1. HUGE WAVES HIT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA BEACHES

Hurricane Marie stayed far out in the Pacific Ocean, but it still caused dangerous conditions along beaches in Southern California. Some waves reached about 10 feet high, and powerful rip currents pulled water away from shore. Lifeguards in Newport Beach made 177 rescues in just one day because the water was so rough. Heavy rain also washed water from streets and storm drains into the ocean, leading officials in Long Beach to warn people not to swim for several days. Weather experts told beach visitors to stay near lifeguards, avoid rock jetties, and be extra careful until the storm’s effects pass. Create a beach safety sign that could be posted near the water during dangerous surf. Give your sign a large warning title, draw or describe a rip current, and include three rules that could help swimmers stay safe. At the bottom, add one sentence explaining why a storm can make a beach dangerous even when the storm itself is hundreds of miles away.

2. IRANIAN SCHOOL BECOMES A MEMORIAL

A badly damaged school in Minab, Iran, is being turned into a memorial after more than 100 students were reported killed there during an attack at the beginning of a war involving Iran, the United States, and Israel. The building still has classrooms, desks, and decorations from when children attended school there, but photographs of the children who died now line the walkway. Iranian officials plan to preserve the building as a museum and memorial instead of using it as a school again. A nearby cemetery also has a special area for those who were killed. The memorial will give families a place to remember the children and help future visitors understand the terrible effects that war can have on ordinary people. Memorials often use objects, pictures, words, and places to help people remember important events and lives. Design a respectful memorial for a person or group you would like your community to remember. It could honor people from history, community helpers, or someone important to your school. Draw your memorial and add labels explaining the meaning of at least three parts of your design.

3. YOUNG PEOPLE RECONNECT WITH AFRICAN LANGUAGES

Young people with African roots are showing new interest in learning languages spoken by their parents, grandparents, and other relatives. Africa has thousands of languages, but languages such as English, French, and Portuguese became more powerful in many places during and after colonial rule. Today, online classes, social media, and entertainment are helping people learn African languages even when they live far away. One Canadian teenager is learning Shona so she can have longer conversations with her grandparents in Zimbabwe. In Nigeria, a television game show called “Masoyinbo” challenges contestants to use Yoruba instead of English. Supporters hope this growing interest will keep languages alive while helping people connect with their families and cultures. Choose one word or short phrase from a language that is meaningful to your family, community, or another culture you are interested in. Find out what it means, how it is pronounced, and when people might use it. Then create a small “word card” that includes the word, its meaning, and a drawing that shows the idea. Finish by writing two or three sentences explaining why keeping different languages alive can be important for families and communities.

4. VOLCANO ERUPTS IN INDONESIA

Anak Krakatau, a volcanic island in Indonesia, erupted and sent ash high into the sky. The ash made flying unsafe, so officials temporarily closed eight airports and more than 1,500 flights were canceled, affecting about 170,000 passengers. No deaths were reported, and people living nearby were not ordered to evacuate, although everyone was warned to stay away from the volcano’s crater. Ash also fell in some communities, and schools in affected areas were allowed to switch to online learning. Scientists are closely watching Anak Krakatau because they cannot know for certain when or how strongly a volcano will erupt next. You are in charge of packing an emergency kit for a family that lives near an active volcano. Choose six items to put inside your kit. Draw the items or make a chart showing them, then explain what each one could be used for during an eruption. Think about problems such as falling ash, losing electricity, needing information, or having to leave home quickly.

5. SPACECRAFT GETS CLOSE TO N.A.S.A. TELESCOPE

A private spacecraft called Link recently flew very close to NASA’s Swift space telescope, but it could not complete its planned rescue. Swift has been orbiting Earth since 2004 and studies powerful explosions in space. Scientists hoped Link could push the aging telescope into a higher orbit so it could stay in space longer. However, Link began spinning after launch, and engineers had to use much of its fuel to regain control. By the time it reached within about 9 miles of Swift, it did not have enough fuel left to move the telescope safely. Even though the rescue failed, NASA and the spacecraft company say they learned valuable lessons that could help future missions repair or move satellites and telescopes in space. Think like a spacecraft engineer. Draw a rescue spacecraft that could help an old telescope stay in orbit longer. Label at least three special features your spacecraft would need, such as robotic arms, cameras, extra fuel, or navigation sensors. Then write a short explanation of how your design would approach the telescope safely and what you would do to prevent a collision or running out of fuel.