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Debate: Should Artifacts Be Taken From the Titanic?

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Debate: Should Artifacts Be Taken From the Titanic?

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Over the years, some 5,500 items have been removed from the wreckage of the ill-fated ship. Is this right?

By Mackenzie Carro

From the December 2023/January 2024 Issue

Learning Objective: to analyze the arguments in two essays and decide which argument is the strongest

Click on the link below to see your assignment:

https://scope.scholastic.com/content/dam/classroom-magazines/scope/pages/misc/evergreens/SCOPE-Reference-EthosPathosLogos-EvergreenActivity.pdf

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Should Artifacts Be Taken From the Titanic?

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Over the years, some 5,500 items have been removed from the wreckage of the ill-fated ship. Is this right?

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Narrative Non-Fiction: Trapped in a Cave 

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Narrative Non-Fiction: Trapped in a Cave 

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Deep inside this mountain in Thailand, a soccer team and their coach are stranded in a flooded cave. Thousands of people will race against the clock to save them.

By Christina Soontornvat

From the November 2021 Issue

Learning Objective: to identify problem-solution relationships that appear in a narrative nonfiction article

Click on the link below to see your assignment:

https://scope.scholastic.com/content/dam/classroom-magazines/scope/issues/2021-22/110121/trapped-in-a-cave/SCOPE-110121-Nonfiction-ChoiceBoard.pdf

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The incredible rescue of a boys soccer team from a flooded cave in Thailand

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How did all of America end up wearing the same type of pants?

By Allison Friedman

From the September 2022 Issue

Learning Objective: to synthesize information from two nonfiction texts

Click on the link below in order to see the assignment:

https://scope.scholastic.com/content/dam/classroom-magazines/scope/issues/2022-23/090122/jeans-nation/SCOPE-090122-PairedTexts-CloseReadingCriticalThinking.pdf

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How did all of America end up wearing the same type of pants?

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Going to the bathroom in space is tough. A new toilet might make it easier.

By Kristin Lewis From the September 2021 Issue

Learning Objective: Write a Short-Constructed Response.

Prompt: Why is it challenging to deal with human waste during a mission to the moon? Support your answer with at least two pieces of text evidence.

Click on the link below to see you assignment:

https://scope.scholastic.com/content/dam/classroom-magazines/scope/issues/2021-22/090121/a-toilet-on-the-moon/SCOPE-090121-ShortWriteKit.pdf

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Going to the bathroom in space is tough. A new toilet might make it easier.

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The story of the September 11 attacks and the largest boat rescue in history

By Allison Friedman From the September 2021 Issue

Learning Objective: to write an essay about the hope, courage, and heroism that can be found in a story about September 11, 2001

Click on the link below to see your assignment:

https://scope.scholastic.com/content/dam/classroom-magazines/scope/issues/2021-22/090121/rescue-at-the-waters-edge/SCOPE-090121-Nonfiction-PTW.pdf

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The story of the 9/11 attacks and the largest boat rescue in history

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Paired Passages: Welcome to 2122 & What is yet to be is but a guess...

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Paired Passages: Welcome to 2122 & What is yet to be is but a guess...

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Here’s what life could be like in 100 years. By Adee Braun and Kristin Lewis

From the November 2022 Issue

Learning Objective: to compare and contrast three texts on the same topic.

Click on the link below to view your assignment:

https://scope.scholastic.com/content/dam/classroom-magazines/scope/issues/2022-23/110122/welcome-to-2122/SCOPE-110122-PairedTexts-ChoiceBoard2.pdf

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Scope isn't the only magazine thinking ahead! In 1900, a popular magazine called The Ladies' Home Journal ran an article by John Elfreth Watkins Jr. He interviewed experts about what life would be like in the 21st century. Here are six predictions from his article. How accurate were they?

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Here's what life could be like in 100 years.

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Dr. Heidegger’s water will keep you young forever. Want a sip?

Based on the short story “Dr. Heidegger’s Experiment”

By Jennifer Dignan and Spencer Kayden From the May 2022 Issue

Learning Objective: to analyze the theme of a story through a narrative, in-role writing prompt.

Click on the link below in order to see the Assignment Choice Board:

https://scope.scholastic.com/content/dam/classroom-magazines/scope/issues/2021-22/050122/the-experiment/SCOPE-050122-Play-ChoiceBoard.pdf

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Skip to main content

Dr. Heidegger's water will keep you young forever. Want a sip?

Based on the short story "Dr. Heidegger's Experiment" by Nathaniel Hawthorne

By Jennifer Dignan and Spencer Kayden

Learning Objective: to analyze the theme of a story through a narrative, in-role writing prompt

Other Key Skills: setting, foreshadowing, inference

Think about how the title relates to the story.

Choose the character you will play. *Starred characters have large speaking parts.

*Stage Directors 1, 2, 3 (SD1, SD2, SD3)

*Jacob *Harry *Heather

Jordan, Doctor Heidegger's assistant
*Clara *Doctor Heidegger

Scene 1
Dr. Heidegger's Study

SD3: Jordan shows an elderly woman into the room.

Jordan: Hello, everyone. Clara is here! Clara, you remember your old friends Jacob, Heather, and Harry.

SD1: No one speaks.

Jordan: Well, ah, I'll let you catch up.

SD2: Jordan exits.

Heather (to Clara): Well, look who it is.

Clara: You three! It's been what, 60 years since we last saw each other? I would not have recognized you had that young assistant not given your names.

Jacob: It's true. We are much changed since last we met.

SD3: The four drift about the dreary room, avoiding each other. Finally, Harry speaks.

Harry: Do you remember how much we used to fight back in college?

Jacob: We were terribly competitive-so jealous of each other's successes.

Harry: I can barely recall what it's like to have such strong feelings. These days, my deepest wish . . . is for the grave.

Clara: What an awful thing to say. And yet-I admit I often wish the same.

Heather (quietly): Time is cruel.

Jacob: Are your riches not a comfort, at least, Heather?

Heather: What riches? It's true that I made a fortune after graduation. But I took many foolish risks with my money and got involved in schemes anyone could have seen were too good to be true. Now I have nothing.

Jacob: You are not the only one with regrets. I was once a politician with a promising future. Remember? I was the youngest mayor in the history of the city. Then . . . well, no doubt you've heard the stories.

Clara: You took bribes.

Jacob: Among other things, yes. Not that it matters now. Today, no one even knows my name.

Clara: Everyone knows my name: Clara, who can't be trusted. Clara, who will reveal your secrets. In town I am reviled. So I keep to myself, day after lonely day.

Jacob: And you, Harry? What is your tragic tale?

Harry: When you knew me, I was a strapping young man with a bright future on the field. Thought I would be a pro. But I destroyed my health with alcohol, tobacco, decadent meals. . . . Now look at me. I cannot take one step without pain.

SD2: The lights come up on Dr. Heidegger and his guests. The guests' clothes have not changed, but in all other ways, the four are transformed.

SD3: They appear to be in their 20s and full of strength and energy.

Harry: This is simply amazing! I don't know when I last felt so cheerful.

Jacob: It's like I've come out of a nightmare.

SD1: Heather examines a lock of her l0ng hair.

Heather: My hair is the same blazing red it was years ago. This is truly a miracle!

SD2: Her eyebrows shoot up.

Heather: I have just had the most brilliant idea! I'm going to build an elevator to the moon and sell tickets. I'll be rich!

Harry: Heidegger, give us more of this wondrous water!

Clara: Yes-give us more!

SD3: The doctor refills their glasses.

Jacob: I was just thinking: I could run for office again. I am sure there are plenty of people who would help me. All it takes is a favor here, a favor there...

Clara: You wouldn't do anything illegal, would you?

SD1: Harry shrugs and laughs.

Harry: Heidegger, may I have another glass of that wonderful water? And perhaps a steak and some chocolate cake and a bottle or two of your best wine? And say, do you keep cigars in your study?

Heidegger: I'm afraid I've nothing on hand, but I am happy to refill your water.

Harry ( laughing): Can you believe how old we were?

SD2: Jacob limps across the room.

Jacob: Ooh, look at me, I am so old. Oh oh oh, everything hurts! Everything is so terrible!

SD3: The four young people laugh heartily as Heidegger again refills their glasses.

SD1: Clara gulps down the water and walks over to where Heidegger is watching them.

SD2: She whispers in his ear and points at the others.

Heather: Clara! What are you whispering about?

Jacob: Yes, Clara, what is it you don't want us to hear?

Clara: It's nothing!

Harry: Let me guess. You're telling Heidegger lies so that he will give the rest of the water to you!

Clara: I would never!

Heather: Ignore whatever she told you, Heidegger. Give the rest of the water to me, and I'll make you a partner in my new business!

Jacob: Do not listen to this nonsense, Heidegger. Give the water to me, and once I'm in office, I will return the favor!

Heather: What fools you are! I will RUIN all of you!

Clara: How dare you! Do you think I've forgotten the secrets all of you told me freshman year?

Harry: If any of you think you're getting that water, think again! I will rip you apart with my bare hands!

SD3: The four are soon a tumble of arms and legs. Heidegger quietly observes their behavior.

SD1: His attention drifts to the mirror, which-though it is hard to see in the gloom-seems for a moment to reveal four withered figures fighting like wild animals.

SD2: Suddenly, there is a crash. The table has been knocked over, sending the pitcher of water to the floor and dashing it into a thousand pieces.

Clara, Harry, Jacob, and Heather: Nooo!!

SD3: The lights go out.

Scene 5
Fifteen minutes later

This play was originally published in the May 2022 issue.

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Dr. Heidegger's water will keep you young forever. Want a sip?