August 2017 KidsvilleNews

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GWINNETT COUNTY’S FUN FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE

GENETICS AND YOU

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

AUGUST 2017

GWINNETT COUNTY’S FUN FAMILY NEWSPAPER

www.KidsvilleNews.com Kidsville News! produced by Merrigold Publications NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, MERRIGOLD PUBLICATIONS Bill Bowman • bbowman@upandcomingweekly.com NATIONAL EDITOR Stephanie Crider • stephanie@kidsvillenews.com ILLUSTRATOR Cover & Truman • Dan Nelson Published monthly by Gwinnett Daily Post 725 Old Norcross Road, Lawrencville, GA 30046 770-963-9205 • www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett For Advertising/Sponsor opportunities, Contact Elizabeth Hill • 770-963-9205 ext. 1208 elizabeth.hill@gwinnettdailypost.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER Anna N. Yang

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Copyright ©2016 by Merrigold Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this issue may be reproduced in whole or in part in any form without permission of the publisher or copyright holder. Neither participating advertisers nor the publishers will be responsible or liable for misinformation, misprints or typographical errors. The publishers reserve the right to edit any submitted material. Merrigold Publishing, Inc. is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, artwork, or other material. Children’s submissions should include name, address, telephone number, and permission to publish signed by a parent or guardian.

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Showcasing Agri-science & Technology 2......... Truman’s Letter/Gee Thanks 3.................ParenTown’s Kid Shape 5........................ Around the World/

DID YOU KNOW?

.......................Cultural Connections

Broccoli is actually a

4.......................Where in the World

Georgia Urban Ag and Outdoor Expo

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Some plants are carnivorous... they eat

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

INSECTS!!

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GOATS, PONIES, TRACTORS 10 ............................Thunder RoarsAND OF COURSE, LOT’S OF VEGGIES! GEORGIA URBAN

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BAMBOO can be a fast

MAY 20 - 21 (FRIDAY & SATURDAY) 2016

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

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

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2 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • August 2017 • www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett

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HOW

Music & Singing

BENEFIT CHILDREN Music is everywhere:

one retain information more easily.

Music also is fun, so much so that kids may not realize they’re actually learning while singing. Matthew Freeman, development manager of “Sing up,” a national singing project to help enhance music in children’s education, states that children don’t think of singing as work and may be more willing to participate. Song can be used to reinforce all different subjects, from language arts to mathematics.

Children or adults who are apprehensive about meeting new people can use music as a means to open the door to new friendships. Joining a choral group will immediately introduce people to others who enjoy music as well. Group singing is less intimidating than singing alone, so it takes some of the pressure off of a person and can staunch performance anxiety.

Music is beneficial throughout one’s life and can be an enjoyable way to make learning more fun.

Every procedure feels big when you’re little.

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on the radio, in movies and television shows and as a backdrop when shopping or celebrating milestones.

Music is an integral part of cultures all over the world. Music can express emotions not easily conveyed otherwise. It also provides a sense of community and belonging and can help unite the divided.

Playing musical instruments or singing has a number of benefits. From the earliest days after their birth, children can be calmed by music. Music helps people work out their feelings and can be uplifting and comforting when people need a boost. While many people are familiar with the mood-enhancing benefits of music, they may not know that music also has developmental benefits.

According to Don Campbell, internationally known educator and author of “The Mozart Effect for Children,” music enhances intelligence, coordination, emotional expression, creativity and socialization skills. Studies have suggested that music and movement affect all areas of development. Music can bolster listening skills, improve motor skills, assist with problem solving and promote spatial-temporal reasoning.

Many others say that music can calm and focus the mind, which is why it is so often employed by therapists.

In the book, “The Importance of Music,” author Ellen Judson cites a 10-year study that tracked more than 25,000 middle and high school students. The study showed that students in music classes receive higher scores on standardized tests than students with little to no musical involvement.

In addition, singing and engaging in musical appreciation sharpens one’s ability to communicate. Learning a piece of information attached to a tune will more readily embed that information in the brain. For example, many children learn the alphabet via song.

Pairing lessons with song can help any-

From our pediatric-trained doctors and nurses to our kid-sized equipment, every surgery we perform is designed around one thing – your child. That’s why moms trust us to perform more pediatric outpatient surgeries than anyone in Georgia.

©2017 Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc. All rights reserved.

choa.org/surgery

www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett • August 2017 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • 3

Where in the world:

Italy is a European country famous for many things. It is known for its food, history and art. Italy has a long history with some of the world’s most powerful societies. The Greeks and Etruscans emerged in Italy around 800 BCE. For hundreds of years, Italy was made of small city-states. One of these city-states was called Rome. That single city-state grew into the Roman Empire, which conquered all the Italian Peninsula and much more land beyond. After Rome fell in 395 A.D., Italy was divided and ruled by foreign tribes. It reunited into a single country in 1861.

Italy

•

Rome is nicknamed “Eternal City.”

•

The population of the country is 61.6 million.

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The money is the euro.

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The language is Italian.

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The area of the country is 116,324 square miles.

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There are four major rivers: Po, Adige, Arno and Tiber.

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The top of Italy is in the Alps mountain range.

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The bottom of the boot also has mountains. They are called The Apennines.

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On a map, Italy looks like a boot kicking a small ball.

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The small ball is the island of Sicily.

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Italy is a peninsula, which means water surrounds it on three sides.

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It is surrounded by the Adriatic Sea, the Tyrrhenian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.

There are three active volcanoes in Italy: Vesuvius, Etna and Stromboli.

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Italy surrounds two of the world’s smallest countries. These two countries are San Marino, the oldest republic in the world, and Vatican City in Rome.

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The capital is Rome.

•

Rome is the biggest city in Italy and has a population of 2.6 million.

4 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • August 2017 • www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett

NEANDERTHAL

DNA

in Italy The people of Italy have played a very important role in human history. The Greeks and Romans developed different kinds of art, government, philosophy and science. Italy was also the heart of the Renaissance and revolutionized philosophy, science and art. A recent discovery from Italy may change the way we think about human history again. Researchers found a 130,000 to 170,000-yearold Neanderthal skeleton in a cave

in Italy. The oldest Neanderthal fossil ever found is 200,000 years old, but this skeleton is special because scientists have been able to extract Neanderthal DNA from the right shoulder blade. The skeleton was originally found in 1993, but technology has only recently been able to extract the DNA, making this the oldest Neanderthal DNA ever extracted. This skeleton is also one of the most intact ever found.

For more information, visit the following sites: https://www.livescience.com/50458-oldest-neanderthal-dna-found.html http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/countries/italy/#italy-coliseum.jpg http://www.kids-world-travel-guide.com/italy-facts.html Images © Created by zhaolifang, biggorilla298 - Vecteezy.com

Around the

WORLD H

ave you ever heard of the “Dog Days of Summer?” It doesn’t actually have anything to do with dogs. It has to do with the stars — one star, specifically.

In ancient Greece, people believed that the constellation Canis Major (a dog) was chasing the rabbit constellation known as Lepus. The saying refers to the star Sirius,

which is the dog’s nose.

In late July/early August, when the dog’s nose rose just before the sun, it was considered the hottest part of the summer.

In reality, it was not always the hottest part of the season. This part of summer was also considered a time of bad luck and misfortune for the ancient Greeks and Romans.

Cultural

• •

Connections Italy is known as the birthplace of the Renaissance.

The Renaissance is a period that started in the late 14th century and lasted until the 17th century. This period is famous for its art. Instead of only focusing on religious stories and figures, artists started to focus on individual humans and human emotions.

The philosophy that changed and encouraged art was called Humanism. These ideas started in Italy

F

erragosto is an Italian tradition that goes back hundreds of years. Ferragosto is technically on August 15. It is a Catholic celebration of the Assumption of Mary. But for many, it is the kickoff of their annual vacation.

During this time, many Italian families leave town. Stores and restaurants are closed during this time as well.

Ferragosto festivities that take place on Aug. 15 include live dance performances, fireworks displays, pageants and games.

•

and then spread across Europe. The Renaissance started in Italy and then spread because all the trading that happened in Italy. Trading made the Italian people wealthy and made it easy for ideas to travel around the world. Some of the most famous artists in human history came from the Italian Renaissance.

The Renaissance lasted for 500 years, but the movement was at its peak in the late 15th and early 16th centuries; this is called the High Renaissance. The most famous and popular artists at the time were Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael. They are still the most famous Renaissance artists, but the genius da Vinci may be the most famous. As painter, he was famous for being able to capture light and shadows in his paintings, but he was not just an artist. He was also known for his interest in medicine, science, math and philosophy. His notebooks show that he designed, but never made, inventions like a parachute, a diving suit and a helicopter.

For more information, visit the following sites: http://www.encyclopedia.com/literature-and-arts/art-and-architecture/european-art-1599/italian-art http://www.history.com/topics/renaissance-art http://www.ducksters.com/history/renaissance.php

• •

• •

•

• •

Renaissance means rebirth.

The movement started in Florence.

Wealthy Italian families would support artists to show off their wealth and power.

People supporting artists were called patrons.

Painters started to capture human emotions in their work and made their paints brighter.

Being an artist was highly competitive. They would compete for jobs.

Many artists were also scientists, philosophers, inventors and mathematicians.

One of the most famous works of art from this period is Michelangelo’s “Last Judgment.” It was painted on the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican.

The Catholic Church was one of the biggest patrons of the arts.

Renaissance art came in many different mediums, like paintings, sculpture, drawings and architecture.

www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett • August 2017 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • 5

a Genealogist?

Please tell our readers a little bit about yourself.

My name is Megan Smolenyak. I’m a selfemployed professional genealogist, or as I sometimes say, a “genie.” I mostly work out of my home in Florida but also love any excuse to travel.

And I’m a geek. Libraries and archives are heaven to me!

What does a

genealogist

do?

Many genealogists specialize, but I dabble in a lot of areas, so I research, write books and articles, work on TV shows and speak at events.

The research — or sleuthing — is at the heart of it all. It’s mostly what you might call micro-history — that is, I dig into the past, but usually focus on just one person or family. I also emphasize storytelling and especially enjoy sharing the tales of those who have been overlooked or forgotten.

For instance, while working on a documentary, I became enchanted with Annie Moore, an Irish teenager who was the first person to ever arrive at Ellis Island. I discovered that experts had latched on to another girl named Annie Moore, so had her life story completely wrong. It took me years, but I tracked down the real Annie and found out what happened to her. Another example is my work with the Army. I help with the “no man left behind efforts” to identify soldiers who are still missing from World War I, World Ware II, Korea and Vietnam, and since I’m an Army brat, this work is very meaningful to me. They’re American heroes and deserve to be remembered.

How did you become interested in this work?

It was a sixth-grade homework assignment that got me started with genealogy. Our teacher, Mrs. Berkowitz, told us to ask our parents where our surnames were from. When we came back the next day, she had a map of the world on the wall and instructed us to put our names on slips of paper and tack them up in our country of origin. I remember feeling sorry for my classmates because

most of them were crowded around the British Isles, but I (slightly misinformed by my dad) had all of Russia to myself. That was the first time I realized that there was something a little different about my roots, so that sparked my curiosity and got me started. And it wasn’t long before I was obsessed!

Why is this work important?

I think we owe it to our ancestors to learn their stories. Frankly, compared to them, most of us today are wimps. What they endured to give us, their descendants, the opportunities we have today is amazing, and there’s no such thing as a boring family. So if you dig, you will find something fascinating!

What is one thing you wish everyone knew about genealogy and/or history?

Can I make it two things? First, genealogy is addicting because it’s your own personal history mystery. You know that feeling you get when your favorite show leaves you with a cliffhanger and you can’t stand waiting for the next season to find out what happened? Genealogy pulls you in the same way. You find one clue, then another, and before you know it, you can’t stop. On the flip side, it’s not quite as easy as the TV shows and commercials make it look. I’ve worked on all the celebrity roots shows, and many are surprised to learn that a typical episode involves 300-1,000 hours of research. Getting it right takes a lot of effort, but that’s fine because it’s so fun!

What is your favorite thing about your job?

I get to wake up and solve mysteries for a living every day. How cool is that? I absolutely love what I do and consider myself beyond fortunate.

Source Image © Created by/inspired by twilightmoon - Vecteezy.com

6 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • August 2017 • www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett

WWW.LARAZA1023.COM WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM LIGHT?

By Teagan Wall

Different types of light have different frequencies. Radio waves are very low frequency waves, while gamma rays and X-rays are very high frequency waves. Visible light — the kind of light that we can see with our eyes — falls in the middle of the spectrum.

Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

When you look up at the night sky and see stars, what you’re seeing is light produced by those stars many years ago. Because this is how we study the stars, it helps to know a few cool things about light.

For example, light always travels at a constant speed, called the speed of light. It doesn’t matter if the star giving off light is moving towards us or away from us. This is different than most things.

Another fun fact about light is that it is made out of waves — kind of like the waves in the ocean — and those waves can come in different frequencies. The frequency measures how many peaks of a wave pass a certain point within a set amount of time. To understand how this works, think of a beach. If only one wave washes up on shore every minute, that’s pretty slow, or a low frequency. If one wave washes up every second, that’s more frequent. We’d say that those waves have a higher frequency.

With light, the frequency determines the color or type of light. We can see the colors of the rainbow: red through violet. Red is low frequency light and violet is higher frequency. There are also types of light that we can’t see that have a higher or lower frequency than the waves of visual light. We can use special telescopes to “see” these types of light coming from space, too! And these telescopes help NASA scientists to understand the stars and universe!

Learn more about light! Visit the NASA Space Place: https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/photon-pileup

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Think of riding a skateboard while throwing a baseball. If the skateboard is moving toward the target when you throw the ball, the speed of the skateboard and the speed of the thrown ball combine. This means that the ball travels faster than it would have if you just threw the ball while standing still. But, if the skateboard is traveling away from the target when you throw the ball, the ball travels slower than it would have if you threw it while standing still. With light, though, it doesn’t matter how fast the skateboard is moving; the light will always travel at the same speed.

iGRATIS! iGRATIS! iGRATIS! Gwinnett Place Mall

2100 Pleasant Hill Rd Duluth, GA 30096

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@LARAZAATLANTA

DOMINGO 10 DE SEPTIEMBRE www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett • August 2017 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • 7

Avoid back injuries by choosing

the right

Register at woodruffcreateATL.org

free activities every sunday from 1-4pm

Explore, play, learn and create art in an interactive, family-friendly, festival environment, including free activities from 1 – 4 PM.

Finding the right backpack is essential. It is a valuable component of back-to-school shopping. Children may have their own ideas of what’s in style, but parents should look for backpacks that are functional before factoring in style. Marrying form and function together can be challenging, but it’s necessary to prevent students from developing back problems. But parents must give consideration to more than just the size of their children’s backpacks.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, at least 14,000 children are treated for backpack-related injuries every year.

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons says that the weight of a backpack should not exceed 10 to 15 percent of a child’s body weight.

But many students pack their bags with much more weight than that.

• Choose a streamlined model. Select a backpack that will get the job done without much added bulk. Many backpacks have been designed to hold technological devices as more and more schools integrate technology into the classroom. A less bulky bag might be lighter and easy to carry.

• Consider shopping at a sporting goods store. Employees at camping and sporting goods retailers understand how to fit backpacks for hikers and outdoor adventurers.

They can help measure a student and find a pack that will fit his or her body frame. Also, these retailers may have a wider selection of backpacks than some other stores, in-

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Register for the FREE family festival at woodruffcreateATL.org or call the Box Office at 404.733.5000 for more information.

8 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • August 2017 • www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett

backpack

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•

•

creasing the chances of finding the right fit.

Select a pack with a waist strap. According to the American Chiropractic Association, the body is not designed to carry items hanging from shoulders. By using the waist strap in conjunction with taut shoulder straps, students can distribute the weight in their backpacks over their hip bones instead of the shoulders. The padded and adjustable shoulder straps should be at least two inches wide. All straps should be used each time the pack is worn.

Backpacks should be loaded properly.

Heavy items should be near the center bottom to distribute the load, rather than placed on top. Students should only carry what is necessary, visiting lockers or desks as needed to lighten their packs.

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

1

Wednesday

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

Eastern

Thursday

3

Friday

4

Saturday

5

7:05PM Vs. Norfolk

Open Saturdays 10am to 10pm

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

6

7 Open Sundays 10am to 7pm

1ST DAY OF SCHOOL!

14

7:05PM Vs. Scranton/ WB

15

1:05PM Vs. Vs. Louisville

20

21

27

28

9

22

29

16

11

10 7:05PM Vs. Scranton/ WB

6:30pm – 8:30pm DFCS Department of Family & Children Services 33 S. Clayton Street, Lawrenceville 7:05PM Vs. Scranton/ WB

Activities Every Sunday 1pm to 4pm

13

8 FOSTER PARENT ORIENTATION

6:05PM Vs. Vs. Louisville

7:05PM Vs. Vs. Louisville

7:05PM Vs. Louisville

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12

18

19 DINOSAUR BIRTHDAY BASH

7:05PM Vs. Scranton/ WB

10AM to 2PM

23

30

24

25

5:05PM Vs. Charlotte (2 Games back to back)

26 6:05PM Vs. Charlotte

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1:05PM Vs. Charlotte

www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett • August 2017 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • 9

w

Roars

40% Soccer 27% Golf

Go Indoors!

17% Running 10% Basketball 8% Football

?

Lightning Fatalities for Outdoor Sports

When Thunder

3% Other

Step 1 Leave the field immediately.

Step 2 Seek shelter in an enclosed building or car.

SCHOOL HOME

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.

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.

Never go back outside until 30 minutes after the last sound of thunder.

Remember, “When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors.” If you’re deaf or hard of hearing, then remember.

Final days

MEET THE ICONS OF THE ICE AGE FREE with Museum admission.

Upgrade your Museum ticket to a Value Pass and see the giant screen film, Titans of the Ice Age.

FernbankMuseum.org | @FernbankMuseum

“See A Flash? Dash Inside!”

If you can see a flash of lightning, there is a chance you’re within striking distance and should go inside immediately.

You can find more facts about lightning and lightning safety and play Leonʼs Lightning Safety game at NOAAʼs Lightning Safety Web Site www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov 10 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • August 2017 • www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett

This exhibition was created by The Field Museum, Chicago.

Photo by John Weinstein © 2009 The Field Museum 499959-1

When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!

Did 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 pose an immediate threat. 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 can also be very dangerous. About 50 people are killed by lightning each year in the United States, but hundreds are permanently injured.

Lightning is a giant spark of electricity that occurs either in a cloud or between a cloud and the ground. Thunder is the sound made by lightning as it heats the air to as much as 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Did you know that is five times hotter than the surface of the sun?

This makes lighting very powerful and very hazardous. When lightning strikes a home, it can create enough heat to ignite a fire. There is enough electricity in a flash of lightning to power a 100-watt light bulb for about three months. So, even if it means you have to take a break from playing, swimming or working outside, play it safe. No place outside is safe when thunderstorms are in the area.

CAR

www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett • August 2017 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • 11

June 10 September 4

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See it in Fernbank’s NEW Giant Screen Theater.

Presented Locally by:

Georgia Power Foundation, Inc.

Presented Nationally by:

Blue Man Group - Making Waves was produced by Boston Children’s Museum in collaboration with Blue Man Productions and JBL®, a registered trademark of Harman International. All underlying materials, including all artwork and the use of Blue Man Group characters are used with permission of Blue Man Productions.

Come Out & Play

FernbankMuseum.org | @FernbankMuseum

Bocce Ball

[bow-chay] as in bow tie

Bocce Ball is an ancient game that can be traced back thousands of years.

It is widely considered the oldest sport in world history. There is evidence of the game recorded as early as 5200 BCE. The Greeks started playing a similar game between 800 and 600 BCE after they learned the game from the Egyptians.

The Romans learned the game from the Greeks and were the first to play Bocce as we recognize it today. With the Romans, anyone could play the game just about anywhere. It became so popular that rulers across Europe were worried that the game was dangerous because it distracted people from their work. In 1319 A.D., only the nobility could play the game. This restriction meant that the game lost popularity. Bocce ball gained and lost popularity over the centuries, but it became and stayed an international sport after the 1896 Bocce Olympiad. The very first Bocce clubs were started in Italy, and Italian immigrants brought the game to America.

Here is how to play: • • •

• • • • • • •

Rules can be adjusted for different levels of players.

There should be two teams.

Each team can have from one to four players, but the teams must have the same number of players.

• Four balls should be divided evenly between the players of a team; there should be eight balls total.

There should also be one smaller ball called a Pallina.

The balls for the two teams should be different so that they can be told apart.

The game can be played in the dirt, grass or on a court.

The larger the court, the harder the game will be.

The first team, as decided by who wins the coin toss, should throw the Pallina on to the court.

Rules can change on how far away the Pallina must be based on the skill of the players.

Teams then take turns throwing the large Bocce Balls at the Pallina.

12 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • August 2017 • www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett

• • • • • •

The goal is to get the Bocce Balls as close to the Pallina as possible.

The balls must be thrown underhand.

You can knock opponent’s balls away from the Pallina.

To score, the team with the closest ball gets one point for every ball that is closer to the Pallina than the other team’s closest ball.

If no one is closer, then no points will be given.

Repeat the game until one team has scored 16 points.

For more information, visit the following sites: http://worldbocce.org/bocce-history.htm http://usbf.us/history-of-bocce.html http://www.backyardbocce.com/basic-rules/ http://worldbocce.org/how-to-play-bocce.htm http://worldbocce.org/how-to-play-bocce.htm Images © Created by insanity100 and kevenodes - Vecteezy.com

Kidsville Kitchen

A “knuckle sandwich” worth eating Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Primates

Homo Habilis

Hominids Homo Erectus

Humans are scientifically classified as Homo sapiens. This means that humans are part of the Hominidae family. Thousands of years ago, there were other members of the Hominidae family alive as well.

Fossils are classified into species like Homo Habilis, Cro-Magnon, Homo erectus and Neanderthal. These other members of the Hominidae family are often called early man; many scientists refer to members of this family as Hominids. These other Hominids share some similarities with us. For example, they often walked upright, survived as hunter-gatherers and used tools and fire.

Neanderthals, or Homo Neandertalensis, are the closest extinct relatives to humans. They are believed to have made the first examples of modern human fossils ever found.

• Neanderthals are named after the town where the first fossils were found, Neander Valley.

• They went extinct in 30,000 BCE. • Scientists are not sure why they went extinct.

• Some modern humans have Neanderthal DNA and ancestors.

• The first Neanderthal fossil was found in 1856 in Germany.

• They have thicker bones than modern-day humans and were shorter.

Homo Neanderthalensis • • • • • • • •

Suborder: Haplorhini Family: Hominidae Genus: Homo Species: H. sapiens

Dessert means different things to different people. Some may prefer a piece of cake, while others consider a cup of coffee to be the ideal capper to a delicious meal.

Sandwiches may not be the first thing to come to mind when the dessert tray is rolled out, but this delicious recipe for a “Knuckle Sandwich” from Bob Blumer’s “Surreal Gourmet Bites” is sure to please dessert lovers who want to expand their horizons.

Knuckle Sandwich

Homo Sapiens

Yields 12 bites

They were much stronger than modern humans are.

Males were usually 5’5”, and females were 5’1”.

They lived in Europe and southwestern to Central Asia.

Their brains were larger than ours, so many believe they were intelligent.

They made tools and lived in complicated social groups.

Scientists think that they may have used language.

They also made cave art and buried their dead with ceremonies.

Neanderthals ate mostly meat and used tools like axes and spears to hunt large animals.

Studying these fossils is important because it can tell scientists a lot about current humans. Scientists are comparing DNA from Neanderthals and modern humans to determine what makes us unique. Another important question is why these early hominids went extinct. There are many different theories like climate change, conflict with modern humans and being more vulnerable to famine. Even though life was very different for Neanderthals than it is for us now, their past can help us in our future.

For more information visit the following sites: http://www.teenink.com/nonfiction/academic/article/365903/Animals-In-Ancient-Mesopotamian-Life/ https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/domestication/ https://sites.google.com/site/1ancientcivilizationsforkids/ancient-iraq-mesopotamia

1/2 cup whole hazelnuts, ideally blanched (skinned) 2

tablespoons butter

2

pears, skin on, cut into 1⁄8-inch-thick slices, then cored

1

store-bought pound cake

6

tablespoons Nutella or other chocolate-hazelnut spread

Preheat oven to 350 0 F. Put hazelnuts on a baking sheet and bake for 12 minutes or until they begin to brown. If hazelnuts are still in their skins, bake until skins begin to darken, or for blanched nuts, until they turn golden. Remove from oven and let cool. If hazelnuts are still in their skins, place nuts in the center of a clean dish towel, fold the towel around the nuts and rub vigorously between both hands for 15 seconds to release the skins. Discard skins and reserve the nuts.

In a sauté pan over medium heat (err on the low side of medium), melt butter and sauté pear slices for approximately 5 minutes per side or until they begin to brown. Reserve.

Cut six slices of pound cake, 1⁄4-inch thick. Toast the pound cake in a toaster oven or on a baking sheet in a 3000 F oven. (It will fall apart in an upright toaster.)

Smear three cake slices with Nutella or chocolate-hazelnut spread. Cover entire Nutella/ spread surface with hazelnuts, and then press them into the Nutella/spread. Top with a layer of pear slices and cover with second slice of pound cake. Secure each knuckle sandwich with four toothpicks, and cut into four pieces. www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett • August 2017 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • 13

Why Substitute Teach?

Why Substitute Teach?

• Earn part-time income • Earn part-time income • Define your own hours of • Define your own daysdays and and hours of availability availability • Control your commute—GCPS hashas many locations • Control your commute—GCPS to choose from many locations to choose from Don’t

Apply today at GCPSjobs.org • Free GCPS online training!

Apply today at GCPSjobs.org

497779-1

Welcome back! Unscramble the clue words to solve the puzzle below.

@GCPSHR

want Summer to end?

Neither do we!

PEARP LNPCIE

2

8

TESHLOC

3 12 10 5

SESHO

9

6

SOBKO

1

2

3

4

4

5

7

6

7

8

9

10 11

12

Copy the letters in the numbered cells to other cells with the same number.

www.sustainablegwinnett.com According to WorldAtlas. com, the largest city park in the world is Bosque de la Primavera in Guadalajara, Mexico. At 74,132 acres, Bosque de la Primavera is more than 14,000 acres larger than the world’s second largest city park, Table Mountain in Cape Town, South Africa. Bosque de la Primavera features the Rio Caliente, a geothermal river, and is home to a massive nature preserve inhabited by wild animals. The largest city park in the United States and fifth largest such park in the world is the McDowell Sonoran Preserve in Scottsdale, Arizona. The McDowell Sonoran Preserve includes 180 miles of hiking trails within its 27,800 acres.

And while it might be one of the most recognizable city parks in the world, New York City’s Central Park is not counted among the world’s 20 largest city parks, despite estimates that it draws more than 40 million visitors each year. However, it is one of the most visited places in the United States.

500180-1

1 11

Did You Know?

14 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • August 2017 • www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett

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Genetics What makes a rose red rather than pink?

A dogʼs tail short rather than long? A personʼs eyes brown rather than blue? All these factors (and many more) are decided by genetics.

Why Iʼm 5ʼ2”

Why I have green eyes

Why I have acne

Why my hair never behaves

What makes a rose red rather than genetically modify plants, not just track traits. In if they are vulnerable to certain illnesses and see pink? A dog’s tail short rather than long? A per- 1983, a farmer inserted an antibiotic-resistant where their ancestors originated! Someday, we son’s eyes brown rather than blue? All these factors (and many more) are decided by genetics. Every organism is made of cells, and it is inside these cells that the genetic material lives.

In the 1850s and ‘60s, Gregor Mendel used pea plants to track traits like plant height, pod shape and color, seed shape and color and flower position and color. He tracked changes from generation to generation. By doing this, Mendel noticed that certain traits were dominant and others were recessive. Mendel is now considered the founder of the science of genetics.

The study of genetics has come a long way since then. Scientists have figured out how to

gene into a tobacco plant. This was the beginning of genetically engineered plants. Now, it is common to do this, so crops become resistant to certain pests and diseases. Some plants can be modified in other ways, too. In China, researchers have figured out a way to genetically modify rice. By inserting nutrients into the developing seed, they’ve produced rice that could potentially decrease the risk of certain cancers as well as heart disease and other illnesses.

Scientists are applying this knowledge to human genetics, too. With a flake of skin, a drop of blood, a piece of hair or a sample of saliva, they can explain why someone has physical traits, see

may be able to use genetics to help keep people healthier so they can live longer lives.

While genetic engineering is a relatively new science, farmers have been using genetics for tens of thousands of years. Breeding plants and animals to bring out desired traits is nothing new.

That’s how people domesticated animals. There is evidence dating back to 9000 BCE that suggests this is when people domesticated sheep, cows, pigs and goats. It’s how people developed crops thousands of years ago, too. Around 10,500 BCE, villages in Southwest Asia appear to be the first to have planned and harvested plants that were previously found only in the wild.

www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett • August 2017 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • 15

“Cars 3” is a great new chapter in the Cars series. While it doesn’t soar to the heights of other Pixar films, it still is the best Cars film yet.

“Cars 3” sees Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) undergo a series of losses and then a near fatal crash.

His fellow racers are dropping out and being replaced by new, high-tech cars like his rival Jackson Storm (Armie Hammer). McQueen realizes during his recovery that the game has changed, and he’s not the sharp rookie he used to be. He knows he needs to train harder than he ever has to keep doing what he loves. With the help of trainer Cruz Ramirez (Cristela Alonzo), McQueen plans to beat Storm at an upcoming race in Florida to start off the season. This is his last chance to prove his worth to his fans and his new corporate sponsor (Nathan Fillion), and McQueen is not going down without a fight.

My favorite character in “Cars 3” is Cruz Ramirez. The reveal of a new car being added to Lightning’s crew is exciting. This character’s glowing positivity is a nice contrast to McQueen’s snarky pessimism. Cristela Alonzo brings a lot of enthusiasm, but also plays the deeper sides of this character very well and engages you in the evolution of Cruz Ramirez throughout the movie.

The animation in “Cars 3” is great. No other film succeeds in making everyday objects feel truly human as well as this franchise does. This gives it a sense of realism and puts me more in tune with characters’ emotions and makes me care more about them in the process. The backgrounds in this film are gorgeous. They’re detailed, picturesque and really reflect the quality of Pixar’s animation. The total effect makes me envy the characters and wish I could visit them in their rich, colorful world.

Preceding “Cars 3” is the short film “Lou” about a creature made out of objects from a school lost-and-found bin. It’s an interesting concept and carries an important message.

It’s one of my favorite Pixar shorts to date. I recommend “Cars 3” for ages 5 to 12. The scene where Lightning McQueen crashes is quite intense and could scare younger children. I give this film 4 out of 5 stars.

16 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • August 2017 • www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett