Activities and Questions based on Jan. 27, 2023 – Feb. 2, 2023 issue
Teachers, Homeschool Parents & Students, if you have any suggestions 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.C.1.4 – Write expository texts to explain and analyze information from multiple sources, using a logical organization, purposeful transitions, and a tone and voice appropriate to the task.)
Read the article on page A-1 about cyber security. Write an essay expounding on two ways to make sure that you are safe while online. Consult at least three resources, not counting the article, for research. Your essay should be at least 450 words.
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 8-year term limits for school boards. Discuss the pros and cons of this idea. Do you agree or not agree with this proposal? Why or why not? Your essay should be 450 words or more.
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. B-1 about the Fuller Center. 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:
- covenant
- initiate
- ecumenical
- philanthropic
- spearhead (the word in the article is “spearheaded”)
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 Groundhog Day. Answer the following questions in complete sentences.
- With what festival did Groundhog day have its beginnings?
- When and where did the first official Groundhog Day take place? What three organizations helped to sponsor this project?
- What is the “Inner Circle?
- Why do some animals hibernate in the winter?
- What is the superstition surrounding Groundhog Day?
Science activity for Elementary School: (SC.4.E.5.2 – Describe the changes in the observable shape of the moon over the course of about a month)
Read the article on pg.B-5 about the celestial happenings. Summarize the article in your own words. Make sure you include all the important points. Your summary should be at least 175 words. Then go to the following website: The Sky this Week | Astronomy.com and read one of the article about the sky this week. Write a short summary of the article discussing just the important points. Your summary should be at least 150 words.
English Language Arts activity for Elementary School: (ELA.1.R.2.2 – Identify the topic of and relevant details in a text.)
Read the article on pg. B-1 about the premiere of the movie “Stills.” In one or two sentences explain what the main idea of the article is. Then summarize the article in 200 words or more. Be sure to include the important details in the beginning, middle and end of the article.
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.