March 17 – 23, 2023 Teacher Guide

Activities and Questions based on Mar. 17, 2023 – Mar. 23, 2023 issue

Teachers, homeschool parents and students, if you have any suggestion or ideas for these teacher guides please email Sarah Nachin – [email protected]  

This is intended to use as a guide to adapt to your curriculum based on the Florida standards.

Composition activity for High School: (ELA.10.V.1.1 Integrate academic vocabulary appropriate to grade level in speaking and writing.)

Read the article on pg. A-1 about the Space Force. Then write an essay of 450 words or more about any one of the companies mentioned in the article: ABL Space Systems, Stoke Space, Phantom Space or Vaya Space.  

Critical thinking activity for High School: (SS.912.C.2.10 – Monitor current public issues in Florida.) 

Read the article on pg. A-2 about the proposal to make school board races partisan. In an essay of 450 words or more discuss the pros and cons of this proposal. State your position on the issue and why you feel this way. 

Vocabulary activity for Middle School: (ELA.6.V.1.3 –  Use context clues, figurative language, word relationships, reference materials, and/or background knowledge to determine the meaning of multiple-meaning and unknown words and phrases, appropriate to grade level.) 

Read the article on pg. A-1 entitled “Babke, Blintzes an Borscht.” Define the following words as they are used in the article. Also, write down what part of speech the word is (noun, adjective, etc.). Write a sentence of your own using each word: 

1, crepe

  1. antagonist
  2. congregation
  3. savory
  4. heritage
  5. extract
  6. authentic
  7. Purim
  8. peers
  9. macaroon  

Extra Credit Assignment #1: Write a sentence using a different form of the word than the one in the article. For example, if the word in the article is an adjective like “rosy,” change it to a noun – “rose” and then use that word in an original sentence.  

Extra Credit Assignment #2: Write one to three paragraphs (or more) using this week’s vocabulary words or a form of the word. You can use as many or as few of the words as you like; however, your paragraphs must make sense. In other words don’t just write sentences that don’t go together to discuss a topic or create a story. 

Comprehension activity for Middle School: (ELA.K12.EE.2.1 – Read and comprehend grade-level complex texts proficiently). 

Read the article on page B-5 about invasive pests, then answer the following questions in complete sentences:

  1. What does the writer mean by invasive pests?
  2. Name two ways in which invasive plants and insects can move into an area. 
  3. Name two reasons why invasive species are bad.
  4. What agency is in charge of educating people about these invasive species and working to eliminate them?
  5. How can you tell if a toad is not native to Florida?
  6. Name three methods to prevent Conehead termites.
  7. Why are conehead termites easy to spot?
  8. Why are the Giant African Snails particularly harmful?
  9. Name two ways in which the government agencies work to eradicate these species. 
  10.  Which of these three pests is especially harmful to pets?    

Composition activity for Elementary School:  (ELA.10.C.3.1 Follow the rules of standard English grammar, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling appropriate to grade level.)

Read the article on pg. B-4 about St. Puppy’s Day. Then write an essay of 275 words or more on any of these topics: your pet, St. Patrick’s Day, your favorite holiday.  

Comprehension activity for Elementary School: (ELA.2.R.3.2 Retell a text to enhance comprehension.) 

Read the article on pg. B-3 about growing organic food. Summarize the article in 250 words or more. Make sure you retell it in your own words. 

 Anyone wishing to submit any of your compositions from this week to the newspaper for us to consider publishing, please email to [email protected]. Be sure and include your name, age, grade level and school that you attend. Submission is not a guarantee that your work will be published. Submissions may be edited due to space restrictions.