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 grade school through high school.
Activities and Questions based on the Jan. 24, 2025 – Jan. 30, 2025 issue
Critical Thinking Activity for High School: (ELA.9.C.1.4) Write expository texts to explain and analyze information from multiple sources, using a logical organization, varied purposeful transitions, and a tone appropriate to the task.
Read the article on pg. A-6 about funding for capital improvement projects in Hernando County. Then write an essay discussing the various ways of raising money for county projects such as road improvement; building new schools or expanding existing ones; environmental improvements; jail improvements; increased funding for the sheriff and fire departments; funding to improve quality of life, such as alleviating homelessness; and funding to attract new businesses to the area. Rank these seven types of improvements according to their importance in your mind. For example the most important would be #1, etc. Then expand on the one that you think is most important and discuss ways to fund these projects as outlined in the article. The options are increase property taxes, increase the sales tax rate, set up an MSTU, set up PDDs, or raise impact fees for new construction. Your essay should be at least 500 words. Use at least two outside sources and cite the details of those sources (the URLs where you found them, authors [if the authors are named], dates of the articles, and title of the articles).
History Activity for High School: (SS.4.A.3.6) Identify the effects of Spanish rule in Florida.
Read the article on pg. B-3 about Spanish shipwreck treasures. Then, write an essay of at least 400 words about one of those shipwrecks (1622, 1715, 1733). Use at least one outside source and cite the details of that source (date and title of the article, who wrote it, [if the author is named], the title of the journal or book, [if given] and URL where you found it).
Health activity for Middle School: (HE.5.PHC.1.4) Describe the relationship between healthy behaviors and personal health.
Read the article on pg. B-8 entitled “Exercise Solutions for Busy People.” Write an essay of at least 325 words explaining why exercise is important for both physical and mental health. Use at least one outside source and cite the details of that source (date and title of the article and who wrote it [if the author is named], the title of the journal or book [if given] and the URL where you found it).
Extra Credit Activity: Keep a daily journal of your exercise and physical activity for one week. Note the time, how long the activity took and what type of activity, including approximate distance if you walked or ran. Here are a couple of examples of entries in your journal: Monday 7:30 am – 7:40 am Walked to bus stop. Distance 2 blocks. Tuesday 10:30 am -11:00 am. Played kickball in P.E.
Comprehension Activity for Middle School: (ELA.K12.EE.2.1) Read and comprehend grade-level complex texts proficiently).
Read the article on pg. B-1 and B-4 about John Law Ayers. Then answer the following questions in complete sentences:
1. Why didn’t Mr. Ayers fight in either of the world wars?
2. Why do you think the writer of this article said, “But don’t let appearances fool you. John Law Ayers was no one’s grandfather…”
2. Why did the writer of the article describe him as a “jack of all trades?”
3. What political offices did Mr. Ayers hold?
4. What are two important events that happened when he served in his State office from 1957- 1966?
5. Name two important pieces of legislation that Ayers and James Connor worked on together?
6. Why were these two pieces of legislation important?
7. Why do you think Mr. Ayers waited so long to get married?
8. Name three of Ayers’ activities outside of his work.
9. Name two honors he received in his later years.
10. What do you think the writer of this article means when she said, “I think John Law Ayers would look down on it and smile.”?
Math Activity for Elementary School: (MA.3.AR.1.2) Solve one and two-step real-world problems involving any of four operations with whole numbers.
Study the Calendar of Events and the ads on pages B-2. Then solve the following problems:
1. How many more theatrical-type activities are there than religious activities?
2. How many more indoor activities are there than outdoor activities?
3. What percentage of activities involve food?
4. What percentage of events involve music and art? (Not necessarily together in one activity)
5. How many educational activities and theatrical activities are there all together?
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 on pg. B-8 entitled “Discover the Healing Power of Qigong.” Write the definition that comes closest to the meaning of each of the following words as it is used in the sentence. Try to figure out what the word means by the context, rather than consulting a dictionary. Also determine what part of speech it is by how it’s used in the sentence, if possible. Then use each word in a sentence of your own:
1. profound
2. harmony
3. crucial
4. vitality
5. toxin
6. originate
7. cultivate
8. immune
9. bliss
10. flexibility
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.