of personal data details are considered sensitive information that you should keep safe? In small groups, come up with a list of ways that data could get into the wrong hands and a list of ways people can protect themselves and keep their data safe.
2. KENNEDY CENTER OVERHAUL
President Donald Trump announced that he plans to take control of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., by firing several members of its board and replacing them with people who share his vision. Trump said he would make the Kennedy Center “great again,” a phrase he has used before. The Kennedy Center is known for promoting arts and culture, and its board has always included both Republicans and Democrats. But Trump’s move to remove board members breaks with the tradition of having bipartisan leadership. Some people on the board were surprised by his announcement, and the Kennedy Center said it had not been informed about the changes yet. This action is part of Trump’s larger efforts to influence more institutions in Washington. What is the Kennedy Center and what is its role in American culture? Using research, write an article that summarizes what you learned and why this move by President Trump is significant.
3. DEMOCRATS’ OVERNIGHT PROTEST
Senate Democrats stayed up all night to protest President Trump’s choice for a key government job, Russell Vought. He was nominated to lead the White House budget office, and many Democrats are worried about his conservative views and the policies he supports, like limiting government programs. Even though they didn’t have enough votes to stop the nomination, they wanted to show their opposition and send a message to the public. Senators took turns speaking throughout the night, talking about how they believe Vought could negatively impact the country. This all-night protest is a rare event in the Senate and was meant to show their strong disagreement. What are some political protest tactics that are used by government officials? Do you think these tools are effective for negotiation or either side getting what they want? Write your own opinion article, using research from your newspaper or online to support your position.
4. AID TO GAZA IN DANGER
The U.S. government helps supply food, tents, and medical care to Palestinians in Gaza through a program called U.S.A.I.D. (U.S. Agency for International Development). However, the Trump administration is making changes to the agency, putting many workers on leave and cutting funding for this important aid. This could lead to problems in getting supplies to people in need and may even affect the peace agreement between Hamas (the group controlling Gaza) and Israel. The aid program is crucial, and without it, hospitals may close and food deliveries could stop, making the situation in Gaza much worse. How does international aid affect times of crisis, like countries facing war or disasters? What does it mean for aid from the U.S. to stop reaching the region of Gaza? Using the internet or your newspaper, write an article that summarizes what the impact of slashing this agency could be.
5. SUPER BOWL SUPER SPENDERS
Super Bowl ads are a huge deal. Companies pay a lot of money for a 30-second commercial to air during the game, and in 2025, these ads cost almost $8 million! Advertisers pay so much because the Super Bowl is watched by more than 120 million people, and it’s the one time each year when people actually care about the commercials. Some ads use famous celebrities or humor to make people remember them. For example, Dunkin’ spent big on an ad starring Ben Affleck, which was super popular and got billions of views. Even though ads have gotten more expensive over the years, companies see it as worth it to get noticed by so many people. Write your own Super Bowl ad for a product of your choice, either real or fictional. Write a script, including details about what the ad will look like and how it will grab your target audience during the game.