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Activities for Week 1

READING: The Academy Awards were recently announced. Look through the movie section and read the ads to see which movies received Oscars. Try to predict the theme of each Oscar-winning movie by reading the ads and looking at the pictures of the movies.

WRITING: Have you ever heard someone say "April showers bring May flowers"? Read the weather section in the newspaper for two weeks. As you read, jot down notes about the weather, telling whether it has been dry, wet, hot or cold. Then write your own rhyme like the one above to describe the weather´s effect on plant´s, people or animals.

MATH: Tax day is April 15. On that day, working Americans must report their income and pay taxes for the previous year. Read the newspaper and find a chart that shows the different tax brackets. Choose one tax bracket and figure up how much money you would owe if the calculation is based on $50,000 per year.

CAREER CONNECTION: Contact a state university to see how many people are majoring in accounting. Ask about the job market for accountants. Then review the "Professional Occupations" in the classified ads. How many accountant jobs are available?

Activities for Week 2

READING: Look in the newspaper on April 1 and read stories about April Fool´s Day jokes that have been played on people. As you read the stories, think about what makes the joke funny. Note any humorous words or figures of speech that contribute to the joke.

WRITING: Daylight savings time begins this month. Read the newspaper to learn when to set the clock forward. Then write a creative story about someone who forgot to reset the clock.

MATH: Easter is here and so are chocolate bunnies. Read the newspaper to find out the price of your favorite Easter candy. Then figure out how much of your favorite candy you could buy with $5.00. How much could you buy if the candy is 20% off?

CAREER CONNECTION: Find out what education you would need to become a teacher. Read three articles in today´s newspaper that you think your teacher would like. Explain why you chose each article.

Activities for Week 3

READING: Spring is a very good time to enjoy the outdoors in Florida. Read the newspaper to find articles about Florida´s state parks. As you read, take notes on how one park differs from another. What would make you want to visit one state park rather than another?

WRITING: On Earth Day, we focus on the earth and our environment. Look in the newspaper for articles on Earth Day. Then write a poem about the importance of preserving our natural resources.

MATH: Wakulla Springs near Tallahassee is one of the world´s largest and deepest freshwater springs. Find a news article, in your local newspaper or on-line, on Wakulla Springs or any of the other springs in the state. Find out how much water flows from a spring on a average day and then calculate to find out how much would flow out in one week.

CAREER CONNECTION: Talk to a park ranger to find out about his or her job. Ask what kind of schooling is necessary for a career as a park ranger. Review the newspaper and find articles that relate to the parks and environment near you.

Activities for Week 4

READING: The important issues of civil rights raised by Martin Luther King Jr. are still important today. Read articles in the newspaper about civil rights. Think about the articles and explain how they relate to your life.

WRITING: Abraham Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1865. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968. Read your daily newspaper to find articles on Martin Luther King Jr. Then, go to the Internet and search an on-line newspaper to find a story about Abraham Lincoln. Write a story in which you compare and contrast the two men.

MATH: Martin Luther King Jr. made his "I Have A Dream" speech at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Research this topic and make a list of "math facts" related to this speech, such as, "How many people heard this speech? How did they reach Washington? How long did it probably take?" Share your math facts information with your classmates.

CAREER CONNECTION: What are the requirements to be president of the United States? Find articles in today´s newspaper that relate to the president and to civil rights.

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