This holiday season, the Newspaper in Education scavenger hunt will allow classrooms a peek at the weekend paper through Holiday Hullabaloo! Saturday Scavenger Challenge. Questions in this challenge are designed to lead students to areas of the paper that they do not normally see in weekday classroom papers. The activity sharpens navigational skills while making students aware that the newspaper may be used as a tool to obtain information in addition to reading for pleasure.

Participating teachers will receive a scavenger challenge sheet to accompany the newspapers. The Bangor Daily News issue date is Saturday, Dec. 10, delivered Monday, Dec. 12.

When the challenge sheet is completed and returned, it will be entered into a drawing for a Newspapers In Education New Year Party, scheduled at the winning classroom’s convenience.

In January, NIE will offer a section on Maine Climate Change. The earth’s climate is in transition, and while scientists differ in specific forecasts for the future, most agree that natural and manmade influences can interact to alter global temperature and vary weather patterns.

To publicize this timely issue, the Bangor Daily News will collaborate with scientists at the University of Maine’s Climate Change Institute to create a special eight-page section exploring the history of climate and examining the interplay of ice, oceans and greenhouse gasses. Participating teachers will receive a weather science curriculum guide. The newspaper issue date is Thursday, Jan. 12.

Frannie – of “The New Adventures of Frannie & Friends” – is back! The story is the much-demanded sequel to “Frannie Learns a Lesson,” which ran in the fall of 2004.

In this year’s story, Frannie Fish and her friends Carter Crab, Suzy Starfish and Tommy Tuna are returning to school after winter break. They each have a tale of something that happened to them over break and an important lesson they learned.

These lessons focus on gossip, sibling rivalry, honesty, community service, and more. Kindergarten through sixth grade classes will learn language arts skills and character building concepts, aided by teacher packets that include activity guides and coloring books. Teachers who already receive a Tuesday classroom subscription to the Bangor Daily News do not need to sign up for this separately, but will need to contact NIE for the accompanying materials. The issue dates are every Tuesday from Jan. 3 to Feb. 28, skipping Feb. 21 during vacation week.

In February, working with Maine author H.H. Price, NIE will present the five-part, in-paper series, Maine’s Underground Railroad. Co-author and co-editor of “Maine’s Visible Black History: The First Chronicle of Its People,” Price will share her research and findings on Maine’s Underground Railroad through excerpts and photographs from her recently released book.

The first 35 educators to sign up for this NIE special program will receive a free copy of the book, which covers many facets of Maine’s black history and includes resources for students. Bangor Daily News issue dates are Monday-Friday, Feb. 13-17.

To sign up for these special programs, call 990-8076 or toll-free (800) 432-7964, ext. 8076, or e-mail bdnnie@bangordailynews.net.