KidsvilleNews! June 2018

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GWINNETT COUNTY’S FUN FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE

UNDERSTANDING THE PHASES OF THE MOON

E E FR www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett

check out the calendar pagE FOR THINGS TO DO THIS MONTH!

June 2018

GWINNETT COUNTY’S GWINNETT COUNTY’S FUN FAMILY NEWSPAPER FUN FAMILY NEWSPAPER

Published monthly by Gwinnett Daily Post www.KidsvilleNews.com 725 Old Norcross Road,byLawrencville, GA 30046 Kidsville News! produced Merrigold Publications 770-963-9205 • www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, MERRIGOLD PUBLICATIONS For Advertising/Sponsor opportunities, Bill Bowman • bbowman@upandcomingweekly.com contact Lauren Stephens • 770-963-9205 ext. 1209 NATIONAL EDITOR lauren.stephens@gwinnettdailypost.com Stephanie Crider • stephanie@kidsvillenews.com KIDSVILLE NEWS! • PUBLISHER ILLUSTRATOR Bill Bowman bbowman@kidsvillenews.com Cover •& Truman • Dan Nelson GRAPHIC DESIGNER Published monthly AnnabyN.Gwinnett Yang Daily Post 725 Old Norcross Road, Lawrencville, GA 30046 ILLUSTRATOR 770-963-9205 • www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett Cover & Truman • Dan Nelson For Advertising/Sponsor opportunities, KIDSVILLE NEWS! NATIONAL EDITOR Contact Elizabeth • 770-963-9205 ext. 1208 Janice Burton Hill • Janice@kidsvillenews.com elizabeth.hill@gwinnettdailypost.com KIDSVILLE NEWS! NATIONAL ASSOCIATE EDITOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER Stephanie Crider • Stephanie@kidsvillenews.com Anna N. Yang ©Copyright 2011 Kidsville News! Inc., All Rights Reserved. Truman is a service

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mark of Kidsville Inc., and the Kidsville News! is areserved. registered No trademark Copyright ©2016News!

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ATTEND THE GEORGIA URBAN AG & OUTDOOR EXPO

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GEORGIA URBAN AG & OUTDOOR EXPO! Showcasing Agri-science & Technology

Showcasing Agri-science & Technology 2......... Truman’s Letter/Gee Thanks 3................... Cultural Connections/ 4.................................. Connections

DID YOU KNOW?

6....................What’s It Like to Be...

Broccoli is actually a

............................Around the World

Georgia Urban Ag and Outdoor Expo

7........................................KidSmart

Some plants are carnivorous... they eat

8...................................... KidShape 9...........................Kidsville Kitchen

2000

FLOWER

Around different types of plants are used by humans to make food.

INSECTS!!

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You Know?AND OF COURSE, LOT’S OF VEGGIES! GOATS,Weather/Did PONIES, TRACTORS GEORGIA URBAN

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8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

growing plant, some types can grow almost 3.28 feet in just one day!

GEORGIA URBAN

GWINNETT COUNTY AG FAIRGROUNDS, & OUTDOOR LAWRENCEVILLE GA

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BAMBOO can be a fast

MAY 20 - 21 (FRIDAY & SATURDAY) 2016

EXPO

2 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • June 2018 • www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett

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12..................... Come Out and Play/

ORCHIDS do not

need soil to grow.

They get all of their nutrients from the air.

www.GAUrbanExpo.com

www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett • May 2016 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • 3

• • Wood has been an important tool for humans for thousands of years. It is hard to know the exact history of humanity’s relationship with wood because wood rots and decomposes.

Stone tools and metal tools last much longer, so it is easier for archeologists to find them. Historians do know that ancient cultures around the world like the Egyptian, Greeks, Romans and Chinese, all used woodworking to create tools, weapons, homes, furniture and decoration. Some of the earliest examples of advanced woodworking come from Africa 5,000 years ago. Wooden tools and furniture have also been found preserved in ancient Egyptian tombs from 3100 B.C. Early Chinese examples of woodworking can be traced back to 720 B.C. Lu Ban was a carpenter at this time and was credited with being one of the creators of woodworking in China.

• • •

•

•

beginnerwoodcarving.com

One specific style of woodworking is called whittling.

It can be confused with carving. However, carving uses a knife, a chisel and a mallet to create a sculpture from wood.

Whittling uses a knife and a piece of wood to make an artistic creation.

It became popular in the United States in 1865.

Ernest “Mooney” Warther is one of the most famous whittlers. His work is preserved in the Smithsonian Institution.

Whittling was a popular past time for unemployed men after the Civil War and World War I. Men would use their pocketknives to whittle objects from wood that they found and trade the pieces for food and clothing.

wood-furnaces.net/annotated-history-wood-whittling.html

round the

A ORL W

Some scientists believe the moon was formed when something large collided with a young Earth.

A chunk came off the earth and formed the moon about 4 billion years ago. When looking at the moon with the naked eye or a telescope, it is easy to see that it is covered in light and dark areas. The light areas are mountains, called highlands. The dark areas are the mare; this is Latin for seas.

A lot of the moon’s geography is the result of meteor strikes and old volcanic activity. There are so many obvious craters because the moon does not have an atmosphere like Earth does. The earth’s atmosphere acts as protection. Small rocks floating through space that would hit Earth burn up on entry instead. The moon does not have an atmosphere, so even the smallest rock can hit the moon and create a crater. The lack of atmosphere also means that there is no wind or water to erode and erase the craters.

They will stay there, unchanged, for millions of years.

• • • • • •

• •

Learning to whittle is easy.

You just need a block of wood and a pocket knife.

Softwoods like pine and balsa are some of the easiest to work.

It is important to start with a straight piece of wood without any large knots.

Cut with the grain of the wood.

The first step is to trace the design onto the block of wood.

It is very important to be safe while whittling. Always cut away from yourself.

And make sure there is a responsible grown up to supervise you.

Many whittlers also wear gloves for protection.

It is important to make sure your knife is sharp before starting to whittle.

www.wagnermeters.com/woodworking-history/

• • • • • • • •

Astronauts and scientists use craters to map and navigate the moon.

For thousands of years, people have looked up at the moon and seen shapes in the highlands and mare.

In Japan, they see a rabbit making rice cakes.

In India, people see handprints.

These shapes have inspired a lot of folklore.

In North America, one of the most common things to see is a face called “the man in the moon.”

According to scientists, the human mind is specifically designed to look for patterns.

One of the most important things that the brain does every day is recognize faces, so it often finds faces in random patterns and objects.

D

Days to remember in June www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/moon/ www.space.com/14808-moon-man-illusion-explained.html news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/04/140412-moon-faces-brain-culture-space-neurology/

1. World Oceans Day is on June 18. This holiday is celebrated globally and recognizes the value of Earth’s oceans. Oceans generate oxygen and regulate the planet’s climate.

2. Father’s Day falls on June 17. It’s a day to honor fathers and father figures.

3. The Summer Solstice marks the official beginning of summer. This year, it falls on June 21. It’s the longest day of the year for those living in the northern hemisphere.

www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett • June 2018 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • 3

NEW MOON

WAXING CRESCENT

FIRST QUARTER

WAXING

FULL MOON

WANING GIBBOUS

GIBBOUS Lowest tides

“What up, Moon?”

Highest tides

LAST

QUARTER

“WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON!??”

Highest tides

“Wassup, Sun?” Lowest tides

The moon is the brightest and largest object in our night sky. The large rocky body is a third of the width of the earth and an average of 238,855 miles away. The moon is beautiful, but it is also important for making the earth a great place for life. The earth tilts on its axis. This tilt gives us the seasons. Without the moon, scientists believe that this tilt could shift dramatically. This shift would drastically change the temperature on Earth, making it difficult for life.

The moon also creates the tides. As the moon rotates around the earth, its gravity pulls on the oceans. These tides are an important part of keeping the oceans’ ecosystems healthy. Most large bodies of water have a high tide, when the water is closer to the shore, and a low tide, when the water moves farther from the shore. The moving water also spreads nutrients around.

• The moon rotates at the same rate that it revolves around the earth.

• This means that the same side of the moon faces the earth all the time.

• It takes the moon 27 earth days to complete an orbit around the earth.

• We can see the moon because it reflects light from the sun.

• During the moon’s orbit around the earth, the amount of sunlight that reaches the moon changes. The result is called the phases of the moon.

• During a new moon, the moon is not visible.

• A waxing moon means that the amount of light hitting the moon increases.

• A waning moon means that the amount of light hitting the moon decreases. moon.nasa.gov/about/in-depth/

aa.usno.navy.mil/faq/docs/moon_phases.php

www.astronomyknowhow.com/moon-tides.htm

4 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • June 2018 • www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett

WANING CRESCENT

“Man, I need to visit Sun again.

That guy is a trip.”

When there is a full moon and it’s aligned with the earth and sun, the highest and lowest tides are at their greatest. These are called spring tides.

• A full moon happens in the middle of the cycle. It means the moon is completely illuminated by the sun’s light.

• There is a waxing and a waning crescent. A crescent means that only a small fraction of the moon is lit.

• The first quarter happens when half of the moon is lit.

• A gibbous is when more than one half, but less than the entire moon, is visible.

• The last quarter is when one half of the moon is illuminated, but it is decreasing.

• The order of the moon’s phases are new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, last quarter and waning crescent.

• A blue moon is when there are two full moons in a month.

https://www.astrobio.net/news-exclusive/the-odds-for-life-on-a-moonless-earth/

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Summer Maze

Kidsville JUNE 18.pdf

1

5/14/18

12:04 PM

Step into a world of

MAGIC!

© 2017 Minnesota Children’s Museum. All rights reserved.

The Amazing Castle was created by Minnesota Children's Museum.

childrensmuseumatlanta.org Major support is provided by the Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs.

Major funding for this organization is provided by the Fulton County Board of Commissioners.

Georgia Power Foundation, Inc.

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June 9 - September 9

www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett • June 2018 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • 5

What’s it like to be...

t e e M

s y Chr

e h G a t

y t s l a h or w C e Sh r e . f i m n Jen netariu a l !

P nt the t a ks

Lillian Webb of Norcross was the first female Gwinnett Commission Chairman. Prior to and after ser ving in that role, she was mayor of Norcross for 22 years.

Please tell our readers a little bit about yourself.

I love space and have been working with planetariums since 2008. Right now, I’m getting my Ph.D. in planetarium education while also working at Liberty Science Center (home of the Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium).

I’m also a drummer in a rock band!

What do you do at the Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium?

My job is planetarium educator, which means I present shows to families and students that visit LSC. I also design new shows for school groups, making sure we have great experiences for kids of all ages. Part of my job is to always be researching new space news, so I get to look at cool space pictures all the time.

Why is this work important?

Space is all around us. It applies to everyone, and I think working in a place that can introduce people to space and get them excited to learn more is really important. There are new things happening all the time – new technology, new space missions – and everyone should know about it.

What kind of training does it take to do your job?

I have a lot of experience volunteering in planetariums, and my background is in earth and space science, astronomy and education. But I’ve met a lot of planetarium educators who studied all kinds of different things. You don’t need to necessarily have a degree in astronomy – just a passion for the stars!

6 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • June 2018 • www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett

What is your favorite thing about your job?

Just talking to all the different people – I love it when they get excited or have questions for me. My favorite was when a 3-year-old came up to me and asked me about dwarf planets. I was like, “This is amazing! I’m so glad you’re already thinking about planets!”

What is something fun about the planetarium that you can share with our readers?

It’s huge – it’s the largest in the Western hemisphere.

It has a resolution of 88 million pixels, a lighting system that can produce over 281 trillion individual colors and speakers capable of producing 30,000 watts of digital sound. We can take you on space flights, we can land on different planets. There are limitless possibilities of things we can do here.

Communication skills kids can learn

A

n ability to communicate effectively is a life skill that can serve a person well at any age. Communicating well is considered so essential that the Boy Scouts of America even require prospective Eagle Scouts to earn communication merit badges.

It’s never too early to help children become better communicators. From toddlerhood to grade school and beyond, learning how to interact with others is necessary at every stage.

Developing communication takes time, but there are various techniques to help kids become better communicators.

• Great communication is a two-way process. Listening is often as important as speaking when communicating. Parents can help model good behavior by listening and letting children express themselves before offering their own opinions.

• Take turns in conversation. Rather than speaking at the same time or interrupting others, effective communicators take turns offering their thoughts. Listening to others can help shape what the other person might say.

• Speak regularly with one another.

Initiate conversation frequently so that children become accustomed to speaking with adults and others. Chat about where you’re going when running errands or discuss television plots during commercial breaks.

• Make conversations relevant. Allow experiences that are happening around the family to shape conversations. Encourage curiosity and introduce new themes and vocabulary. The more the child gets to experience, the more inclined he or she may be to discuss those experiences.

• Modify communication methods.

Some children may struggle to communicate effectively. By working with speech/language pathologists and making the most of digital and other communication aids, parents make things easier for kids who are struggling to communicate.

Enter for your chance to win a fabulous

FAMILY FUN IN THE SUN VACATION!

Prize package for four to Daytona Beach, FL includes:

• Round-trip air transportation • Three nights’ at Hard Rock Hotel Daytona Beach with $100 food and beverage credit • A four-day SUV-size car rental • Admission to Daytona Arcade Museum

• Ask for details. The organization Understood.org advises adults to focus on recall and sequencing when speaking with children. These skills are important and can be enhanced when kids offer details. These techniques can help children ultimately develop strong comprehension and writing skills.

• Speak with others. Encourage children to speak to their peers, adults and educators as much as possible to establish comfort in various communication settings. Doing so will help in the short- and long-term.

Communicating is an important component of school, home life and future employment.

Children who learn to communicate effectively are in position to thrive in school and later in life.

ENTER BY JUNE 30, 2018!

To enter and for complete contest rules gwinnettdailypost.com/contests No internet access? Send in a postcard with your name, address, phone, email address, age and yes you have read the complete sweepstakes rules to GDPFamilyFunInTheSun and Car P.O. Box 603 Lawrenceville, GA 30046. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Eligibility restrictions apply. For official sweepstakes rules, visit gwinnettdailypost.com/contests and view the rules for FamilyFunInTheSun Contest or stop by the Gwinnett Daily Post.

549899-1 www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett • June 2018 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • 7

MATH

TIME

Color the figure with the largest area: Darrien is twice as old as his sister Kalynn. Kalynn’s age is 1/6 the age of her father.

Their father, Ira is 30. How old are Darrien and Kalynn?

Darrien

Kalynn

Spatial Visualization is the issue. Area, the amount of space enclosed by the figure and largest are key vocabulary words

(Kalynn is 5 and Darrien is 10) This is a two-step problem but has easy computation. Students need to find a number that is already known – the father’s age. Kalynn is 1/6 of 30 or 5 years old. It is easy then to figure that Darrien is twice as old as Kalynn –10 years old. Students need to be able to divide 30 into 6 equal parts to figure 1/6 if they do not know how to divide mentally.

Strategies to get kids to exercise

E

xercise is an important component of a healthy lifestyle. That’s not just true for adults but for children and teenagers as well.

Parents concerned about their kids living sedentary lives may have more to worry about than they know. According to a 2017 study published in the journal Preventive Medicine that analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination survey from 2003-2004 and 20052006, 19-year-olds spent as much time being inactive and sedentary as 60-yearolds.

Getting kids to be more active may be especially difficult for today’s parents, who must contend with the internet, social media, tablets, smartphones and other distractions as they try to encourage their kids to unplug and spend more time being physically active. But parents can try various strategies to get kids off the couch and

the neighborhood after dinner.

• Park the car. Kids don’t need to know they’re exercising in order to be more physically active. In lieu of driving to the bank or pharmacy, parents can leave the car at home and ride their bikes alongside their children when running errands.

If possible, parents can walk youngsters to and from school rather than driving them. exercising.

• Set a positive example. Kids, especially young children, often try to emulate their parents. Parents can capitalize on kids’ desire to be like mom and dad by exercising in front of their children. Young children may not be ready to lift weights or run on the treadmill, but parents can embrace kid-friendly exercises such as walking and cycling. Invite kids along for daily bike rides or go for family walks around

8 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • June 2018 • www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett

• Choose friend-friendly activities. Adults employ the buddy system as a means to motivate themselves to keep exercising, and that same principle can apply to children, who might be more excited about physical activity if their friends are joining them. Team sports provide chances to exercise with friends, as do organizations like the Boy Scouts of America and the Girl Scouts of America. But even inviting a child’s friend along on a family hike or bike ride may make such activities more fun for kids.

• Give gifts that encourage physical activity. Kids might want the latest device or video game for their birthdays, but parents can also give gifts that encourage youngsters to be physically active. Bicycles, rollerblades, ice skates and sports equipment are just a handful of potential gifts that may compel kids to exercise more.

Childhood obesity is a significant problem, with the 2015-2016 NHANES reporting that 20.6 percent of youths between the ages of 12 and 19 were obese.

Getting kids off the couch and exercising more often can help reduce those figures and ensure healthier futures for kids of all ages.

Kidsville Kitchen A quick, tasty weeknight meal Preparing weeknight meals can be tricky, as busy men and women may want to save money and cook their own healthy foods but have little time to do so consistently. But healthy, homecooked meals need not take much time to prepare. The following low-calorie recipe for Crab Salad-Stuffed Tomatoes from “Weightwatchers: Cook It Fast” (St. Martin’s Griffin) can be whipped up in 20 minutes, making it an ideal meal for time-strapped men and women who want to make meals at home without all the work that goes into more complex recipes.

Crab SaladStuffed Tomatoes 1⁄3 2 1 1⁄3 2 2 2 1⁄8 1⁄8

cup orzo large tomatoes cup crabmeat, picked over for pieces of shell cup chopped black or green olives tablespoons crumbled reduced-fat feta cheese tablespoons chopped fresh dill teaspoons balsamic vinegar teaspoon salt teaspoon black pepper

Summer fun with Gwinnett 200!

There are so many ways to get involved in the bicentennial celebration this summer, including lots of fun events at our aquatic centers!

Don’t miss out on exciting events like...

Button Cup: Cardboard Boat Race Friday, June 8 • Collins Hill Park Aquatic Center • 6:30pm

Button Bash Bicentennial Pool Party Saturday, June 16 • West Gwinnett Park Aquatic Center • 10:00am

1. Cook orzo according to package directions, omitting salt if desired. Drain and rinse under cold water; drain again.

1818 Splash Bash Saturday, June 30 • Mountain Park Aquatic Center • noon

2. Meanwhile, cut a thin slice off tops of tomatoes; reserve tops. Using spoon, carefully scoop out seeds and pulp; reserve for another use.

4. Cook’s note: Scoop the seeds and pulp from the tomatoes into a storage container. Cover and freeze up to 4 months and toss them into a soup or stew.

Visit the events calendar at Gwinnett200.com to see all the fun we have planned!

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3. Gently toss together crabmeat, olives, feta, dill, vinegar, salt and pepper in medium bowl. Spoon crabmeat mixture evenly into tomato shells and cover with reserved tomato tops.

...and so many more!

Visit www.Gwinnett200.com to learn more! www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett • June 2018 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • 9

SUNDAY

3

MONDAY

4

TUESDAY

5

EVERY TUESDAY! Kids First Coming Attractions Radio Show, 4 p.m.

Eastern

WEDNESDAY

6

THURSDAY

7

11

12

FOSTER PARENT ORIENTATION

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2

8

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6:30pm – 8:30pm DFCS Department of Family & Children Services, 33 S. Clayton Street, Lawrenceville

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BUTTON DAYS FAMILY PICNIC & SWIM NIGHT

Tuesday, June 12, Mountain Park Aquatic Center 6:30pm – 8:30pm

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UPCOMING:

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22 NEW MOVIE OPENS Oceans 3D – Our Blue Planet

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Historical “Sovereign Scavenger” Hunting. Gwinnett Historic Courthouse – Daily now thru December 31, 2018 on Monday – Friday, 10:00am – 4:00pm; Saturdays 10:00am – 2:00pm.

10 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • June 2018 • www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett

FOOD – OUR GLOBAL KITCHEN Special Exhibit June 9-Aug 19

THE AMAZING CASTLE Opening June 9

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SATURDAY

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BROWN BAG CONCERT: 1800S EDITION Collins Hill Park Aquatic Center 11:00am – 1:00pm

http://voiceamerica. com/channel/261/ voiceamerica-kids

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FRIDAY

23 JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION Saturday, June 23, Yellow River Post Office 1:00pm – 5:00pm

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Sleep is restorative and essential for ensuring our minds and bodies operate at peak capacity. But many kids are not getting enough sleep. According to WebMD, bedtimes have gradually become later as children must contend with social, family and school activities. This is especially true for older children. WebMD says that most 12-year-olds now go to bed around 9 p.m., getting an average of nine hours of sleep, even though 12 hours are ideal for kids who are 12.

D

id you know that if you hear thunder, you are in danger? Don’t be fooled by blue skies. If you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you or any nearby object. There are about 25 million lightning strikes in the United States each year. While lightning is fascinating to watch, it’s important to remember that lightning is also very dangerous. Each year in the United States, more than 400 people are struck by lightning. On average, between 55 and 60 people are killed, but hundreds of others are permanently injured.

Summer is the most dangerous season for lightning. Most fatalities occur in June, July and August. All thunderstorms produce lightning and are dangerous. In the United States, in an average year, lightning kills about the same number of people as tornadoes and more people than hurricanes.

Did you also know that 64 percent of all lightning fatalities result from outdoor recreation? A large portion of these are from water activities and sports.

About 35 acres of the 3,200 acres of Stone Mountain Park are in Gwinnett County.

Did You

KNOW?

Here is how to keep yourself safe from lightning: •

When you hear thunder, even a distant rumble, know lightning is likely within striking distance. Lightning threats can extend 10 miles from the storm!

You should go to a safe place immediately including a house, large building or a car with a metal roof to protect you from lightning.

•

If you are deaf or hard of hearing, go inside as soon as you see a flash of lightning, even if it seems far away.

When you are inside, stay away from windows and doors, and do not touch anything that is plugged into an electrical outlet. Do not use a corded telephone, but cell phones are safe.

•

Stay away from sinks and do not take a shower or bath during a thunderstorm.

•

Don’t go back outside until 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder.

You can find more facts about lightning and lightning safety at NOAA’s Lightning Safety Web Site www.weather.gov/lightning

Unscramble the letters and solve the puzzle with the numbers below.

SANC

CUSP

25 3 16

SELPAT

SETBOLT

17 2 15

MIAL RONCITAENS

10

STRSWA

9 12 6 27 7

3 27

28

5 5 27 23 4 5 20 18

28

9 6 16

22 24 25 546612-1

1 14

XOEBS

5 3 6 16 19 22

1 27 3 4 5 6 7 8

26

Y

9 15 16

D

24 8

1 18 1 19 20 21 22 23

26 27 15 28 27 24

www.sustainablegwinnett.com www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett • June 2018 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • 11

Come Out & Play

M

any studies have shown that spending time in nature is beneficial for mental and physical health.

One of the easiest ways to enjoy the outdoors is to hike or take a walk. Many areas have free hiking and walking trails through local parks. It can also be a great way to explore new areas. A paved trail around the local lake can be a great place to spend time with friends, walk the dog, exercise and relax.

• •

• • • •

The great outdoors

Even though hiking can be an easy way to get some exercise and spend time with friends, it is still important to stay safe.

Some trails, especially ones near mountains, can be challenging. Make sure to check the difficulty of the trail before you start. It is good to challenge yourself, but it is more important to be prepared.

Bring and drink plenty of water.

Wear shoes with good traction and ankle support.

Stay on the trail.

Make sure you know where you’re going before you start.

Bring a map.

• • • • • •

Let someone know where you are going and when you plan to be back.

If you are going on a longer hike, bring a flashlight.

If you don’t love hiking, there are many ways to make it more fun.

Scavenger hunts are very popular. Before you start the hike, make a list of things that you might find like something blue, a bench, a pine tree, a flower or a squirrel.

Record the things that you see. You could cross them off the list or take a picture of them.

The first person to find everything on the list wins.

www.mykidsadventures.com/scavenger-hunt-ideas/ www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/hikingsafety.htm

www.outdoors.org/articles/amc-outdoors/trail-games-activities-to-keep-kids-moving-and-motivated-while-hiking

Where in the World: The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is located in both North Carolina and Tennessee. It protects and preserves some of the natural beauty of the Appalachian Mountains. This national park has a unique history because it was difficult to create.

Previously, parks were easily established on land that

• • • • • •

It is the most visited national park in the United States.

11.3 million tourists visited the park in 2016.

It covers 522,419 acres.

There are 16 mountains and 12 popular water falls in the park.

They are called the Smoky Mountains because they are covered in fog in the mornings.

There are 80 historic buildings in the park.

www.nps.gov/grsm/index.htm

the federal government already owned. However, this area was privately owned. People lived in these mountains, and the forest had been used for logging.

Congress wanted to establish it as a national park but did not have the money to purchase the land.

Instead, private money was donated so that the federal

• • • • •

government could buy this land and preserve the forest. John D. Rockefeller donated $5 million, the U.S. Government added $2 million, and the rest of the money was donated by citizens of Tennessee and North Carolina. The land was bought in sections; the park was officially established in 1934.

The highest mountain in the park is Clingmans • Dome. It is 6,643 feet.

10,000 species of plants and animals are known to • live in the park.

• There are 850 miles of trails and 70 miles of the • Appalachian Trail.

There are 200 species of birds, 67 mammal breeds, • 67 species of fish, 39 species of reptiles, 43 species • of amphibians and 17,000 types of insects.

550 miles of the trails are open to horses.

www.nationalparks.org/explore-parks/great-smoky-mountains-national-park

Hiking and fishing are some of the most popular activities in the park.

The mountains are around 250 million years old.

Entrance is free, unlike many national parks.

Cherokee Indians were some of the first to inhabit these mountains.

The area was also used for logging.

The park has 2,115 miles of streams open for fishing.

www.visitmysmokies.com/blog/smoky-mountains/basic-facts-about-smoky-mountains/ Image © photo credit: Thomas James Caldwell on flickr

12 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • June 2018 • www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett

WHAT’S IT LIKE INSIDE MARS?

By Jessica Stoller-Conrad

This moment, forever.

They won’t be this age for long. So make every second count with a family vacation in Florida.

It’s time to make moments that shine.

An artist’s illustration showing a possible inner structure of Mars. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Mars is Earth’s neighbor in the solar system. NASA’s robotic explorers have visited our neighbor quite a few times. By orbiting, landing and roving on the Red Planet, we’ve learned so much about Martian canyons, volcanoes, rocks and soil.

However, we still don’t know exactly what Mars is like on the inside. This information could give scientists some important clues about how Mars and the rest of our solar system formed.

This spring, NASA is launching a new mission to study the inside of Mars. It’s called Mars InSight. InSight — short for Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport — is a lander. When InSight lands on Mars later this year, it won’t drive around on the surface of Mars like a rover does. Instead, InSight will land, place instruments on the ground nearby and begin collecting information.

Just like a doctor uses instruments to understand what’s going on inside your body, InSight will use three science instruments to figure out what’s going on inside Mars.

One of these instruments is called a seismometer. On Earth, scientists use seismometers to study the vibrations that happen during earthquakes. InSight’s seismometer will measure the vibrations of earthquakes on Mars — known as marsquakes. We know that on Earth, different materials vibrate in different ways. By studying the vibrations from marsquakes, scientists hope

to figure out what materials are found inside Mars.

InSight will also carry a heat probe that will take the temperature on Mars. The heat probe will dig almost 16 feet below Mars’ surface. After it burrows into the ground, the heat probe will measure the heat coming from the interior of Mars. These measurements can also help us understand where Mars’ heat comes from in the first place. This information will help scientists figure out how Mars formed and if it’s made from the same stuff as Earth and the Moon.

Scientists know that the very center of Mars, called the core, is made of iron. But what else is in there? InSight has an instrument called the Rotation and Interior Structure Experiment, or RISE, that will hopefully help us to find out.

Although the InSight lander stays in one spot on Mars, Mars wobbles around as it orbits the sun. RISE will keep track of InSight’s location so that scientists will have a way to measure these wobbles. This information will help determine what materials are in Mars’ core and whether the core is liquid or solid.

InSight will collect tons of information about what Mars is like under the surface.

One day, these new details from InSight will help us understand more about how planets like Mars — and our home, Earth — came to be.

Visit spaceplace.nasa.gov to explore space and Earth science!

For more information about earthquakes and marsquakes, visit: spaceplace.nasa.gov/earthquakes

www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett • June 2018 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • 13

“Isle of Dogs” is a genius concept that only Wes Anderson could conjure up and makes for an enjoyable animated film with a quirky aesthetic.

“Isle of Dogs” takes place 20 years from now in a futuristic Japan. A disease spreading among dogs ravages Megasaki City, and the mayor issues a decree that banishes all dogs to

a vast, sickening wasteland called Trash Island. The film focuses on a pack of dogs that spend their days roaming, trying to stay alive among fierce competition. A young boy named Atari crashes onto the island one day in search of his dog, and the pack decides to help him.

Wes Anderson’s direction is excellent. He thrives in stopmotion animation because he can meticulously craft each shot. His sometimes bizarre, yet charming style remains resonant, despite it being a change of pace from the stories he usually tells.

“Isle of Dogs” is an homage to Japanese filmmaking, especially the films of Akira Kurosawa, and relies on Japanese language and culture to tell its story.

My favorite character is Chief

14 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • June 2018 • www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett

(Bryan Cranston). He is a stray dog who goes through a moving transformation as he starts off dreading the idea of having a master. But through his adventure with Atari, Chief starts to learn what it is to care about people and open himself up to them. Cranston gives Chief a weariness that lets you know his character has been through a lot.

I recommend this film for ages 11 to 18, due to some violence involving dogs, some suggestive content and minor offensive language. Note that, despite animation and dogs as main characters, this is not a kids’ film.

It’s really geared toward pre-teens to adults.

I give Isle of Dogs 4 out of 5 stars.

I recommend this film for Wes Anderson fans and those who like a good adventure featuring man’s best friend. Although this film misses the chance to develop really interesting ideas and characters, it is still fun and hilarious in all the right ways.

George Rogers, who played football at Duluth High School and then went to the Universit y of South Carolina, won the Heisman Trophy in 1980. So far, he’s the only Heisman winner from Gwinnett!

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Coleoptera Family: Lampyridae Genus: Photinus Species: P. pyralis

use their tails to attract mates. In most species, both male and female beetles glow. Firefly eggs glow as well.

A

firefly is a beetle common in many places around the world. In North America, the common eastern firefly is found in grasslands, forests and even in backyards. The average firefly is 10-14mm long. During the day, they look like average dark brown beetles. They are spectacular at night. There are two chemicals in a firefly’s tail called luciferase and luciferin. These chemicals mix in the beetle’s tail and produce a bright but cold light. Most species

Most fireflies have a specific flash pattern to attract a mate. Each species has a specific and unique pattern.

Usually, each beetle flashes individually, so it looks as if the flashes are random. However, there is one species of firefly in North America called synchronous fireflies. They are unique because every firefly in the area will flash at exactly the same time. For two weeks at the end of May and beginning of June, visitors can travel to the Great Smoky Mountains to see this incredible light display. There are 18 other species of fireflies in the park, but only one lights up simultaneously.

www.firefly.org

www.nps.gov/grsm/learn/nature/fireflies.htm

animaldiversity.org/accounts/Photinus_pyralis/

www.firefly.org/synchronous-fireflies.html

549904-1

• Fireflys are carnivorous.

• They love warm, humid areas near water.

• They are most active at dusk.

• There are thousands of firefly species that live all over the world.

• Many species of firefly are suffering due to human activity.

• The pesticides used in gardens, homes and farms can kill fireflies.

• They use their flashes to find mates. The lights are not as easy to see at night if there is a lot extra light, or light pollution, from homes and businesses in the area.

• Many fireflies don’t live very long as adults, only 21 days.

www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett • June 2018 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • 15

16 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • June 2018 • www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett