Teachers and homeschool parents, please share this with your students. Using this guide will make your subjects more relevant and interesting to your pupils and will encourage creative thought. If you or your students have any suggestions or ideas for these teacher guides, please email Sarah Nachin – [email protected]. This guide is based on the newest Florida Standards for grades K-12.
Activities and Questions based on the May 9, 2025 – May 15, 2025 issue
Visual Arts Activity for High School: (VA.912.F.2.8) Describe community resources to preserve, restore, exhibit, and view works of art.
Read the article on pg. B-1 and B-4 about artist Sandy Philips. Then write an essay about two local or state organizations that support visual artists. One will be the Nature Coast Art League and the other will be one of your choosing. You’ll need to use at least one outside resource for your essay besides the information given in the article. Be sure to give the title of the resource, the author (if named) and where you found the article (the URL, title of the book or article, etc.). Any direct quotes need to be in quotation marks. Your essay should be at least 400 words.
Creative Writing Activity for High School: (ELA.6.C.1.2) Write personal or fictional narratives using narrative techniques, precise words and phrases, and figurative language.
Read the Mother’s Day messages on pg. B-5. Then write an essay about your mother or some other person who is like a mother to you. It could be your grandmother or another adult female relative, a friend’s mom or even a female teacher. Describe their physical characteristics, their personality, tell why they’re special to you, and relate something important you’ve learned from them or an anecdote about them. Your essay should be at least 375 words.
Composition Activity for Middle School: ELA.6.C.1.4 Write expository texts to explain and/or analyze information from multiple sources, using a logical organizational structure, relevant elaboration, and varied transitions.
Read the article on page A-1, A-4, and A-5 entitled “Brooksville: My Jurassic Hometown.” Then write an essay about two types of dinosaurs. Your essay should be at least 350 words. Use at least one outside resource for your information besides what’s in the article. Be sure to give the title of the resource, the author (if named) and where you found the article (the URL, title of the book or article, etc.). Any direct quotes need to be in quotation marks.
Visual Arts Activity for Middle School: ((VA.68.H.2.4) Explain the purpose of public art in the community.
Read the article on page B-1 and B-4 about the artist Sandy Philips. Then write an essay
about the mermaid statues found all over Hernando County, why they were created, what they represent and why they’re important. Use at least one outside resource for your information besides what’s in the article. Be sure to give the title of the resource, the author (if named) and where you found the article (the URL, title of the book or article, etc.). Any direct quotes need to be in quotation marks. Your essay should be at least 300 words.
Composition activity for Elementary School: (ELA.2.C.1.2) Write personal or fictional narratives using a logical sequence of events, transitions, and an ending.
Read the Mother’s Day messages on pg. B-5. Then write an essay about your mother or some other person who is like a mother to you. It could be your grandmother or another adult female relative, a friend’s mom or even a female teacher. Describe what they look like, their personality, tell why they’re special to you. Your essay should be at least 275 words.
Vocabulary Activity for Elementary School: (ELA.2.V.1.3) Identify and use context clues, word relationships, reference materials, and/or background knowledge to determine the meaning of unknown words.
Read the article about the play “Willie Wonka” on pages B-1 and B-9. Write the definition of each of the following words as it is used in the sentence. Write down what part of speech each word is (as it’s used in the sentence), and use the word in an original sentence. You can combine two or more words in a sentence but the sentence must make sense.
1. dual
2. hapless
3. pursue
4. seamless
5. polished (Watch out! This word is used in a different way than how it’s usually used.)
6. grimace
7. humility
8. aspect
If you wish 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.