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For Grades 5-8 , week of Aug. 06, 2007 1. Gang Warfare In many cities, gangs are a big issue, contributing to violence, drug dealing, graffiti and other problems. Over the years, cities have tried many approaches to reduce gang activity. Now some are trying something new: They're suing. In Fort Worth, Texas and San Francisco, California, city leaders have filed lawsuits against gang members, seeking injunctions to stop them from hanging out on street corners or other places. The injunctions give police legal reasons to stop and question suspected gang members. In the newspaper, find a story about crime that affects teens or young people. Write a complete sentence summarizing the problem. Write a second complete sentence describing a possible solution to the problem. Learning Standards: Using written and visual texts to identify and research issues of importance that confront adolescents, their community and the nation; utilizing the persuasive power of text as an instrument of change. 2. 'Dead Zone' It sounds like a summer horror movie: Dead Zone in the Gulf. But the horror is real for the environment an area in the Gulf of Mexico off the coasts of Louisiana and Texas. This 7,900-square-mile area is a marine "dead zone" where there's so little oxygen in the water that crabs, eels and other bottom dwellers swim to the surface just to breathe. The problem is pollution from farm fertilizers carried to the Gulf by the Mississippi River. The fertilizers cause ocean algae to bloom in great numbers, and when they die they sink to the bottom. There, they decay and use up oxygen in the water. In the newspaper find another story about pollution affecting the environment. Or find an example using the Internet. Write a short newspaper editorial offering suggestions on how to correct the pollution problem. Learning Standards: Using the persuasive power of text; showing how science concepts can be interpreted through creative expression such as language arts and fine arts. 3. Weight Watch In the United States, too many children are overweight, and too many are severely overweight, or obese. Now a Children's Medical Center in Dallas, Texas has come up with a program that makes children's fitness a family affair. The program is called LEAN, which stands for Lifestyle, Exercise And Nutrition. It makes healthy eating a family-wide program so that children will learn how to make healthy choices along with other family members. Children's hospitals in other cities offer similar programs, and results for improved fitness are encouraging. Use the food ads in the newspaper to plan a healthy family meal that will emphasize lean meats, fruits and vegetables instead of fatty or sugary foods. Then use the photos in the newspaper to pick a physical activity your family could do together to get more exercise. Learning Standards: Understanding the requirements for good health and nutrition; responding to a variety of written, visual and electronic texts by making connections to students' personal lives and the lives of others. 4. Buyers Beware The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a recall of two years' worth of canned goods made by Castleberry's Food because they may contain a bacteria that leads to the serious illness botulism. The FDA has made many warnings about this to stores and to the public through newspapers, television and radio. However, small shops, grocery stores and convenience stores across the country are still selling the products and people are still buying them. Out of 3,700 stores the FDA checked in recent weeks, 250 stores were still selling the products. Investigators for the FDA now are working to inform more consumers about the problem. Look through today's newspaper or on the Internet for articles that try to persuade or warn you not to buy a product. Write a few sentences explaining the problem with the product. Learning Standards: Using economic reasoning when comparing price, quality and features of goods and services; describing and demonstrating how economic forces shape consumer decisions regarding the purchase, use and disposal of goods and services and affect the economic well-being of individuals and society. 5. Producing Pride Last week, Iraq's national soccer team won the Asian Cup. It was the first time in history that Iraq won the cup. The win has been a great source of pride for the Iraqi government and people. Look through today's newspaper for examples of events that make you feel proud of being an American. Then, try to plan an event for your community that may make you and your neighbors feel more pride for the area. Learning Standards: Investigating and demonstrating understanding of the cultural and historical contexts of the themes, issues and our common heritage as depicted in literature and other texts.

Click here for printer-friendly version Go to Lessons for Grades 1-4 Grades 9-12 Past lessons for Grades 5-8 Aug. 06, 2007 July 30, 2007 July 23, 2007 July 16, 2007 July 09, 2007 June 25, 2007 June 18, 2007 June 11, 2007 June 04, 2007 May 28, 2007 May 21, 2007 May 14, 2007 May 07, 2007 Apr 30, 2007 Apr 23, 2007 Apr 16, 2007 Apr 09, 2007 Apr 02, 2007 Mar. 26, 2007 Mar. 19, 2007 Mar. 12, 2007 Mar. 05, 2007 Feb. 26, 2007 Feb. 19, 2007 Feb. 12, 2007 Feb. 05, 2007 Jan. 29, 2007 Jan. 22, 2007 Jan. 15, 2007 Jan. 08, 2007 Jan. 01, 2007 Dec.18, 2006 Dec.11, 2006 Dec.04, 2006 Nov. 27, 2006 Nov. 20, 2006 Nov. 13, 2006 Nov. 06, 2006 Oct. 30, 2006 Oct. 23, 2006