De ar Kids, Do you know what it me ans to be a part of a communit y? A communit y is a group that share s common characteristics or intere sts. Communit y members work toge ther so things run smoothly. A school or place of busine ss is an e xample of a communit y; so is a town or neighborhood. Communitie s are about working toge ther for a common cause that benefits the gre ater good. In this issue, weʻll look at a communit y in Peru that is based on the barter system. Thatʻs right. They donʻt use money the way we do in America. They trade things back and forth to ge t what they need. Do you think a barter system would work where you li ve. If it did, what would you have to trade and what would you take for it?
CULTURAL CONNECTIONS: MUSIC IRVING BERLIN
There are many songs that we learn by heart. But while we know the words to the songs, we might not know who wrote them. That is true of Irving Berlin, a composer who lived more than 100 years and wrote more than 100 songs. Berlin was born Israel Beilin on May 11, 1888. He was one of eight children, although history doesn’t tell us if he was the youngest or the oldest. History also can’t tell us where exactly he was born, but his family did live in Tolochin, Byelorussia, which was part of the Russian empire. Berlin’s family immigrated to New York in 1893. Following the death of his father, Berlin, who was only 13, started working a lot of different jobs to support his family. In 1907, he published his first song, “Marie from Sunny Italy,” and by 1911, he had his first major inIrving Berlin. ternational hit — “Alexander’s Ragtime Band.” Over the next 50 years, this very talented man wrote a number of ballads, dance songs and love songs that have come to represent American music. Some of his songs include “How Deep Is The Ocean,” “Blue Skies,” “White Christmas,” “Always” and “Let’s Face The Music And Dance.” You might not know a lot of those songs, but we bet you will know one of his most famous songs: “God Bless America.” Berlin was also known for writing music for Broadway and
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even for movies. He wrote 17 scores (which is a written form of a musical composition that show all the parts for different instruments on separate staves) for Broadway musicals and revues. Berlin was a very patriotic man and showed his love for his country by donating money to worthy causes through a number of organizations, including The God Bless America Fund, Army Emergency Relief, the Boy and Girl Scouts, just to name a few. For his good works, he earned the Army’s Medal of Merit from President Truman in 1945, a Congressional Gold Medal for “God Bless America” and other patriotic songs from President Eisenhower in 1954, and the Freedom Medal from President Ford in 1977. In 2002, the U.S. Army at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, named the Army Entertainment Division World Headquarters “The Irving Berlin Center” in his honor. Also that year, he was commemorated on a U.S. postage stamp. On Sept. 22, 1989, at the age of 101, Berlin died in his sleep in New York City. If you would like to learn more about Irving Berlin, you should spend some time listening to his music, or maybe you can ask your parents to rent some of the movies that feature his music. Once you see and hear his works, maybe you can try your hand at writing a play or song.
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CONNECTIONS Getting to Know Your Community
A community is defined as a unified body of individuals. The unifying factor can be living together in a particular area or a group of people who share common interests. Usually, we think of our community as the neighborhood or city in which we live. Your school is also a type of “community,” and if you play sports or compete in activities like martial arts, gymnastics or dance, you and your fellow teammates are part of a special “community.” Sometimes there is a special symbol that represents a community. It could be a special flag for your state, seal for your city, motto for your neighborhood or mascot for your school. Look around your community and see what symbols you find. Traditions can also be an important part of a community. Find out about the people who first settled in your area. Where did most of the people in your community come from? Do you know some traditions that are important to your community? There are lots of things that make your community special. This month, try to learn more about your community.
Celebrate Constitution Day The founding fathers of the United States had definite ideas about the way communities should be governed. In fact, they created the Constitution to define clearly the separate powers of the government and the states, the rights of the people and how the representatives of the people should be elected. On Sept. 17, 1787, the Constitution was signed by 39 of the 55 founding fathers at the final meeting of the Constitutional Convention. These delegates had gathered almost daily for five months to create this important document. After signing it in September of 1787, Congress sent printed copies of the Constitution to the state legislatures for ratification. The United States Constitution contains seven articles that cover the Legislative Branch, the Executive Branch, the Judicial Branch, the States, the Amendment Process, the legal status of the Constitution and the signatures of the delegates. It also contains Amendments 1-10, which are called The Bill of Rights, and Amendments 11-27. President George W. Bush signed a bill into law on December
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8, 2004, which designates every Sept. 17 as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day. Citizenship Day has been around since 1952 as a day to commemorate “the formation and signing, on Sept. 17, 1787, of the Constitution of the United States” and to recognize those who had attained the status of American citizenship. In 2004, Congress changed the designation of this day to “Constitution Day and Citizenship Day.” It also added two provisions: first, that federal employees receive educational and training materials concerning the Constitution on Sept. 17 of each year, and second, that each educational institution that receives federal funds shall hold an educational program on the Constitution for students on September 17 of each year. Preamble to the U.S. Constitution We The People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure the blessing of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this, Constitution for the United States of America. For more information, visit the website at www.loc.gov or www.constitutionday.com, or www.constitutioncenter.org.
Did You Know?
September is Library Card Sign Up Month! Do you have a library card? If not, head over to your community library and get one! In 1988, the week-long National Hispanic Heritage Week observance was expanded to a month-long celebration, National Hispanic Heritage Month, from Sept. 15-Oct. 15. Why Sept. 15? Because five Latin American countries — Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua — celebrate the anniversary of their independence on September 15. And, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and 18, respectively. This observance was created to honor the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens who can trace their ancestries, or roots, to Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean and Spanish-speaking countries of Central and South America.
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SEPTEMBER 2012
AR O UND THE W O RLD United States
Labor Day is a holiday in the United States dedicated to working people. Observed on the first Monday in September, it is a day when we show support for workers and honor them for their achievements. Labor Day was first celebrated in New York City with a parade on September 5, 1882. It became a national holiday in June 1894. Labor Day is celebrated with parades, picnics, sporting events and meetings of labor groups.
Kingdom: Phylum: Class: Order: Species:
Animalia Chordata Mammalia Rodentia Caviidae Hydrochoerus H. hydrochaeris
Worldwide
America has been celebrating a Grandparents Day since 1978, when President Jimmy Carter declared it would be celebrated on the first Sunday after Labor Day every year. This year, Grandparents Day falls on Sunday, Sept. 9. Many different countries, such as Australia, Estonia, France, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom, celebrate a Grandparents Day like America, but America has been honoring them longer than almost everyone else. The only country that has been celebrating it longer than America is Poland. They started their holiday in 1964, 14 years before we did.
Ethiopia
New Year’s Day in Ethiopia is on Sept. 11. The day is called Enkutatash which means “gift of jewels.” This spring festival occurs at the end of the rainy season, when the country is green and flowers and crops are growing. It is celebrated by attending church in traditional Ethiopian clothing and then gathering for a family meal. Girls hand out flowers, and boys give out small paintings and drawings. In the evening, there is singing and dancing at a bonfire.
Capybara
The capybara has a cute-sounding name, but it is one big rodent! In fact, the capybara, related to the guinea pig, is the largest rodent in the world. It can weigh up to 175 pounds! Capybaras have barrel-shaped bodies with reddish-brown or yellowish-brown fur. They can be more than 4-feet long and 2-feet tall. The average capybara weighs about 100 pounds. The capybara is mostly found in Central and South America, although there are some in Florida. It can be found in the countries of Panama, Colombia, Peru, Brazil and Argentina. It is semi-aquatic and lives in thick forests near lakes, rivers, swamps and marshes. Capybaras are herbivores, which means they eat plants. They eat grasses and aquatic plants, fruits and even tree bark. They are also great swimmers, thanks to their slightly webbed feet! They can dive and stay underwater for as long as five minutes.
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WHERE IN THE WORLD IS... PERU It’s time to get out your globe! You need to know about the imaginary lines on globes and maps. These lines are called lines of latitude and longitude, and they tell a pilot or ship’s captain exactly where in the world a certain place is located. Basically, latitude lines (also called parallels) are the horizontal lines on your map. Lines of longitude (also called meridians) are the vertical lines that run from the North Pole to the South Pole. This mapping system is written in degrees and uses the symbol °. Get ready to travel the world! On your globe, locate longitude of 76ºW and latitude of 10ºS, and you’ll find the western South American country of Peru. Peru borders the countries of Chile, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Brazil in addition to the South Pacific Ocean. Peru’s climate ranges from tropical in the eastern lowland jungle of the Amazon River basin to desert in the coastal plain of the west and temperate to very cold in the high, rugged Andes Mountains of the central region. Many communities in the Andes Mountains, like the Quechua people of the Lares Valley in the southeastern part of the mountains, participate in a very ancient method of purchasing things they need: barter. Barter means that one exchanges goods or services directly for other goods or services without using an exchange medium like money. How does barter work? Well, within the Lares Valley there are three agro-ecological zones located at different elevations: the Yunga below 7,500 feet above sea level (asl); the Quechua, from 7,500 to 11,500 feet asl and the Puna at more than 11,500 feet asl. (Agro-ecological zones are defined agriculture areas that have similar soil, climate and landform characteristics.) Each week in the village of Lares, in the Quechua zone, women travel from the Yunga and Puna zones to exchange or trade products that they can grow that the others cannot. Participation is open to anyone, and one may trade any crop amount. At this one market alone, participants exchange more than five tons of food each week! Some benefits of barter at Lares and other markets in the network, called the chalayplasa, include better food security and nutrition, conservation of agricultural biodiversity and increased control over decisions that affect the communities’ livelihoods. Barter enables the communities to grow, trade and eat the foods that they want! Sources: “Barter,” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barter; “Barter Markets: Sustaining people and nature in the Andes,” Neus Marti, pubs.iied. org/pubs/pdfs/14518IIED.pdf; “Peru,” The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ pe.html.
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WHAT’S IT LIKE TO BE...
IN THE SCRIPPS NATIONAL SPELLING BEE Well, September is here, and it’s back to school! I really love school and learning new things. This month, I talked with two kids who really love to learn new words. They’ve learned the entire Webster’s Dictionary — 500,000 words! — in preparation for the Scripps National Spelling Bee. I’d hate to play Scrabble against them! Snigdha Nandipati, a 14-year-old from San Diego, Calif., was the winner of the 2012 Scripps National Spelling Bee. Nicholas Rushlow, a 14-year-old from Pickerington, Ohio, is one of only 10 kids in the past 87 years to make it to the National Spelling Bee five years in a row. He was a finalist this year, tying for fourth place, and a semifinalist in the competition the previous four years. To get to the national bee where 278 spellers competed, these students had to win a classroom spelling bee, then school bee and finally a regional bee to advance to the nationals. Truman: What does it take to get to the National Spelling Bee? It must take a lot of preparation and special qualities. Snigdha: It takes a lot of determination and practice to get to that level. I had been participating in different spelling bees since fourth grade, so I had a lot of experience, enough to make it to the nationals last year. I used to study at least an hour a day from September to March, but in the few months leading up to the National Bee, I studied as much as six hours a day on school days, and up to 12 hours a day on weekends. My dad helped me a lot by finding all of the material that I would need, as well as doing all of the research needed to get to that level. Nicholas: You’ve got to have a really good work ethic. I put a ton of effort into this and hope for the best. It doesn’t always turn out well. This year I really got to show what I have worked for. Getting fourth was great. I’ve put in more than 9,000 hours over the past five years, and last summer I spent 600 hours spelling every word in Webster’s dictionary. Truman: When did you compete in your first spelling bee? Snigdha: My first spelling bee was in the end of third grade. Before this, I had never even heard of a spelling bee. I had gotten second place, and this was what inspired me to excel in spelling and participate in more spelling bees. Truman: What do you like about being in the spelling bee? Snigdha: Just as some people have football or dance as their special talent, my talent is spelling. Being in the spelling bee helps rid me of my stage fright and improves my research skills and study methods. Also, my favorite thing about studying for spelling is that I can get carried away with the history behind each
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of the words. Nicholas: Nationals is always such a great experience, being with brilliant kids who all understand how much we’ve worked for this. Everyone is a great sport. The camaraderie among the spellers is always great. We always say, ‘We’re not against each other; we’re against the dictionary.’ Truman: What is it like to be on stage with the best spellers in the country, in front of all those people? Are you nervous? Snigdha: The first year I participated, I was terrified. I had never competed on a national stage before, especially with the other very excellent spellers. However this year, I had studied much more intensely, and I had an experience of what it was like on stage, so I was not very nervous. The only thing I was nervous about was whether I was going to get a word I could recall easily. Truman: : How do you prepare for the spelling bee? Snigdha: Studying for the spelling bee involves a lot of steps. I first perfect myself in a list of 23,000 words called the Consolidated Word List. This is a list of words that almost every good speller is familiar with. Then I separate the whole dictionary into different languages, and study each of them separately, applying language rules as I go. After studying all of them, my dad created PDF test files with which I could test myself on the words I had learned. I made lists of the words I had missed over and over again, and I researched each and every one of them on Wikipedia so I could link the words to a bigger story while spelling. I also studied a lot of root words from Latin and Greek. I’ve been through the dictionary at least twice, so I’ve seen every word — not saying that I can remember them while on stage. If I can’t recall a word while on stage, I gather as many clues as I can by asking all kinds of questions. Based on the definition, language, part of speech and possibly root words, I can create a reasonable spelling in my head and hope that it’s right. Nicholas: My mom has quizzed me nonstop — we went straight through the dictionary, 500,000 words, last summer. I’ve put so much
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time into this. It’s not just memorization — you have to learn about languages. I know Latin and Greek roots, which help to piece together words. You’ve got to learn language shortcuts here and there. Truman: What do you do when you don’t know a word that you are given? Nicholas: The first thing is to panic for a minute, then try and clear your head and work your way through it. Ask all the questions, find out a little bit about the word. And just give it your best shot. That’s all you can really do. Truman: What’s the hardest word you have had to spell? Snigdha: Compas — it’s pronounced kome paa. It is from Haitian Creole, and it is a kind of jazz music originating from Haiti. Nicholas: Kanaima, from this year. I knew if I got it right, I would make it to the finals for the first time. It’s a proper name from British Guiana. Truman: What would you like to be when you grow up? Snigdha: I want to go into medicine for sure, but I am thinking of becoming a neurosurgeon or a psychiatrist. Nicholas: I definitely want to do something in the medical field. Right now I’m thinking about cardiology. Truman: What advice would you give to kids to help make them better spellers? Snigdha: Try to find any local spelling bees that you can participate in because this inspires them to go to a higher level in spelling. There is a booklet of spelling words called Spell It! There is a new version of it published every year and you can find it on the National Spelling Bee website., www.spellingbee.com. Nicholas: You just have to work at it. It takes time and preparation. Find the way of studying that works best for you and go with it. Learning about different languages helps a lot, too. Truman: Snigdha, you are this year’s winner of the National Spelling Bee. What does that feel like? What are you going to do with your $30,000 award? Snigdha: When I won, I was absolutely surprised because I hadn’t expected to win, especially with such amazing spellers competing against me. I was so ecstatic that all of my hard work had paid off at the end. Regarding my prize money, I will probably save it for college. Truman: Thanks for talking to Kidsville News! It’s quite an accomplishment that you have, and I know you’ll both go on to do great things. Good luck!
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PUZZLEVILLE! Healthy Aging Word Find
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What’s the Difference? There are four things different between Picture A and Picture B. Can you find them all?
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SEPTEMBER 2012
Coloring Corner Celebrate back to school! What kind of backpack do you have? Remember to wear it properly and don’t load it too heavily!
Image: www.metrocreativegraphics.com Truman Tru-
Truman’s Tricky Picture
Find these items! Be sure to find Truman’s hat! Look for more fun and games at www.kidsvillenews.com.
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By Jan Buckner Walker
The Original Crossword Puzzle for Kids and Their Favorite Adults
™
The across clues are for kids and the down clues are for grown-ups!
Kids Across
1. What you always find in a trash bag 7. A cowboy might carry stuff in a saddlebag while riding on this animal 8. It's what a lunch bag is made of 10. The person who helps a golfer with his clubs is called a _____ 11. A grown-up female 7A 13. The big guy who brings toys in a sack in December 14. What to do with milk after you empty corn flakes from their bag in a box into your bowl 15. What 1A bags are usually made of 17. The color of a lunch bag 19. What people do at a table before they eat 21. Munched all of the
popcorn until it was gone 22. An athlete who practices by punching a bag before he gets into the ring (or a type of dog) 23. What you have to do with your mouth to play the bagpipes
Parents Down
2. Produce secret: If you place bananas in a 17A 8A bag, they'll be ____ in a hurry 3. Supermarket shopper's loot, in paper or plastic 4. Precious metal coins in a leprechaun's bag 5. Where you've been if you brought a doggy bag home 6. Father figure of song fame who's got a brand new bag
9. Its passengers each have a bag within reach (but nobody wants to need it) 11. Rain, nor snow, nor sleet nor hail, keeps a postal carrier from delivering his ____ 12. Word 13A only says in threes 13. It's all baggy pants can do 14. Fills baggage before taking a trip 15. Lady's constant companion 16. Practice a punch on a hanging bag, as 22As do 18. Old, undervalued 7A that rhymes with "bag" (or someone who annoys wtih repeated requests) 20. Common carry-on maximum for a 9D traveler
™
This Week’s Solution
kris@kapd.com
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It's in the Bag
Visit www.kapd.com to join the KAPD family!
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8/2/12
© 2012 Jan Buckner Walker. Distributed by Creators Syndicate, Inc.
SEPTEMBER 2012
Don’t be a Lightning Rod A lightning storm is one of the most dramatic shows of nature. You may feel like rushing outside to experience the blinding bolts, with the loud CRACKs and rumbles of surroundsound thunder following close behind. But don’t. Lightning is dangerous. Stay inside. Each year there are around 25 million lightning flashes in the United States. That’s a lot of chances to be a lightning victim. Although most people who are struck by lightning survive, many are badly injured, some permanently. But what causes lightning? And how can we stay safe? Lightning starts inside a storm cloud. Strong winds inside the cloud toss ice particles and water drops around like underwear in a clothes dryer. The ice and water particles rub together, which builds up static electricity. Sometimes the same thing happens to your underwear in the dryer! But in a cloud, it’s on a humongous scale. The strong static electrical charge that builds up in the cloud “wants” to discharge. So it seeks out something with the opposite kind of charge, which is usually another cloud. But often it is the ground. The charge — in the form of a lightning bolt — travels along the easiest route to the ground. That usually means the nearest, tallest or most conductive object — such as a tree or a lightning rod. Don’t let that lightning rod be you! People have been struck by lightning while talking on a corded phone, while leaning on a freezer in their garage, while working on plumbing in the house, while sailing, while camping, while playing golf (this one is a no-brainer!) and while doing any number of other activities outside. One poor park ranger just doing his job over the years was struck by lightning seven times! Understanding how lightning behaves will help you keep safe before, during and after a storm. If you cannot reach shelter inside, at least you will know, for example, not to stand under or near a tree or a metal pole or fence. Metal is a great conductor of electricity and invites lightning looking for a fast, easy way to the ground. Find out more about lightning and lightning safety at the NOAA/NASA SciJinks website at http://scijinks.gov/ lightning. It is by the same people who bring you The Space Place (http://spaceplace.nasa.gov). This article was written by Diane K. Fisher and provided by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
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School Can Be Cool by Barbara Gilmour
Ms. Gilmour greeted the “Cool School Rules! Kind Kids” class, Every day that I’m in school I’ll remember my “Welcome back homework boys and girls.” I can live The Golden Rule I’ll listen and I’ll stay alert Tanner, Rudy, I give teacher due respect I’ll take notes, write it Nicole, Stephen, down Carmen and TruTeacher gives respect right back I don’t need to man the Dragon clown around all greeted her in I don’t mind my school I don’t mind my school return. “Hopefully ‘Cause I know school can be cool ‘Cause I know you all had a great school can be cool summer and are Chorus: (Chorus) ready for school.” When it comes to making Everyone had a sad Good friends every day I don’t mind my school face. “I hate to see School Rules ‘Cause I know school can be cool summer end,” said When it comes to growing Rudy. “Me, too,” Wiser in every way (Chorus) said Carmen. School Rules Tanner added, My mind is something “The summer is so I won’t waste away © Cool Kind Kid School Rules short and school is sooooo long.” Nicole shared, “We get to do so many more cool things in the summer.” Truman asked, “How can we make school be cool, like the summer?” Ms. Gilmour smiled and said, “Let’s do something different today. Let’s talk about the song ‘School Rules!’ and see what it can tell us about how to make school cool. After that, we’ll make it into a rap.” All the kids thought that sounded like fun. “As we go through the song, let’s see how we can use the ‘Cool Kind Kid’ Challenge to make school cool,” the teacher said. Rudy was waving his hand, “We need to live The Golden Rule every day for school to be cool. That will be a challenge.” Stephen agreed, “We need to get all the kids at school to remember to treat others the way they want to be treated.” Truman was excited when he heard this, “Maybe the bullies will be part of our challenge to live The Golden Rule.” Nicole added, “That would be really cool.” Carmen shared, “We can challenge kids to give teachers respect so they will respect us.” Tanner added, “We need to give everyone respect, not just teachers.” They all agreed. Ms. Gilmour suggested looking at the chorus. “Is school cool when you can make friends?” Stephen said, “Yes! Making friends is cool everywhere.” “I want to be friends with everyone,” said Truman. Rudy looked sad, “Some kids won’t be friends with everyone, so some get their feelings hurt.” Nicole stood up and said, “That’s not cool, and it sure isn’t kind.” “What does it mean to grow wiser every day, and not waste your mind?” asked Ms. Gilmour. Tanner replied, “That’s easy; we go to school to learn and if we don’t learn we are hurting ourselves.” Carmen added, “I think learning is cool. I don’t want to be a dummy. I want to be and do my best.” Truman was reading the lyrics of the song and said, “All we need to know about learning is in the song. It says to do our homework, listen and stay alert, takes notes and write down what is said in class so we remember it. It also says no clowning around.” Tanner added, “The challenge will be getting kids to see that learning can be cool.” Rudy was ready for the challenge, “No problem. We just need to help everyone learn that following the ‘School Rules!’ song can help our school be Cool. Let’s make that rap!” Everyone cheered.
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SEPTEMBER 2012
COME OUT AND PLAY... SOCCER! Soccer is the most popular sport in the world, and it is getting more and more popular in America. There were sports similar to soccer played by the Chinese and the Romans in ancient times, but modern soccer started in England hundreds of years ago. The game was so popular that soldiers would miss training to play; and fights would sometimes break out if the crowds didn’t like who won. This happened so much that King Edward III banned soccer in 1365. In 1815, soccer became popular again because colleges set up official rules, called the Cambridge Rules, and the college teams started playing against each other. Since then the sport has spread all over the world. The Cambridge Rules are the same rules that soccer players use all over the world today. Players are not allowed to use their hands, and no hitting or kicking is allowed. The point of the game is for one team to kick the ball into the other team’s goal, which would give the kicker’s team a point. Whoever has the most points wins the game. To play soccer, all you need is one ball and two goals. Both teams should have a goal, which is usually some posts with a net in between, but if you don’t have a net, you can use just about anything to create the goal. Just put two things — like bricks, rocks or cones even with each other and you have a goal! Soccer is usually played by two teams of 11 players, but can be played with fewer people. Each person on the field has a job. Each team should have one goalie who stands by the goal and keeps the ball from going in — the goalie the only person on the team allowed to use their hands. Each team should have defenders, usually two or three, who are players that stay around the goal and try to keep the ball from reaching the goalie. The next group of players on the team — the midfielders — try and keep the ball from reaching the defenders and can try and score a goal on the other team. The last level of players is the strikers. They play at the front of the field and try to put the ball into the other team’s goal to score points. Soccer is a fun and easy game to play with friends. All you need is one ball and some friends. So, next time you and your friends want to go out and play. Grab a ball and give soccer a try. There are millions of kids all over the world doing the same thing.
Conservation o r n e r
GARBAGE BASICS Garbage isn’t something most Americans want to think about every day, but managing the over 236 million tons we generate each year has every day environmental and economic consequences. While America is making gains in the effort to reduce the amount of waste produced each year and to improve the way we deal with garbage, there is still work to do. And every American can help. Start by getting educated. What’s in the Waste Stream? The amount of garbage, called municipal solid waste, that Americans generate has inched upwards since 1960, from 88 million tons to over 236 million tons in 2003, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Integrated Waste Management The U.S. EPA has prioritized integrated waste management options in a hierarchy. Most communities use some or all of these options: 1. Source reduction and reuse 2. Recycling 3. Composting 4. Waste-to-energy 5. Landfilling Successful integrated waste management, according to the U.S. EPA, considers how to prevent, recycle and manage solid waste in ways that most effectively protect human health and the environment. This approach means evaluating local impacts of solid waste and then selecting and combining the most appropriate waste management options.
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SEPTEMBER 2012
At Theaters Finding Nemo 3D — In Theaters September 14 The memorable animated adventure of everyone’s favorite clownfish Nemo gets a 3D treatment just in time to help ring in the fall movie season. The visually colorful underwater story follows Nemo’s wild journey after he gets separated from his dad, Marlin (voiced by Albert Brooks), while swimming in the waters of the Great Barrier Reef. Marlin is worried his son isn’t a very good swimmer. He warns Nemo to stay close by. But Nemo wants to explore. A human diver scoops up little Nemo (voiced by Alexander Gould) in order to turn him into an aquarium pet. With the help of a pretty blue tang fish named Dory (voiced by Ellen DeGeneres) and a friendly Great White shark named Bruce, Marlin searches the oceans far and wide to reunite with his adorable son. Pixar’s Finding Nemo is a terrific family movie that’s well worth seeing on the big screen in 3D. If you’ve never seen it before, you’re in for a real treat. If you have seen it before, you’ll love it more than ever. Rated G. 101 minutes. (Walt Disney Pictures) Hotel Transylvania — In Theaters September 28 Boo! For centuries they have lived in the
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shadows. But there is one place where monsters can finally “rest in peace.” Hotel Transylvania is home to every kind of monster you’ve ever heard of. Dracula, Frankenstein — and his bride — the Mummy, Quasimodo, the Invisible Man and even Bigfoot, all live together under one roof in the hills of
ily comedy to help get you warmed up for Halloween. Which monster will you be this year? Rated PG for violence and language. 90 minutes. (Sony Pictures Animation)
Children’s DVDs Classic Monsters Spotlight Collection —Available September 4
Romania. Humans are the only things to be scared of around this place. Dracula (voiced by Adam Sandler) runs Hotel Transylvania, where he raises his daughter Mavis (voiced by Selena Gomez). He calls Mavis his little “ghoul.” The monsters get an unwelcome surprise when an American backpacker named Jonathan (voiced by Andy Samberg) shows up to look around and stay for a while. Jonathan is in for some surprises himself. Naturally, he takes a special liking to Mavis. An animated romp from Sony Pictures, Hotel Transylvania is a goofy fam-
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The movie monsters that scared your great grandparents are here in a four-DVD set that includes The Mummy (1932), The Wolf Man (1941), The Invisible Man (1933),and The Phantom of the Opera (1943). Classics are movies that audiences keep coming back to over and over again because they are so good that they just never get old. The monster movies of the ‘30s and ‘40s are great for a lot of reasons. Actors such as Boris Karloff (The Mummy), Lon Chaney Jr. (The Wolf Man), and Claude Rains (The Invisible Man) were as popular back then as actors like George Clooney or Matt Damon are today. Although these movies are a little bit scary, they don’t really have any blood or gross stuff in them. A lot of kids think of these monsters as friendly characters. After all, everybody loves mummies. These super-fun black-and-white movies were all made with kids in mind. It’s fun to be scared sometimes, especially when you’re watching a classic monster movie with your family. Not Rated. 308 minutes. (Universal Studios)
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Exploring Nature!
Deciduous Forest Animal!
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Match the leaves to their names and color them: BIRCH, OAK, MAPLE, ASPEN, SYCAMORE, BASSWOOD, BEECH
1
Eastern Gray Squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis Eastern gray squirrels are found in hardwood and mixed forests with trees that produce nuts. They are one of the few mammals that are truly diurnal – active during the day. They are also active year round, surviving on buried nuts and cones. This habit of burying nuts has the unintended effect of making them tree planters as well!
2
Match the tree leaf to its fruit. hemlock
a
hickory
b
3
4 c
sycamore
sugar maple
d
6
5
e 7 white oak
f mountain ash
Exploringnature.org is an award-winning resource that inspires learning about science, conservation and the outdoors through ���������������������� trips, illustrated books and online resources. Explore outside today!
Leafy Fun Fact!
1. BEECH, 2. MAPLE, 3. BASSWOOD, 4. ASPEN, 5. OAK, 6. SYCAMORE, 7. BIRCH a)mountain ash, b)hemlock, c)hickory, d)white oak, e)sugar maple, f )sycamore
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As the days grow shorter each fall, it causes the breakdown of the green pigment – chlorophyll – in the leaves of deciduous trees. This breakdown ends photosynthesis for the season and allows the other pigments hidden under the stronger green to show through giving us some amazing fall colors.
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PUZZLEVILLE!
Healthy Aging Word Find
KIDSVILLE KITCHEN
Together Time — Ask an adult for help with projects!
Watermelon Sherbet Smoothies
What’s the Difference Get the Picture
Ingredients 3 cups fresh watermelon cubes 1 cup crushed ice 1 cup watermelon, raspberry or lime sherbet 4 teaspoons lime juice 1/2 cup miniature semisweet or white chocolate chips Instructions 1. About 10 minutes before you’re ready to mix the smoothies, place four tall glasses in the freezer to frost. Then wash the whole melon as you would other fruits and vegetables, and cut it into quarters. (The number of quarters you’ll need to yield 3 cups of cubes will depend on the size of the melon.) 2. Slice each quarter you plan to use lengthwise into three wedges; then slice the flesh away from the rind. Use a fork to scrape away the seeds and chop the melon into cubes. 3. Combine the crushed ice, watermelon cubes, lime juice and watermelon, raspberry, or lime sherbet and blend until smooth. 4. Pour the mixture into the frosted glasses and top each one with a half dozen or so miniature chocolate chips. Serves 4.
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SEPTEMBER 2012
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P ARENTOWN’S K ID S MART Financial Planning Helps Manage Student Debt In an increasingly competitive global market, education is becoming more important. But many families find the cost of education to be outside their grasp. According to a study commissioned by the US Department of Education, from the 2001-02 to the 201011 academic years, the cost of attending a four-year undergraduate in-state school rose by 47.3 percent. With ever-increasing education expenses, many families are accumulating significant debt, putting students further behind. However, with planning and financial management, students can control their finances. Here are some tips for parents of soon-to-be college students. Start the conversation. Talk with other parents, teachers and guidance counselors about the cost of education. Make contact with the student financial aid offices of the colleges on your child’s list and get an accurate estimate of the cost of each institute. Most importantly, talk with your child. It is imperative your child learns the budgeting process as he will soon be managing his finances away from home. Set the budget and stick to it. Once you have a set budget, add wiggle room for other unforeseeable expenses. Make sure you set this budget realistically. Calculating the cost of pens and pencils may seem ludicrous, but if you’re on a tight budget, every expense counts. Get connected. Tracking your financial spending is easier than ever. From smart apps to free financial planning software, you can get an accurate financial report at any time. Research banks to determine which ones offer services to help you can stay on top of your budget. Also, consider linking your banking account with your child’s, to transfer funds easily online. Make a plan. When taking on debt, it is important to have a plan for paying it off. Calculate the monthly payments and time it will take your child to pay off the debt. Research salary ranges for the field in which your child plans to pursue a career to understand the debt she can realistically carry. Find more information and calculators to help determine payment schedules and interest rates at www.direct.ed.gov. Do your research. Before taking out a student loan, look to other options, such as financial aid and scholarships. While some scholarships are awarded on academic merit, others are given based upon both academic performance and community service. ForestersTM, a life insurance provider committed to the well-being of families and their communities, is one organization that provides a competitive scholarship program open to eligible members or their dependent children, including grandchildren, worth up to $8,000. Recipients can use the scholarship to attend accredited universities, colleges and vocational schools, as long as they are pursuing their first post-secondary degree or diploma. There are up to 350 Foresters Competitive Scholarships available in the US and Canada, including five Ken Peterson Awards for Community Service. These awards are worth up to $11,000. Learn more about the scholarship opportunities awarded by Foresters at www.foresters.com/membership/scholarships.asp.
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En un mercado mundial cada vez más competitivo, la educación está adquiriendo más y más importancia. Sin embargo muchas familias hallan el costo de la educación fuera de su alcance. Según un estudio conducido por el Departamento de Educación de Estados unidos, del año académico 02-2001 al 11-2010, el costo para asistir a una universidad estatal durante cuatro años aumentó en un 47,3 por ciento. Con los gastos de la educación siempre en aumento, muchas familias acumulan una deuda considerable, poniendo a los estudiantes en mayor desventaja. Sin embargo, con planificación y administración financiera, los estudiantes pueden controlar sus finanzas. A continuación algunos consejos para los padres de los futuros estudiantes universitarios. Inicie la conversación. Converse con otros padres, maestros y consejeros de orientación acerca del costo de la educación. Póngase en contacto con las oficinas de ayuda financiera para estudiantes de las universidades en la lista de su hijo y obtenga un estimado correcto del costo de cada instituto. Lo que es más importante, hable con su hijo. Es imprescindible que su hijo aprenda el proceso de preparar un presupuesto ya que muy pronto tendrá que administrar sus finanzas fuera del hogar. Establezca un presupuesto y ajústese al mismo. Una vez que tenga un presupuesto establecido, añada flexibilidad para otros gastos imprevisibles. Asegúrese de preparar este presupuesto de modo realista. El cálculo del costo de bolígrafos y lápices puede parecer ridículo, sin embargo si su presupuesto es limitado, todo gasto cuenta. Conéctese. Monitorear sus gastos financieros es más fácil que nunca. Desde las aplicaciones de los teléfonos inteligentes a software de planificación financiera gratuito, puede obtener un informe financiero correcto en cualquier momento. Haga una investigación en los bancos para determinar cuáles ofrecen servicios para ayudarle a mantenerse al tanto de su presupuesto. También, considere conectar su cuenta bancaria con la de su hijo, para transferir fondos online con facilidad. Haga un plan. Cuando se asume una deuda, es importante tener un plan para cancelarla. Calcule los pagos mensuales y el tiempo que le tomará a su hijo cancelar la deuda. Investigue las escalas de salario en el campo en el que su hijo planea seguir una carrera para comprender la deuda que pueden cumplir realísticamente. Puede encontrar más información y calculadores para ayudar a determinar los programas de pago y tasas de interés en, www.direct.ed.gov. Haga su investigación. Antes de sacar un préstamo de estudiante, fíjese en otras opciones, tales como ayuda financiera y becas. Aunque algunas becas se conceden en base al mérito académico, otras se conceden sobre la base tanto del rendimiento académico como de los servicios comunitarios. Foresters(TM), un proveedor de seguros de vida dedicado al bienestar de las familias y sus comunidades, es una organización que ofrece un programa de becas competitivas (1) abierto para los miembros elegibles y sus hijos dependientes, incluyendo los nietos, por un valor de hasta $8.000. Los beneficiarios pueden utilizar la beca para asistir a universidades acreditadas, colleges e institutos vocacionales, siempre y cuando estén estudiando para obtener su primer título o diploma post-escuela secundaria. Se ofrecen hasta 350 becas competitivas de Foresters, disponibles en Estados Unidos y Canadá incluyendo cinco Premios Ken Peterson a los servicios comunitarios. Estos premios tienen un valor de hasta $11.000. Para más información acerca de oportunidades de becas concedidas por Foresters visite, www.foresters.com/membership/scholarships.asp.
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P ARENTOWN’S K ID S HAPE Prevent Mosquito Bites Many people who are bitten by an infected mosquito won’t get sick; many others aren’t as lucky. Since 1999, more than 30,000 people in the United States have been reported as becoming sick with West Nile Virus. Occasionally, an infected person may develop a more severe disease such as “West Nile Encephalitis,” “West Nile Meningitis” or “West Nile Meningoencephalitis.” Encephalitis refers to an inflammation of the brain, meningitis is an inflammation of the membrane around the brain and the spinal cord and meningoencephalitis refers to inflammation of the brain and the membrane surrounding it. Almost 13,000 of the individuals who have been reported as having West Nile Virus since 1999 have been seriously ill, and more than 1,200 have died. Another problem in some parts of the United States and many places in the tropics is dengue. The World Health Organization estimates there may be 50-100 million dengue infections in the world every year. More than 2.5 billion people are at risk of getting infected with dengue virus. Think of repellent as you would an important article of clothing, and increase your chances of avoiding weeks (or even months) of aches and fatigue that come with West Nile fever, dengue fever or any number of other mosquito-borne diseases. More severe problems are posSource:www.cdc.gov/features/StopMosquitoes/
SEPTEMBER 2012
sible. Being hospitalized with swelling of the brain or even worse are possibilities from many of these diseases. What repellent should I use? The Center for Disease Control, located in Atlanta, Ga., recommends a variety of effective repellents. The most important step is to pick one and use it. There are those that can protect you for a short while in the backyard or a long while in the woods. DEET, Picaridin, IR3535 and the plant-based oil of lemon eucalyptus are all repellents recommended by the CDC. All contain an Environmental Protection Agency-registered active ingredients and have been studied to make sure they are effective and safe. When should you wear repellent? Mosquitoes can bite anytime. Most of the mosquitoes that carry West Nile Virus bite from around sundown to around sunup (throughout the night). Put a few bottles or packets of repellent around — in the car, by the door, in a purse or backpack. Where are mosquitoes a problem? Almost all of the continental United States has had reports of people becoming sick with West Nile Virus. But there are areas of the United States where people are more likely to get severely ill, and these areas can change from year to year.
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KIDSVILLE NEWS - PAGE 23