Kids Konnect November/December 2021 by Kate Noet

T h s K i d e holiday issue!

Owatonna, MN November/December 2021

konnect G R O W • P L AY • L E A R N

DISTRIC NEWS & T CALENDAR

S T E AM + +

S c ience Techno lo gy Engineer ing Ar t s M athe mat i c s

Help the bunny find its friend.

corations Holiday de birds! are for the

Games & Activities

History of the Christmas Tree Talking to your kids about vacc ines

Connect the dots.

The History of Lighting Lighting has changed a lot through the years! Look at this timeline:

1800 Candle

1810 1879 1976 Oil Gas Lamp Incandescent Bulb CFL Bulb

2006 LED Bulb

Not only have the shapes changed, but the bulbs are more efﬁcient and last longer, saving energy AND money! 1,000 Hours – Incandescent Bulbs 10,000 Hours – CFL Bulbs

25,000 Hours – LED Bulbs 0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

Would you like your family to switch to LED bulbs? Owatonna Public Utilities can help with our rebate!

ENERGY STAR® LED BULB & FIXTURE REBATE: 50% of bulb, ﬁxture, or package cost (not to exceed $7 per bulb and $20 per ﬁxture)

Go to owatonnautilities.com to download a Lighting Rebate Application and make saving energy and money a part of your family’s future! Owatonna Public Utilities circa 1925

2 • November/December 2021 • Kids Konnect

Solutions from page 20, 24 & 25

K i ds konnect G R O W • P L AY • L E A R N

Volume 2, Issue 6 November/December 2021 PUBLISHER Randy Rickman

K i ds

konnect CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: G R O W • P L AY • L E A R N Sarah Brooks Melanie Busch Brenda Donahe-Stevens Mary Hawkins Kellen Hinrichsen Jennifer Johnson, D.O Jean Krause Darla K. Lager Thomas Meagher, PhD Sarah Reichert Mary Urch Kesiah Winters COVER/PAGE DESIGN Kate McGillen

Contents 4. Talking to your 7. kids about vaccines Holiday decorations 8. are for the birds! Let’s Celebrate

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Tom Kelling ADVERTISING SALES Amber Casterton Crystal Hobart Britney Marr Tim Mart For editorial or advertising inquiries, contact us at 507-444-2390

Kids Konnect is published by

Southern Minnesota LLC Southern Minn Media 135 West Pearl Street Owatonna, MN 55060

20.

ST E AM + +

S cience Technology Engineer ing Ar ts M athematics

puzzles, Crafts, coloring and more!

Kids Konnect • November/December 2021 • 3

Let’s celebrate!

Write a Letter to Santa

(and you just might hear back from him!) 1. Write a letter to Santa 2. Drop it off at the Parks and Recreation Office (540 West Hills Circle Owatonna, MN 55060) in the Red North Pole Mailbox between November 29 and December 10. (Don’t forget to put your return address on your letter!) The office is open Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. 3. Watch for a letter back from Santa

Elf in the Park Rumor has itTimmy the Elf will be checking out the Owatonna Parks again this year! Watch our Facebook page starting in December for the Elf Sightings!

The Little Folks Will Have Christmas Presents! How would you plan Christmas for a family of 35 children? What if that number reached 500? That challenge faced the Minnesota State Public School for Dependent & Neglected Children in Owatonna throughout its 60-year history. Here’s a lookback through local newspaper articles that shows how the school’s population expanded and how citizens rallied to help share the Christmas spirit with the State School students. 1893 – When it was reported that there was no fund for presents for the State School children, Superintendent Galen Merrill decided to hold an evening’s

entertainment on December 8 in the new assembly hall to raise funds to give presents to the children. Following the event, the headline read “A One Hundred Dollar House for the State School Benefit—The Little Folks Will Have Christmas Presents.” Superintendent Merrill thanked those in attendance for their “very liberal patronage in behalf of the one hundred and eighty children who are sheltered under this roof tonight.” 1897 – A box of Christmas gifts for the State School children, containing books, dolls and home-made articles of clothing, was received Christmas Day from children of the Cannon Falls Public School. The usual Christmas dinner, consisting of turkey, cranberry sauce, vegetables and mince pie, was served to the children in the dining room, which was decorated with evergreens. In the afternoon, the older ones, who had received skates as their gifts, “made the day merry” on the ice rink. 1898 – The children had a special Christmas dinner Monday and were given bags of candy and nuts and oranges. A number of parents, sisters, brothers and friends of the children visited them during the Christmas holidays. 1905 – An investigation was made by the State Board of supply records sent to state institutions during Christmas week was made and it was found that the

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children had 100 pounds of candy and 200 pounds of nuts, besides a present each. A false accusation had been made that the children had not received any candy that Christmas. 1906 – Santa Claus, with a heavy pack of toys over his shoulder, arrived at the State School on Christmas Eve. To make it easier for him to deliver his presents, arrangements were been made to have the 250 children gather in the auditorium to meet him. Six big Christmas trees were placed in the large assembly room, “all brilliantly lighted with candles and handsomely set off by glittering decorations.” 1924 – Members of the Owatonna Rotary club held their annual Christmas dinner at the State Public school Monday noon, as guests of Superintendent Merrill. The “sumptuous dinner” was followed by a “delightful program” presented by children of the school in the school auditorium. It ended with the appearance of the Rotary club’s Santa Claus and boxes of nuts and candy for the children. 1927 – Gifts of candy and nuts were given to 300 children of the State Public School Tuesday by Rotary’s Santa Claus, when members of the club hold their annual Christmas luncheon at the State Public School. 1928 – Santa Claus came to 437 boys and girls of the State School Monday, thanks to the Owatonna Rotary club. A Christmas gift in the form of a box of candy was given to each child, distributed by the Rotarians. Notice how the number of children rose from 300 to 437 in one year. 1932 – One of the many electric lighted trees in Owatonna was on the State School grounds in front of the home of Superintendent Merrill. The tree towered fifty feet high, had hundreds of colored electric lights, and was topped by a lighted star. It could be seen from a great distance.

History of the Christmas Tree One of the most iconic symbols of Christmas is the Christmas tree. This large pine tree, decorated with ornaments, lights, tinsel, pictures, and a star can be found in many houses around Steele County throughout December. You have probably seen hundreds of Christmas trees over the years, but do you know their history? Do you know why the Christmas tree came to be so popular and one of the most common symbols of the holiday? Let’s take a quick trip back in history and find out!

Christmas trees were first brought to the Americas in the early 1780s. Hessian soldiers from Germany, hired by England, were stationed in Canada in order to protect against an American attack during the American Revolutionary War. These soldiers brought their tradition of the Christmas tree with them, and it was featured during a Christmas party held by one of the German commanders. Locals were enchanted by the tree with lit candles and fruits hanging from its branches. The tradition quickly spread, and by the early 19th century the tradition was firmly rooted in the newly independent United States of America. The traditions and décor of the trees changed over time, with glass ball ornaments replacing the fruit, and strings of electric lights taking the place of the candles. The tree itself, however, has not changed.

Today, Christmas trees can be found in many households during December. Ornaments and strings of lights have replaced candles and fruits, but the basic design remains the same. These have also become more than just a cultural practice, with many families creating their own special traditions related to

putting up the tree and decorating it as a group. Does your family put up a Christmas tree? What traditions does your family have during the holidays?

Build aa better better lunch Build ½

Vegetables & Fruits

+ ¼

Whole Grains

+ ¼

Lean Protein

box

n cucumber n vegetable soup n carrot sticks slices n sugar snap n green garden n cherry tomatos peas salad n dried fruits:

n unsweetened weetened

n baked tortilla n whole wheat bread, pita, chips bagel, or wrap n popcorn

n granola bar n brown rice

n whole grain crackers or cereal

n lower sodium, lean luncheon meats

n tuna packed in water n peanut butter

n beans n hummus or bean dip

n handful of nuts n hardboiled eggs

n string cheese n low-fat w-fatt yogurt

n lo low-fa w-fat or skim milk

n un-processed cheese

n low-fa w-fat cottage cheese

n orange segments n grape clusters

n diced melon n fruit cup in 100% juice

n bell pepper slices

applesauce raisins, apricots or apples pples n berries

add

1 Serving of Low-fat Dairy

= 1 Balanced Lunch Box

NUTRITION EDUCATION

with

495 West North St. Owatonna, MN 55060 Owa

071318_KidsKonnectAd3_75x4_9_3014

The Christmas trees that we see today originated in Germany nearly 500 years ago! These trees are first seen in their modern use during the Renaissance time period, with pine trees being placed indoors and decorated, though not quite like we do today. Early Christmas trees were decorated with lit candles and fruit, replaced today by LED light strips and colorful ornaments.

Kids Konnect • November/December 2021 • 5

Cozy up with a book THANKSGIVING – THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2021

Thanks for Thanksgiving

Turkey Trouble

Owatonna Public Library

CHRISTMAS – SATURDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2021

by Wendi Silvano

by Julie Marks

5 More Sleeps ‘til Christmas by Jimmy Fallon

Run, Turkey, Run!

by Diane Mayr

HANUKKAH – SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20 – MONDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2021

Hanukkah

The Nutcracker by Jan Brett

by Pearl Markovics

(Holidays Around the World) By Lisa J. Amstutz

The Polar Express

I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Dreidel

by Chris Van Allsburg

by Caryn Yacowitz

KWANZAA – SUNDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2021 – SATURDAY, JANUARY 1, 2022

My First Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa

By Karen Katz

by Sarah Cords

Kwanzaa (Holidays Around the World) by Lisa J. Amstutz

6 • November/December 2021 • Kids Konnect

Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore

Talking to your kids about vaccines

By Jennifer Johnson, D.O., a Family Medicine physician at Mayo Clinic Health System As a parent, you may be getting more questions from your children about what vaccines are, if they are safe and how they may help end the COVID-19 pandemic. I want to encourage you to educate yourself so you know the facts and can help put your kids at ease. Use trusted, verified sources of information, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization. Talk with your child’s health care provider if you have questions. When you talk with your children about vaccines, first explain the amazing work their bodies do to stay healthy. Discuss that their bodies are strong and do a great job of keeping them safe from germs. Here are some tips in kid-friendly language for answering common questions your children may have about vaccines:

Why do I need vaccines? When you get sick, you are given medicine to help you feel better. Vaccines are like medicine put into your body to keep you from getting sick in the first place. Vaccines are recommended throughout your life to help prevent you from getting illnesses. For example, when you were a baby you got vaccines for diseases like chicken pox and mumps. You might also get a flu shot each year. These vaccines help protect people around you from getting sick, especially grandparents and other family members with medical conditions. How do vaccines work in my body? Vaccines help your body build up the ability to fight off viruses. Vaccines may not stop you from getting viruses, but if you do get sick, the vaccine may keep you from becoming seriously ill or developing other problems because of the illness. If I’m healthy, why do I need vaccines? Even if you are healthy, you can’t know in advance if you will get sick. You also can’t predict how serious the illness will be. Vaccines don’t just protect you. They also protect your family, friends and community.

Are vaccines safe? Yes. Scientists and doctors have taken all possible steps to make sure that no harm will come to those who get vaccinated. Millions of people in the U.S. and billions of people around the world have safely received vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine. Will I get sick from vaccines? Some people have no side effects and feel just fine after getting a vaccine. Other people have mild side effects like tiredness, headache, chills or muscle pain. These side effects usually only last a day and are your body’s way of responding to the vaccine and building up your immunity against viruses. Finally, reward and praise your child’s bravery to get vaccinated, and continue to be open and honest with your child, so he or she knows to reach out to you with further questions or concerns. Thank you for protecting yourself, your children and your community during this time.

Care when you need it. Mayo Clinic Health System remains committed to providing the care you and your family need. Whether you are seeking routine or preventive care, or treatment for a serious or complex condition, Mayo Clinic Health System has convenient and safe options available, including virtual or in-person appointments. Call 507-451-1120 to schedule an appointment. mayoclinichealthsystem.org

Kids Konnect • November/December 2021 • 7

Holiday decorations are for the birds! by Kesiah Winters Share some of the holiday bounty by making some special treats for the birds and small animals that spend the cold winter season with us here in Minnesota. Bring bright red cardinals, cute black-capped chickadees or maybe even a chipmunk to your yard with a few simple projects that you will enjoy making and they will enjoy eating! Decorate a holiday tree! It doesn’t have to be an evergreen tree; any tree you can hang things on will do. Garlands of popcorn, cranberries, and dried apple pieces can be made pretty easily with a large needle and string and then draped over the branches. Other foods that work well are Cheerios, raisins or peanuts in the shell. Don’t use fishing line or dental floss, though. Birds can get tangled in those types of string once they’ve eaten all the food off

Red Bellied Woodpecker

Northern Cardinal

of them. Use a tapestry needle and thicker, more visible thread, and a thimble to protect your fingers. Ask for help from an adult while using the needle—some foods can be hard to push through.

scales. For a finishing touch, you can then roll the pinecone in a birdseed mix—the birdseed will stick to the peanut butter—or even push bigger nuts and seeds up under the scales.

Pinecones that you can find on the ground can also work as bird feeders. Tie a ribbon or string around the cone so you can hang it, and then smear peanut butter (or other nut butters) under the open

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Another way to make ornamental critter treats is to actually make a kind of birdseed “cookie” using actual cookie cutters. Ask an adult to help you warm up 2 tablespoons of coconut oil in the microwave. Then, in a large bowl, mix the warm oil with 1 cup of birdseed. Place your cookie cutters on some wax or parchment paper, and then use a spoon to scoop the seed mixture into the cutters. Push the mix down evenly to make sure that the cookie cutter is filled all the way. Use a straw or unsharpened pencil to poke a hole in the top of each “cookie” for a twine or ribbon to hang them, then place them somewhere cool so they can harden—your refrigerator, or maybe even your porch. Once they are firm, carefully remove the cookie cutters and add your loop of string. Hang them up on branches and wait for your feathered friends to show us! Not all birds fly south for the winter. Here’s a list of a few of the species that hang out in Minnesota through the snowy winter. • Northern cardinals • Blue jays • Black-capped chickadees • American goldfinches • Red-bellied woodpeckers • House sparrows • Great grey owls • Bald eagles

S TE AM + +

S cienceTechnology Technology Engineering Engineer ing Ar t s MMathematics athematic s Science Arts

STEAM’in WITH “Dr. M” How to STEAM the Holidays!

, PhD Thomas Meagher na (known to Owaton ”) is the students as “Dr. M or for the STEAM Coordinat School District. Owatonna Public

It’s the holiday season and let’s see how science, technology, engineering, art and math of making and eating some of our favorite foods can be tasty ways to learn new things! My favorite part of all this is the homework, because we get to eat everything we make! In the following pages you’ll see where different foods come from, how technology cooks food, plus the beauty and art of garnishes. So, let’s learn how to become a food scientist, culinary engineer or chef.

Send us your pictures of STEAM creations, experiments, inventions and observations and we may publish the best ones in the next issue. Be sure to include your Kids Konnect magazine in the photo. Kids Konnect • November/December 2021 • 9

STEAM + +

SCIENCE

S cien ce Te c h n o l o gy En gi n e e r i n g Ar ts M ath e m ati c s

What holiday food from around the world provides energy and nutrients for growth? During the winter holidays, many people around the world celebrate with all different kinds of cake! Cakes have many of the compounds (chemicals that are combinations of different elements) we need for energy and for growth, however most cakes have far more compounds that produce energy than help with growth. Foods that are high in energy are measured in calories, this is the amount of energy needed to create heat, like fuel. The higher the amount of energy in the food the greater the amount of calories.

Your body needs fuel to live and keep active, but your body will store any extra calories you eat, in case you run out of fuel (food) later. This was really important many years ago when getting enough food to fuel your body was difficult, people had to work very hard to grow, harvest and prepare their food. Today it’s pretty easy to buy and eat way more calories than human beings used to get, which can cause our bodies to store that extra fuel in the form of fat.

So let’s look at the compounds found in cakes from around the world and see which ones have the highest amount of fuel in calories! Most cakes have flour, which is made of carbohydrates such as starch, and lots of sugar. Both of these compounds are very high in calories energy, but the most calories are found in fats and oils. This is what the frosting is made from, the thicker the frosting, the higher amount of fat and therefore the higher amount of calories.

Look at the chart and see which holiday cake has the most calories per slice.

Italy: Panettone 10 • November/December 2021 • Kids Konnect

France: Galette des Rois

India: Allahabadi Cake

Poland: Makowiec

Spain and Mexico: Rosca de Reyes

United Kingdom: Dundee Cake

Japanese Christmas cake (Japan)

American Fruit Cake

Let’s compare how many calories are found in each of these different holiday cakes

The American Fruit cake has only 147 calories per slice while the Japanese holiday cake has 470 calories per slice! That is a lot of energy in a single slice of cake. You could eat several slices of fruit cake or Indian Allhabdi Cake and still not have as many calories as a single slice of Japanese cake. During the holiday season, it’s important to eat a balanced diet and not too many calories. Your body is adapted to storing excess calories as fat, so if you’re going to eat cake, one slice after dinner is a healthy way to enjoy the season.

Kids Konnect • November/December 2021 • 11

STEAM + +

TECHNOLOGY

S cien ce Te c h n o l o gy En gi n e e r i n g Ar ts M ath e m ati c s

During the holidays people love to give and receive gifts. Here are some gift ideas to bring out someone’s imagination, creativity and design skills through using new technologies.

If someone loves electronics try giving them Snap Circuits. These kits fit together like Legos and include electronic circuitry to make all kinds of moving, lighting, sound making, and fun high-tech legos gadgets.

12 • November/December 2021 • Kids Konnect

Interested in eco-friendly gadgets? Try a UGears wooden model that moves! These 3D models are based on designs and creations by people such as Leonardo DiVinci. The 3D models use eco-friendly wood and laser cut precision to create mechanically moving objects that are amazing to build and watch move.

If you know someone who loves to build Rube Goldberg machines that fit all kinds of pieces together to make a chain reaction, Smartivity models are for them. These kits have pieces that people can fit together into all kinds of different chain reactions that once set in

motion will run all the way until the end! Rube Goldberg was a cartoonist that loved to draw crazy chain reaction gadgets that make the simplest job into the most complicated mechanism. The Band OK Go loves

to build their own Rube Goldberg chain reactions and then set the machines to music. Check out one of their videos to see how everyday simple things can fit together in the crazy most complex chain reactions!

Kids Konnect • November/December 2021 • 13

STEAM + +

ENGINEERING

S cien ce Te c h n o l o gy En gi n e e r i n g Ar ts M ath e m ati c s

Engineering: The holidays are celebrated in the northern hemisphere during the darkest time of the year, the winter solstice. This is when all the countries north of the equator have the least amount of daylight and the longest nights of the year.

All over the world, people celebrate the holidays and solstice with shining lights to brighten the darkness. With modern LED technology we can now engineer amazing light shows that not only brighten up the nights with dazzling

Christmas in the United States

color, we can program the lights to do all kinds of amazing things and even synchronize with music!

Boxing Day in the UK

Holidays in Mexico City

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If you want to engineering your own holiday light show here’s a few things you’ll need: You may need an adult to help with connecting all the parts, but you can use Google to help with coding the lights to music and other things. One really helpful site to practice learning how to code is with Anna and Elsa from Code.org they can help you with learning the basics and then one to create your own holiday light display! Coding is where you type in specific directions your computer needs to follow in order to do all the cool things you’d like it to do. It’s kind of like writing out directions on a piece of paper for your neighbor on how you want the lawn mowed. The directions are coded using computer language and once it’s uploaded the computer follows the coded directions and then does the job you want it to.

Kids Konnect • November/December 2021 • 15

STEAM + +

ART

S cien ce Te c h n o l o gy En gi n e e r i n g Ar ts M ath e m ati c s

Garnish, the art of presentation and how food needs to look beautiful as well as taste good.  Garnish using plants, color or sculpting food to create interesting and colorful food presentations.  An important part of eating a good meal is how it looks on the plate. It takes practice to learn how to make garnishes with food. Sometimes a chef can cut vegetables or fruits into different shapes so they can become flowers or animals!

16 • November/December 2021 • Kids Konnect

To garnish a dinner entree, use the leafy tops of celery, sprigs parsley or tomato slices and place them next to the prepared dish. Try adding garnishes to a meal when you’re helping to make dinner.

Imagine what you could make by garnishing Holiday Cupcakes? Take a look at a few of these examples and see what you can create this year.

Kids Konnect • November/December 2021 • 17

STEAM + +

MATHEMATICS

S cien ce Te c h n o l o gy En gi n e e r i n g Ar ts M ath e m ati c s

Cooking requires precision, the key to a good recipe is accurate measurement and using the correct ingredients! (There is a big taste difference if we substitute a tablespoon for a teaspoon of salt! So use mass and a scale, the # of grams is universal) Traditional cooking often measures ingredients using VOLUME, the amount of space something takes up. For example a “cup of sugar” means the amount of sugar that fits into a measuring cup.

Another way to measure the sugar is to weigh out the sugar using a scale that shows the number of grams, which is the MASS of the sugar. Since grams are measured in 10s’ it’s easy to see exactly how much sugar you’re adding. When chefs cook using the metric system, they can be more accurate in measuring ingredients for their recipes and make fewer mistakes!

 Here the chef is using a cup to weigh the mass of the powdered sugar, how many grams does it weigh?  If the recipe calls for a “teaspoon of salt”, which spoon should you use?  By placing the salt on the scale, we can measure exactly how many grams we need, how many grams of salt are on the scale? About how many teaspoons are on the scale? (Hint: Use the recipe above and multiply.) 18 • November/December 2021 • Kids Konnect

Recipe for easy cupcakes Kids Cupcake recipe (America’s Test Kitchen) Ingredients measured in traditional units 1 ¾ cups flour 1 cup sugar 1 ½ teaspoon of baking powder ¾ teaspoon salt 12 tablespoons unsalted butter, (softened for easier mixing) ¾ cup milk 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract Frosting, candy, pretzels and other items needed for holiday garnish. Instructions for baking 1. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt together in a large mixing bowl, use a whisk or large fork to mix the dry ingredients. 2. Mix in the butter and use either a hand mixer or electric mixer to combine the butter with the dry ingredients. 3. Add milk and vanilla extract into the bowl and mix lightly until no lumps are present in the batter. 4. Place paper cupcake cups into muffin/cupcake baking tray. 5. Add enough batter to each cup to fill it about ½ full. 6. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until a toothpick that is stabbed into the cake comes out clean. 7. Let the cupcakes cool for about an hour before decorating and eating.

Kids Konnect • November/December 2021 • 19

Find 10 presents.

Keeping kids healthy in every Season Child andTeen Checkups available to children from birth through age 20 who are covered by Minnesota state health plans such as: STEELE COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH 507-444-7650 Call if you need help with transportation, interpreters or making an appointment with a doctor or a dentist.

20 • November/December 2021 • Kids Konnect

• Medical Assistance • South Country Health Alliance

TIC TAC TOE

Make a Thankful Turkey!

Materials:

Toilet Paper Rolls or Paper Towel Rolls (cut down to size) Brown Paint Small Googly Eyes Cardstock – yellow, orange and red Glue Black Marker Feather Template

Instructions: 1. Paint the toilet paper roll with brown paint. 2. Use the turkey feather template to cut out feathers for your turkey. Cut out 5 feathers, but you can add more if you would like! 3. Have kids write things they are grateful for on each feather using a black marker. 4. Add the googly eyes onto the paper roll using glue. Then cut out a small triangular beak and feet using the orange cardstock. To make the beak, fold over a piece of paper and cut out a triangle. Attach the beak and the feet to the painted toilet paper roll. 5. Attach the feathers to the back of the toilet paper roll turkey.

Cut this shape out and use it to trace your feathers!

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Source: https://www.thebestideasforkids.com/ toilet-paper-roll-turkey/ Kids Konnect • November/December 2021 • 21

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Adorable Candy Pretzel Turkey Bites

Ingredients 12 Pretzel Twists 36 Pieces of Candy Corn 12 Rolos 12 Reese’s Pieces 24 Candy Eyeballs

Prep time 14 mins Cook time 1 mins Rest time 5 mins Servings 12 servings

Substitute pecan halves and red & green M&M’s for the Candy Corn, Reese’s Pieces and Candy eyeballs for Christmas Rolo Pretzel bites!

Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Line a baking pan with parchment paper or Silpat baking mat. 2. Place pretzels with the salted side down with the double rounded end pointed toward you. 3. Unwrap Rolo candies and place them in the center towards the top of the pretzel. 4. Place them in the oven until the chocolate softens, about 1 minute. 5. Beginning decorating by placing the candy eyeballs towards the middle, slightly towards the top, of the Rolos candy. Take a Reese’s Pieces and turn it sideways and insert it below the eyes. Finally, take three pieces of candy corn and insert them along the top of the Rolos for the feathers. 6. Place them in the freezer to solidify. Store in an airtight container. Enjoy! Notes These little turkeys can be made ahead, just store in an airtight container until ready to use. Make sure you watch your Rolos while in the oven to make sure they don’t melt too much. Nutrition (Nutritional information is approximate and was calculated using a recipe nutrition label generator.) Calories: 66kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 96mg | Potassium: 19mg | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 5IU | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 0.3mg Source: https://www.suburbansimplicity.com/adorable-candy-pretzel-turkey-bites/#Adorable_Candy_Pretzel_Turkey_Bites

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Kids Konnect • November/December 2021 • 23

Find 10 differences between the two pictures.

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Find five birds.

Kids Konnect • November/December 2021 • 25

Each different shape represents a number. The numbers are 2, 4, 5 and 6. Can you find out which shape represents which number? Write the numbers on each shape.

Each different shape represents a nu 2, 4, 5 and 6. Can you find out which number? Write the numbers Find which words go in the blanks in the story below.

Stuck? Find the answer at www.kidscoop.com/kids/index.html

e ts th.

pick ents our les.

he length of a day changes throughout the year. This year, December 21 is the Northern Hemisphere’s shortest day and longest night of the year. It is called the winter solstice.

Our 64-page Kid Scoop book from Scholastic is packed with activity pages students and teachers love!

The orange represents the Earth. Each toothpick The length of a day changes because represents as the Earth travels around the sun, one of our it tilts towards or away from the sun. See how most of the planet’s poles. Because of this tilting, different parts is on the top of the orange, of the Earth face the sun at light different which represents the Northern times of the year. Hemisphere. These are the

Look through the newspaper for ten or more clues that it is winter in your town. Write a paragraph describing winter in your town. Incorporate each of the signs of winter that you found in the newspaper.

sw_tch_d r_l_s. M_st_rs b_c_m_ _nd s_rv_nts th_ m_st_rs.

a= e=

o= u=

A blend is a A blend is a combination of combination of Anc_ h_ld _ w_ _k l_ng f_ _st letters that form a letters that _nt form R_m_ns a sound. Can you find sound. Can you find bl,_nd sh, tr,p_ cl _pl_ and sw_tch_d r_l_s. M_st_rs b_c_m_ bl, sh, tr, cl and Make your poem chilly, other blends in the other blends in the s_rv_nts m_st_rs. newspaper? Circle _nd s_rv_nts th_ Or serious or silly. newspaper? Circle the blends you find. the blends you find. Write a winter poem today!

26 • November/December 2021 • Kids Konnect

Our 64-page Kid Scoop b with activity pages studen

To order, visit: www.kidscoop.com

Find the words in the puzzle, SOLSTICE then in thisSee week’s Kid of Scoop how most the LONGEST light isand on the top of the orange, stories activities. which represents the Northern ORANGE Hemisphere. These W areI theL C D N A L E S positions of the sun and the positions of the sun and the BONFIRES Earth during summer in the in the S N I O T summer Eduring MNorthern E L P Earth TEMPLE Northern Hemisphere. Hemisphere. R C T O P W E N L E TILTS Notice that the top part Notice that the top part POLES I S I I A N G T I H has less light. These are has less light. These are SHORTEST the positions of the sun the positions of the sun F H L T H E N E G C ong in ago, people worried that the and Earth winter in the and Earth in winter in the BRANCHES sunHemisphere. would leave them forever. Northern Northern Hemisphere. I T E S Y A R H N N People all over the world created CANDLES Hemisphere’s winter solstice occurs when it is tilted The farthest Northern Hemisphere’s winter solstice occurs celebrations to bring back the sun. S T A R farthest T Rit isLtilted O N S when LIGHT sun. This happens every year between Dec. 21 andaway 23. After from the sun. This happens every year between Dec. 21 and 23. After In Northern Europe, some people tice, the Northern Hemisphere begins to tilt backthe towards winter solstice, the Northern Hemisphere begins to tilt back towards B E O S E L O P L R SHINE feltbegin fire had the longer power and to bring d the days to get the nights shorter.the sun and the days begin to get longer and the nights shorter. SHAPE back the sun. They lit large bonfires T S E T R O H S C B and placed lighted candles in RAYS branches of oaks and firs. TOP

m_ns h_ld _ w_ _k l_ng f_ _st

Stuck? Find the answer at www.kidscoop

a= e=

Write o =a poem that’s nice, = Readuit=aloud, once or twice. Write a winter poem right away!

To orde

SOLSTICE LONGEST ORANGE BONFIRES TEMPLE TILTS POLES SHORTEST BRANCHES CANDLES LIGHT SHINE SHAPE RAYS TOP

Find the wo then in this w stories a S E L D E L P M R C T O I S I

F H L T N I T E O N S T B E O S T S E T

Look through the newspap clues that it is winter in yo paragraph describing wint Incorporate each of the sig you found in the newspape This week’s word:

REPRESENT

The verb represent means to stand for or be a sign of.

The skull and crossbones Make your poem symbol on a label Or serious or s represents danger.

Write a winter poem

Try to use the wordWrite represent a poem that in a sentence today when Read it aloud, once talking with your friends Write a winter p and family members.

right away!

Esta Semana: El Solsticio

a duración de los días cambian a lo largo del año. Este año, el día La naranja más corto (y la noche más larga) La naranja epresenta la representa la para el hemisferio norte cae el 21 Tierra. Cada Tierra. Cada de diciembre. A este día se lo llama palillo solsticio de invierno. palillo representa representa uno deLa duración del día cambia porque uno de los polos los polos la Tierra se inclina o ladea acercánde nuestrodose o alejándose mientras gira de nuestro planeta. alrededor del sol. Esta inclinación Podrás observar planeta. que la mayoría causa que distintas partes de la cara de la luz está en la parte de la Tierra se expongan al sol en superior de la naranja, distintas épocas del año. representando el hemisferio Observa que la parte superior tiene menos luz. Estas son las posiciones del sol y la Tierra durante el iempo atrás, gente sentía invierno del la hemisferio preocupación de que el sol los norte.

norte. Estas son las posiciones del sol y la Tierra durante el verano del hemisferio norte.

SHORTEST BRANCHES CANDLES LIGHT SHINE SHAPE RAYS Observa que la parte superior tiene menos luz. Estas sonTOP las posiciones del sol y la Tierra durante el invierno del hemisferio norte.

T I H I A N GSHORTEST E G C F H L T H E NBRANCHES CANDLES N I T E S Y A R H N LIGHT PodrásOobservar que la mayoría S T A R L R T S N de la luz está en la parte SHINE superior de la naranja, representando P L R S E L OSHAPE B E elOhemisferio norte. Estas son las posiciones del sol y la Tierra durante el verano S C B E Tnorte.R O HRAYS T delShemisferio TOP I S I

abandonara para siempre. Pueblos olsticio de invierno hemisferio nortecelebraocurre cada añoElentre el 21de y invierno del hemisferio norte ocurre cada año entre el 21 y solsticio de tododel el mundo crearon Cada figura representa está un número. números de diciembre y es cuando la inclinación lo más alejada sol. 23 del de diciembre y es cuando la inclinación lo másLos alejada delson sol.2, 4, 5 y ciones para “traer” de vueltaestá el sol. 6. ¿Podrías darte cuentanorte cuál figura le corresponde a cada ués del solsticio de invierno, el hemisferio norte comienza a inclinarse Después del solsticio de invierno, el hemisferio comienza a inclinarse número? Escribe los números en a cada figura. acia el sol yEn los el días se comienzan alargar y las noches a acortar. hacia el sol y los días se comienzan a alargar y las noches acortar. norte de Europa,aalgunos pueblos creían que el fuego podía traer de vuelta el sol. Así, ellos encendían fogatas muy grandes y colocaban velas encendidas en las ramas de los robles y pinos.

n n el Perú, un espejo encendía una fogata usando los rayos solares del solsticio. Ese fuego evado a cada templo, e permanecían activos te todo el año.

en Español

cio

Durante el otoño, día tras día, el sol comienza a salir un poco más tarde y a ponerse un poco más temprano. Decimos que los días se “acortan” y las noches se “alargan”. ¿Pero por qué? Y ¿Cuándo se detiene esto?

En el acertijo, encuentra estas palabras SOLSTICE SOLSTICE en inglés, luego encuentra la traducción Durante el otoño, día tras día, el sol comienza a salir un poco LONGEST más tardeLONGEST y a ponerse un poco más temprano. Decimos los palabras en al español deque estas la página días se “acortan” y las noches se “alargan”. de Kid ¿Pero por qué? Y ¿Cuándo se detiene esto? Scoop de hoy. ORANGE ORANGE BONFIRES BONFIRES S E L D N A C W I L TEMPLE TEMPLE E T N I O S M P L E TILTS TILTS N L E R C T O P W EPOLES POLES

n n el Perú, un espejo encendía una fogata usando los rayos solares del solsticio. Ese fuego era llevado a cada templo, donde permanecían activos durante todo el año.

E en al

Cada figura representa un número. L 6. ¿Podrías darte cuenta cuál figur número? Escribe los número

Palabra de la semana:

REPRESENTAR

El verbo representar significa: simbolizar o reflejar algo. El símbolo de la calavera y los dos huesos en una etiqueta representa peligro.

Nuestro libro Kid Scoop Scholastic contiene 64 páginas llenas de actividades que encantan a estudiantes y docentes.

Para ordenar, visite: www.kidscoop.com

Una serie es una combinación de letras que juntas letras que juntas c__l_s l_ g_nt_ c_mb__b_ l_s r_l_s. L_s _m_s _n forman l_s c__l_s l_ g_nt_ c_mb__b_ l_s r_l_s. L_s _m_s un sonido. forman un sonido. ¿Puedes hallar en ¿Puedes Busca en tu periódico diez o más pistashallar que en b_n _ s_r s_rv__nt_s y l_s s_rv__nt_s _m_s. p_s_b_n _ s_r s_rv__nt_s y l_s s_rv__nt_s _m_s. el periódico bl, sh, el periódico bl, sh, anuncien que el invierno llegótr,a cltuucomunidad. tr, cl u otras series? otras series? Escribe un párrafo describiendoMárcalas como escon el un Márcalas con un círculo. círculo. cada o= a= a = invierno en otu=ciudad o pueblo. Incorpora

Intenta usar la palabra “representar” mientras Nuestro libro platicas con tus amigos o Kid Scoop llenas de actividades que parientes el día de hoy.Para ordenar,

Una serie es una

combinación de g__s r_m_n_s r__liz_b_n f__st_s d_ s__t_ d__s L_s _nt_g__s r_m_n_s r__liz_b_n f__st_s d_ s__t_ d__s

= u = que hallaste en el periódico. e = unai de las pistas

Haz un poema frío, Serio o divertido. Escribe bello, diez o Buscaunenpoema tu periódico Léelo en voz,que altaeluna o anuncien invierno lle dos veces. Escribe un párrafo describie Escribe un poema de invierno en tu ciudad o pue invierno unaEnseguida! de las pistas que hallast

Kids Konnect • November/December 2021 • 27

Annual Marathon

Check out St. Mary’s students partipating in our annual fundraiser with these various community services

730. S Cedar Ave|Owatonna www.stmarys-owatonna.org 507-446-2300 admissions@stmarys-owatonna.org 28 • November/December 2021 • Kids Konnect

St. Mary’s School 2021-2022 Calendar

AUGUST 24-26 Before school workshop 4 27 Catechetical Day 5 30 Preschool - 5th Grade Interview Day 9 1st Day 6-8th Grade 1/2 students 11 31 K-5 Interview Day 12 1st Day Preschool select students 24 1st Day KR 1/2 students 25-26 1st Day 6-8th Grade 1/2 students 1 2 3 6 15-17

SEPTEMBER 1st Day K-8 all students 1st Day Preschool select students 1st Day KR 1/2 students All Preschool - 8th grade in school No School No School / Labor Day 7th Grade to Eagle Bluff

OCTOBER 8 Marathon/2-hr early release 20 Grandparent’s Day 21-22 No School / MEA

NOVEMBER End of first quarter No School / Teacher Workday Conferences Conferences No School / Professional Development No School / Conference Comp Day Thanksgiving Break 24

DECEMBER 9 Pre K-4th Grade Christmas Concert 23-31 No School / Christmas Break 13 17 20 21 30 31

JANUARY 5th-8th Gr. Band/Choir Concert No School / Professional Development End of second quarter No School / Teacher Workday SMS Open House Catholic School’s Week

1-4 15 17 18

FEBRUARY Catholic School’s Week Conferences Conferences No School / Conference Comp Day

MARCH 24 End of third quarter 25 No School / Teacher Workday 28-31 No School / Spring Break APRIL 1 No School / Spring Break 15 No School / Good Friday School Event 22 No School / Staff Retreat 23 Night of Knight’s Auction 5 11 26 27 30 31

MAY Pre K-4th Grade Spring Concert 5th-8th Grade Band/Choir Concert 8th Grade Graduation Spirit Day No School / Memorial Day 8th Grade Retreat

JUNE 1-2 8th Grade Retreat 2 Last Student Day 3 Teacher Work Day

End of Quarter School Not in Session (Teachers report) School Closed School Event

Updated 5-20-21

Kids Konnect • November/December 2021 • 29

Parent Reminders

Apply for Benefits

Complete an Application for Educational Benefits form forbenefits such as reduced rates for activity fees and PandemicElectronic Benefits Transfer (P-EBT)! For more information, visit www.isd761.org/district-services/ nutrition-services or call 507-444-8616.

School Updates

Parents can choose to receive notifications via text message, phone call, email, and/ or parent portal inbox messages regarding school closures due to weather orother school changes and updates. To help us contact households efficiently, be sure to update home, work and/or cell phone information in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal, and verify that the appropriate boxes are checked to receive notifications. This will ensure that you automatically receive information about school announcements in a timely manner. Go to www.isd761.org and click on “Infinite Campus Portal.” Call 507-444-8698 if you have trouble accessing the portal. 30 • November/December 2021 • Kids Konnect

No School November 24-26 December 24-31

Other Events

Stay up-to-date on events!Check the school calendarson the district website: www.isd761.org

Stay Connected!

Celebrate our students, our staff and our schools by following us on social media. If you like what you see, be sure to share it with others. Together, we are #OwatonnaProud!

@Owatonna761

#OwatonnaProud Making Music

Fire Prevention Week was October 3-9

Sports Day

Kids Konnect • November/December 2021 • 31

Help the bear find its friend.

Let’s Smile, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization based in Steele County since 2013. Dental services are provided to children & adolescents with MA, SCHA, or no dental insurance at no cost to families. See us in the Community Pathways Building or at your school-based dental clinic!

Brushing

Flossing Rinsing

Brush, Rinse And FlossYourTeeth Right After Eating 32 • November/December 2021 • Kids Konnect

Call/text 507-363-3023 to set up an appointment or email us at letssmile@outlook.com