Summer Reading Project

By: Isabella Gutierrez

Table of Contents:

Goodbye Big Drinks! ………………………………………………………………………… Pg. 1

A New Species Discovered—or Not? ..……………………………………………… Pg. 3

Indian Elephants Demonstrate Their Steel-Trap Memories .……………… Pg. 5

You Will Never Guess the Artist(s) Behind These ‘Mystery Circles' …. Pg. 7

King’s Dream ……………………………………………………………………………………. Pg. 9

Goodbye Big Drinks!

Summary: An amazing law has been created in New York banning all companies to

sell sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces, such as sodas and sweetened ice

tea. This law was made to lower the percentage rating of obesity in the

United States. Most children in elementary and middle school are

considered overweight mainly because of these sugar filled drinks. Of

course this won’t stop all obesity but it is a very big and important step to

take.

Questions:

1). What was the most interesting thing that you learned from reading this

article, and why? Explain. The most interesting thing I have learned from

reading this article has been noticing that more than 50% of people are not

in favor of this law. This was the most interesting thing I learned when

reading this article because I am very surprised

that so many people are against such a great law

that is being made to help the people of the

United States to live a healthy and balanced life.

2.) If applicable: What caused this event, and/or what are the effects of

this event? Explain. This law was created because a large amount of the

population in the U.S was obese or overweight and one of

the main reasons was because of excess drinking of

sugary drinks. The effects of this law being made would

reduce the percentage of obese/overweight citizens in the

United States.

Vocabulary:

MLA Citation:

Park, Alice. "Goodbye, Big Drinks." Time for Kids. N.p., 14 Sept. 2012. Web. 21 July

……………………………………..2013. <http://www.timeforkids.com/>

Chairperson: The person

that conducts a meeting.

A chairperson directs and

creates the conference or

meeting. This term is

used in big companies.

Poll: Recording or counting

votes. For example when

there are elections to choose

a president. Asking a

question to a group of people

and counting the results.

A New Species Discovered—or Not?

Summary:

Scientist Kristofer Helgen, with

the help of his team and other

fellow scientists, has discovered a

new species found in South

America and named it the

“olinguito”. The olinguito was

originally found in Ecuador near

the Andes Mountains but

scientists have recently found it in

the foggy forests of Colombia.

Question No. 1: If applicable: What caused

this event, and/or what are the effects of

this event? Explain. The effects of this new

species will be very important on our

planet. This discovery is proof that we are

living among unknown species. Now

scientist will feel more encouraged to

explore for new plants and animals.

Question No. 2: What new insight into the

world did you gain through this article, and

how will it impact your way of thinking or

behaving? Explain. Reading this article

taught me that there are plenty of things

we do not know about the world. Many

species of fauna and flora are yet to be

discovered. This will impact the way I think

because now I will recognize that there is

MUCH more to the world than what I think.

“The discovery of the

olinguito shows us

that the world is not

yet completely

explored,”

-Kristofer Helgen

MLA Citation: Walters, Jennifer. “A New Species Discovered—or Not?”. Scholastic. Aug. 22. 13. Web.

Aug. 23. 13. <http://www.scholastic.com/>.

Vocabulary

Pelt/s: A furry skin.

Many mammals have

pelts, for example, an

olinguito.

Specimen: A sample of

blood, saliva, anything

that contains DNA, with

is used for analysis.

Indian Elephants Demonstrate Their Steel-Trap Memories

Summary:

It is known that elephants have an amazing memory; they never forget,

and apparently, they never forgive! When an elephant was struck and

killed by a train in India, it was settled by railroad officers and the villagers

that what had happened could not have been avoided, but 15 elephants

thought differently. This pack of elephants went to the railway tracks,

where there friend had been killed, and stayed there refusing to move.

They also destroyed some of the property, a school and 10 homes. The

officials have decided to call specialists and they expect that these

mammals will leave when complete the ritual they do when an elephant

dies.

l\ Vocabulary:

Anecdotally: When

something, a research or a story, is

based on different anecdotes.

Vigilante: A person who

commits a crime. Like a thief or a

murderer.

Questions:

MLA Citation:

Dolasia, Meera. “Indian Elephants Demonstrate Their Steel-Trap Memories”. Dogo

News. Aug. 15. 13. Web. Aug. 26. 13. <http://www.dogonews.com/>.

Question No. 1: What was the

most interesting thing that you

learned from reading this article,

and why? Explain. The most

interesting thing I learned from

reading this article is that some

animals are very smart and you

should never underestimate them.

Also, never do something you

could regret and always treat

people and animals right.

Question No. 2: If applicable: What

caused this event, and/or what are

the effects of this event? Explain.

What caused this event was that

an elephant that crossed the train

tracks at just the wrong moment.

When this beautiful animal died, it

was considered as “unpreventable”

and this, of course, got the other

elephants very mad. They decided

to destroy this village to gat justice

for their lost friend.

Plaguing: Something that makes you

feel troubled, or annoyed.

For example, scientists are

plagued on the question

about crop circles.

Intrigued: To feel interest for new or

fascinating things, like the

deep sea photographer

when he wanted to learn

about the underwater

circles.

Summary:

Scientists have always questioned

themselves about crop circles, and

now they have found these

UNDERWATER! The year of 2012,

the answer to these underwater

circles was discovered, they are

created by male puffer fish! Puffer

fish make these beautiful circles to

impress female fish.

You Will Never Guess the Artist(s) Behind These ‘Mystery Circles’:

Questions:

MLA Citation:

Question No. 1: Can you connect this event to something similar that has happened

around you? (Has something like this happened to you, your family, your

community, or your country?) Explain. I can connect this article with something

that happened in my community, when I was much younger I had gone on a road

trip and we stopped by a farm where there had been a crop circle created. Just like

the underwater circles, these where created, by a person/animal, to attract other

people. Farmers do it to attract tourists and these fish do it to attract female fish.

Question No. 2: What was the most interesting thing that you learned from reading

this article, and why? Explain. The most interesting thing I learned from this

article, has been noticing how much effort the Puffer fish makes just to impress a

female. I have learned that they use their fin to create the shapes and that when 2

males are fighting for a female they create theses circles and the one with the best

one wins the female.

Dolasia, Meera. “You Will Never Guess The Artist(s) Behind These Underwater 'Mystery

Circles'”. Dogo News. Aug. 25. 13. Web. Aug. 27. 13.

<http://www.dogonews.com/>.

8

9

King’s Dream: Summary:

50 years ago, Martin Luther King Jr. gave a very inspiring speech. As we

already know, before African-American people did not have almost any of

the rights others had. Martin Luther King decided that he needed to

change this. He gave one of the most memorable speeches till this day. He

completely changed the way people thought and still think. He achieved

his dream; even though he was murdered, we will always remember him.

Questions:

This article was about Martin Luther King Jr.

He made rights for African-American people.

I believe that what he did is extremely news

worthy because he completely changed

society.

I think that this article will make people notice

how much Martin Luther King changed the

world and we should always think of him as

an inspiring person. I know will always

appreciate him.

Question No. 1: Who was involved? What

was their role? (Who or what is the article

about, and what is it that he/she/it did that

is news worthy). Explain.

Question No. 2: What new insight into the

world did you gain through this article, and

how will it impact your way of thinking or

behaving? Explain.

Vocabulary:

MLA Citation:

Segregated: To be set

apart, treated differently than

others. For example, African-

American people used to be

segregated form others.

10

Martin Luther King.

1929-1968

King's Dream." Schoolastic News. N.p., 27 Aug. 2013. Web. 31 Aug. 2013