Archaeologists in Budapest, Hungary, discovered a stone coffin called a sarcophagus that is around 1,700 years old. It had never been opened or stolen from, so the skeleton and the objects inside were still in place. Inside, the scientists found the bones of a young woman along with glass bottles, bronze figures, coins, and fancy items like a hair pin and jewelry, showing that her family loved her and that she was probably important and wealthy. Now experts will study her bones and the objects to learn more about her health, how she lived, and what life was like in that Roman town long ago. Imagine you are one of the archaeologists who helped open this special coffin. In 4–5 sentences, describe what you saw inside and what one object you would be most excited to study and why.

GivingTuesday is a special day that happens right after Thanksgiving in the United States, when people are encouraged to give money, time, or help to others. It began as a hashtag online in 2012 and has grown into one of the biggest days of the year for charities, which use it to raise money and find new supporters. This year, higher prices are making it harder for some people to give, but new tax rules and a strong stock market may encourage others to donate more. Many nonprofits also offer matching gifts, which means that every dollar a person gives can count for two or even more. Pretend your class is planning its own GivingTuesday project. In a short paragraph, explain which cause you would choose to support (such as helping a food bank, an animal shelter, or a library), what your class could do to help on that day, and how you would encourage other students and families to join in.

In the mountains of Ecuador, young Otavalo Indigenous artists created an animated short film called “We’re Aya” to keep their culture and language alive. The movie uses a Japanese-style anime look to tell the story of a brave warrior named Aya and other characters who live in the Andes and are watched over by a powerful condor. The characters speak Quichua, an Indigenous language, and their adventures are based on old customs, music, and beliefs that are important to the Otavalo people. The filmmakers hope that Otavalo children will feel proud of their roots and want to learn and use their language again. Think about a show, movie, or cartoon that you like and imagine it was remade to show your own culture, family traditions, or hometown. In 4–6 sentences, describe one scene from this new version: which characters would be in it, what special clothes, foods, or music would appear, and how the story would teach kids to be proud of where they come from.

A powerful telescope in Chile took a beautiful new picture of the Butterfly Nebula, a glowing cloud of gas in space that looks like a giant butterfly. This “cosmic butterfly” is thousands of light-years away in the constellation Scorpius, and its wings are made of gas that was thrown off by a dying star in the center. The hot white dwarf star in the middle heats the gas, making it shine in bright colors that spread out like delicate wings. Schoolchildren in Chile helped choose this object as a target to celebrate 25 years of the Gemini Observatory. Draw a picture of what you imagine the Butterfly Nebula would look like. Then, look up the telescope photo online. Write 3-5 sentences about how your drawing is alike or different from the photo.

In Reche Canyon, a semirural community in Southern California, hundreds of wild donkeys wander through yards, cross roads, and even show up at backyard weddings. They can cause problems by eating gardens, blocking traffic, and leaving messes, but many residents have grown to love them and even hang donkey pictures and signs in their homes. When officials brought in a group to move the donkeys away, people were so upset that they started petitions, spoke at meetings, and made “We ? Our Donkeys” bumper stickers until the plan was stopped. Now the community is trying to protect the burros from dangers like car crashes and cruel attacks, while also learning how to live with them safely. Pretend you are writing a “Welcome to Donkey Country” guide for new neighbors who have never lived around wild burros before. In 5–6 sentences, explain at least one reason the donkeys are special, one problem they can cause, and two rules or tips people should follow to keep both the animals and the community safe.