1) $1,000,000 Day--this incorporates using the newspaper and writing
skills.  Give students about 45 minutes on the first day to complete the
first half of the activity.  On day one, come to school dressed very
nicely.  When class begins, walk through the rows and hand each student a
newspaper and shake their hand saying, "Congratulations on winning the
$1,000,000 Sweepstakes prize!!!"  After newspapers have been distributed,
hand out the rules and read it aloud as well.  Summary:  you have won
$1,000,000 in the local newspaper contest.  The catch...you must spend all
of the money in things you buy from the classified ads.  Show them the
classifieds and give tips (buy a house first to cut into the amount). 
Students cannot buy from cheater ads around the edges; they must buy from
real ads.  Students must make a list of what they buy and copy the ad as
proof.  The kids also have to keep a running tally of how much money they
have left after each purchase.

Objectives:  review the classified ads
                  use the classified ads to "purchase" items
                  practice basic math skills
                  learn more about the cost of everyday items
                  learn more about the cost of expensive items

Students must spend down to under $1,000 by the end of the activity.  For
every $1,000 they do not spend, they lose 1 point off of the assignment
grade.  Turn in assignments for the next day's activity.

On day two, students must take back their sheets and begin the description
activity.  Activity is as follows:  pick the five items (you can change
this number if you wish) you are now the most proud of and write a 1 page
MLA formatted paper describing how this item will look when you go get it.

Objectives:  write a paper using details
                  select items from a list of winning choices
                  practice MLA formatting

I often continue with more activites:

Describe how you lose this item one day
Compare this item to the one you now own (great for jewelry or a car they
may have)
Draw a picture of this item and how you imagine it to be
Go back and revise your list swapping out 3 things you want for 3 things
you would give to your closest friends/relatives--describe their reaction
to the gift and how you would surprise them with it, explain why you chose
that gift for that person, etc.