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Activities for Week 1

READING: Be a reading detective. Figure out what´s in the news by looking for clues. On the front page of today´s newspaper, find two clues that tell you what´s inside. Most newspapers have an index (table of contents) that tells where the major sections are. Locate the index and choose a section that may be interesting to you. Turn to that section and read for fun.

WRITING: Find a nook at home where you can put your favorite books and magazines. Add some paper, pencils, a dictionary and art supplies and you´re ready to write. Make a journal so you can write your thoughts about what you read, think or feel. Decorate it with newspaper photos, words or cartoons. Write a letter to yourself about your goals in school for this year. Don´t forget to date each entry in your journal.

MATH: Numbers are everywhere! Look at the front page and circle every number that you can find. Don´t forget about numbers written as words. Think about the numbers you found on page one. In your journal, explain how they were used.

CAREER CONNECTION: Plan ahead. Check out all kinds of careers and find out what you can do now to get ready for them. Start with someone you see every day at school. Ask your teacher about his or her job.

Activities for Week 2

READING: Choose an article from the newspaper that includes a photo. Read the title of the article. In newspapers, this is called a "headline." Next, read the caption or "cutline" under the photo. From the headline and cutline, can you guess what the article is about? Write your answer in your journal. Read the article and see if you´re right.

WRITING: Create a time capsule to open one year from today. Collect your newspaper´s name, date, most interesting news, a movie you want to see, favorite comic strip, story about a favorite sport, an interesting job listing and two other special items. Tape these on paper. Write a paragraph about one thing you want to remember about this date. Add a photo of yourself. Place the items in a box, tape it closed and decorate it. On the outside write the date you´ll open the box.

MATH: Find a back-to-school ad that takes one-fourth of a page. What percentage is one-fourth? How many ads of this size would it take to fill half a page? How many ads of this size would it take to fill a whole page?

CAREER CONNECTION: Ask your parents or your friend´s parents to describe their jobs. How do their careers fit in with your interests and talents? What courses are you taking now that could help you in one of these careers?

Activities for Week 3

READING: Find two words in today´s paper that you don´t know and write them in your journal. Try to pronounce each word. Then read the sentences containing the words. In your journal, write what you think the words mean. Find the words in the dictionary and write their definitions in your journal. How were the dictionary definitions like yours? How were they different?

WRITING: Learning new words makes you a better reader and also a better writer. Pick your favorite comic character from today´s newspaper and create a new comic strip using the two words your just learned. Try to use your new words in talking with your friends.

MATH: Look in the classified ads and find five items that you think could help you in school. In your journal, list the items and their prices. Which is the second most expensive item? If the owner agreed to reduce this item by 1/10, what percentage would that be?

CAREER CONNECTION: Write in your journal about a dream career. Then list three things you can do to steer your education in that direction.

Activities for Week 4

READING: Basic facts of news stories often appear at the beginning and answer who, what, where, when, why and how (called the 5Ws and H). Read one article from the front page. In your journal, write the name of the newspaper and the date. Then record the headline and answers to the 5Ws and H.

WRITING: Think about something that just happened at home or school. Pretend you are a reporter and write the beginning of a news story giving the 5Ws and H. Once you´ve finished, read it aloud to yourself. Make any changes that you want to make. Then read the story to your parent or a friend.

MATH: Look for Labor Day sale advertisements. Ads often tell the percentage the prices are reduced such as "10% off regular prices." Find five percentages and list them in your journal. Convert the percentages to decimals and then write them as fractions. How did you figure out the answers? Explain the steps in your journal.

CAREER CONNECTION: In your journal, list five things you do well. Then list two things you want to learn to do better. Which classes and activities at school can help you?

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