Bear Essential News, August 2018 Phoenix Edition

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essential news

®

August 2018 • Phoenix Edition • www.bearessentialnews.com

e r ’ e W ! k c Ba Bear’s 2018–19 Fieldtrip Guide

See pages 15–24

In This Picture: Find a school bell, the word CLASS, a pair of glasses, an apple, the words FIELD TRIPS, a space alien, a baseball, a pizza slice, a ruler and the word NEWS.

FEATURE

NEWS

NEWS

How to Be Media S mart! L eBron O pens S chool Endangered Animals Media literacy matters. pages 12 thru 14

Spotlight on fake news tester News Highlights page 5

& more news kids can use Scoops pages 7 thru 10

TEACHERS

Welcome Back!

Great stuff for your class Page 3

S tart P lanning It’s field trip time!

Pages 15–24

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BEAR 35 YEARS

www.bearessentialnews.com

• August 2018

Enter Valley Metro’s 14th Annual Cool Transit STUFF Art Contest for 3rd Graders!

The Valley Metro Cool Transit STUFF 3rd grade Art Contest is here.

If you’re a 3rd grader in the 2018/2019 academic year, this contest is for you!

The winning artists will have their artwork published in the 2019 transit calendar and win cool prizes!

Get onboad

with the Co

ol Transit S

TUFF art co

ntest!

This Year's Theme: Ride along with friends, family & heroes on Valley Metro!

Get creative and illustrate how riding the bus and train are fun ways to safely connect to your favorite places with friends, family and heroes while helping planet Earth!

Submit your artwork by Friday, October 19, 2018.

Parents: Encourage your 3rd grader to enter and join the fun. Creating art is one of the most genuine expressions of their thoughts and feelings.

The Valley Metro School Outreach Program Makes Learning Fun! Looking for transportation to travel into the community classroom? Valley Metro is available for school group presentations for students and teachers to learn how to use their public transit system.

We offer:

• Free classroom presentations.

• Assistance for trip planning on Valley Metro bus and light rail.

• Free Group Field Trip passes for preschool and elementary school groups.

For more information, visit

valleymetro.org/transit_education

2017 Best of Show—Harshita R. BASIS Peoria Primary

e-mail: boomer@bearessentialnews.com

Have a Great Year!

Welcome Back!

August 2018 •

BEAR 35 YEARS

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Start Things Off Right with Bear Essential News

Every month, Bear Essential News delivers fun, relevant, thought-provoking news and features for your students. Sign up for the accompanying free classroom work sheets, done by grade levels and aligned with AZCCRS at BearEssentialNews.com . Your students in grades 3 through 8 can become Young Reporters for this award-winning newspaper, too!

Bear Essential is a free, fun and trusted news source delivered right to your school each month, providing quality informational text that’s great for classroom reading, writing and discussion. Much of Bear’s current content is aligned with Arizona College & Career Ready Standards, and students contribute news stories for this literacy award-winning publication.

Get Writing as a Young Reporter!

Kids all over Arizona write for Bear Essential News, and you can, too!

The Young Reporters Program is FREE and teaches you the basics of journalism, sharpens your writing and gives you real-world experience. Your stories could appear in Bear Essential News, Arizona’s leading newspaper for young people and their families, and are permanently posted on Bear’s fab website.

Sign up for the FREE Young Reporters Program (for kids grades 3–8).

Print out the YR sign-up form at BearEssentialNews.com (click on Young Reporters). Fill it out, have a parent sign the bottom, and mail it in.

Bear will send you its awesome Young Reporters Kit!

le Schedu ! a Visit

Bear Essential’s Standards-based FREE CLASSROOM PRESENTATIONS!

Bear Essential News offers five fun and informative classroom presentations for Tucson and Phoenix-area schools and youth groups for grades 2 through 8. These FREE presentations promote strong, standards-based writing, interviewing skills and teach the fundamentals of journalism. Students also are encouraged to sign up as Young Reporters.

Younger students: How Bear is made or intro to journalism. Grades 3–8: Writing tips, interviewing skills or journalism as a career. Presentations run approximately 50 minutes. Three-classroom minimum per visit.

Call toll free 1-866-NEWSKID.

Bear Essential News is turning 40!

Students and teachers can celebrate with us all school year long with exciting activities and contests!

Teachers can sign up for our Newsletter for Bear’s free AZCCRS-based Work Sheets for grades K–2, 3–4, 5–6 and 7–8. These monthly Work Sheets augment the current issue of Bear Essential News, which is a trusted source for a wide range of informational text. Work sheets can also be printed from our web site at bearessentialnews.com under the “Teacher” tab. Under this tab you can find information on becoming an advisor and signing up Young Reporters. There is also a great field trip and grant funding resource guide to help plan and fund your class field trips.

In each issue of Bear Essential News teachers can use the newspaper to develop your students’ reading, writing, math and science skills.

Years! of BEAR

Free Young Reporter Workshops Each school year Bear Essential News offers a free Young Reporter Workshop. These workshops help students learn the basic skills they need to become Young Reporters and have their stories published in Bear. Students will meet with professional journalists and receive their Young Reporter Notepad, Bear Stylebook and Press Pass. Workshop announcements are printed in the Bear Newsletter and in issues of Bear Essential News a couple of months prior to the workshops.

See you at the workshop!

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• August 2018

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News Highlights

Detecting Fake News

LeBron James Opens I Promise School photo

LeBron James Instag ram

AKRON, Ohio—He may be leaving Ohio for Los Angeles this season, but he has doubled down on his commitment to the community by having his LeBron James Family Foundation partner with the Akron Public Schools to open the innovative and inspiring I Promise School July 30.

This public school is for at-risk kids, especially those who are falling behind their peers when it comes to reading. For its INAUGURAL school year, I Promise will have 240 third- and fourth-graders.

His Foundation is working with the school district to address the needs of these young people, including emphasizing family involvement. More grade levels will be added for Akron kids who could benefit from what this new school has to offer. By 2022, it should have classes from kindergarten up through eighth grade.

The school and its programs are designed to help kids and families overcome obstacles. It has long, 8-hour school days, a “support circle” for students after lunch, free transportation within two miles of the school, free bikes (and helmets) for students along with free breakfast, lunch and snacks, and college scholarships to the University of Akron for everyone who graduates! The school will even help parents with GED courses and job placement.

Growing up poor in the area, James says he knows all too well what many of these kids are facing each day.

James celebrates opening day with students!

“As a kid from Akron…I remember walking these streets. People always ask me, why a school? Because I know exactly what these 240 kids are going through. I know the streets that they walk. I know the trials and tribulations they go through. I know the ups, the downs—everything that they dream about.

I know all the nightmares that they have because I’ve been there,” James said in his opening day speech.

Because of housing problems, James said he missed 83 days of fourth grade. But with the right help, he turned it around with perfect attendance the next year and began to play organized basketball.

He called I Promise’s opening the highlight of his career.

Former AZ Shortstop Turns Pitching Legend!

COOPERSTOWN, NY—Playing college ball, his saves is second in Major League history! (Famed NY teammates were amazed by how hard he could throw.

Yankees closer Mariano Rivera retired with 652 saves Arizona Wildcat shortstop Trevor Hoffman, playing in and is eligible for the Hall of Fame next year.) the late ’80s, would make specHoffman is part of a very good tacular catches before zinging the 2018 Hall of Fame class. Other ball over to first. inductees are right fielder Vladimir Hoffman skipped his senior Guerrero, third baseman Chipper year as a Wildcat to enter the big Jones, pitcher Jack Morris, first leagues, and it was the Cincinnati baseman Jim Thome and shortstop Reds who liked his arm and put Alan Trammel. It’s unusual to have him on the pitching mound! this many inducted at one time!

After a spectacular 18-year During his playing days, Hoffcareer in Major League Baseball, man loved being a closer and was a 15 of them with the San Diego leader on and off the field. A couple Padres, Hoffman was inducted dozen of his former teammates into the National Baseball Hall of showed up at Cooperstown, and he Amazingly, this Hall of Fame pitcher Fame on July 29. He’s the first started by mentioning them. “Thank only played shortstop in college!

Wildcat ever to make it into the you for allowing me to cherish the REVERED Hall of Fame. role of teammate.”

At first, Hoffman struggled as a starting pitcher, so He also quoted basketball coaching legend John the Reds made him a reliever/closer, where he really Wooden—“Talent is God-given, be humble. Fame is made his mark! He used his laser fastball and wicked man-given, be grateful. Conceit is self-given, be changeup to rack up save after save. His 602 career careful,” he said.

Wikimedia Commons photo

BEAR 35 YEARS

Gigantic 100-foot Gila monster found on Tucson road!

Phoenix buried in snow after week-long August blizzard!

Sometimes fake news is easy to spot because it’s so silly and unbelievable you know it’s made up. But sometimes it is not quite as easy to separate fact from fiction.

People are NOTORIOUSLY bad at spotting fake news articles when the line between fact and fiction gets a little blurrier.

That’s why computer scientists are working on creating systems to detect those news stories that are made up to distract and confuse.

Some politicians use the term fake news as a way to describe a story that is considered damaging or negative to a particular position. More generally, fake news means news that is not supported by fact. Social media has brought the world together and makes it easy to look up just about any information you need online just as quickly as you can snap your fingers. However, it has also made it significantly easier for fake news to spread and reach people very quickly.

So how on earth are computer scientists going to combat the constant stream of fake news stories?

One of the aspects researchers are exploring is which factors are most accurate for indicating fake news. However, there’s not one set of factors or indicators that researchers agree upon.

Researchers agree that there are two major ways for people to spot fake news: consider what the author of the article is saying and how the author is saying it.

Computer scientists at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute found that when compared with real news, fake news articles are generally shorter, more repetitive, and employ more adverbs and fewer quotes. Based on their findings, the researchers created a computer program to assess the truthfulness of articles: the number of nouns, number of quotes, redundancy, and word count.

While their program was only found to be 71 percent accurate, it offers hope that computer scientists may be able to help us filter out some of the fake news that is constantly coming our way.

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BEAR 35 YEARS

• August 2018

www.bearessentialnews.com

Back-To-School Maze Help Boomer Bear find his way to school.

August 2018 •

e-mail: boomer@bearessentialnews.com

Get the Scoop!

See Endangered Animals at Phoenix Zoo

by Reporter Natalia Garcia Servin, Arizona Desert Elementary Mike Foley, Manager of Trail Programs at the Phoenix Zoo, started at the zoo as an instructor in the Night Camp Program in 2000. He now oversees the educational experience that everyday guests get by working with employees and volunteers in the park that interact with zoo guests.

The zoo’s first major conservation animal was the Arabian Oryx. Foley says the zoo opened in 1962 and in 1963 they became the home of the world herd of the Arabian Oryx. “In 1972, they were extinct in the wild and in 1982, they were released in the wild again. They were the first animal to be declared extinct in the wild and to have recovered to a point that they are no longer endangered,” says Foley.

The Zoo cares for over 30 endangered animals. Foley says a few of the endangered animals include: Arabian Oryx, Sumatran Tiger, Borneo Orangutan, Grevy’s Zebra, White Rhinoceros, Black Footed Ferret, Thickbilled Parrot, Mexican Gray Wolf, African Painted Dog, Asian Elephant and Chinese Alligator.

The Phoenix Zoo participates in local and global conservation. Foley says at the local level they are working to maintain healthy and self-sustaining managed setting populations of multiple endangered species natively found throughout Arizona.

Adviser: Karen Golden

Have a Fun Time at Girl Scout Camp

by Reporter Shadai Wilson, Sheely Farms Elementary I had an amazing time attending Girls Scout camp at to young girls and Girl Scouts are a huge player in Sheely Farms. We learned to make items with shaving doing just that. “For some girls, Girl Scouts is the only cream, glue and food coloring. We made mermaid tails opportunity to connect with other girls and community out of paper and portraits of ourselves out of cardboard. role models,” she says.

I also had the opportunity to meet new people.

Some of the great things you do as a Girl Scout Miss Ginnie, Girl Scout Program Specialist, couldn’t include mentoring the future scouts through programs do Girl Scouts as a kid, but thought it would be great that engage girls and promote courage, confidence and to do it as an adult. Juliet Gordon-Low started Girl character. Girl Scouts also provides custom programs Scouts in 1912. Girl Scouts was made official on March that engage the curiosity and wonder of young girls. It 12, 1912, making it 106 years old. The mission of Girl empowers youth with mentorship and opportunity.

Scouts is to build girls of courage, confidence and For more information about Girl Scouts, go to character, who make the world a better place! www.girlscouts.org.

Miss Ginnie feels scouting is important because Adviser: Karen Golden structure and sisterhood are incredibly important

Egyptian Wolf Is a Cool Canine

by Reporter Asha Matheth, BASIS Chandler Primary The Egyptian wolf is also called the Egyptian jackal, but is not a jackal at all, nor did this species originate in Egypt. Instead, it is a member of the wolf family (Canis aureus lupus). Egyptian wolves are canines found in the northern areas of Egypt, the Ethiopian highlands, and the northeastern areas of Libya. The Egyptian wolf is similar to a jackal, but they are larger and taller than jackals.

They are thin, with a beige, gray or dirty yellow coat.

The ancient Egyptian god Anubis had the head of a jackal, inspired by the Egyptian wolf. The Egyptian wolf is also older than most of the wolves in the northern hemisphere of the world. These species are distinguished from other wolves due to their appearance, and their location in the world.

The Egyptian wolf is found throughout north and east Africa, the Middle East, southeastern Europe, central, southern and western Asia, and Egypt.

MORE WOLF, page 8 ➧

BEAR 35 YEARS

News Stories Written by Kids— for Kids Stay Safe As You Go Back to School

by Reporter Dayannara Diaz Desert Oasis Elementary School is here! What can you do to stay safe?

Officer Chris Medaglia, Tolleson Police Officer, has been an officer for almost 30 years. “I have worked in a lot of areas of police work, but working in schools is my favorite,” says Medaglia.

Medaglia feels kids should know safety rules when going to and from school because there are a lot of drivers that don’t pay attention to driving. Kids should look both ways before crossing the street.

Medaglia says kids can come and go home safely by going with a group of friends, obeying traffic laws and not talking to strangers. If you are picked up by an adult at school, Medaglia says to pick up in the pick-up zone for safety.

“It is important to obey the crossing guard because they prevent accidents,” says Medaglia.

Other safety tips include:

• Stay on the sidewalk.

• Watch for animals, like stray dogs.

• If you need help, call 911 or ask an adult you know.

Medaglia wants everyone to stay safe going or coming to school, make good decisions.

REPORT FOR BEAR THIS SCHOOL YEAR! Call toll free:

1-866-NEWS KID sponsors

Illustration by Asha Matheth

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BEAR 35 YEARS

www.bearessentialnews.com

• August 2018

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Get the Scoop!

Continued from page 7

It’s the Time of Year to Remember School Bus Safety

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by Reporter Veronika Herrera Porfirio H. Gonzalez Elementary

The Little Gym of Paradise Valley

It’s the first day of school, the alarm rings and today you need to be at the bus stop on time. As you’re running out the door, your mom says, “Be safe.”

What does that mean?

David Suder, Transportation Supervisor for the Tolleson Elementary School District, is the supervisor for all transportation in the school district.

He coordinates all transportation including bus routes, sports and field trips.

Drivers are trained every two years with state mandated training and also monthly safety meetings in the district.

Veronika interviews David Suder.

Suder feels it is important to have safety procedures in place to make sure there is safe transportation for all students. Suder says they let parents and kids know what the safety rules are through open houses, the district website and oneon-one instruction between the driver and students. According to Suder, 650 students in the district ride the bus every day.

Suder has the following safety tips for students riding the bus:

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According to Suder, students learn bus safety rules the first day of school each year. They are also posted on each bus.

Adviser: Karen Golden

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More Wolf

Continued from page 7

This wolf species is omnivorous, meaning they have a diet consisting of plants and animals. The Egyptian wolves are very sociable and usually stay in pairs or packs. They leave their scent for territorial marking, and howl to signal their location to their pack. The strongest male wolf becomes the leader of the pack.

The Egyptian wolf is an endangered animal. In Egypt, they are not conserved, as they are seen as a threat to livestock. Hunting has decreased their numbers in Saudi Arabia. The Egyptian wolf is critically endangered and may be close to extinction. If they go extinct, prey populations may become unbalanced, and disease may spread. The wolves eat excess and sick prey as they hunt. Although humans and wolves could coexist, the whese wolves would likely kill livestock and eat crops which are essential for humans.

The total number of Egyptian wolves alive today is still being researched.

Unfortunately, no major steps are being taken in these regions to prevent their extinction.

August 2018 •

e-mail: boomer@bearessentialnews.com

Former Mayor Is My Grandfather

by Reporter Miliana Valenzuela, Arizona Desert Elementary Imagine that your grandfather is the Mayor of a city. I am lucky enough to be able to say that about my grandfather.

Mario Herrera, Former Mayor of Tolleson, was senior class Vice President in high school. He later became a councilman for the city of Tolleson and then became Mayor in 1977. He was 26 years old.

As Mayor, Herrera wanted to improve the attitude of citizens and increase pride in the city. While in office, Herrera helped bring jobs and businesses to the city and it helped the city. Other goals he had after being elected were to establish a boys and girls club, to improve housing and make a safer

community.

The population of Tolleson was 6,050 at the time of Herrera’s election. Herrera’s most memorable time as mayor was building a relationship with surrounding communities. His hardest task was helping redesign the freeway that at the time was not good for the community.

Herrera enjoyed being mayor. He says, “It was the greatest experience of my life and I met many wonderful people.” Herrera says if he was mayor today, he would work to have better housing, better income and better traffic control.

Adviser: Karen Golden

BEAR 35 YEARS

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www.bearessentialnews.com

• August 2018

Get the Scoop!

Continued from page 9

Make a Wish Aims to Grant a Child’s Wish Every Day

by Reporter Lluvia Garcia Servin Porfirio H. Gonzalez Elementary When you wish upon a star… no wait! Make a wish! Did you know some special children are getting wishes granted every day?

Hollie Costello, Vice President of Public Relations and Marketing for MakeA-Wish Arizona, has been with Make-A-Wish for over 20 years. According to Costello, their mission is to grant a kid one wish at least every day. In Arizona they created 400 wishes for kids with life-threatening medical conditions.

Costello says the most common wish is to go to Disney. Mariah Trevino was granted that exact wish. Mariah went to Disney World when she was 6 years old. She stayed at a special hotel apartment. Her wish was granted for a one week stay. She had her choice of seats on the airplane. Mariah chose to sit in the front so that she could be “first” to get to Disney World.

Costello says some of the wishes granted include making playgrounds in neighborhoods. According to Costello, wishes are granted to students between the ages of 2 ½ and 18 years of age.

“The kids are always grateful and 100% of money raised goes to helping grant kids wishes. Every 34 minutes a wish is granted somewhere,” says Costello.

For more information about Make a Wish, go to az.wish.org or call 602395-WISH (9474).

Adviser: Karen Golden

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Do You Play Chess? Give It a Try!

by Reporter Anthony Sullivan, Porfirio H. Gonzalez Elementary Modern chess is a game that has been around since the 19th century (but its roots are much, much older.) Have you ever played the game?

Emalee Foster had a beautiful chess board and chess pieces growing up.

She learned how to play the game from her father. According to Foster, she played her first game of chess at 4 or 5 years of age. Her inspiration for the game comes from her talented friends.

“My favorite strategy is opening strategy, castle early, connect rooks and take control of center,” says Foster.

Foster feels the advantage of learning a game like chess is how to look ahead and critical thinking. Foster is teaching kids to play chess in stages and piece by piece.

Foster plays chess on a daily basis. She has yet to compete in tournaments. Foster recommends that everyone learns to play chess.

Adviser: Karen Golden

How Healthy Is Your Diet?

by Reporter Jayden Rodriguez, Arizona Desert Elementary Did you know that the lack of nutrients in a child’s diet can stunt their growth? How healthy is your diet?

Maria Mendoza, food server at Sheely Farms Elementary, says to start growing you need, potassium, vitamins, balanced grains, milk, protein and fruit. According to Google, healthy eating means eating a variety of foods you need to maintain your health. Mendoza says the school serves healthy choices by providing a balanced meal. “A healthy diet builds up a child’s immune system.”

Mendoza says, “If a kid is not raised to eat healthy, they may grow up to not eat healthy.” According to Mendoza, it’s ok to eat “junk” food at times, but not all of the time. “It’s important to snack in between meals because you digest your food about every two hours. I suggest sliced apples, oranges and string cheese,” says Mendoza. She says that breakfast is really important because it is the start of your day and in the morning, you need energy. Mendoza suggests three meals a day.

If a student has a food allergy, Mendoza says they try to avoid what the student is allergic to. She adds, “We wash our hands to avoid cross contamination.”

Adviser: Karen Golden

Playwell Technology Goes to Camp

by Reporter Evelyn Larios, Porfirio H. Gonzalez Elementary Do you like LEGOS? Do you like building with them? Then, Playwell may be just right for you.

Charles Santos, Instructor for Playwell Technologies, loved building things to see if they would work. Santos also love engineering.

The mission of Playwell Technology is to build problem solving skills, provide opportunity for creative expression, and foster a greater appreciation of how things work. According to Santos, kids come in and Playwell teaches them to build different LEGO machines. “It teaches them the engineering of the work,” says Santos.

Playwell began in 1997, in San Anselmo, CA. According to Santos, Tim Bowen, the engineer, started by doing summer camps to teach kids how to build things.

Santos does Playwell throughout the Phoenix valley and in Tucson.

Kindergarten through eighth grade can participate in Playwell Technology.

Santos says, “You can accomplish anything step by step, piece by piece.”

For more information about Playwell Technology, go to Play-well.org.

Adviser: Karen Golden

August 2018 •

e-mail: boomer@bearessentialnews.com

Opportunities Abound for Adults and Girls through Girl Scouts Sarah Sartor was a Girl Scout when she was younger, and she still remembers the independence that she gained. She says that going to summer camp and being away from her parents in third grade was a memorable new experience. “That was a big deal for me,” she recalls.

When her daughters became interested in Girl Scouts, they did not find an available group, so Sartor decided to become a troop leader. She is going into her sixth year as

BEAR 35 YEARS

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the leader of troop 1093, a multi-level troop comprised of 20 girls, Brownies, Juniors and Cadettes. Her co-leader is Kelli Conklin.

Sartor reports that one of the great things about being a troop leader is the opportunities it affords her—the cool things that her girls do, she gets to do, too! One exciting experience was visiting a police station.

Another was getting to go to a news station, that was very exciting, says Sartor.

Field trips like these give girls “opportunities that they would not otherwise have” and let them explore career possibilities they might not have considered previously, says Sartor.

Troop 1093 is a very active group, says Sartor. They have visited the fire department, animal shelters and assisted living homes. They even spent the night with the sharks at SeaWorld in 2017. The girls pay their way on field trips using the proceeds they have earned from cookie sales.

Sartor says that in addition to working on earning their Silver and Bronze Awards this year, the girls will go on an outing just for fun to Castles N’ Coaster in the fall.

They also want to earn their horse riding, digital photography and gardening badges.

“I feel like the more opportunities that we can give girls to develop leadership skills, the better,” Sartor says. She says that with such a big troop, she is grateful to have a lot of parent involvement.

Girl Scouts gives girls the chance to solve problems and do things on their own, says Sartor. It’s just one great, rewarding reason to be a troop leader!

Join Girl Scouts today!

Join a troop, start a troop or volunteer!

Visit www.girlscoutsaz.org, email join@girlscoutsaz.org or call 602-452-7040.

EVERY GIRL can become a Girl Scout!

Find out more at girlscoutsaz.org/join

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August 2018

August 2018

www.bearessentialnews.com

Media Literacy Matters!

Where do you get your news? Maybe from TV, newspapers, an app, a tablet or a laptop.

That news you read in the newspaper or magazine, listened to on radio or viewed on TV was, for the most part, trustworthy. “Journalists have always had a set of standards for truth and for being comprehensive,” Knight says. “When you’re a journalist, it’s all supposed to be true and real and comprehensive, meaning that you include all relevant material (information).”

But the internet and social media have been a game changer over the last decade or so in how we take in news and other information. And this digital age brings us mind-boggling amounts of information, often in an instant!

The good news is that there’s much more news and info out there. You could say we’re swimming in it (or maybe even drowning in it). The bad news is that information put in front of you may or may not be true—you have to ask questions, figure out its origins, and even be a bit SKEPTICAL. “Anybody can put information out there,” Knight warns.

K

nowing how to find and evaluate accurate news sources and other types of media is important— even for students in primary school.

When your parents and grandparents were kids, media was mostly TV, radio and newspapers. Adults worried about the way sugary snacks and the latest toys were aimed at kids through commercials aired during Saturday morning cartoons, or how kids might be influenced by the bad behaviors sometimes modeled by celebrities on TV, in movies or in magazines.

These days, kids are exposed to media in many new ways—a phone in hand gives kids access to social media, news, entertainment, video games and more. Kids are also engaged with media for more time each day than ever before. According to The Critical Media Project, by the time kids reach high school they spend more time with media than they spend getting instruction in class—about nine hours each day with media versus five hours a day of direct instruction!

Kids are not just consumers of media, they’re creators, too. You don’t have to be the latest YouTube sensation to contribute to media— when you post a picture, write a comment, share a post or send a text, you are contributing to the media MAELSTROM. Because media is

such a huge part of our lives, it’s important to carefully consider the source of the message. When you see a post, video or meme, ask yourself, “Who made this, and what message are they trying to send?”

According to Susan Knight, “I think we’re in a really critical age…because of social media and the availability of all kinds information with all kinds of different purposes—and it’s all mixed in together.” Knight was a reporter with the Arizona Daily Star and is now an associate professor at the University of Arizona School of Journalism.

“As audiences…we have to become, and this is right down to kindergarten and first grade, better, more critical readers, listeners, viewers,” says Knight. “With all of the information that we hear, it’s so important to think about where is it coming from.”

The Importance of the Press As Americans and global citizens, it’s good to stay well-informed, including keeping up with the news. And traditionally, people got their news from the press. But this is only part of the important work of the press.

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees the freedom of religion, freedom of speech, the right of the people to assemble peaceably and the freedom of the press. Knight points out that a free press is a cornerstone of a working democracy—“keeping our government honest and operating by the people for the people, not by some people and for some people,” she explains.

When kids watch a viral video or read an article or a post, they should ask, “Who made this? What message are they trying to send?”

Become Media Smart!

Is what just popped up on my screen true? Is the search engine giving me all results or is it just showing what it thinks I’m interested in? Are Russian bots (automated software that runs over the internet) really putting up divisive and false posts on Facebook, Twitter and other social media to try to influence our elections? Is all this talk of fake news real or not?

“We’re at a very critical time when it’s very important to understand where is information coming from, who’s creating that information, is it true. That’s the most important question—is it true?,” Knight says.

These are some of the key concepts of media literacy. “Media literacy is the ability to identify different types of media and understand the messages they’re sending,” according to Common Sense Media, a non-profit set up to help young people succeed in this sometimes confusing world of media and technology.

Many kids these days are good with technology, and it’s important to note that if you’re a Bear Essential News Young Reporter, if you create videos or funny memes— you are creating media!

Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation and disinformation out there.

“There’s a difference between misinformation and disinformation. One easy way to understand that is that misinformation means that it’s a mistake,” Knight explains.

“Disinformation is more evil. It’s people who are trying to twist reality because of power or profit.”

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Page 13

So How Do You Become More Media Smart?

By using critical thinking as you read a story. “You’re filtering it, and you’re comparing that information to other information, meaning you might have to look up other sources,” Knight encourages.

Journalists attribute where their facts are coming from. So Knight suggests you check to see if there are attributions throughout story—are there sources for the facts. You also can look to see if there’s a list of sources or citations at the end of an article.

“Another part of media literacy is to tease out what is fact and what is opinion. As a reader or a viewer or a listener, I need to pay attention to what I’m hearing, is it fact or is it opinion? And if it’s opinion, is it based on good information?,” she explains.

The Responsibility of Reporters: Accuracy Journalists are responsible for reporting facts in an unbiased way. It’s important for all Accuracy! reporters, including Young Reporters, to do their best to present the unvarnished, objective facts without letting their own opinions intrude.

Reporters who intentionally mislead the public can lose their credibility, respect, and even their jobs.

“For Young Reporters and those generating media…I have one motto for them— ‘tell the truth, tell the whole truth.’ For me, that’s what journalism is all about,” says Knight.

The Society for Professional Journalists has a code of ethics based on four principles: seek the truth and report it; minimize harm (respect a person’s rights and feelings, especially those who are not in public office or in positions of power); act independently (don’t take favors or be in debt to a person or company), and be accountable and transparent.

For reporters, young and old, Knight emphasizes, “Tell the truth, tell the whole truth, and keep an open mind!”

What’s Your Favorite News Source?

For a good source for kids and families to learn more about media literacy, visit www.CommonSenseMedia.com.

Here are good sources for kids and families to learn more about media literacy:

www.CommonSenseMedia.com CriticalMediaProject.org Find the Media Bias Chart at:

www.AllGeneralizationsAreFalse.com

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BEAR 35 YEARS

www.bearessentialnews.com

• August 2018

Continued from the feature, pages 12 & 13

Media Literacy Matters!

You can be a fact-finding journalist, too!

Didja know that YOU can write for Bear Essential News?

Each school year, Bear Essential Educational Services holds a free Young Reporters Workshop to teach aspiring young writers the basic skills they need to report for the newspaper!

Students get their training from professional journalists and

receive their official Young Reporter Notepad, Bear Stylebook and Press Pass. Workshop announcements are printe d in the Bear Newsletter and in issues of Bear Essential News a couple of months prior to the workshops.

Learn how to be an accurate, fact-reporting journalist!

Now, grab a pencil and do the Bear Essential News crossword game!

Boomer’s 40 Years of Printing Great News!

1

5

A crossword all about Bear Essential News!

2

3

4

6

7

8

Across Clues

Down Clues

9

10

1. The smart, witty and good-lookin’ mascot of Bear Essential News (two words) 2. Kids and parents who use the newspaper 3. You’ll find Boomer and his hidden pictures on the front _______ .

4. The type of paper Bear Essential is printed on 6. Bear Essential is the best one of these for kids.

7. Journalism term for the big, bold titles that go over news stories

11

ANSWERS— Across: 5. YOUNG REPORTER, 8.

YEARS, 9. BEAR ESSENTIAL, 10. EXCELLENT, 11. KID TIMES Down: 1. BOOMER BEAR, 2. READERS, 3. COVER, 4. NEWSPRINT, 6. NEWSPAPER, 7. HEADLINES

5. A kid who reports for Bear Essential News (two words) 8. Bear Essential has delivered great news for kids for nearly 40 of these!

9. Boomer writes for this funtastic newspaper (two words).

10. Another word for really, really good 11. Stories by Young Reporters are printed on this page (two words)

e-mail: boomer@bearessentialnews.com

&

Field Trips Family Outings For unforgettable fun and learning, few things are as fabulous as a field trip! Here are Bear Essential’s 2018–19 Guides for Field Trips and Teachers Resources!

Field trips are a fantastic way to build excitement and school spirit. A good field trip will spark students’ curiosity and promote learning in innovative ways— that’s why field trips are at the top of students’ back-to-school lists.

Learning outside the classroom is a key component of a great education that gives excited students the chance to jump into new experiences and to do hands-on activities. It also gives kids the opportunity to ask professionals questions about their work—maybe in science, technology, performing arts, nature or maybe in some other career field. They also can ask what kind of education and background is helpful for landing such a job.

August 2018 •

BEAR 35 YEARS

Wondering what fun and exciting field trips are available nearby or a short driving distance away?

Boomer Bear has done the research for you, beginning on this page.

The guide lists places that are fun, entertaining and educational for classrooms and for families with homeschoolers.

As an article by the National Education Association about these findings notes, “educational trips had a positive, lasting impact on (the students’) education and career because the trips made them more engaged, intellectually curious and interested in and out of school.”

Field Trips & Family Destinations 2018–2019

Fun Classroom and Family Outings Throughout Arizona —All Year Long!

Teacher’s

Resource Guide Page 22

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• August 2018

Flamin’ Hot Field Trips! Fabulously Fun Field Trips Boomer’s

continued from page 15

• More than 100 antique fire engines • Guided tours • Junior firefighter workshops • Storytimes • Birthday Parties

10409 S. Central Ave. • Phoenix Field Trip • Grades K–College Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (Oct.–April) info@smeec.org smeec.org

Monday–Saturday 9am–5pm Sunday–noon–4pm (closed New Years Day, Thanksgiving Day & Chrismas Day)

6101 E. Van Buren

ARIZONA CENTER FOR NATURE CONSERVATION AT SOUTH MOUNTAIN

602-ASK-FIRE (275-3473) www.hallofflame.org

Be inspired by archaeology…

Book a Field Trip or Outreach with Pueblo Grande Museum.

Fun educational crafts and new S.T.E.A.M. programs!

October – April

Programs begin at 10:00 am $1/Student limit of 60 children/day Discounts for Title 1 schools.

Experience South Mountain in a way that provokes higher-level thinking and thoughtful reflection through interactive activities. Field trip themes are People and Nature, Matter and Energy Flows and Natural Systems, and include a STEM approach to studying desert plants, temperatures, mountain formation, water flows, solar energy and nature-based engineering design.

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS Chase Field 401 E. Jefferson St. • Phoenix 602-514-8400 Field Trips/Family Destination www.dbacks.com

The Arizona Diamondbacks are the Major League Baseball team in Arizona. Since its inception as an expansion franchise in 1998, the team has won a world championship (2001) and made six postseason appearances. The club has played in front of more than 30-million fans at Chase Field, which features a signature swimming pool (courtesy of RAM Trucks), retractable roof and a kids play area called the Phoenix Children’s Hospital Sandlot. The organization has also donated more than $55 million to the community in Arizona since 1997 through its Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation. For more information about the D-backs, or to purchase game tickets, visit dbacks.com

ARIZONA EXPOSITION & STATE FAIR

Outreach: $75

Crafts & programs for an additional fee.

Book a field trip starting September 4.

Mention this ad for FREE GIFT when booking a field trip!

Pueblogrande.com Pueblo Grande Museum

4619 E. Washington St. • Phoenix, AZ 602-495-0901

1826 W. McDowell Rd. • Phoenix Field Trips • 602-252-6771 schoolfieldtrips@azstatefair.com www.azstatefair.com Plan a memory-making day trip filled with fun and educational exhibits at the Arizona State Fair! The Arizona State Fair provides unique opportunities for cross-curricular learning in Arizona’s MOST AWESOME classroom.

Students and chaperones attend for FREE and will create relevant connections and meaningful memories while touring livestock displays, museum quality exhibits and interactive shows.

Field trip includes an ADE standards-based K-3 curriculum for Kerr’s Farm Tours. Limited dates and times in October. Public, private, charter, home schools and youth organizations should register today! Deadline is October 1st.

ARIZONA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY 53 N. Macdonald St. • Mesa Field Trips/Family Destination Group Line: 480-644-3553 Tue.–Sun. (Year-round) azmnhgroups@mesaaz.gov

azmnh.org Arizona Museum of Natural History has dinosaurs that roar and so much more!

As Arizona’s premier natural history museum, we cater to educators and their students. For a special curriculum based learning experience, book an “Explore More” program. Bring your students for an experience they won’t forget! All ages.

ARIZONA SCIENCE CENTER 600 E. Washington St. • Phoenix Field Trips: 602-716-2028 reservations@azscience.org azscience.org/fieldtrips

Field trips to Arizona Science Center provide a rich learning experience, support content standards and create excitement for learning science through hands-on exhibits and activities! Explore four levels of fun and attractions that include our CREATE at Arizona Science Center® Makerspace, Dorrance Planetarium, Irene P. Flinn Giant Screen Theater and Evans Family Sky Cycle. Discounted tickets are available to groups and Title One schools are eligible for free admission in the science center.

ASU EARTH & SPACE EXPLORATION DAY

781 E. Terrace Rd. • Tempe ASU Tempe Campus ISTB 4 Building Field Trips/Family Destinations Saturday October 13, 2018 Cost: Free www.sese.asu.edu/public-engagement/events

Earth and Space Exploration day is a free annual fall event hosted by the School of Earth and Space Exploration on ASU’s Tempe campus inside/outside Interdisciplinary Science and Technology Building IV. The SESE community presents special family friendly science-related activities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

There will be more than 40 exhibitors participating in this event. One of the biggest attractions in ISTB 4 is its Gallery of Scientific Exploration that holds a variety of interactive exhibits and the Marston Exploration Theater, which will be running 3-D astronomy shows.

BODIES REVEALED: FASCINATING AND REAL

9500 E. Via de Ventura Ste. E250 • Scottsdale Field Trips/Classroom Visit/Family Destination 480-291-5084 groups@xhibitsaz.com www.bodiesaz.com Scientifically preserved and displayed human bodies to educate about how you work! Come and see skeletal structures, muscle structures, nervous systems, circulatory systems, digestive systems, reproductive systems and more! We have over 200 specimens to view and learn about.

MORE FIELD TRIPS! page 18 ➧

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BEAR 35 YEARS

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Welcome to Our Second Baby Sea Lion!

Sea lions can be seen daily at “Shipwreck Cove”, a pirate ship themed display with an upper deck and under-water viewing. The spacious outdoor exhibit allows visitors to attend public education demonstrations featuring these acrobatic animals two times daily. For a small fee, some lucky guests can even feed the animals during two scheduled feeding times and it won’t be long before the new pup joins in on the fun.

The educational show compliments the long running Wildlife Encounters program located on the original zoo grounds. Together with the landmark lory parrot feeding, Wildlife World is committed to providing engaging, informative, and fun educational experiences for our onsite visitors of all ages!

Aquarium

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Zoo

•

Safari Park

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Dragon World

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Adventure Land

•

Mining Experience

Back to School = Field Trip Fun! Teachers, book your field trips now

Make the Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park part of your classroom experience. Arizona’s largest exotic animal collection is exhibited on 100 acres.

A field trip to Wildlife World Zoo & Aquarium will complement any biology curriculum at any grade level.

Students learn about animal ambassadors and see natural behaviors during a Wildlife Encounter Show.

Students can also feed lory parrots and meet baby animals in our children’s play area and petting zoo. Field trips are available weekdays, Monday through Friday.

as part of g the Lories in ed fe y jo visit.

Kids en petting zoo the field trip

Teachers! Receive special discount pricing for your class and adult chaperones.

Check out www.wildlifeworld. com or call 623-935-9453 for rates, info and to schedule your visit. School Onsite Outreach Program also available.

For more information: 623-935-WILD (9453) or visit us on facebook, Instagram or Twitter @zoowildlife, and wildlifeworld.com

nd Adventure La ! s Rides & Thrill

It’s Zoocabulary Adventure Time!

Match the word to a definition. A dictionary can be used if needed.

ADAPTATION FERAL

NOCTURNAL DIURNAL

HABITAT OMNIVORE

VERTEBRATE CAMOUFLAGE

HERBIVORE PREY

1. _______________ An animal that is hunted by predators.

2. _______________ Active at night 3. _______________ Concealment of an animal by its color or shape 4. _______________ A change in structure, function or behavior that produces better adjustments to the environment 5. _______________ Plant eater 6. _______________ Area where a plant or an animal species lives 7. _______________ Domesticated animal that has been returned to the wild 8. _______________ Active during the day 9. _______________ An animal with a backbone 10. _______________ Eats both plants and animals Closure: Encourage students to find adaptations in animals that they see every day.

Wildlife World Zoo, Aquarium & Safari Park is located at 16501 W. Northern Ave., Litchfield Park, AZ (SE corner of State Route 303 and Northern Ave.) We’re open seven days a week, 365 days a year, including all holidays. Zoo exhibits are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (last zoo admission is at 4:30 p.m.) Aquarium exhibits are open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Daytime admission includes access to the zoo, aquarium and safari park.

e l i m S

Wild

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• August 2018

Boomer’s

Fabulously Fun Field Trips continued from page 15

BUTTERFLY WONDERLAND

9500 E. Via de Ventura Ste. F100 • Scottsdale Field Trip • 480-800-3000 Open daily education@butterflywonderland.com www.butterflywonderland.com

Imagine wandering through a rainforest landscape with running waterfalls, exotic plants and flowers in bloom, while thousands of the most beautiful species of butterflies in the world flutter all around you. Your journey begins by enjoying a 14 minute version of the 3D film “Flight of the Butterflies.” Then stop at the Chrysalis Emergence Gallery, where you can see butterflies emerging. This is followed by one of the largest Butterfly Conservatories in the U.S. After a visit with our fluttering friends and our honey bee exhibit, students will visit our Rainforest Reptiles exhibit, then our Spineless Giants exhibit and finally Tropical Waters exhibit.

EAST VALLEY CHILDREN’S THEATRE Performances at Mesa Art Center 4501 E. Main St • Mesa Field Trips • 480-756-3828 • Karen info@evct.org www.evct.org

East Valley Children’s Theatre provides live theatre experiences for youth age 5–18. Four main stage productions are performed at the Mesa Arts Center with field trip opportunities for school groups. EVCT’S 2018–19 season includes: Seussical, Jr., Sept. 27–Oct. 7; The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, the Musical, Nov. 29–Dec. 9; Camelot & Camelittle, Feb. 14–24; The Lost Boys of Neverland, June 13–23. For school matinee information, call Karen at 480-756-3828.

ENCHANTED ISLAND AMUSEMENT PARK

1202 W. Encanto Blvd.• Phoenix 602-254-1200 • Year-round www.enchantedisland.com

Enchanted Island’s scenic, beautiful oasis setting and central location make it the perfect field trip—complete with great food, fun rides, a variety of other exciting activities.

Enjoy a new rock wall and a day of unlimited rides. Attractions include Encanto Carousel, train and much more—a celebration to last a lifetime and an opportunity to discuss educational topics such as transportation, wildlife, plant life or science. Great rate: Groups (schools, daycares, preschools, churches & non-profits) can enjoy $6.50

Unlimited Ride Wristbands includes the SPLASH ZONE and CLIMBING WALL (Regular $21.75) Must pre-schedule.

FLANDRAU SCIENCE CENTER AND PLANETARIUM 1601 E. University • Tucson 520-621-4516

Email: flandrau@email.arizona.edu flandrau.org Flandrau gives your class a chance to explore the marvels of our universe– from the depths of the ocean to the farthest reaches of space, and everything in between! Located on the mall of The University of Arizona campus, Flandrau offers hands-on exhibits to ignite your curiosity.

Plus, you’ll have the option to see one of our amazing FullDome shows in the planetarium theater – you’ll feel like you’re flying through space as we launch from the earth and visit planets, moons, stars, and asteroids. Choose from one of our popular Discovery Programs to boost your classroom curriculum. Programs include: Chemistry, Marine, Physics, Insect, and Earth Science Discovery workshops.

Our programs and exhibits connect with K-12 groups and are geared to Arizona State Science Standards. Visit our website for more information and to submit a field trip request form. Cost: $4-$10 child based on program. Grades: PreK-12

FLIP DUNK SPORTS

1515 E. Bethany Home Rd. • Phoenix Field Trips/Classroom Visit/Family Destination 602-277-0067 Lori@flipdunksports.com www.flipdunksports.com With 19,000 square feet of entertainment options, as well as meeting facilities, Flip Dunk is the perfect place for a field trip, fundraiser or class social. Come bounce off the walls with us. Cost: Varies. Ages: Any.

GIRL SCOUTS–ARIZONA CACTUS PINE COUNCIL 119 E. Coronado Rd. • Phoenix 602-452-7040 Grades: K-12 girlscoutsaz.org

Girl Scouts the best girl leadership experience in the world. It began over 100 years ago with one woman, Juliette Gordon “Daisy” Low, who believed in the power of every G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risktaker, Leader)™ to change the world. Today, we continue her vision through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience which helps girls uncover and develop their potential through activities in science and technology, business and economic literacy, and outdoor and environmental awareness. In partnership with more than 10,000 adult volunteers, our council serves 21,000 girls in more than 90 communities across central and northern Arizona. We know that given the opportunity, every girl can become a leader, act confidently on her values, and connect with her community.

MORE FIELD TRIPS! page 18 ➧

August 2018 •

e-mail: boomer@bearessentialnews.com

located in Apache Junction, Arizona near the Superstition Mountains. People first started moving to Goldfield in 1892 after gold ore was discovered. By the next year, Goldfield was an official town with a post office, boarding house, general store, school, butcher shop, blacksmith shop and saloons that were used by the 1,500 residents of the town.

People were not only lured to Goldfield with the hopes of finding gold ore, but they

See the town and surrounding area like you never have.

Hop aboard the train

Gateway to the legendary Superstition Mountains

Head out to an authentic

for exciting Educational Field Trips and Family Fun! • Pan for real gold! • Visit Live Reptile exhibit!

• Tour an underground mine!

• Museums, unique shopping, dining and more!

• Bring your camera! • Mystery Shack

FREE Admission into Ghost Town!

Enjoy The Train Ride

480-983-0333

While Learning the History of the Goldfield Mining District (It’s educational and FUN!)

Open Daily 10 am to 5 pm www.goldfieldghosttown.com Located Just 3 1/2 miles north of Apache Junction on Arizona’s Historic Highway 88

Check out our newest attraction—

The

Superstition Zipline! ($12 per person)

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New Attraction: Superstition Zipline!

There’s Still Plenty of Life—and Fun— In Goldfield Ghost Town!

Have you ever wished you could step back in time and experience the old west? Imagine horses tied up to a hitching post in front of the general store, gold prospectors returning from the mines heading to the saloon for a cold one and a gunfight in the middle of Main Street.

You can experience all these things without needing a time machine by visiting Goldfield Ghost Town.

Goldfield is an authentic 1890s ghost town

BEAR 35 YEARS

for a scenic view of the

town.

were also hoping to find the legendary “Lost Dutchman Mine” that was hidden in the nearby Superstition Mountains. After five years, gold ore was harder and harder to find and the miners and their families moved on leaving Goldfield a ghost town.

The town was reborn again in 1921 with new buildings constructed and prospectors were hopeful to find more gold ore with the help of new mining equipment and techniques.

Once again the town died after just five years, returning it into a ghost town again.

Almost six decades later, a pulse began to throb in Goldfield when Robert F. Schoose purchased the town. Schoose loved ghost towns and decided to rebuild the town. He first built a mining tunnel, and Goldfield opened as a tourist attraction in 1988. Soon a general store, the Mammoth Saloon and the Goldfield Museum were added.

Today Goldfield looks like a thriving mining town. Children and adults both love this family friendly town with authentic looking buildings, horses and wagons, employees dressed in old west attire and of course a gunfight or brawl on Main Street adds to the excitement.

While in Goldfield you can pan for gold, tour an underground mine, take a trip on the Superstition Narrow Gauge Railroad, visit the Goldfield Museum, shop, dine, see a live reptile exhibit and so much more.

Visiting the Goldfield Ghost Town is free, but there is a charge for some of the attractions. Goldfield is a unique place for birthday parties, family trips and school field trips. Group rates and customized packages are available to make your trip a unique experience. Visit goldfieldghosttown. com or call (480) 983-0333 for reservations and more information.

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• August 2018

Experience Life on the Farm at Tolmachoff!

F

ield trips and family fun are yours at Tolmachoff Farms, a working four-generation family operation conveniently located in Glendale.

Classrooms will enjoy this guided tour of the farm and learning about the essential role of agriculture and food production in our daily lives. For many students, it’s their first visit to a farm, and the tour helps them make the connection between farming and the food they eat!

The farm is run by Bill and Gracie Tolmachoff and their four children, Bill, Ashley, Michael and Brooke. Bill’s grandfather, William Tolmachoff, started the family business back in 1912. Originally, the family grew cotton, wheat and corn.

In the early 1970s, Bill Senior started selling plums from a roadside stand, and the pick-your-

NOW BOOKING FOR 2018-2019 SCHOOL YEAR.

All aboard the train ride!

own farm fresh produce stand has been growing ever since. Tolmachoff Farms grows a wide variety of fruits and veggies and strives to provide the ultimate in fresh produce from the field to your table.

“We love to see how excited people of all ages get when they visit the farm.

Once they are involved with the activities on the educational tour, they always want to come back,” says Gracie.

Tours vary according to time of the year and are by appointment only.

Must have at least 20 people in your group to schedule. The guided tour runs 45 minutes, with the entire field trip taking 2–3 hours (plus an extra hour for fall tours if your group does the entire corn maze!).

October Tour: $10 per person (including adults) for ages 1 and up— includes garden tour, u-pick area (each guest receives a bag to harvest produce to take home), classroom in the corn, corn maze, train ride, farm animals, picnic area, ice cream, and each guest gets to pick one small pumpkin from the pumpkin patch to take home.

November–mid-December: $7 person—includes garden tour, u-pick area (each guest receives a bag to harvest produce to take home), classroom in the corn, corn maze, train ride, farm animals, picnic area and ice cream.

February–March: $7 person— includes garden tour, u-pick area (each guest receives a bag to harvest produce to take home), plant a seed in the garden, train ride, farm animals, picnic area and ice cream.

A hot dog lunch for guests is an additional $3.50 per person and must be ordered at the time of scheduling.

Check out next month’s Bear Essential News issue for upcoming family offerings at Tolmachoff Farms!

Visit www.Tolmachoff-Farms.com for more info!

August 2018 •

e-mail: boomer@bearessentialnews.com

Boomer’s

Fabulously Fun Field Trips continued from page 18

GOLDFIELD GHOST TOWN/ SUPERSTITION SCENIC RAILROAD

4650 N. Mammoth Mine Rd. • Apache Junction Field Trip • 480-983-0333 Open daily • 10 a.m.–5 p.m. www.goldfieldghosttown.com

Experience Arizona history! Spend a fun-filled day rich in history. Tour an underground mine, ride the train, view reptiles and insects of the Sonoran Desert, pan for real gold and check out the Mystery Shack attraction. Educational fun!

HALL OF FLAME MUSEUM

6101 E. Van Buren • Phoenix Mark • 602-275-3473 Ongoing dates • Mon.–Fri. www.hallofflame.org The world’s largest museum of firefighting has many award-winning educational programs, from guided tours to exciting hands-on workshops. Phoenix Magazine named our program the “Best Field Trip.”

Teachers love our kid-friendly approach to fire safety, history and science. Reservations are required. Ages: 4 and up.

MESA GRANDE CULTURAL PARK

1000 N. Date St. • Mesa Field Trips/Family Destination Group Line: 480-644-3553 October–May AzMNHgroups@mesaaz.gov AzMNH.org At Mesa Grande Cultural Park students learn about the Hohokam desert people through a guided experiential field trip. We target the science and social studies standards of 4tth to 6th grade, however all ages welcome.

Ages: 7 and up.

MOTHER NATURE’S FARM SCHOOL TOURS 1663 E. Baseline Rd. • Gilbert Field Trips: 480-892-5874 Mon.–Fri., (Oct. 1–31) from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. news@mothernaturesfarm.com www.mothernaturesfarm.com

It’s fall, the special time of the year for funfilled field trips to Mother Nature’s Farm.

We have a package of farm fun including OZ pumpkins, stickers to decorate your pumpkins, the straw bounce, a hayride, and the air bounce, feeding the farm animals, and Alexander’s Adventure Maze. Bring a sack lunch to enjoy in our shady picnic area or visit Munchies. Call soon—dates fill up

fast! Cost: A group of 25 or more children is $4–$7/child and $3/adult.

ODYSEA AQUARIUM

9500 E. Via de Ventura • Scottsdale Field Trips/Family Destination 480-291-8195 • Lisa education@odyseaaquarium.com www.odyseaaquarium.com On your field trip to OdySea Aquarium, you and your students will mimic the journey of a drop of water as you travel through OdySea’s galleries in the way a drop of water does: first, through the rivers, then to the shoreline and finally into the vast ocean. Along the way, students will have the opportunity to learn about camouflage, adaptations, form & function, life cycles, endangered species, conservation efforts, ecosystems and more. Learn the impact we have as a non-coastal community on the health of our oceans and planet, and in turn, the way we are affected.

OLD TUCSON

201 Kinney Road • Tucson Field Trips • 520-883-0100 oldtucson.com Ever wanted to learn about the life of a cowboy, or explore the adventure of the Wild West? Old Tucson welcomes student groups of 20 or more to enjoy our living classroom experience on your next field trip! Go behind the scenes with our actors, enjoy Old Tucson’s signature entertainment and take advantage of great savings for your next outing. Meal discounts are also available.

Call Old Tucson at (520) 883-0100 and ask to speak to Group Sales. You can also visit us at www.oldtucson.com to learn more.

BEAR 35 YEARS

OUT OF AFRICA WILDLIFE PARK

3505 W. SR-260 • Camp Verde 928-567-2842 Mon.–Fri.: 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

Sat.–Sun.: 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

The admissions window closes at 4 p.m.

We are closed on Thanksgiving & Christmas Day jambojava@aol.com www.outofafricapark.com Celebrating over 25 years in business, Out of Africa Wildlife Park strives to educate and entertain, to provide an exciting and engaging opportunity to love and respect creation and Creator. It is a place where family and friends gather to experience oneness with animals and each other during safaris, tours, walks, observations, and shows of wild-by-nature animals in their own, natural splendor.

Cost: See website. Ages: All ages.

PHOENIX ZOO

455 N. Galvin Pkwy.

Field Trips & Classroom Visits 602-286-3800 phoenixzoo.org This year, include the Phoenix Zoo in your curriculum with inquiry-based educational programs that are hands-on and studentdriven, many with a focus on STEM practices. The Zoo is a unique destination offering a variety of topics that support classroom-based learning and are designed for multiple learning styles.

Grades: Pre-K–College Mon–Sunday, year round.

MORE FIELD TRIPS! page 22 ➧

A Biosphere 2 History n 1991 a mysterious glass monolith appeared on the North side of the Catalina Mountains. It was called Biosphere 2 and the project’s early goals called for the design of an enclosed facility that could be occupied by humans to demonstrate their inter-connectedness with the planet.

So, eight volunteers were locked inside for 2 years. They grew all of their food and recycled their air, water and wastes.

The experiment was an outstanding engineering success, but they were not able to adequately balance their atmosphere.

Oxygen (O2) plummeted from 21% to 14.2%. (The air you breathe every day is 20.95% oxygen). The main factor contributing to this decrease was the abundant microbes living in the extremely rich organic soil of the rainforest and farm areas.

Soil microbes absorbed the oxygen and released huge amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) back to the dome, exceeding the ability of the plants to convert the carbon dioxide into oxygen.

The outside supporting team pumped in oxygen for the safety of the crew inside—the system was no longer sealed! Perceived failure can be as significant in science as proven success.

Today the work goes on. The University of Arizona now owns Biosphere 2, conducting experiments to help us in understanding our complex and ever-changing world, Biosphere 1.

Bring your students to meet our scientists for an exciting and educational day under the glass dome.

Biosphere2.org/education/field-trip-planner Bio2-group@email.arizona.edu Congratulations to Bear Essential News as they enter their 40th year of publication!

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Schedule a School Field Trip!

520-621-3960

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• August 2018

Boomer’s

Fabulously Fun Field Trips continued from page 21

PIMA AIR & SPACE MUSEUM 6000 E. Valencia Rd. • Tucson 520-574-0462 Grades: K–12 Ages: 5–18 Daily throughout the year tours@pimaair.org www.pimaair.org

Explore one of the premier aviation museums in the world, the Pima Air & Space Museum! Self-guided exploration of our three aviation hangars is offered daily. Docent-led tours are offered Thursdays and Fridays at 10 a.m. and must be scheduled 30 days in advance.

PUEBLO GRANDE MUSEUM

4619 E. Washington St • Phoenix 602-495-0901• laura Andrew Mon.–Fri. (Oct.–May) pueblo.grande.museum.pks@phoenix.gov pueblogrande.com

Explore a Hohokam archaeological village site, with a platform mound, ball court and replicated prehistoric houses. Tours, crafts, outreaches offered. Cost: field trips $1/ student: outreach $75; crafts and special programs, additional fee. Discounts for Title 1 schools. Grades: K and up.

SKY HARBOR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

3400 E. Sky Harbor Blvd. • Phoenix Field Trips/Classroom Visits 602-273-4087 • Greg Montes greg.montes@phoenix.gov skyharbor.com/SELFGUIDEDTOURS/ Whether flying or just visiting, take a self-guided tour to check out Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Enjoy Phoenix Airport Museum located throughout the airport, with exhibitions, art and even a vintage World War I airplane.

Dine at various restaurants and take in the shops. Ride the PHX Sky Train® with its own spectacular art and views of airplanes landing and taking off, surrounding mountains, and downtown Phoenix.

SHAMROCK FARMS FARM TOUR

40034 W. Clayton Rd. • Stanfield Field Trips • 602-477-2462 roxie_tour@shamrockfoods.com www.shamrockfarms.net

Shamrock Farms offers a fun and educational field trip through its working dairy farm that will show your students the farm-totable process. View the cows being milked, let your students play on Roxie’s Outdoor Adventure and meet the newest members of our herd, the baby calves, on your hour-long guided tour. Reservations are required.

TOLMACHOFF FARMS

5726 N. 75th Ave • Glendale Field trips • 602-377-4747 Mon.–Fri. (Oct., Nov., Feb. & March) farmfieldtrips@yahoo.com tolmachoff-farms.com

Every child will get to harvest produce to take home and experience other educational farm activities.

Our guided farm tours provide the awareness of the role of agriculture and food production in our daily lives. For many students this will be the first time they connect a farm to the everyday food they eat. Cost: Varies.

Grades: PreK–8.

School visits at the TUCSON GEM & MINERAL SHOW® www.tgms.org Tucson Convention Center 260 S. Church Ave. • Tucson 520-322-5773

Friday, February 15, 2019 school classes are invited to attend the Tucson Gem and Mineral show®. Registration begins November 1, 2018. For more information visit www.tgms.org or call 520-322-5773.

TUCSON REPTILE & AMPHIBIAN SHOW & SALE

Tucson Expo Center • Tucson Field Trips • 520-405-7020 • Oct. 6–7, 2018 Sat. 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. & Sun 10 a.m.–4 p.m. serpensauria@comcast.net tucsonreptileshow.com 50,000 square feet of reptiles and amphibians from around the world. Petting zoo with tortoises, alligators, snakes and other lizards. Captive bred reptiles for sale.

Cost: Adults: $10; Ages 6–12: $5 Ages 5 and under: Free.

UA BIOSPHERE 2

32540 S. Biosphere Rd. • Oracle 520-838-6192 • Grades: Pre-K–16+ Field Trips/Family Destination Year-round • Open Daily BIO2-GROUP@email.arizona.edu biosphere2.org/education/field-trip-planner Experiential, hands-on learning adventures under glass at the one-of-a-kind Biosphere 2!

Learn about Earth systems, sustainability, biological diversity, and ecological complexity.

Educational tours take students inside the world’s largest living science center dedicated to exploring the environment and our planet’s future. Choose from many inquiry- and standards-based lessons for your science curriculum. Cost: $12+/student *seasonal (min 20) based on program.

VALLEY METRO TRANSIT EDUCATION Field Trips/Classroom Visits 602-523-6070 • Dolores Nolan Mon.–Fri. (Year-round) www.ValleyMetro.org

Valley Metro’s transit education program provides free classroom presentations to all grade levels. We cover the steps of safely taking Valley Metro bus/rail/circulators and more. Free Group Field Trip Pass available to eligible preschool-elementary school

groups.http://www.valleymetro.org/transit_ education.

WILDLIFE WORLD ZOO & AQUARIUM

16501 W. Northern Ave. • Litchfield Park Field Trips • 623-935-WILD (9453) Open 365 days a year Field trips Mon.–Fri. Classroom Visits • 623-935-5692 x106 www.wildlifeworld.com

Your field trip will complement any biology curriculum at any grade level. Students can feed lory parrots, learn about animal ambassadors and see some display natural behaviors during a Wildlife Encounter Show.

Meet baby animals in our children’s play area and petting zoo! Cost: $8/student, $15/ adult, one adult admission free with every 10 paid students (10 student min.). We accept cash, check or school purchase order.

Classroom presentations also available— valleywide. Rates subject to change.

Teachers Resource Guide ARIZONA PROJECT WET (APW) arizonawet.arizona.edu

Arizona Project WET (APW) develops water stewardship and STEM literacy by providing teacher professional development focused on systems thinking , direct student outreach that delivers or extends classroom learning, and community engagement. We offer professional development that evolves teachers’ instructional practice and water-related content mastery through STEM integration, student- directed learning, real-world and relevant application, and collaborative work.

Maricopa County • Pam Justice 602-827-8233 pjustice@cals.arizona.edu Pinal County • Chuck Dugan 520-836-5221 x210 cld1@email.arizona.edu Pima County • Betsy Wilkening 520-621-8673 ewilkening1@email.arizona.edu Arizona • Kerry Schwartz 520-621-1092 kschwart@cals.arizona.edu

2019 ARIZONA SCITECH FESTIVAL

A Two Month (February and March) Event and STEM-activity Experience for All Ages!

Azscitechfest.org Contact: Jeremy Babendure, Ph.D. Executive Director, Arizona SciTech Festival jbabendure@aztechcouncil.org The Arizona SciTech Festival is a multiweek, colorful showcase of more than 1,000 science, engineering, technology (STEM) and innovation events in over 50 Arizona cities featuring exhibits, hands-on activities, colorful shows, tours and discussions. The 2019 Festival takes place from February through March 2019.

ASU WALTON SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS INITIATIVES Sustainability Solutions Family Day http://sustainabilityfestival.asu.edu

Explore · Innovate · Celebrate The 2019 Sustainability Solutions Festival brings a diverse array of events for audiences of all ages to Explore · Innovate · Celebrate sustainability solutions. ASU’s rich sustainability expertise is shared with the public through hands-on activities featuring the latest in technology and research at SustainabilityFamily Weekend at Arizona Science Center and ASU Open Door events.

BEAR ESSENTIAL OFFERINGS

from Bear Essential Educational Services 520-792-9930 • 1-866-NEWS-KID (639-7543) www.bearessentialnews.com

AZCCRS (Common Core-based) Work Sheets: Fresh standards-based fun sheets for your classroom to use in conjunction with the current issue. Sign up for notifications of new Work Sheets online at BearEssentialNews. com.

Free Young Reporters Program: Students in grades 3–8 learn to report and sharpen their writing skills by having their news stories published in Bear! Sign-up forms and details online.

Free Presentations: Five dynamic topics are available from a Bear editor. Three classrooms per visit minimum please (60–90 students).

Bear Newsletter: Weekly updates sent to your email. Sign up online.

Facebook: “Like” us at Facebook.com/ bearnews.

BOOKMANS ENTERTAINMENT EXCHANGE Phoenix • 8034 N. 19th Ave. 602-433-0255 Mesa • 1056 S. Country Club Dr. 480-835-0505 Flagstaff • 1520 S. Riordan Ranch St. 928-774-0005 & 3 Tucson locations Open Mon.–Sun. • 9 a.m.–10 p.m.

Sign up for our newsletter online bookmans.com/signup/

We honor the invaluable work of teachers through a variety of programs. *Educators who join Project: Educate receive 20% off purchases. We also encourage the love of reading in our youngest customers through our Kids Club, 1317 and Read 10 programs.

Bookmans offers store tours for classes and an Educator Appreciation Day. *Some restrictions apply. For a little fun check out our free family events all year long by visiting the events calendar at www.bookmans.com.

CENTRAL ARIZONA PROJECT

Teacher Resource/Curriculum Available Classroom Speakers/Grant Program www.CentralArizonaProject.com 1-888-891-5795 or 623-869-2135 CAP offers an Arizona-specific water education program including downloadable lesson plans for K–3, 4–6, middle and high school students. Standards-based (Common Core correlations provided). Lesson plans supported by mixed media tools like videos, posters and activity books! Visit the www. cap-az or call 623-869-2176 for more information.

e-mail: boomer@bearessentialnews.com

August 2018 •

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