Kids World Kalamazoo April 2015

April 2015 Kalamazoo County Edition

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www.kidsworldnews.net Volume 1, Issue 4, April www.kidsworldnews.net email: kidsworld@wlskazoo.com April2015 2015

Vicksburg

Kalamazoo

Sunset Lake Elementary Students from Mrs. Chang’s second grade class, at Sunset Lake Elementary in Vicksburg, work together to write and record a weekly newscast.

Students focus on four features including current events, weather, an interview of a staff member, and a book review. Student collaborate using their Chromebooks and Google Docs to write and revise their work, and then use a classroom iPad to record it. Their finished product is then pieced together with iMovie. The kids look forward to this special activity this week and enjoy sharing it with their home and school families. These can be found on Mrs. Chang’s class website at changclass.weebly.com.

Paramount Charter Academy

Kindergarten teacher Annelies Baker and paraprofessional Heather Greig prepare green eggs and ham for kindergarten students.

Young 5 students wear Cat in the Hat hats to celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday.

L to R: Sammy Cayemburg, Cayden Allie, Hunter Prichard, Sarah Skuratowicz, teacher Lori Johnson.

Students at Paramount Charter Academy celebrated Dr. Seuss’ birthday in March by reading some of the famous author’s books. His birthday is always a great opportunity to kick off March as Reading Month. While Young 5 students created Cat in the Hat costumes to wear throughout the day, kindergarten students enjoyed a special treat of green eggs and ham. Paramount Charter Academy is a free public charter school serving students in young 5s through eighth grade.

Your Favorite Books!

If you like Junie B. Jones...

Looking for books similar to Junie B. Jones? Try some of these good reads: Ivy and Bean Book 1 (Ivy & Bean)

By Annie Barrows, Sophie Blackall The moment they saw each other, Bean and Ivy knew they wouldn't be friends. But when Bean plays a joke on her sister, Nancy, and has to hide -- quick -- Ivy comes to the rescue, proving that sometimes the best of friends are people never meant to like each other. Vibrant characters and lots of humor make this a charming -- and addictive -- introduction to Ivy and Bean.

Gloria's Way

By Ann Cameron Gloria is best friends with Julian and his little brother Huey, and she has as much to say as they do. There's the parrot that ruins the Valentine for her mother; Huey's dog, who needs to be cured of his squirrel obsession; and what happens when

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classmate Latisha tricks Gloria, Julian, and Hueybut they don't know until it's too late! Fans of Ann Cameron's best-selling chapter books about Julian and Huey will love Gloria, too.

Owen Foote, Second Grade Strongman

By Stephanie Greene Owen, a second grader who is being teased for his small size, discovers that his friend Joseph is just as concerned about being overweight, and they share their fear of being humiliated by the school nurse on the annual weigh-in day.

My Weird School #1: Miss Daisy Is Crazy!

By Dan Gutman Something weird is going on. Miss Daisy, who teaches second grade, doesn't know how to add or subtract.

Not only that, she doesn’t know how

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to read or write either. She is the dumbest teacher in the history of the world!

Mercy Watson to the Rescue

By Kate DiCamillo Welcome to the wry and endearing world of Mercy Watson—the beloved "porcine wonder" of the Watson household. In a new series from the author of THE TALE OF DESPEREAUX and BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE, readers meet the portly, good-natured, toast-loving Mercy. In this first episode, the Watsons need rescuing when their bed—after Mercy hops on— begins to slowly sink through the floor. Mercy escapes—"to alert the fire department," her owners assure themselves. But could Mercy have another emergency in mind—like a sudden craving for their neighbors’ sugar cookies?

Find these books and more at your local library!

April 2015, Page 2

Find The 10 Differences In These 2 Pictures!

TELL US WHAT’S GOING ON AT YOUR SCHOOL! This could be your school info here!

Please send article and photo by second Tuesday of every month for next month’s publication to: kidsworld@wlskazoo.com.

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April April2015, 2015,Page Page 3

Portage Schools Haverhill Elementary The upper elementary teachers at Haverhill Elementary in Portage are excited about receiving a generous donation from scientist Carl Stachew and the Pfizer Corporation. The donation includes 36 Electronic Snap Circuit kits, approximately a $2,000 value, which means each of the 3rd, 4th and 5th grade classrooms received 4 - 6 kits in each classroom. Sara Moroz, fourth grade teacher states, “The snap circuit kits are a fun way to allow students to plan and carry out investigations which help meet part of the NGSS, or the Next Generation Science Standards.” Another fourth grade teacher, Ann Gluys agrees and adds, “The students are engaged in learning and enjoy coming up with their own designs in building circuits. They are learning to make sense of real-world problems and they can persevere in solving those problems.”

Each Electronic Snap Circuits kit has over 100 predesigned projects for students to build and understand the concepts of electrical circuits.

Or, as Ann Gluys states, they can build their own projects using the switch blocks, lamp blocks, battery blocks, different length wire blocks, motors, and more items. Students build projects such as the “Space War Music Combo” where they combine the sounds from various other projects and integrate music circuits. Students learn through hands-on, self-discovery the purpose of various components in electricity.

5th, 4th and 3rd grade teachers (L to R: Susan Kallewaard, Andria Wright, Ann Gluys, Sara Moroz, Amanda Nicholson, Tajia Anderson and Deb VanAntwerp) at Haverhill Elementary in Portage share their new 36 Electronic Snap Circuit kits recently donated by the Pfizer Corporation for student use in their classrooms.

Photo Credit: Susan Kallewaard

Schoolcraft Schoolcraft Community Library th

Annual Battle of the Books 2015

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The 20th Annual Battle of the Books program concluded on February 19th at the Grand Battle event held in the Schoolcraft High School PAC. Four teams representing each school district participated in the program and made it to the finals this year including Parchment, Schoolcraft, and Vicksburg. The Vicksburg team "The Question Marks?" took first place; Schoolcraft's "The Final Chapter" took second; Parchment's "Unbeatable Book Battlers" took third, and Vicksburg's "The Reading Ninjas" placed fourth. Scores were high and a large audience came out to support their favorite teams.

Comstock Comstock Township Library Spring fun events in the young peoples’ Department include: 1000 BOOKS BEFORE KINDERGARTEN: On behalf of the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten Foundation, Comstock Township Library is encouraging parents and caregivers to read 1000 books to their young children and earn prizes along the way. Any child can participate until s/ he enters Kindergarten. Stop by the Young People’s desk to register and pick up a tracking sheet. Registration is ongoing!!

LEGO CHALLENGE: Saturday, April 11th, 10:30 or 1:30, all ages.

Join us in a Lego building competition! We will display some of the creations in the Young People’s Department. Registration is required for this free event and begins Monday, April 6th.

DROP-IN MOTHER’S DAY CRAFT: Saturday, May 9th, 10:303:30, all ages. No registration is required for this free drop-in session.

Choose 3 crafts from a variety of previously offered crafts. Quantities and styles may be limited.

For more information: 269-345-0136, www.comstocklibrary.org.

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April 2015, Page 4

Kalkaska Sand Is Michigan’s Official State Soil!

Kalkaska Sand is one of more than 500 soils found in Michigan! Unique to the state, this sand covers almost one million acres in the 29 upper and lower peninsula counties. It was designated as the state soil in 1990.

It was named after Kalkaska County located in the northern

Lower Peninsula.

Kalkaska Sand is a multi-layer soil composed of humus, light sand, dark sand and yellowish sand. It is classified as a spodosol.

The layers are commonly 2 to 4 feet deep. It is well drained and effectively filters water. This makes this sand a valuable asset in forestry and some types of agriculture. It is also largely responsible for the remarkable water quality of lakes and rivers located in the areas of the state where this soil is abundant.

How Many Words Can You Make From

MICHIGAN

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The Dwarf Lake Iris Is Michigan’s Official State Wildflower!

In 1998 Michigan choose the Dwarf Lake Iris (Iris lacustris) as the official state wildflower. In Michigan, this rare wildflower is found only on the coastlines of northern Lake Michigan and northern and eastern Lake Huron. There is also one small site on the southern shore of Lake Superior and a few of the isolated islands of the Great Lakes. The flower is a low-growing perennial.

Occurring close to the Great Lake’s shorelines, they like to grow on sand or in thin soil over limestone rich gravel or bedrock. They also like cool, moist lakeshore air.

This iris is smaller than other iris. It only grows 6 to 8 inches tall.

It’s flower is only 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter on stems less than 2 inches tall. They are almost always blue, lilac or white. It’s leaves are up to 6 inches long and 2 inches wide. Dwarf Lake Iris only bloom for about one week during the year.

It is listed as threatened in Michigan.

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Mattawan Schools Mattawan Early & Later Elementary Have you heard of Supplies For Success? It is a volunteer non-profit organization whose purpose is to help the children at the Mattawan Early and Later Elementary Schools by providing new and gently used school clothing and supplies. By caring for their basic needs, the program encourages self-esteem and promotes academic success. Its goal is to give these children the confidence they need to succeed and to relieve economic stress on their parents.

School clothing, coats and backpacks are everyday items many take for granted. These items are instrumental for a child’s development.

Please consider donating: • Size appropriate for early and later elementary age students • New and gently worn clothes that are clean with no stains or bleach spots. They must be in good condition. Please, no holes, tears or rips.

• Clothing, backpacks, snow clothes, boots and shoes are all welcome!

Monetary donations are welcome and appreciated to purchase other items like socks and underwear.

Please contact Andrea Lippert, Director of Supplies For Success, 269929-6533, for more information.

Mattawan Later Elementary March 6th was an exciting day at Mattawan Later Elementary. Almost 300, 4th grade students participated in the first ever Student Tech Day. Students were given a list of fourteen different sessions that ranged in subjects from Skype for Education, StoryBird, iMovie, Garage Band, Google Slides, as well as Coding with Robots. They chose the five they were most interested in and spent the day traveling from session to session just like they were at a tech camp for teachers. The sessions were run by not only Mattawan staff, but also guest teachers from Portage, Gull Lake, and Jackson ISD. The most popular sessions were the coding and robotics areas where the students had the opportunity to program their robots using an app on the iPad. Skype for Education was also a favorite as the students had the chance to talk to a real life explorer that lives in the United Kingdom. He shared a lot of interesting facts about his travels in the Arctic and other places around the world. Our first 4th grade Tech Day was a big success and we’re already thinking about improving it for next year.

Digging in your backyard? New Archaeology Exhibit at Kalamazoo Valley Museum When my dad was a little boy, he helped his dad in the garden every spring. As they raked and dug holes, they found lots of old copper pennies, marbles, and arrowheads. I remember finding a few when I was little, but I think most of them were dug up before I was born. I’m all grown up now, and I work at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum. Many times when I look at the exhibits, they remind me of stories from when I was young. Evidence Found: Explorations in Archaeology is a new exhibit.

It’s about things you find that were lost or thrown

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away by people long ago. This spring, if you help plant a garden, you might find odd things in the ground as well. What do you think you will find? Will trash from long ago be your new treasure? We like to say, “It’s not what you find, but what you find out!”

You can be an archaeologist too! When you find something, take a good look at it. Can you figure out how old it is? Is it whole, or just a piece of something bigger? What do you think it was used for, and who do you think used it?

Have you ever lost something? If someone else found it, what would you want them to know about it? Does it have a good story?

Museums are a great place for conversations to start between generations. When you go for a walk in the woods, talk about what you find.

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Take gloves and a garbage bag with you and pick up trash. It’s a great way to celebrate Earth Day on April 22. At the dinner table, ask your mom and dad if they ever found something in the ground that they thought was really cool.

Maybe they still have it.

Visit the Museum and check out Evidence Found: Explorations in Archaeology. The exhibit will be on display through August 30, 2015.

By Annette Hoppenworth, Programs Coordinator for the Kalamazoo Valley Museum.

April 2015, Page 6

All About DUCKS! Ducks are birds called “water fowl” because they are normally found in places with water - like ponds, streams, rivers and lakes.

They have short necks, wings and a stout body. They also have webbed feet that act like paddles in the water. Their feet can’t feel cold water because they contain no nerves or blood vessels. The duck waddles instead of walks because of their webbed feet. The duck’s outer feathers are water-proof. They have a special gland which produces an oil near the duck’s tail and spreads to cover the outer coat of the duck’s feathers. Beneath those water-proof feathers, their coat has fluffy and soft feathers to keep the duck warm.

These are called “down.” Ducks of different species look different.

The males, or drakes, are brightly colored. The females are usually dull colored and brown. The females use this coloring to hide and camouflage from their enemies when they are in their nests.

Ducks keep clean by preening themselves, which they do often.

They do this by putting their heads in fully positions and putting their beaks into their body.

Ducks have a special sound - they quack. But, not all ducks quack. The Wood Duck squeals instead. The duck’s mouth is called a “bill.” Normally, it is broad and flat. It has rows of fine notches along the edge called lamellae. This helps the duck to grip its food.

Some species of ducks migrate or travel long distances every year to breed. Usually they travel to warmer areas where the water does not freeze. When they fly, they do so in a “V-shape” or a long line. They travel in groups and are found everywhere in the world except the Antarctica, which is too cold for them.

When females build their nests with grass or reeds, the males will guard their territory by chasing away other couples. Once the female lays 5 to 12 eggs, she will sit on her eggs to keep them warm, so they will hatch into ducklings. The males, however, will be with other males. When hatched, mother duck will keep her ducklings together to protect them. The ducklings will be able to fly within 5 to 8 weeks.

Some famous ducks are Daffy Duck and Donald Duck!

DUCK WORD SEARCH! W E B B E D F E E T

K C U D S G G E S J

G L W O F R E T A W

F E A T H E R S S F

N A D O D R A K E M

E D U C K L I N G S

E F U T L L I B M M

R M S B E A K B M I

P E V F K C A U Q W

N F R E L D D A W S

Find these words in the puzzle. They can be backwards, diagonal, or verticle!

BEAK DUCK FEATHERS DRAKE

QUACK WATERFOWL PREEN WADDLE

EGGS BILL DUCKLINGS

NEST SWIM WEBBED FEET

Kalamazoo Humane Society’s

31st Annual Dog Walk May 2, 2015 9am to 2pm Prairie View Park Vicksburg MI Kids’ World News Kids' News

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All proceeds to benefit the Kalamazoo Humane Society Event Info and Registration:

www.kazoohumane.org/dogwalk

April 2015, Page April 2015, Page 7

Cookin’ Fun Banana Tree Stumps 1 1/2 cups butterscotch pieces 6 tablespoons creamy peanut butter 4 medium bananas 1 1/2 cups finely chopped peanuts or almond brickle pieces In a small sauce pan, combine the butterscotch pieces and peanut butter. Cook over low heat, stirring constantly until butterscotch pieces are melted. Remove from the heat. Peel the banana. With a knife (and adult supervision), cut the banana into 1 inch pieces. Dip each piece of banana into the butterscotch mixture. Lift out with a fork. Roll in the chopped peanuts or almond brickle pieces to coat. Place on a wax paper lined plate. Chill for 2 hours.

1 egg 1 1/2 cut milk 3 3/4 cups baking mix (such as Bisquick) 1 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup cheddar cheese, finely grated 1 tablespoon onion, minced 1 tablespoon poppy seed

Rules For The Kitchen!

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom of a 9x5x3 inch loaf pan. In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine the egg and milk, blend well. Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Beat vigorously for 1 minute. Pour batter into prepared pan and sprinkle top with poppy seeds. Bake 50 to 60 minutes. Place on wire rack to cool 5 to 10 minutes before removing from pan.

Slice and serve warm.

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4 ounces sweet chocolate 1/4 cup butter 3/4 cup sugar 2 eggs 1/2 cup flour 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional) 1 teaspoon vanilla 24 cake ice cream cones 24 scoops ice cream of your choice Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a sauce pan over low heat, melt chocolate and butter, stirring frequently. Have your parent help you with this. Cool slightly, and then pour into a bowl. Add sugar and eggs, mix well. Stir in flour, walnuts (if desired) and vanilla. Place ice cream cones in muffin cups, fill half full with batter. Bake for 20-22 minutes or until brownies are set on top and a toothpick test comes almost clean. Cool completely. Just before serving, top each cone with a scoop of ice cream! Makes 24

Cheese Bread

124 S. Kalamazoo Mall 3259 West Center

Brownie Ice Cream Cones

1. Always ask an adult if you can use the kitchen.

2. Have all the ingredients before you start.

3. Wash your hands before you touch food.

4. Wear an apron or towel to keep your clothes clean.

5. Always clean up when you are finished.

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April 2015, Page 8

Have Fun Playing Kickball!

Kickball has been a fun game to play for many years! It can be played most anywhere! All you need is a playground ball that’s around 8 to 10 inches in diameter. Choose a lightweight one for smaller children and a heavier one for bigger kids. You will also need something to serve as the 4 bases. A large yard, playground or park is the perfect place for kickball. The ball will roll batter on a hard surface. Grass is more kid-friendly. It’s easy to play and a great way to pass the time with your friends.

A kickball game is played by two teams of 9 players each who try to score more runs than their opponent by rounding the bases and crossing home plate as many times as possible.

Playing Area The kickball field is laid out similar to a baseball diamond with 4 bases, a pitching rubber, an infield and an outfield. The dimensions of the field can vary depending on the age of the players.

Starting Play The visiting team kicks first while the home team starts out in the field. The fielders line up in one of 9 positions. The first kicker steps up to the plate to kick. A game lasts 6 innings. Each inning is divided into a top and bottom half with each team having a turn to kick. An inning is completed when the kicking team gets 3 outs. A team scores a point every time a player rounds all of the bases and crosses home plate.

Pitching • The ball must roll on the ground when crossing over the plate.

• The pitcher has to stay behind the pitching rubber until the ball is kicked. Failure to do this results in a "ball."

• The strike zone is 1 foot inside and outside of home plate.

Runners • Runners have to stay in the baselines.

• Sliding into the base or running into fielders is not allowed. The runner is out if he runs into the fielder. The runner is safe if the fielder initiated the contact.

• Fielders must stay out of the baseline. Unless they are making an active play for the ball, if they interfere with a runner, the runner is safe at the base they are running toward.

• No runners may lead off or steal. They can only run after the ball is kicked. A runner who is off the base before the ball is kicked is out.

• Runners have to tag up after a fly ball is caught before they can advance to the next base.

• Runners may overrun 1st base, but they must turn toward foul territory once they pass the base. If they overrun any other base, they may be tagged out by a defender

with the ball.

• If the ball is overthrown, the runner may advance only one base.

• If a runner overtakes and passes a runner on the bases ahead of him, he is out.

• When the pitcher has control of the ball and is standing on the mound, all of the runners must stop advancing.

A batter is out if: • He/she kicks the ball, and it’s caught in the air (even if it’s in foul territory).

• He/she gets 3 strikes, 3 fouls, or 2 strikes + a foul.

• He/she bunts the ball (doesn't take a full swing of the leg in an attempt to kick the ball a short distance).

A runner is out if: • She is hit by a kicked ball while off base.

• A fielder tags her with the ball while she’s not on a base.

• He/she runs out of the baseline.

• A fielder throws the ball and hits him below the shoulders while he’s off the base. (Runners hit in the head or neck aren’t out unless they were ducking to dodge the ball.)

• He/she is tagged by a fielder before reaching the base she is forced to run to or if a fielder with a ball touches the base before she gets there.

• He/she leaves the base before the ball is kicked.

• He/she runs past a runner in front of her.

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April Page 1/28/15 2:41 PM 10 April2015, 2015, Page

Working With Groups 1. How many groups of 2 can you make? _____ 2. How many groups of 3 can you make? _____ 3. How many groups of 5 can you make? _____ 4. How many groups of 8 can you make? _____ 5. How many groups of 10 can you make? _____ 6. How many groups of 14 can you make? _____ 7. How many butterflies will you have to add to make a total of 50? _____ 8. How many butterflies will you have to add to make a total of 73? _____ 9. How many butterflies will you have to add to make a total of 85? _____

Bonus Questions!

Show the fractions related to the numbers of butterflies in the lowest form.

1. 6 of the 42 butterflies _____ 2. 14 of the 42 butterflies _____ 3. 21 of the 42 butterflies _____ 4. 12 of the 42 butterflies _____

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April 2015, Page April 2015, Page 11

Did you know that your nails have a job to do?

The surface of your nails, helps to protect the tips of your fingers and toes! Plus they help you scratch and pick things up! Did you know that babies have fingernails and toenails before they are born? Well groomed nails also help a person look their best. Let’s learn about what nails are.

Nails are made of keratin. This is the same thing your body uses to create hair and the top layer of your skin. Nails grow where you have a U shaped cuticle on your fingers and toes. The cuticle’s job is to help protect the new nail as it grows out from the nail root.

Hidden under the cuticle is the nail root. When the cells at the root of the nail grow, the new nail cells push out the old nail cells. The old cells flatten and harden because of the keratin - a protein that is made by these cells. The nail slides along the nail bed which is the flat surface below the nail. The nail bed sits on top of tiny blood

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vessels that feed it and that’s what gives your nails their pink color.

Nails grow very slowly. They grow about one tenth of an inch each month so it can take 3 to 6 months to completely replace a nail.

You may need an adult to help you trim your fingernails and toenails. Fingernails should be trimmed straight across and slightly rounded at the top. Toenails don’t grow as fast as fingernails so they don’t need to be trimmed as often. They should also be trimmed straight across. Having well groomed nails can keep you from biting or picking at them - which can lead to infections. Not a good habit to get into!

When you go to the doctor for a check up, they often take a look at your nails during your checkup. Fingernails provide good clues to your health. When the doctor presses your nails, they are checking your blood circulation. The doctor may find changes associated with skin problems, lung disease, anemia and other medical conditions.

A good tip is to regularly use hand lotion to help moisturize your nails. Your fingernails and toenails need moisturizer too! When they dry out it can cause cracking, breaking and peeling. We can prevent that from happening in most cases.

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