April 2018 Kidsvilles News! by Gwinnett Daily Post Special Section

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

Kids ! Hi, Hi Kid, s!

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mark of Kidsville Inc., and the Kidsville News! is areserved. registered No trademark Copyright ©2016News! by Merrigold Publishing, Inc. Alllogo rights part Kidsville No part of thisin issue Kidsville mayform be reproduced ofof this issueNews! may Inc. be reproduced wholeof or in partNews! in any without in whole or inofpart any form without permission of the Neither publisher participating or the copyright permission theinpublisher or copyright holder. holder. Neither advertisers the publishers will be or liable advertisers norparticipating the publishers will be nor responsible or liable forresponsible misinformation, for misinformation, misprints,errors. or typographical errors.reserve The publishers reserve right misprints or typographical The publishers the right to edittheany to edit any submitted material. Kidsville News! Inc. is not responsible for unsolicited submitted material. Merrigold Publishing, Inc. is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, artwork, artwork, ororother submissions should include name, manuscripts, othermaterial. material.Children’s Children’s submissions should include address, telephonetelephone number, and permission publish signed a parentsigned or guardian. name, address, number, andtopermission tobypublish by a parent or guardian.

ATTEND THE GEORGIA URBAN AG & OUTDOOR EXPO

Don’t miss the

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?

5..................................... MathTime

Broccoli is actually a

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

Georgia Urban Ag and Outdoor Expo

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

Some plants are carnivorous... they eat

7........................................KidSmart 8...........................Kidsville Kitchen

2000

FLOWER

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

INSECTS!!

9...................................... KidShape 10...................................... CalendarAND OF COURSE, LOT’S OF VEGGIES! GOATS, PONIES, TRACTORS GEORGIA URBAN

12..................... ComeAGOut and Play/ & OUTDOOR

EXPO

��Where in the World

13.................................Space Place

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

14.....ParenTown’s Read Kiddo Read 15......................................www.GAUrbanExpo.com Wildville 413770-1

BAMBOO can be a fast

MAY 20 - 21 (FRIDAY & SATURDAY) 2016

EXPO

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

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11............... Weather/Did You Know?

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

Incan quipu

The Incans were a people that lived in South America dating back to the 12th century. At its height in the 15th century, the Incan empire stretched from northern Ecuador to central Chile and had 12 million inhabitants and 100 different ethnic groups. They were a remarkable and advanced civilization. They had roadways and complex agricultural systems. However, they didn’t have a writing system based on an alphabet. Instead, they used a system called quipu that was based on knots. Each knot had meaning and helped people to remember large amounts of very specific information. They used this tool to record any information they needed to remember, like dates, accounts, folk stories, bloodlines and poetry. Even though the quipu was a popular and common way of recording information, there are not many examples remaining. They were destroyed after internal conflict in the empire and when the Spanish colonized South America. However, some shepherds and other Andean people still use the system

today. All the missing quipus makes it difficult for modern researchers to understand exactly how the system of knots worked. • The Incans were known for keeping detailed census and accounting records. • A typical quipu was made of a wooden bar with colored strings hanging from it. • The strings were usually made of cotton or wool. • Any number of strings could hang from the wooden bar. Large quipus had up to 1,500 strings. • Everything about the string carried information; the way it was woven, the color, the number of knots, the placement of the knots and the kind of knots were all important to understanding the meaning of the quipu. • Usually, people also memorized an oral explanation of the knots. • This was a very portable and durable way of keeping information. • Different systems of knots were used for recording numbers versus stories. www.ancient.eu/Quipu/ www.history.com/topics/inca www.ancientscripts.com/quipu.html

Vectors © via Vecteezy.com

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round the

A ORL W

Fun Facts about Volcanoes from Around the World

• • •

90 percent of all volcanoes are located around the Pacific Plate. This is called the Ring of Fire. Volcano comes from the Roman name for the god of fire, “Vulcan.” Volcanoes come in all shapes and sizes. They also have many kinds of eruptions. Some volcanoes, like Mount St. Helens in Washington state, sit quiet for thousands of years and then have one huge, destructive eruption before going dormant again.

The Gwinnett County Department of Fire and Emergency Ser vices operates 31 fire stations with 31 fire engines, 11 ladder trucks, 29 ambulances (with t wo more being added in 2018), and six specialty teams.

Volcanoes are also most commonly found near tectonic boundaries, where two tectonic plates meet. The two types of boundaries most likely to have volcanic activity are convergent and divergent boundaries. Convergent boundaries are where two plates are pushing together. Two things can happen here. Often these boundaries have subduction zones. This is where one plate is pushed under another plate and melts into the mantle below. The friction of the two plates rubbing together creates magma, which reaches the surface and forms a volcano. Divergent boundaries are where two tectonic plates pull apart and

Dates to remember in April: • April 1 is April Fools’ Day. It is a time for playing jokes and tricks on friends and family. No one knows for sure when April Fools’ Day started, although some people believe it dates back to the Roman Empire.

Inside the active Mount Merapi on Indonesia Image © of Jimmy McIntyre on flickr

owlcation.com/stem/How-Does-a-Volcano-Form kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/science/volcano/#volcano-explode.jpg earthsky.org/earth/this-date-in-science-largest-volcanic-eruption-in-recorded-history

reveal the magma underneath. The largest recorded volcanic eruption happened on April 10, 1815. Mount Tambora, located in what is now Indonesia, erupted. When it exploded, it released 38 cubic miles of melted rock and ash into the air and onto the island. The explosion was so large that it affected the weather of the entire planet. The explosion threw ash into the atmosphere the blocked out the sun and killed crops in the Northern Hemisphere. 1816 was known as the “Year without Summer.” Some nearby villages were found buried in 10 feet of volcanic ash.

•

Easter falls on April 1 this year, too. Easter is a Christian holiday that celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

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Passover runs from March 31 through April 7. It is a Jewish celebration that commemorates their liberation from Egypt and their freedom as a people under Moses’ rule.

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Earth Day falls on April 22. It is a day to celebrate the earth and promote ways to protect the environment.

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

he earth is made of layers of different materials. The top layer that we live on is called the crust. It is a thin layer of rock that floats on a thick layer of magma. Magma is semi-molten rock. Lava is magma that reaches the surface. The crust floats on the magma, which allows it to shift and move as the earth rotates. The crust is not one solid piece. It is broken up into large pieces called tectonic plates. There are seven major plates and eight minor plates. Some are so large that they hold entire continents.

• Earthquakes usually happen along transform boundaries. These are areas where two plates slide past each other. • These areas are also called faults. • Tectonic plates usually only move 6 inches a year. • Sometimes the plates can get stuck against each other and then massive pressure builds up. • When the plates finally move, they release all that built up pressure at once, and millions of tons of earth move very suddenly.

• This is an earthquake. • The hypocenter is the place where the earthquake starts underground. • The epicenter is the location on the surface above the hypocenter. • Earthquakes can have three stages: foreshocks, the mainshock and aftershocks. • Earthquakes are recorded and measured by seismographs. • The size of an earthquake is measured by magnitude and intensity.

The largest earthquake ever recorded is called the Valdivia Earthquake. It happened in Bio-Bio, Chile, in 1960. Earthquakes are measured on a scale of 0-10 called the Richter scale. This was a 9.5. The earthquake caused a lot of damage to buildings, but the tsunami it caused was even more deadly. Tsunamis are giant and dangerous waves that often follow large earthquakes that occur near the ocean. They can spread across the ocean for thousands of miles.

LAVA

Really interesting things happen where these plates meet. A lot of pressure can build up between plates that can cause things like mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes.

CRUST

S E T PLA

MAGMA earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/kids/eqscience.php

T S U CR E TH geology.com/records/largest-earthquake/

NY A FM O UP E AD M Gwinnett County’s Parks and IS Recreation Division operates 17 pools and aquatic centers visited by almost 500,000 people a year!

earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/browse/largest-world.php Vectors altered, but original vectors © Vecteezy.com

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

MATH

How can you remove two toothpicks from the square shape and leave two squares of different sizes? Cross out the two that should be removed.

How many ways can you make change for a dollar? 292. 293 if you count a one-dollar coin in change!

Some numbers are missing. Write them on this line: 33

37 38

(32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46) This problem reinforces the concept of using the number line while giving students the opportunity to count and record numbers up to 50. It is sometimes difficult for students to start at a number other than one. 1

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(The diagram shows one possible answer.) Some students have difficulty with visual imagery; manipulates should be available for those who wish to construct the figure.

KIDSVILLE FEB 18.pdf

TIME

1:46 PM

Eat smart, move more, and live well!

Healthyville® was created by Stepping Stones Museum for Children

BUY ONLINE & SAVE!

January 27 - May 28, 2018 Presented Locally by:

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.

Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs

Georgia Power Foundation, Inc.

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childrensmuseumatlanta.org • 404.659.KIDS (5437)

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

Jim Carrel Arachnologist Please tell our readers a little bit about yourself and why you chose to study spiders. Hi. I’m Jim Carrel, a retired biology professor who remains active in research. My official title is Distinguished Teaching Professor of Biology Emeritus at the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri. My interest in spiders started when I was 23 years old. I tested how predators, such as wolf spiders, respond to insects that protect themselves from attack by giving off stinky, irritating or distasteful fluids. At that time, I knew almost nothing about spiders. But I became enamored with them, and by reading books and articles, I learned a lot about them largely on my own. Eventually I focused on spiders themselves. Why are spiders important? Spiders are important for several reasons. First, there are many, many species of them in the world. In fact, the 50,000 described spider species equal twice the number of birds, mammals and reptiles known today (25,000 species). Second, spiders are common in fields and forests; they are almost everywhere on land. Third, spiders are predators, eating mostly insects and other spiders, so they are vital links in food-webs. Fourth, spiders often exert control of pest insects as their populations start to grow, preventing damage to our food crops. Do you have any fun facts about spiders you can share to our readers? Spiders are not simply insects with eight legs. Their physiology is different. They lack the microscopic organelles that power leg muscles in other animals, so they cannot run fast for far. In seconds, they develop an oxygen debt and their movement declines to a crawl. So, no spider can chase a kid for more than several feet. You need not run far away from a spider on the ground. A few steps will do. What is your favorite thing (or the scariest thing) about spiders? I am enchanted by spider webs. I routinely go out at sunrise on foggy mornings to view webs dew-coated. I find their designs awe-inspiring. The thought of a tiny spider constructing an ornate web that is inches across in a matter of minutes is truly remarkable. Furthermore, the fact that the shape of a web often is indicative of the identity of a spider species causes me to wonder how this came about in the distant past. What do you wish everyone knew about spiders? Spiders are not threatening. They mean you no harm. In the big scheme of things in life, spider bites are way down near the bottom on the list of risks to life and limb. 6 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • April 2018 • www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett

The first female mayor of any cit y in Georgia was Alice Strickland, who ser ved the cit y of Duluth for one year starting all the way back in 1922!

Tablets and Kids: What to Know

“Tablets can be a great source of learning if the content is relevant, engaging and ageappropriate,” said Dr. Clement Chau, director of learning for LeapFrog. Before you take the plunge, here are some things to keep in mind. Durability Kids are not necessarily known for their delicate handling of breakable objects. So, look for kidfriendly products that are durable and built specifically for kids’ hands. Content Seek out tablets pre-loaded with fun and useful ageappropriate content that blends education and fun. For example, those

from LeapFrog, a leader in innovative learning toys, offer well-rounded curricula important to children’s development. The new LeapFrog Epic Academy Edition and LeapPad Ultimate feature preloaded content teaching core skills like mathematics, reading and science, as well as music, puzzles, logic and creativity to help prepare children for preschool and beyond. Both tablets offer access to a learning library of more than 1,000 apps, eBooks and videos and feature built-in technology that assess kids’ progress to personalize lessons. Additionally, LeapFrog Epic Academy Edition comes with a free trial of LeapFrog Academy, an interactive learning program for 3- to 6-yearolds that guides kids on learning adventures they can play on the go. Safety Remember, a tablet is not just a toy; it’s twoway access to the world at-large. But you can

keep kids safe with a few precautions. Look for tablets that are kid-safe right of the box, with features like kid-friendly web browsers that provide access to pre-selected websites. Then, take advantage of parental controls to manage features. Balance If you find that your child becomes inseparable from his or her new tablet, consider setting rules, like no tablets at the dinner table or for one hour before bedtime, and use built-in parental controls to set time limits. Even when devices are strictly being used for educational fun, it’s still important to limit screen time and strike some balance.

Now showing through June 21 SERENGETI ENTERTAINMENT PRESENTS A COLOSSUS PRODUCTIONS FILM IN ASSOCIATION WITH SKY 3D “MUSEUM ALIVE” WRITTEN AND PRESENTED BY DAVID ATTENBOROUGH VFX SUPERVISOR JAMES PROSSER 3D STEREOGRAPHER CHRIS PARKS DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY TIM CRAGG MUSIC BY ILAN ESHKERI DIRECTOR DANIEL M. SMITH SUPERVISING PRODUCER MIKE DAVIS PRODUCER ANTHONY GEFFEN WWW.SERENGETIENTERTAINMENT.COM

As tablets continue to top children’s wish lists, parents should do their research. With the right devices, apps and safety features, tablets can provide opportunities to engage kids’ creativity and knowledge.

Now showing through August 2

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If you’ve handed over your tablet to your children more than once, it may be time to consider getting them their own device. There are a lot of great children’s tablets that offer so much more than passive games and videos.

Movies to the MAX at Fernbank

FernbankMueum.org | @FernbankMuseum www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett • April 2018 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • 7

Kidsville Kitchen Reserve the Rind Watermelon, both the flesh and the rind, is a good source of a compound called citrulline, an amino acid that raises levels of arginine in the blood, which in turn helps maintain blood flow, healthy blood vessels and heart health. Whether you’re eating for good health or good taste (or both), you can use the rind to make pickles and relishes, grate into salads and slaws, toss into stirfry and add to smoothies and juices. The key to chowing down on watermelon rind is knowing how to prepare it. The preparation method below can help you put that rind to good use:

Watermelon Rind Pickles 4

cups water

tablespoon coarse salt

cups peeled watermelon rind, cut into 1-1/2-by-2-inch pieces (leave a thin layer of pink)

3/4 cup granulated sugar 1

allspice berry

1/2 cup cider vinegar 4

peppercorns

whole cloves

1/2 teaspoon pickling spice 1

long slice of fresh ginger root

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1/4 teaspoon celery seeds

1. In a large pot over medium-high heat, bring water and salt to boil. Add rind pieces and boil until tender, about 5 minutes. Strain. Transfer rinds to large metal bowl. 2. In saucepan, combine watermelon rind, sugar, berries, vinegar, peppercorns, cloves, pickling spice, gingerroot and celery seeds. Bring to boil over mediumhigh heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Simmer 15 minutes until slightly reduced. Pour over watermelon rinds in bowl. Place plate over top to keep rinds submerged in liquid. 3. Cover and refrigerate 1 day. Transfer to glass jar and keep sealed in refrigerator up to 2 weeks.

Proudly Supporting Kids in Our Communities

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

jacksonemc.com

Summer vacation offers students a respite from lessons and the routine of school. Children might once have eagerly awaited those final days of classes so they could lounge poolside, skip rocks across ponds and spend the long days of the season playing with friends. But many of today’s youngsters spend much of their summer vacations indoors playing with their digital devices. Perhaps that’s why one of the last vestiges of the classic summer vacation escape — summer camp — remains such a viable option for parents who want their children to get outdoors once the school year ends. Although kids needn’t be in camp all summer long, a week or two can benefit campers of all ages. The following are five reasons why summer camp might be the right fit this year. 1. Explore talents. Summer camps help young people explore their unique interests and talents. Under an organized, yet often easygoing camp schedule, kids can dabble in sports, arts and crafts, leadership, community support and so many other activities that may not be fully available to them elsewhere. 2. Physical activity: Lots of camps build their itineraries around physical activities that take place outdoors. Campers may spend their time swimming, running, hiking, playing sports, climbing and so much more. This can be a welcome change for kids accustomed to living sedentary lifestyles. Regular physical activity has many health benefits and can set a foundation for healthy habits as an adult.

3. Gain confidence. Day and sleepaway camps offer campers the opportunity to get comfortable in their own skin. Camps can foster activities in self-esteem by removing the academic measures of success and fill in with noncompetitive opportunities to succeed. Campers learn independence, decision-making skills and the ability to thrive outside of the shadow of their parents, siblings or other students. 4. Try new things. Camp gives children the chance to try new things, whether that’s learning to cook, exploring new environments or embracing a new sport or leisure activity. Opening oneself up to new opportunities can build character and prove enlightening for children. 5. Make new friends. Camp is a great place to meet new people and make lifelong friends. Campers flood in from areas near and far. This provides kids with a chance to expand their social circles beyond their immediate neighborhoods and schools.

When it’s your child, nothing’s more urgent

Camps benefit children in a variety of ways. Lessons learned in camp can strengthen values, build confidence, develop coping mechanisms when adversity strikes, and enable campers to make lifelong friends. When your pediatrician is unavailable, our Urgent Care Centers are open 7 days a week, including holidays. Because when they’re not feeling well, the last thing you want to do is wait. CHILDREN’S AT SATELLITE BOULEVARD 2660 SATELLITE BLVD DULUTH 538858-1

5 reasons

why summer camp is a good choice for kids

CHILDREN’S AT HAMILTON CREEK

2240 HAMILTON CREEK PKWY, STE 600 DACULA

choa.org/urgentcare

www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett • April 2018 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • 9

APRIL SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

3 EVERY TUESDAY!

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

6 ATL ATLGlads Glads vs. vs.Solar Icemen Bears 7:35PM 7:05PM

Kids First Coming Attractions Radio Show, 4 p.m. Eastern

ATL Glads vs. Swamp Rabbits 7:05PM

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

ATL United 2 vs. Penn FC (MercedesBenz Stadium) – 4:00PM

FOSTER PARENT ORIENTATION

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

14 GWINNETT MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL 10:00am to 2:00pm Shorty Howell Park, 2750 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth

21 ATL United 2 vs. Louisville City FC (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) – 7:00PM

29 GWINNETT GREEN FEST 1:00pm Gwinnett Environmental and Heritage Center, 2020 Clean Water Drive, Buford

ATL United 2 vs. Charleston Battery (Mercedes-Benz Stadium) – 7:00PM

UPCOMING:

27 GWINNETT STRIPERS BASEBALL GAME: BICENTENNIAL THROWBACK NIGHT

April 27, 6:10pm Coolray Field, 2500 Buford Drive, Lawrenceville

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 • April 2018 • www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett

Winter Precipitation: Types and How Each Forms

Weather

Rain barrels provide an eco-friendly opportunity to repurpose rainwater while helping homeowners conserve water and save money. But homeowners must exercise caution when using rain barrels in their lawns and gardens. Water collected by rain barrels should never be used for drinking, cooking or bathing. Pet owners should know that water collected by rain barrels also should not be used to bathe pets. Rain barrel lids should also be tightly secured to prevent mosquito infestations. Secure rain barrels to also protect children and pets from falling in. Overflow valves should always direct water away from structures to prevent water damage to homes or sheds. In addition, to reduce risk of falls and injury, homeowners should be certain that water is not directed toward sidewalks, driveways or other areas where foot traffic is common. Before the arrival of winter, homeowners should disconnect their rain barrels from downspouts to prevent the formation of ice.

An ice jam, or ice dam, is an accumulation of broken ice that clumps together or piles up to block the flow of a river. This can cause localized flooding in communities close to a river. But what causes ice jams, such as the one seen in this picture? Ice jams are typically caused by melting snow and ice in the springtime. But sometimes, this can occur during the wintertime if there is a prolonged period of cold temperatures followed by an extended period of warmth. Warm temperatures and significant rainfall cause snow and ice to melt rapidly. These factors add a lot of water into the rivers and cause them to rise (like when you’re filling up a bathtub). The rising water of the river then cause the layer of ice on top of the river to begin breaking up into pieces or chunks of ice. If there is enough water added to the river, such as from a big rainfall, the river would then begin to quickly move downstream, carrying the pieces of ice with it. Then, if the ice gets jammed or caught up in a narrow part of the river, it becomes an ice jam. Because ice jams block the natural flow of

the river, the water tends to be diverted and forced to flow in a different direction. This could lead to flooding in nearby towns and communities close to rivers, creeks or streams. Ice jams cannot be forecast. However, satellites orbiting the earth can aid meteorologists in assessing and keeping track of how much ice there is along rivers, creeks and streams by taking images of the ice from space. You can also help meteorologists by reporting locations of ice jams or flooding from them to your local National Weather Service office, but only if it is safe to do so! To do this, you can utilize social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter or call your local office. This information can also assist local emergency responders and help keep you and the public safe.

For more information on flood safety and ice jams, visit: www.floodsafety.noaa.gov/hazards.shtml.

Did You

KNOW?

Gwinnett County Solid Waste Management and Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful invite you to celebrate Earth Day with a free paper shredding event!

20 18

We need volunteers! Visit VolunteerGwinnett.net to volunteer for this event.

For more information, call 678.518.6107 or visit www.SustainableGwinnett.com.

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GWINNETT COUNTY SUPPORT SERVICES

SaturdayMAY 5 9:00am – noon

Gwinnett County Fairgrounds

Onsite paper shredding only. Limit: 5 copier paper boxes per vehicle

2405 Sugarloaf Parkway, Lawrenceville, GA

www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett • April 2018 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • 11

Come Out & Play The history of kites starts in China two thousand years ago. The very first record describes a Chinese general in 206 B.C. using one to measure how far his troops had to tunnel for a surprise attack. As kite flying spread around the rest of Asia, people started using them for different things. In Japan they were talismans that kept away evil spirits. There are also records of people using them to fish. Marco Polo brought kites back to Europe in the 13th century. Kite fighting is a popular sport in Chile. There, fighter kites are known as volantín. They are square shaped and made with light paper and bamboo sticks.

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All you need to make your own kite is flying line, plastic materials like a shower curtain or garbage bag, two wooden dowels, a marker, measuring stick, scissors and tape. First, lay the plastic sheet out flat on the ground. If you’re using a garbage bag, cut it open so that it is a single sheet on the ground. One of the wooden dowels should be longer than the other. Measure 6 inches down on the longer stick and lay the shorter one across it at this point to form a “t.” Tie or tape the two sticks together. Lay the sticks on the plastic. Use a marker to outline the frame of your kite in a diamond shape. Cut out the diamond shape 2 inches wider than the outline Fold the edges of the plastic over the stick frame and tape it down. Tie your string to the cross where the two sticks meet. Make sure to decorate your kite and add a tail before you take it out on the next windy day. Use tape if you need to connect the string or the tail.

• Flying kites is still very popular today. Making your own is kite.org/education/history-of-kites/ easy with the help of www.wikihow.com/Fly-a-Stunt-Kite an adult.

This is just one way to make a kite; there are many different shapes and styles. Some of the shapes are complex and made to be beautiful. Others are intended to make the kite faster or do incredible acrobatics. Some people even compete in kite acrobatics. Usually these kites, called stunt kites, are designed to be fast and controllable. Stunt kites are different from standard kites because they have two strings and two handles for better control.

www.awindofchange.com/lessons/lesson2-3.html kids.nationalgeographic.com/children/activities/crafts/kite-craft/

Where in the World:

• The capital is Santiago. • Santiago has a population of 5 million. • Chile is very long and very thin. It covers 291,932 miles. • It is 2,700 miles long. • It has 4,000 miles of coastline, thanks to the many fjords. • At its widest, it is 217 miles across. At its narrowest, it is only 9.6 miles across, but the average is 110 miles. • The population is 17,216,945. • The language is Spanish. • The money is the Chilean peso. • The Andes Mountains form its border with Argentina and dominate most of the country. • There are active volcanoes in the Andes. • The highest mountain, which is also a volcano, is called Nevado Ojos de Salado. It is 22,572 feet high. • The Andes are also home to the highest lake, called Ojos de Salado. • The northern part of Chile has a large dry desert called the Atacama Desert. It is the driest in the world. • There are 3,000 volcanoes in Chile; 36 are active. • Easter Island is part of Chile.

Chile is a country on the western coast of South America. Chile has been inhabited for 10,000 years. In early history, three different major groups of indigenous tribes lived in the area. The Araucanians were a hunter-gatherer society. The Patagonians were nomadic tribes that survived by hunting and fishing. There were also pre-Incans that lived in the north and developed handicrafts. Between 1460 and 1491, the Incan Empire spread into northern Chile. The very first European to come to Chile was Ferdinand Magellan, in 1520. However, the explorer did not find the gold he was looking for and returned to Peru. The Spanish didn’t return until Pedro de Valdiva later came in 1541 to colonize the area. He saw that the soil was perfect for agriculture. Chile was ruled by the Spanish until 1810, when they declared their independence. However, the Europeans left a deep mark on the country. Today, 95 percent of Chileans have European heritage. Image © photo credit: Francisco Osorio on flickr

https://www.britannica.com/place/Chile https://www.kids-world-travel-guide.com/chile-facts.html kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/countries/chile/#chile-moai-statues.jpg

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

WHAT IS THE IONOSPHERE? By Linda Hermans-Killiam Left: This illustration shows the layers of Earth’s atmosphere. NASA’s GOLD and ICON missions will work together to study the ionosphere, a region of charged particles in Earth’s upper atmosphere. Changes in the ionosphere can interfere with the radio waves used to communicate with satellites and astronauts in the International Space Station (ISS). Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Duberstein (modified)

Celebrate at the 2018 Multicultural Festival! Come learn about other cultures and have fun at the 2018 Multicultural Festival! Play in bounce houses, have your face painted, get up close with cool police vehicles (and even a helicopter), and try your best to hit a bullseye on the dunk tank to see a brave police officer take the plunge! You can also watch special performances by singers and dancers from around the world and eat some tasty treats. We hope to see you there!

Saturday, April 14 • 10:00am – 2:00pm Shorty Howell Park 2750 Pleasant Hill Road, Duluth 538864-1

High above Earth is a very active part of our upper atmosphere called the ionosphere. The ionosphere gets its name from ions—tiny charged particles that blow around in this layer of the atmosphere. How did all those ions get there? They were made by energy from the sun! Everything in the universe that takes up space is made up of matter, and matter is made of tiny particles called atoms. At the ionosphere, atoms from the earth’s atmosphere meet up with energy from the sun. This energy, called radiation, strips away parts of the atom. What’s left is a positively or negatively charged atom, called an ion. The ionosphere is filled with ions. These particles move about in a giant wind. However, conditions in the ionosphere change all the time. Earth’s seasons and weather can cause changes in the ionosphere as can radiation and particles from the sun—called space weather. These changes in the ionosphere can cause problems for humans. For example, they can interfere with radio signals between Earth and satellites. This could make it difficult to use many of the tools we take for granted here on Earth, such as GPS. Radio signals also allow us to communicate with astronauts on board the International Space Station, which orbits Earth within the ionosphere. Learning more about this region of our atmosphere may help us improve forecasts about when these radio signals could be distorted and help keep humans safe. In 2018, NASA has plans to launch two missions that will work together to study the ionosphere. NASA’s GOLD (Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk) mission launched in January 2018. GOLD will orbit 22,000 miles above Earth. From way up there, it will be able to create a map of the ionosphere over the Americas every half hour. It will measure the temperature and makeup of gases in the ionosphere. GOLD will also study bubbles of charged gas that are known to cause communication problems. A second NASA mission, called ICON, short for Ionospheric Connection Explorer, will launch later in 2018. It will be placed in an orbit just 350 miles above Earth—through the ionosphere. This means it will have a close-up view of the upper atmosphere to pair with GOLD’s wider view. ICON will study the forces that shape this part of the upper atmosphere. Both missions will study how the ionosphere is affected by Earth and space weather. Together, they will give us better observations of this part of our atmosphere than we have ever had before. To learn more about the ionosphere, check out NASA Space Place: https:// spaceplace.nasa.gov/ionosphere.

Visit www.Gwinnett200.com to learn more! www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett • April 2018 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • 13

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

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Subphylum: Chelicerata

The Chilean Rose

Tarantula

Since 2009, the Gwinnett Braves have played baseball at Coolray Field, which can hold up to 10,427 people! The team recently announced a new name for the 2018 season, the Gwinnett Stripers.

The Chilean rose tarantula is native to South American countries Chile, Bolivia and Argentina. However, they are now found all over the world because they are one of the most common species of tarantula sold in pet stores. These make good pets because they are shy and docile. The tarantulas have dark brown

Class: Arachnida Order: Araneae Infrorder: Mygalomorphae

to black bodies. They get their name from the orangey-pink hair that covers it. This hair does more than look beautiful, however. It is also a self-defense system. These tarantulas are covered in urticating, or irritating, bristles that look like hair. Whenever it feels threatened, the tarantula uses its legs to flick the hair-like barbs onto

Tarantulas have an exoskeleton. Lobsters, crabs and insects all have exoskeletons. Instead of bones within their bodies, they have a hard outer layer that protects them and provides structure. The downside to this system is that the hard outer shell makes it difficult to grow. When a tarantula gets too big for its exoskeleton, it molts. It sheds this outer layer and grows a new one. Right after a molt, its skin is very soft and delicate, making it vulnerable in the wild.

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www.oaklandzoo.org/animal/chilean-rose-tarantula

It is also known as the Chilean redhaired tarantula, rose hair tarantula and the Chilean fire tarantula. They grow to around 5 inches long. Females can live up to 20 years. Males have much shorter life spans. They live 5-7 years. They are carnivores. They do not spin webs and wait to trap prey. Instead, they are called wandering

Family: Theraphosidae Genus: Grammostola Species: G. rosea

predators. The barbs are irritating, itchy and difficult to remove. These barbs can be dangerous if they are inhaled because they can cause the nose and throat to swell. Tarantulas mostly use their venom for hunting.

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spiders; they use their excellent eye sight to hunt. In the wild, their diet consists of small lizards, young snakes, small mammals, grasshoppers, beetles and other spiders. They use their silk to protect their eggs and burrows. They commonly live in desert and scrub areas. They are nocturnal.

www.blackpoolzoo.org.uk/animals/chilean-rose-tarantula

www.saginawzoo.com/192

There are more microbes in and on your body than stars in the Milky Way. It’s time you meet them.

THE SECRET WORLD

INSIDE YOU 538862-1

538859-1

Free with Museum Admission

Support for science education provided by UCB. Additional support provided by the Frances Wood Wilson Foundation. The Secret World Inside You is organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York (www.amnh.org)

FernbankMuseum.org | @FernbankMuseum www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett • April 2018 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • 15

! k c a B is n io it t e p m o C d il u LEG O B

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Babies, tots, Kids, tweens & teens

- KidS OF ALL AGES Come compete to win prizes in the

2018 LEGO Build Competition brought to you by

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SATURDAY, APRIL 28

Gwinnett Co. Fairgrounds - Lawrenceville (inside & outside) 10am - 3pm

GAMES, EntErtAinMEnt & GiVEAWAYS, plus FrEE KidS BAG · LEGO FUn OVEr 40 SUMMEr CAMPS · KidS & FAMiLY FOCUSEd VEndOrS Sponsored by

SCNIevents.com/kids_expo 16 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • April 2018 • www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett