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The Teaching Center for each issue will be available two weeks before the issue date.
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Go to the Teaching Center for "Making Waves," September 16.
Click here for the answer key.
In This Issue
In this issue, your class will learn that the world’s population will soon top 7 billion. Students will also read about the reasons behind the boom, and how the U.S. population has grown over time.
News Brief: Experts correctly forecast an underwater volcano’s eruption.
News Brief: WR News catches up with the authors of The Flint Heart.
Brain Builders: World Population by Age (Read a Chart)
Click here to download the first of four reading assessments to share with students.
Download the tracking guide here.
Multimedia Features in This Issue
COVER
Video: Learn about the world’s population.
Ask: What are two reasons why the world’s population has increased? What is the most populous country in the world today? About how many people live there?
PAGE 2
Video: Watch scientists study the volcano.
Ask: Why might experts use a robot to help them study underwater volcanoes? What are some of the benefits of using robots? What are the disadvantages?
PAGE 3
Interactive map: Explore the most populous countries.
Ask: Which two nations are expected to have the greatest populations in 2050? How is the U.S. population expected to change by 2050? How many more people will live in Nigeria in 2050 than will live in the United States? What factors may influence the number of people who live in a particular nation?
Common Core State Standard
Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons. Reinforce this skill with the work sheet on page 4.
Concepts of Comprehension©
DRAWING CONCLUSIONS
Drawing Conclusions is when you figure out what a text means by using what you already know and information from the text. Reinforce this skill with the work sheet on page 3.
National Standards
SCIENCE (NSES)
Cover: Oh, Baby!
• People, places, and environments
• Time, continuity, and change
Page 2: Story of a Stone
• Individual development and identity
• Culture
SOCIAL STUDIES (NCSS)
Page 2: Rumbles at Sea
• Changes in environments
• Properties of Earth’s materials
LANGUAGE ARTS (NCTE/IRA)
Teacher’s Guide (page 4)
• Use written language for a purpose.
Motivate Reluctant Readers
In this issue, the story written for reluctant readers is “Story of a Stone.” Before reading, ask students: What types of stories do you like to read? Who are some of your favorite authors? If you were to write a book, what would it be about? Why?
Online Exclusives
Digital Edition: an exciting multimedia version of the cover story, with videos, slide shows, and interactive features
News Quiz: a weekly news quiz based on the issue
Coming in the Next Issue: Oct. 7, 2011
Helping the Hungry: Millions of people in Africa need food now.
TEACHING THE COVER STORY
Oh, Baby!
The world's population will top 7 billion this fall.
Before You Read
Ask students: About how many people do you think live on Earth? Why might the world’s population be increasing?
Vocabulary
billion: a very large number equal to 1,000 million
predict: to guess
support: to take care of
Background
• Which country has the highest population? China is the most populous country, with 1.35 billion people. However, India’s population is predicted to surpass China’s. India is expected to have 1.69 billion people by 2050.
• How will the U.S. population change? The United States is expected to be one of the fastest-growing countries in the world. Officials believe the population will increase from 312 million people today to 423 million people in 2050. That will make it the fourth-most-populous country.
Think Critically
Some countries are expected to have smaller populations in 2050 than they do today. Why might that be?
Extend the Lesson
Get the facts. Now that students are world population whizzes, have them research U.S. states, including which states have the most and least people. They can find the facts at tinyurl.com/us-facts.
Web Resource
Just how big is 1 billion? Help kids put the number in perspective by visiting www.kokogiak.com/megapenny.
Lexile rating: 640L
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TEACHING THE NEWS BRIEF
Rumbles at Sea
Experts correctly forecast an underwater volcano's eruption.
Before You Read
Ask: What is a volcano? Where are volcanoes located? Why might scientists want to know when they will erupt?
Vocabulary
erupt: to blow up
Background
How do scientists observe Axial Seamount? Scientists use a remotely operated robot to monitor the underwater volcano. On an expedition in July, the experts were using the robot to retrieve some monitoring instruments that they had left at the spewer last year. The robotic vehicle took pictures of the site, and that’s when scientists realized the seaf loor was covered with miles of hard, blackened lava.
Think Critically
How might it be different to study an underwater volcano compared with a volcano that is on land?
Extend the Lesson
Sketch a volcano. Have students research the main parts of a volcano using books and the Internet. Then have each student draw a volcano. Be sure each student’s drawing includes labels and descriptions of the volcano’s crater, the cone, lava, and magma.
Web Resource
For more about volcanoes, visit www.fema.gov/kids/volcano.
TEACHING THE NEWS BRIEF
Story of a Stone
WR News catches up with the authors of The Flint Heart.
Before You Read
Ask students: What qualities are important for a person to have? Why?
Vocabulary
cruel: mean
Background
What other books have Katherine Paterson and John Paterson written? The husband and wife team have collaborated on several stories, including Blueberries for the Queen. Katherine is the author of Bridge to Terabithia, for which she was awarded the 1978 Newbery Medal, and The Great Gilly Hopkins, for which she won the 1979 National Book Award. She is currently the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.
Think Critically
The new book is based on a fairy tale that was written in 1910 by Eden Phillpotts. What might be the challenges of updating such an old story?
Extend the Lesson
Update a fairy tale. Have students rewrite a classic fairy tale, such as the stories of Cinderella or Little Red Riding Hood. Then ask each student to write a paragraph explaining how his or her story compares with the original.
Web Resource
To learn more about the book, visit tinyurl.com/flintheart.
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Click on each image to download a PDF of that activity. Click here for the answer key.
Use this activity to help students learn how to draw conclusions.
Help students learn to think critically by having them choose which of our country’s issues they think is the most important.
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Grade 3 Teaching Centers and Issue Dates, 2011-2012
Senior Managing Editor: Clara Colbert
Senior Editor: Brooke Ross
Senior Associate Editor: Rebecca Zissou
Contributing Editor: Laura McClure Anastasia
Senior Group Art Director: Jeff Talbot
Senior Art Director: Claudia Ramirez
Associate Art Director: Raquel Hernandez
Designer: Nicole Hocutt
Manager, Copy Editing: Kim Paras
Senior Copy Editor: Sarah Chassé
Copy Editor: Troy Reynolds
Manager, Photo Department: Julie Alissi
Multimedia Researcher: Carrin Ackerman
Production Designer: Richard Gore
Operations Manager, Manufacturing: Christine DiLauro
Vice President, Operations: Marcia Smith
Senior Vice President, Editorial: Ira Wolfman
The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc., President and Chief Executive Officer: Robert E. Guth
Executive Vice President, RDA: Lisa Sharples
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