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2019
2019
SMARTEST ANIMALS
2019
owlconnected.com
C o nt e n t s
Mel’s Message
September 2019
18 20 IN THIS
ISSUE
12 Insider
Brrr-ing It On! Can you smell it? Freshly sharpened pencils, musty library books, the rubbery scent of the gymnasium ... it’s back-to-school time! I’m a bit sad to see summer go (you, too?), but this September issue has me excited for fall. Get set for class with our tips for a successul school year on page 12. Then learn some fun facts about your ticker for World Heart Day on page 22. Plus, try our cool school hacks on page 24! Notice something different? We’ve added a personality quiz! (Look for it in each issue.) Find out your after-school style on page 30. Welcome back!
Editor, OWL editor@owlkids.com
PHOTOS: DREAMSTIME (ORANGUTAN) ILLUSTRATION: CLAUDE BORDELEAU (MELISSA) COVER ILLUSTRATIONS: JULIE MACLAUGHLIN COVER PHOTOS: DREAMSTIME
We answer all your school-year questions!
18 Incredible
22
Which is the smartest animal? You decide!
22 Snapshot Get the full scoop on this vital organ.
24 Maker Space
Reg u la r s
Try cool hacks with items around your home.
ed
4 News Fe r 5 Calenda one 6 Weird Z g 8 Trendin his 9 Picture T rlie Comic ha C 10 Alex & uster 16 Brainb Contest 20 Science d ea 25 Arrowh b 29 Cool Jo zz 30 The Bu s r 33 Answe at? 34 Say Wh
8
The Outrageous World of
Presents...
ALEX
and
Marvin, Alex’s cat
Mitsy-Sue, Garth’s dog
Princess, Charlie’s snake
WE charlie
alex
Alex’s twin brother Charlie’s twin sister
CLUBS
CHIP
tyler
garth
lizzy
dazelle
Charlie's robot
Charlie’s best friend
The tough guy
Alex’s best friend
The fashion queen
WE'RE SUPER EARLY. CAN WE TALK ABOUT WHICH CLUBS WE SHOULD JOIN?
THE FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.
I KNOW! Follow me!
YOU MEAN ARGUE ABOUT THEM? HOW WILL WE AGREE?
ACTUALLY THE FIRST GAME ’ OF CHESS BETWEEN EARTH AND SPACE HAPPENED JUNE 9 ’ 1970 BY THE Soyuz 9 CREW. ’
LET'S JOIN CHESS CLUB! IT'S OUT OF THIS WORLD!
I'M NOT INTO THIS WORLD OF BORing GAMES. ANYTHING CLOSE TO SPACE CLUB?
NEAT TRIVIA!
LET ME ASK YOU SOME QUESTIONS. TRIVIA! THAT'S IT! LET'S JOIN THE QUIZ BOWL!
THEIR PEN PAL?
WHO WROTE
ROMEO AND JULIET?
I KNOW THAT ONE! IT'S SHAKESPEARE!
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OWL September 2019
HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO KNOW THIS STUFF?
phthalo BLUE! YELLOW OCHRE! LET'S JOIN ART CLUB!
WE TRAIN. KNOWING TRIVIA MAKES LIFE MORE COLOURFUL.
COLOuR VOCAB IS FAB. IT'S A KEY TO FASHION.
COLOURFUL! I KNOW WHAT WE SHOULD JOIN. FOLLOW ME!
THAT MEANS WE'RE TAILOR-MADE FOR SEWING CLUB!
I'LL DO A YELLOW OCHRE OGRE.
WE GET AWESOME MATCHING UNIFORMS WHEN WE JOIN FIELD HOCKEY!
YOU WANT FASHION? I GOT THE SOLUTION!
FIELD HOCKEY? I KNOW!
LET'S DO ORIENTEERING AND LEARN HOW TO NAVIGATE A REAL FIELD.
OH NO! WE MISSED THE BELL! AT LEAST WE FIGURED OUT WHAT we’ll be DOing AFTER SCHOOL.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
IF WE DON'T GET THERE IN TIME, WE'LL ALL BE IN DETENTION CLUB!
THE END
owlconnected.com
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The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada presents
NATIONAL SCIENCE e st A National Cont for Classrooms and Students!
Celebrated as part of Science Literacy Week 2019
PARTICIPATE AS A CLASS OR AS AN INDIVIDUAL On SEPTEMBER 18*, elementary and secondary school teachers and kids 3-17 are invited to devote a period of the day to science readings. These readings could include: • non-fiction book • science-fiction novel • science-themed graphic novel • scientist’s biography • science magazine, etc.
HOW TO ENTER: 1) Devote a period of the day to science reading. 2) Visit the contest site at owlkids.com/sciencereadingday. 3) Enter your classroom or personal information. 4) Share your reading list and/or photos from the day. *In order to recognize time constraints on teachers, the reading period may also be held on September 17 or 19 without penalty.
READING DAY!
, 2019 8 1 r e b m Septe
$3,000 IN BOOKS AND MAGAZINES TO BE WON! Classroom Prizes 4 prizes valued at $500 each. Prize Pack will include: • Magazines and books from publishers such as Owlkids, DK Books, Common Deer Press, Adventure Press, Nimbus Publishing, and Simon & Schuster Canada • $100 Indigo gift card
Individual Prizes 5 prizes valued at $200 each. Prize Pack will include magazines and books. Winners will be chosen by random draw. Full contest rules at owlkids.com/sciencereadingday
FIND OUR READING SUGGESTIONS AT owlkids.com/sciencereadingday
Snapshot
Y HAPPH Y T L A HE
S T R A HE eart Day, H d l r o W er 29 is hy Septemb d. From w e p m u p e to and we’r m to how e h t e v o l we in tip-top m e h t p e ke time to shape, it’s t our talk abou tickers!
1
RIGHT ATRIUM Deoxygenated blood enters the heart here.
GO WITH THE FLOW
LAUGH IT UP! Daily exercise is excellent for your heart’s health … and so is laughing! Laughter increases blood flow, boosts antibodies, and reduces stress.
Print-a-pump! In April 2019, scientists in Israel successfully 3D-printed a miniature heart from human cells. They believe that one day, we will be able to print hearts for patients who need transplants.
IN JUST ONE DAY, OUR HEARTS …
2
RIGHT VENTRICLE This pumps blood to the lungs, where it receives new oxygen.
TEXT: JOHN CROSSINGHAM ILLUSTRATION: SUHARU OGAWA
As the heart pumps, it is constantly replenishing the blood with new oxygen before sending it back out into the body. Here is how its four chambers help with this task.
BEAT OVER 100,000 TIMES TO PUMP 7,500 LITRES OF BLOOD THROUGH 22
OWL September 2019
WE y S! L A M I N A
EAT THE RAINBOW
4
LEFT ATRIUM Oxygenated blood returns from the lungs and reenters the heart here.
A simple recipe for heart health? Colour! The more variety in your diet—lots of greens, reds, yellows, and oranges—the better. (We’re NOT talking about jellybeans!)
The BLUE WHALE has the largest heart of any animal—it’s 180 kilograms (400 pounds) and 1.5 metres (5 feet) tall! The FAIRY FLY has the world’s smallest heart at 0.2 mm (0.0079 in.) wide!
The fastest heartbeat of any mammal? The PYGMY SHREW, whose heart beats 1,200 times a minute.
3
LEFT VENTRICLE This pumps blood back through the body, keeping our motor humming!
A HEART (ORGAN) ISN’T SHAPED LIKE THIS: y The heart symbol can be traced to the shape of the fruit of the silphium plant, which is connected to love in ancient writing.
96,500 KILOMETRES OF BLOOD VESSELS.
OCTOPUS and SQUID have three hearts. ZEBRAFISH can actually regrow their heart tissue if it’s damaged
The left side of a GIRAFFE’s heart is much bigger and thicker than the right—that’s because it’s the side that pumps blood all the way up its neck! Many animals—including jellyfish and flatworms—do not have hearts at all! owlconnected.com
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