Top 10 news stories 2005: what were the biggest news stories of the year? Out of many possibilities, we whittled our list down to these 10. Which would be on your Top-10 list? Did we miss any?

Storms of Destruction

By November 19, 24 tropical storms had originated in the Atlantic Ocean. Of those, 13 became hurricanes. Many tore through populated areas, spreading death and destruction. Hurricane Katrina struck the U.S. Gulf Coast in August, killing more than 1,300 people. It demolished entire towns and triggered a flood that left much of New Orleans, Louisiana, and surrounding parishes underwater.

In October, Hurricane Stan devastated parts of Mexico and Central America, including Guatemala, where mudslides killed more than 1,500 people. Hurricanes Dennis and Emily in July, Rita in September, and Wilma in October also battered communities in their paths.

Meteorologists have a list of 21 names for each year's tropical storms and hurricanes. This year, for the first time, they ran out of names and had to start using the Greek alphabet.

Rebuilding will take years and cost billions of dollars. As people begin the slow, tough process, many wonder, "What will next year bring?"

Quake in South Asia 

On October 8, a powerful earthquake jolted northern Pakistan and India. About 88,700 people were killed or died in the weeks thereafter. The quake, which measured 7.6 on the Richter scale, injured more than 125,000 people and left about 3 million homeless.

The epicenter was in the Kashmir region of Pakistan, close to its border with India. It is mountainous country, and the rugged terrain slowed already inadequate relief efforts. So did bad weather, mudslides, and aftershocks.

Besides food, water, and medical care, quake victims are in desperate need of warm clothing and shelter. Winter in the area is typically severe. "They are very, very harsh conditions for the people living without shelter," said a Red Cross spokesperson, "especially the [old] people and kids." The United Nations is trying to raise $550 million in aid.

Supreme Court Ins & Outs

For the first time in 11 years, there was an opening on the U.S. Supreme Court. Then there were two. On July 1, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor announced her retirement. On September 3, Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist died after a long battle with thyroid cancer.

President George W. Bush's first nominee, John G. Roberts Jr., met some opposition, but the U.S. Senate confirmed him by a 78-22 vote. He was sworn in as Chief Justice on September 29. Harriet E. Miers, the President's next nominee, was chosen to replace O'Connor. But objections from Americans on the right, who usually support the President, forced Miers to withdraw on October 27. Many Americans on the left have expressed concern about Bush's third nominee, Samuel A. Alito Jr. His Senate hearings may be tougher than those Roberts experienced.

A Lot of Pain, a Little Progress

Violence in Iraq continued to make headlines in 2005. Two years after the U.S.-led invasion, the U.S. seemed no closer to being able to withdraw its troops. By mid-November, the death toll of U.S. military serving in Iraq had topped 2,067. Tens of thousands of Iraqis had been killed by violence resulting from the war and attacks by insurgents (rebels).

Not all the news from Iraq was bleak. In January, Iraqis voted in their country's first free elections in 50 years. In October, they approved a new constitution. As this issue went to press, Iraqis were preparing for a third election--to choose their first government under the new constitution. Many challenges lie ahead to keep the country together and avoid civil war.

A Rough Start to Term Two

For President George W. Bush, 2005 turned out to be a year of hard knocks. He spent months campaigning to win support for his Social Security reforms, but the plans fizzled. Then, key White House aides were investigated. One--I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby--was indicted (charged with a crime) related to the illegal leaking of a CIA agent's identity. The Bush administration's slow response to the needs of thousands of desperate Hurricane Katrina victims outraged many Americans. So did high gas prices and ongoing violence in Iraq.

Foreign relations were also difficult. Last month, Bush's arrival in Argentina for meetings with other world leaders was marked by massive protests. By the end of November, the President's approval ratings at home were at their lowest levels ever.

Champions at Last

It took 88 years, but the White Sox finally did it. On October 26, Chicago's American League team won its first World Series title since 1917. Chicago conquered the National League Houston Astros in a four-game sweep.

The victory is extra sweet to Chicago fans. The "Black Sox" scandal had haunted the city for decades. Eight WhiteSox players were banned from baseball for accepting bribes to lose the 1919 World Series. These included the great "Shoeless Joe" Jackson, who knew about the fix but had not accepted any bribes. Instead of "Say it ain't so, Joe!" Chicago fans can now shout, "We're Number One!"

A New Pope

The Roman Catholic Church got a new leader in 2005. John Paul II, who had been Pope since 1978, died on April 2. Suspense hovered over the Vatican in Rome as a conclave (secret assembly) of Cardinals voted on a successor. On April 19, Cardinal Joseph Alois Ratzinger, 78, was declared Pope Benedict XVI.

John Paul II was beloved by millions of people worldwide. Though less well-known, Benedict XVI will not find the job of Pope unfamiliar. He had a close working relationship with John Paul II.

NASA's High Hopes

For NASA, 2005 had its ups and downs. When Discovery was launched on July 26, NASA celebrated "Return to Flight," the first shuttle mission in two years. The initial joy faded into concern, though, when parts of Discovery's heat shield were damaged during the launch. The astronauts returned safely on August 5. However, the shuttle program had to be put on hold--again. Before another shuttle mission can occur, NASA must ensure that the problems that caused the explosion of shuttle Columbia in 2003 are solved.

On August 12, NASA launched the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, which is expected to reach Mars in May 2006. Spirit and Opportunity, Mars probes from an earlier launch, have been hugely successful, exploring the Red Planet's surface and sending images home. Scientists hope that the new orbiter will prove as useful.

Terror Strikes Again and Again

Terrorists murdered hundreds of innocent people in carefully coordinated attacks this year. Suicide bombings occurred in crowded areas and, in many cases, multiple explosions went off within minutes of each other. Among the worst:

* London, England, July 7: Three blasts ripped through the Underground (subway), one on a bus. Fifty-six people were killed, including the four bombers, and about 700 were wounded.

* Sharm al-Sheik, Egypt, July 23: Three bombs exploded in popular tourist areas. At least 88 people were killed, 200 wounded.

* Delhi, India, October 29: Crowds preparing for the festival of Diwali were the target of three shopping-area explosions that killed 61 people and wounded at least 188.

* Amman, Jordan, November 9: Three luxury hotels in Amman were bombed, killing at least 67 and wounding about 300.

Mad About Harry

J. K. Rowling did it again. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, her sixth book about the boy wizard, smashed book-sales records when it was released in July. In the first 24 hours alone, 6.9 million copies were sold in the U.S., another 2 million in the United Kingdom.

No other book has ever come close to that kind of success--except the last Harry Potter. In 2003, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix sold 5 million copies in its first 24 hours.

* OBJECTIVE

Students should understand

* some of the events that had the biggest impact in 2005.

* WORDS TO KNOW

meteorologist: a scientist who studies and forecasts the weather * Richter scale: measure of an earthquake's magnitude, from 0 to 9 (examples: 1.5, barely felt; 4.5, slight damage; 8.5, extreme devastation).

* BACKGROUND

We were unable to include some big stories in our list of 10, such as high gas prices, youth street violence in France, the withdrawal of Israeli settlers from the Gaza Strip, and the agreement allowing Palestinians to control some of their own borders. Study other major events of the year with your students, and discuss why they were/are important.

* CRITICAL THINKING

RECALLING DETAILS: There were so many, hurricanes this year that meteorologists had to do what to name them? (start using the Greek alphabet)

SUPPORTING AN OPINION: Are any of these events likely to have a lasting impact? Which will soon be forgotten? Why? (Answers will vary.)

* ACTIVITIES

VOTE! Have students choose the biggest news story, of the year (it need not be one of ours), giving reasons to support their answers. YOU BE THE REPORTER: Have each student write a news article that describes the most important event of 2005 in his or her life. (It need not have been mainstream news; it could be a family event, for instance.) The reports should cover the five main journalistic questions: who, what, when, where, and why.

STANDARDS

SOCIAL STUDIES, GRADES 5-8

* Global connections: How people are affected by crises and other events in places near and far.

* Time, continuity, and change: How people respond to major changes in their physical or cultural environment,

RESOURCES

PRINT

* Bowman-Kruhm, Mary, and Claudine G. Wirths, A Day in the Life of a Newspaper Reporter (Rosen Publishing Group, 2000. Grades 4-6.

* Hamill, Pete, News Is a Verb (Random House, 1998). Grades 6 & up.

WEB SITES

* Google News news.google.com

* World News/BBCinfoplease.com/news/allstories.html

* Match each place in the left column with the correct event in the right column.

-- 1. Amman       A. devastated by Hurricane
                     Stan

-- 2. Rome        B. site of a powerful
                     earthquake
-- 3. Iraq        C. attacked by terrorist
                     bombers
-- 4. Kashmir     D. voted in a new constitution

-- 5. Guatemala   E. site of the Vatican,
                     where a conclave
                     chose the new Pope

1. C

2. E

3. D

4. B

5. A

1. True or False? Terrorists set off four explosions in London last summer. (true)

2. A powerful earthquake struck which area located in Pakistan and India? (Kashmir)

3. Whom did President Bush nominate to, the Supreme Court after Harriet E. withdrew? (Samuel A. Alito Jr.)

4. Who is Valerie Plame? (CIA agent whose name was illegally revealed to news media

5. Many experts fear a pandemic of what disease, which started in the Far (bird flu)

6. What was voted on in Iraq's October election? (new constitution)