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Holiday Tips For All The holidays are an exciting time of year for kids, and to help ensure they have a safe holiday season, please watch your children during this holiday season to insure they have a safe and Merry Christmas Trees * When purchasing an artificial tree, look for the label "Fire Resistant." * When purchasing a live tree, check for freshness. A fresh tree is green, needles are hard to pull from branches and when bent between your fingers, needles do not break. The trunk butt of a fresh tree is sticky with resin, and when tapped on the ground, the tree should not lose many needles. * When setting up a tree at home, place it away from fireplaces, radiators or portable heaters. Place the tree out of the way of traffic and do not block doorways. Lights * Check all tree lights-even if you've just purchased them-before hanging them on your tree. Make sure all the bulbs work and that there are no frayed wires, broken sockets or loose connections. * Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become charged with electricity from faulty lights, and a person touching a branch could be electrocuted. * Before using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure they have been certified for outdoor use. To hold lights in place, string them through hooks or insulated staples, not nails or tacks. Never pull or tug lights to remove them. * Plug all outdoor electric decorations into circuits with ground fault circuit interrupters to avoid potential shocks. * Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house. The lights could short out and start a fire. Decorations * Use only non-combustible or flame-resistant materials to trim a tree. Choose tinsel or artificial icicles of plastic or nonleaded metals. * Never use lighted candles on a tree or near other evergreens. Always use non-flammable holders, and place candles where they will not be knocked over. * In homes with small children, take special care to avoid decorations that are sharp or breakable. Keep trimmings with small removable parts out of the reach of children to prevent them from swallowing or inhaling small pieces. Avoid trimmings that resemble candy or food that may tempt a young child to eat them. * Wear gloves to avoid eye and skin irritation while decorating with spun glass "angel hair." Follow container directions carefully to avoid lung irritation while decorating with artificial snow sprays. * Remove all wrapping papers, bags, paper, ribbons and bows from tree and fireplace areas after gifts are opened. These items can pose suffocation and choking hazards to a small child or can cause a fire if near flame. Toy Safety * Select toys to suit the age, abilities, skills and interest level of the intended child. Toys too advanced may pose safety hazards for younger children. * Before buying a toy or allowing your child to play with a toy that he has received as a gift, read the instructions carefully. * To prevent both burns and electrical shocks, don’t give young children (under age ten) a toy that must be plugged into an electrical outlet. Instead, buy toys that are battery-operated. * Children under age three can choke on small parts contained in toys or games. Government regulations specify that toys for children under age three cannot have parts less than 1 1/4 inches in diameter and 2 1/4 inches long. * Children can have serious stomach and intestinal problems – including death -- after swallowing button batteries and magnets. Keep them away from young children and call your health care provider immediately if your child swallows one. * Children under age 8 can choke or suffocate on uninflated or broken balloons. Remove strings and ribbons from toys before giving them to young children. * Watch for pull toys with strings that are more than 12 inches in length. They could be a strangulation hazard for babies. * Parents should store toys in a designated location, such as on a shelf or in a toy chest, and keep older kids’ toys away from young children. Food Safety * Bacteria are often present in raw foods. Fully cook meats and poultry, and thoroughly wash raw vegetables and fruits. * Be sure to keep hot liquids and foods away from the edges of counters and tables, where they can be easily knocked over by a young child’s exploring hands. Be sure that young children cannot access microwave ovens.. * Wash your hands frequently, and make sure your children do the same. * Never put a spoon used to taste food back into food without washing it. * Always keep raw foods and cooked foods separately, and use separate utensils when preparing them.

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Dear Kids, It’s the MOST wonderful time of the year! It’s December, and yes, it really is a wonderful time of year. To me, December means holidays (and that means presents!), winter weather and hot chocolate! Last week when I was hurrying around the mall, I saw people rushing around like crazy to buy presents and get places. I noticed that they didn’t seem so happy. And then I realized, there’s more to the holiday season than that. The holidays are also special times to spend time with your family and friends. I like to have a game night with my family around the ﬁreplace, complete with hot chocolate, of course. Don’t get me wrong; I do love presents, but sometimes it’s more important to give than to get. And a lot of times, you can give something you make yourself that will mean more to your family or friends than something you buy. This year, I challenge you to not get caught up in the Christmas craziness or the Hanukkah hurries. Instead, go back and read about the holiday you are celebrating. Remember the reason for the season. Slow down, spend time with your family and make something for someone. Come on, I dare you! Have a wonderful December! Your friend,

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Kidsville News!

Merry Christmas!

Christians all over the world celebrate December 25 as Christmas, the anniversary of the birth of Jesus Christ. Families usually have their own traditions around the holiday. They may decorate a Christmas tree, sing Christmas carols, have a big family meal, open gifts and go to church with the family. Some families include traditions from their ancestors, such as burning a Yule log, kissing under the mistletoe or burying good-luck trinkets in a cake. Have you ever wondered why we do some of the things we do during the holidays? The facts below just might explain a few of these holiday happenings! In places all over the world, gifts are often brought to children by a mysterious, magical figure. In the United States, Santa Claus is thought to bring the gifts. Santa is a jolly, fat fellow in a red suit with fur trim. The original Santa Claus is thought to have been Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop in Asia Minor who was famous for his generosity. He became the patron saint of children. The children of Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands still know him as Saint Nicholas. In the Middle Ages, a tree called the Paradise Tree, an evergreen hung with apples, was a prop in a play about Adam and Eve. People began to set up similar trees in their homes on December 24, the feast day of Adam and Eve. As the trees became more associated with Christmas, people added candles, cookies and other decorations. The Christmas-tree custom was introduced in the United States by German settlers in the 1700s. But they did not become popular until the mid-1800s, when a German prince, Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, married Queen Victoria of England and had a decorated Christmas tree set up in Windsor Castle. The first Christmas greeting card was designed in England in 1843 by an artist named John C. Horsley. The design showed a family party, with the words “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You” beneath. The song “Jingle Bells” was actually written as a song to celebrate Thanksgiving, not Christmas! It was written in 1850 by James Pierpont, and the original title was “The One Horse Open Sleigh.” It was written to honor sleigh races held in Massachusetts.

The Boston Tea Party was held on Dec. 16, 1773. Patriots protesting Great Britain’s taxes on America boarded a ship in Boston Harbor and dumped 350 chests of tea into the harbor. This was one of the events leading up to the American Revolution. The Bill of Rights, the first

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Winter Holidays Around the Globe

It’s easy to associate winter holidays with Christmas, Chanukah and New Year’s, but winter is host to many holidays across the globe. These holidays are wintertime traditions far and wide: * Chinese New Year: The most important of the traditional Chinese holidays, Chinese New Year is determined by the lunisolar Chinese calendar. In the Gregorian calendar, Chinese New Year falls on different dates each year, but always between January 21 and February 20. In 2011, the Chinese New Year will be celebrated on February 3. * Pancha Ganapati: This five-day Hindu festival celebrates the Lord Ganesha, Patron of Arts and Guardian of Culture. During each of the five days of Pancha Ganapati, which is celebrated from December 21 through December 25, a different spiritual discipline is focused on by the entire family. * Kwanzaa: Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration of African culture and heritage that begins the day after Christmas and continues to New Year’s Day. Kwanzaa was first celebrated from December 26, 1966, to January 1, 1967 and was initially an effort by professor Ron Karenga to create a specifically AfricanAmerican holiday. * Tu Bishvat: A minor Jewish holiday, Tu Bishvat usually occurs in late January or early February and celebrates the “New Year of the Trees.” Customs during Tu Bishvat include planting trees and eating dried fruits and nuts, in particular figs, dates, raisins, carob and almonds. The flowering of the almond tree coincides with Tu Bishvat throughout Israel, where the almond tree grows wild. Source: Metrocreativeconnection.com

10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, became effective on Dec. 15, 1791. The Wright Brothers achieved their first successful powered flight on Dec. 17, 1903, near Kitty Hawk, N.C. Wright Brothers Day is held each year on Dec. 17.

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UND THE W

Antarctica

On December 1, 1959, 12 nations agreed to declare Antarctica a scientific preserve. Now, 46 countries have signed the treaty. The treaty prohibits military actions and mineral mining and protects the continent for scientific research. Antarctica is the Earth’s southernmost continent, located at the South Pole. It is the fifth-largest continent, surrounded by the Southern Ocean, and is in the Southern Hemisphere. The continent is mostly covered by ice. There are no permanent human residents, but thousands of people live at research stations located there.

Mexico

During the week before Christmas (Navidad) Eve (Dec. 16-24), friends and families get together for a special celebration called Posadas. They form a parade, carrying candles and little dolls of the baby Jesus. They sing carols and walk to a neighbor’s house, commemorating Mary and Joseph’s journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. The happy end to each Posada is the pinata — a jar covered in paper mache and filled with goodies. It is traditionally made in the shape of a star to represent the star that guided the Three Kings to the baby Jesus.

Reindeer Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Cervidae

RLD

Canada

The Day after Christmas is a legal holiday known as Boxing Day in Canada, the United Kingdom and many other countries. It is thought that Boxing Day received its name because churches open the boxes of money, food and other items donated during the Christmas season and deliver them to the poor on this day. Another legend is that the name came from the old custom of noblemen giving their servants boxes with gifts on this day. People who performed public service often carried around boxes on the 26th to receive tips.

Legend has it that Santa and his team of reindeer fly through the sky on Christmas Eve delivering presents to good boys and girls. Because the reindeer is associated with Christmas, it’s a great month to learn more

about them. In North America, reindeer are called caribou. They are a species of deer found in the Arctic tundra and forests of Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Scandinavia and Russia. The tundra is a very harsh place to live. Tundra are cold, treeless plains in Arctic regions, where the ground is frozen. Reindeer are usually brown, and whitish in the winter. Male reindeer are also very large and can weigh 550 pounds

or more. They are known for their antlers. They are the only deer species in which both males and females have antlers. Males can grow antlers up to four and a half feet long! Their antlers fall off each year and they grow new ones. The new ones grow under a layer of fur called velvet. Forest reindeer usually live in groups of 6 to 13. Reindeer gather together into huge herds for migration to the tundra in the spring. The migration can be as far as 3,000 miles. The herds can include up to half a million reindeer. During the summer, reindeer eat grass, leaves and mushrooms. In the winter, they eat reindeer moss, which they find by digging in the snow. In some areas of the world, reindeer are used as pack animals to carry heavy loads. (But they don’t fly, as Santa’s reindeer are believed to!) Sometimes they are even used for riding. They also are used for milk. In some places, they are hunted for their meat, hide and antlers. Photos by Dean Biggins (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). Sources: Reindeer, Encyclopaedia Brittanica.

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WHERE IN THE WORLD IS... CHRISTMAS ISLAND?

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!

Did you know there's actually a place called Christmas Island? No, it's not in the North Pole, and no, it's not where all the misfit toys go. Pull out your globe and find coordinates 10'30º S and 105'40º E, and you’ll find Christmas Island! Christmas Island is a territory of Australia and is located in Southeast Asia in the Indian Ocean. Almost two-thirds of the island is a national park. Because it has been isolated and not disturbed by people, many of the plants and animals there are unique (or endemic) to the island. There are 16 plant species which are only found on Christmas Island and nowhere else. So why is an island off the coast of Australia called Christmas Island? Because it was discovered in 1643 on Christmas Day by Captain William Mynors on the Royal Mary of the British East India Company. The island was settled by the United Kingdom in 1888. It became a sovereign territory of Australia in 1958. Despite its name, the tiny island doesn't have very winter-like weather. It has warm tropical weather, with a wet season from December to April. Christmas Island is mainly a tropical rainforest with steep cliffs along the coast and a central plateau. Only about 1400 people live on the island. They are mostly Chinese, but some European and Malay people are Christmas Islanders. Most of the population came to the island as refugees. Sources: The World Factbook prepared by the Central Intelligence Agency.

Art Gallery Mark Tobey’s White Writing became interested in different religions and Eastern spirituality. His spiritual jourMark Tobey was an American painter. He was one of ney became a major focus in his artwork throughout his life. the founders of the Northwest School, a small art In the early 1920s, Mark moved out West, settling in movement heavily influenced by the natural settings of the Pacific Northwest the Seattle, Washington, area. There he dabbled in Chinese calligraphy and taught classes at the Cornish School of (mostly western Washington State) and Allied Arts. He also got the travel bug! In 1925, Mark Asian philosophies. set out for Paris. From there, he spent the next two years Mark George Tobey was born on traveling the Middle East and learning about Persian and December 11, 1890, in Centerville, Arabic art and writing. In 1928, he returned to Seattle Wisconsin, but moved to Chicago, Illinois, as a child. Mark’s father was briefly before moving to England until 1938. He also continued traveling to places like Asia, Mexico and across a carpenter who also enjoyed art. He the United States. In the early 1930s, he produced a carved animal figurines out of stone and would often draw outlines of animals on famous series of abstract paintings called “white writing” because they were covered in thin, white lines that wove in paper for Mark to cut out and play with and out of one another almost like very fine calligraphy. when he was a young boy. As Mark grew Over the course of his career, Mark showed his artolder, his own interest in art blossomed. work all over the world, even becoming the first American At 16, he started taking classes at the Art Institute of Chicago. He studied at to have a solo art exhibit at the Louvre Museum in Paris. the institute for two years. But, really, He traveled extensively, studying art and music wherever he landed. In 1960, Mark settled in Basel, Switzerland, Mark is considered a “self-taught” artwhere he lived until his death on April 24, 1976. ist because he spent much of his time teaching himself how to Written by Tamar Burris, a former elementary school paint and draw on his own. His work was largely abstract, which teacher who now works as a freelance writer and means that he focused on feelings and colors rather than the way things actually look in real life. curriculum developer for PBS, the Discovery Channel and “Canticle,” by Mark Tobey, 1954, When Mark was 21, he moved to New York. There he other education-related companies. Sources: Mark Tobey is an example of his style “White worked as an illustrator for a major magazine and painted Works and biography, http://www.guggenheim-venice.it/ Writing.” people’s portraits on the side. In 1917, he had his first art exhibit inglese/collections/artisti/tobey_bio.html; Mark Tobey on in New York City. In addition to beginning his art career in New York, Mark also Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Tobey.

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DECEMBER 2010

A COURIER?

It’s December, and the delivery trucks are busy getting gift packages delivered. In fact, FedEx delivers 223 million shipments between Thanksgiving and Christmas. I wonder what it’s like to have to deliver all of those packages! Derek Crowe is a courier with FedEx. He was born and raised in Pensacola, Florida, and lives there with his wife and infant son. He’s a graduate of the University of West Florida with a degree in Communications and has worked with FedEx for four years. He took some time out of his busy schedule (it is their busiest time of year!) to tell us about his job. TRUMAN: What does it take to become a courier with FedEx? DEREK: To become a courier for FedEx, you must be at least 21 years old and have a high school diploma or GED and a valid drivers license. No college is required, but education is always a plus. Having an outgoing personality is a perfect trait for couriers. To be successful in this position, you must be able to think fast and work as a team player. The operation is always changing, so being able to adapt to a situation is necessary. TRUMAN: When and why did you first become interested in this profession? DEREK: I became a member of the FedEx team on November 6, 2006. During my search for a job, I came across their job post. I knew FedEx was a good company and that there would be opportunities for career Derek Crowe has a busy month advancement. ahead of him delivering packages TRUMAN: So, what do you do each for FedEx. day? What’s a typical day like? DEREK: It’s different each day, but a typical day on the job for me goes something like this: At seven a.m., I punch in my timecard and gather my equipment. I then proceed to my vehicle. Depending on the route I am running that day, I could either be driving a truck, a sprinter (a taller, longer van with shelves) or a van. Once I am at my vehicle, I first look at the vehicle inspection report or VIR. I verify that the truck was in working order from the previous day, and that it is in good condition to drive again. After I inspect my vehicle, I stretch out my body and get my muscles warmed up for the day. Once our stretches are complete, we begin the sort. All of the packages move in what we call cans. During the sort, there is a group who unloads all the freight onto a conveyor belt. The packages then move down the belt and head to the couriers who are waiting to load their packages onto their trucks. This process usually takes about an hour and the whole time you are loading your truck and helping the couriers next to you load their truck. After all of the boxes have been unloaded, I place them in order on the shelves in the truck, and then I sort my document shipments, which have already been presorted earlier that morning. Finally, after all of that sorting, I have a route set up and am ready to start delivering. We deliver to many different places. I drive anywhere from 30 miles to 200 miles, depending on what route I am running. TRUMAN: How does the shipping process actually work? If a grandma in California sends a package to her grandson in North Carolina, how does it get there? DEREK: Well, the grandma could drop the package off at a FedEx Office where it would later be picked up by a truck around 5 p.m. and taken to the airport in California. At the airport, it would be sorted and put on a flight to one of our hubs, most likely the one in Memphis, Tenn., which is the home of FedEx. When it arrived in Memphis, usually around 11 p.m. at night, it would be taken off the plane and sorted for another flight headed to North Carolina. It would arrive in North Carolina very early in the morning, probably around 4 a.m., and it would then be sorted again based on the grandson’s zip code and put on a truck headed for that zip code. A courier like me would pick it up at one of the stations and take it to the grandson’s house, making it there by 10:30 a.m. the day after the grandmother sent it. TRUMAN: What is that scanner thing that you use? DEREK: The scanners we use are called PowerPads. They are basically a

DECEMBER 2010

computer that allows us to process every package we have. Once a scan is put on a package, the system can then tell a customer what the status of the package is. We use the PowerPads for all kinds of activities, such as entering our timecard codes, communicating with one another and seeing where we need to go to pick up a package. The PowerPads help make the deliveries and pick ups faster and easier. TRUMAN: What is the hardest part of your job? DEREK: Having to deliver in an area that I don’t know my way around is tough. Always having to look at a map can slow you down. TRUMAN: What is the best part of your job? DEREK: Probably the best part of my job is the people I work with. Everyone has their own personality, and the work environment is laid back. It is also nice seeing a person get excited when receiving a package, or seeing a sigh of relief when the recipient receives a package that they desperately needed. For instance, one time I delivered a wedding ring the morning of the wedding. Those people were both excited and relieved. TRUMAN: What do you do about dogs that want to eat you? DEREK: Fortunately, most of the dogs I do encounter are friendly. For the more aggressive dogs, I just keep my space and don’t go into the yard. Sometimes I will carry dog bones in my pocket. Some dogs may act tough, but when they find out you have snacks, they tend to change their feelings. Once there was a dog loose in the front yard of the house. As I approached the house, the dog began to growl at me. Keeping my distance, I threw the dog a bone. That kept the dog busy while I walked to the front door. Then as I was leaving, the dog started to growl at me again, so I gave it another bone so I could get by. It was like I was paying a toll. I have been bitten before by a chihuahua, but the bite was not severe at all. All I felt was a really good pinch on my lower leg. TRUMAN: What is the strangest package that you have delivered? DEREK: The weirdest package that I have delivered would have to be a black rubber swing that looked like a cow. We move many different items that are time sensitive, such as live plants, insects, coral and pet fish of all kinds. Once I delivered a box full of butterflies which were going to be released at a ceremony of some sort. FedEx has also made many special deliveries, such as moving two Giant Pandas from the zoo in D.C. to China and moving turtles from Alabama to Florida to keep them safe from the oil spill. TRUMAN: What is your favorite hobby or thing to do when you are not working? DEREK: I like to hang out with my family. I have a strong passion for music, so I enjoy playing the guitar and piano, or sometimes I prefer just to relax and listen to the radio. I also use spare time to take the family out on the town. Where I live, there is usually some kind of show or festival going on which provides good entertainment. TRUMAN: What’s your advice for kids who are interested in a job like yours? DEREK: Be safe. Remember when you are older and are driving, that a bad driving record does not look good when applying for this position. You also can’t have any kind of criminal record. TRUMAN: Thanks for talking with Kidsville News and for getting all of our packages delivered safely!

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KIDSVILLE NEWS - PAGE 7

Math Puzzler

Try to fill in the missing numbers. Use the numbers 1 through 9 to complete the equations. Remember: Each number is used only once. Each row is a math equation. Each column is a math equation. Remember that multiplication and division are performed before addition and subtraction.

December Word Find

Can you find all the words that have to do with December? ANTARCTICA CHANUKAH CHRISTMAS FAMILY

E Q K S N E H P L Y G R S U U

E E R T A A L S U X Z E T P D

L G U A A M Q T L S M I F Y Q

F A M I L Y T L A C D N I Q C

GIFTS PACKAGES REINDEER SANTA

B W A U S U O S H W G D G P N

A D N J Y H C G I L S E V Z O

Z U T L O K W H H R P E S R T

F F A M T L R S A A H R W Z T

G X R S A N T A C N B C S E Q

SNOW TOYS TREE WINTER

G J C K W N E K E Q U R D R D

G B T N I K A D I E E K G S N

A U I E C G G J E T K H A T I

G I C W E D D M N O S F G H M

A Z A S U A H I W O N S U I E

W T U O L S W B M Q S B Q Y W

Sports Should Be Fun! Fill-in-the-blanks with words from this list: Best Good sports 1. Games are more fun if everyone plays by the _________. 2. No one wants to play with a ________ __________. 3. ____________ can be hurt when someone is excluded from a game. 4. If you ________, your coach and teammates will be mad at you.

Friends Kind Rules Poor sport Feelings Cheat 5. Learn the rules and practice so you can do your _________. 6. Be _______ to someone who makes a mistake or misses a goal. 7. Good sports have more fun and more __________. 8. “Cool Kind Kids” are _________ __________. © Cool Kind Kid

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DECEMBER 2010

Coloring Corner Truman loves to sing! Do you have a favorite holiday song? Write a paragraph about it and ﬁnish coloring this picture!

Truman

Tru-

Truman’s Tricky Picture

Find these items! Be sure to find Truman’s hat! For more puzzles and games, visit www.kidsvillenews.com.

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KIDSVILLE NEWS - PAGE 9

Conservation o r n e r

Dreaming of a “Green” Christmas? Part II

During a season in which more is often more, it can be a challenge to cut back to protect the planet. But scaling back gifts, food consumption and travel can be effective ways to go green this holiday season. • Buy fewer gifts. Christmas gifts show others how much they are cared about. It’s easy to express how much you care without overdoing it. Set a limit on the number of gifts each recipient gets. • Organize a “Secret Santa.” An easy way to cut down on gifts purchased is to organize a Secret Santa or holiday grab bag. This means that each participating person has to purchase only one gift. • Be smart about wrapping. Chances are, there are plenty of items around the house that can be recycled into gift wrapping for presents. Foil, newspaper, comics, magazines and even brown mailing paper are all good ideas. For those interested in really going green, skip the wrapping all together. • Choose battery-free gifts. Discarded batteries are awful for the environment. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, about 40 percent of all battery sales occur during the holiday season. If batteries can’t be avoided, choose ones that can be recharged. • Recycle leftover materials. Chances are large gifts will have enough wrapping paper remaining to wrap other gifts next year. Avoid metallic paper, which is more difficult to recycle. Be sure to break down all cardboard and paper so that it can be put out for recycling. Sources: Metro Creative Connection.

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Story Time with Truman The Great Pirate Adventure

Chapter Four — “Pirates and More Pirates!”

A Quality Serials Story By Mary Maden Last Time: Chee Chee and Mort are hauled aboard Blackbeard’s pirate ship, Queen Anne’s Revenge. They met some captured sea turtles and learn that Blackbeard and another pirate, Stede Bonnet, blockaded Charleston Harbor. Suddenly, the ship runs aground with Mort, Chee Chee and the turtles on board! “We’ve struck ground!” Chee Chee cried. “Hurry!” Mort yelled. “We have to get out of here!” Mort, Chee Chee and the turtles scrambled out of the hold. Suddenly, they all skidded to an abrupt stop. There stood Blackeard himself! The fierce pirate had his back turned to them. Luckily, Blackbeard was so busy yelling and giving orders that he didn’t notice them. “Follow us!” Mort instructed the turtles. The frightened turtles followed Mort and Chee Chee as they stealthily crept behind Blackbeard. Quietly, they all slipped overboard. The turtles swam rapidly away from the ship. Chee Chee made his escape by riding on Mort’s back. “Whew! That was close!” the little monkey cried, holding on for dear life. “I don’t ever want to see another pirate as long as I live!” Mort declared. “Thank you!” all the sea turtles called out to them as they swam away. “You’re welcome!” Mort called back. All Chee Chee could say was, “Arghh!” With Chee Chee perched on top of his shell, Mort headed south to warmer waters. “Can’t you swim any faster?” Chee Chee complained. “I’ll never see dry land at this rate!” “Sorry,” Mort said, adding under his breath, “I have a good mind to give you a flip.” “What did you say?” Chee Chee asked. “I see a ship!” Mort yelled, hoping Chee Chee didn’t hear his flippant remark. The ship came alongside the pair. Chee Chee laid flat against Mort’s shell. “Are they pirates?” Chee Chee whispered. “I see two women on the deck,” Mort answered. “So they must not be pirates.” “I’m saved!” Chee Chee cried, standing on Mort’s back and waving his arms. The women on the ship threw a rope to Chee Chee. The little

monkey climbed aboard. “Me thanks to you kind ladies,” Chee Chee said, bowing and tipping his hat. Then Chee Chee noticed something different about the ladies. They were dressed like men ... and they carried big swords! Chee Chee also saw a man dressed in bright calico pants. It was the pirate, Calico Jack Rackham. The women were the pirate queens — Anne Bonny and Mary Reed! “Shiver me timbers! More pirates!” Chee Chee screamed, and ran to the back of the ship. He looked over the ship’s rail and spotted Mort swimming away. “Wait! Mort!” Chee Chee called out to the little turtle. “Wait for me!” Without thinking, the little monkey dove over the side and straight into the water! With a big, loud splash, Chee Chee hit the water. Down, down the little monkey sank. Mort heard the splash. He turned around just in time to see his friend vanish beneath the waves! Quickly, Mort dove under the water. Down he glided, swimming under the little monkey. With all his might, Mort pushed Chee Chee to the surface. “Are you okay? Chee Chee!” Mort cried. “Speak to me little buddy!” Chee Chee’s eyes fluttered open. “I hates water!” the little monkey groaned. Mort laughed with relief. Chee Chee was okay! “I’m tired of being a pirate,” Chee Chee declared. “I want to go home and stay on dry land. I’ll never go to sea again!” “Where’s home?” Mort asked. “Costa Rica,” Chee Chee answered. “I know the way,” Mort said. “I’ll take you there.” “Thanks!” Chee Chee said, adding. “And thanks for saving my life.” “What are friends for?” Mort responded. Author’s Note: Chee Chee did give up the pirating life and lived happily ever after. The pirates came to a bad end — as pirates are want to do. And as for Mort, well, because of his exciting Great Pirate Adventure, he went on to become the most famous sea turtle in all of sea turtle history!

A Teacher’s Guide to accompany this four-chapter story is available on the Kidsville News! website at www.KidsvilleNews.com.

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A Social Network for Satellites Walking home from school, Alex is lost in thought. He suddenly hears a strange sound from above. A bird? A squirrel? A small, red monkey? What? What’s a monkey doing here? he thinks. He grabs his cell-phone camera, snaps a picture, and sends it to three friends, texting them to come quickly. Alex and the monkey keep an eye each other. Soon, two of the friends approach. One also has a cell-phone camera. The other has a real camera that records videos with sound. Now, all three of them watch the monkey, recording photos, videos and monkey chirps. A monkey loose anywhere in the city is exciting. But bigger events happen around our planet every day. A “dead” volcano heats up. A wildfire threatens homes. A river overflows its banks. Often no one is around to see these events. Or they are stuck in the middle of it and can’t see how This picture of the Eyjafjallajökull Volcano in big it is. Iceland was made by the Advanced Land Imager Fortuon the Earth Observing 1 satellite, April 17, 2010. nately, many The colors have been enhanced to show details Earth-watching better. The light-blue area is the hot lava flow. satellites do see such events. They also tell their satellite “friends” to come and help them observe. All with no help from us humans. This system of satellite “friends” is called a Sensor Web. This useful technology started with some intelligent computer software that can figure out from a satellite picture whether something new and different is happening. It can then tell other satellites, as well as monitoring stations on the ground, to pitch in and help study the new event. So what’s the point? The satellites get right to work without being told. An intelligent Sensor Web gathers more information faster than if humans were in the loop. Also, future space missions will benefit. It will take an hour or more for signals to travel from Earth to, say, Jupiter’s mysterious moon Europa. NASA’s robotic space explorers will have to figure out for themselves what to observe and measure, rather than wait for directions from Earth. Back on Earth, one spacecraft often called on to take a better look at new events is Earth Observing 1 because its imagers have super-duper vision. Check out its amazing eyesight at http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/ kids/eo1_1.shtml. After spending the rest of the afternoon observing the monkey, Alex and his friends send their photos, videos and audio files to a primate scientist at the city zoo. Their observations make a valuable contribution to human understanding of these creatures. This article was written by Diane K. Fisher and provided courtesy of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

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Sports Should Be FUN!

By Barbara Gilmour We’ve been talking about ways to help a school be “cool.” Sports are a fun part of school. Tanner’s cousin Stephen is here with us today. Stephen loves all sports. He plays in school and in his neighborhood. Nicole, Carmen, Rudy and Truman the dragon all greeted Stephen and said, “We’re glad you’re here.” What are some things that make playing a sport fun? Tanner said, “Playing with friends. But don’t tell someone they can’t play if you don’t know them. Invite them to play and make a new friend.” “Excluding someone hurts his or her feelings,” said Truman. “That’s not what a ‘Cool Kind Kid’ would do,” Rudy added. “Sports can be fun and cool when we are kind to each other.” Nicole shared, “For a game to be fun, everyone has to play fair.” What do you think it means to play fair? Carmen said, “Following the rules and playing by them.” Rudy added, “It’s fair to take turns, share and not cheat.” “Give everyone a chance to do their best,” Stephen said. Tanner added, “Yes, like not playing favorites.” What would you put into a “Cool Player’s Pledge?” Rudy jumped up and cheered, “Go Team! Be a good team player.” Tanner said, “Learn the rules and practice.” Nicole said, “Don’t brag when you win. Nobody likes a showoff.” Stephen added, “Listen to the coach and accept officials’ rulings.” Those help us be good sports. Truman said, “Good sports congratulate the winners, even if we’re bummed that we lost the game.” Tanner added, “Shake their hands with a smile and tell them they played a great game.” Rudy said, “Good sports don’t blame others or make excuses when they lose. Good sports accept the loss and say, ‘Next time we’ll do better.’” Nicole added, “Good sports are ‘Cool Kind Kids’ who show respect to coaches, officials and teammates.” Truman was very quiet for a while, so the kids asked him what was wrong. He said sadly, “I love to play soccer, but there aren’t any soccer teams for dragons. Some kids let me play with them, but when I hit the ball with my tail they make fun of me. They say ‘that’s not allowed.’” Stephen reached up and put his hand on Truman’s shoulder, which was as far as he could reach, and said, “I know how it feels to do something wrong when playing a sport. It hurts when kids tease me and makes me feel awful.” Kids who do things like that are called “poor sports.” Tanner said, “If you’re a poor sport, no one will want to play with you or be on your team.” Carmen added, “I’ve seen the coach and other players be mad at a kid who was a poor sport.” That won’t make you feel confident about playing or about being friends with your teammates. The kids invited Truman to play soccer with them, adding a new rule that allowed hits by his tail. They are learning that “Cool Kind Kids” are good sports. Barbara Gilmour, Tanner’s grandmom, is the creator and developer of the Tanner’s Manners: Be a “Cool Kind Kid” Social Skills, Character Values and AntiBullying educational materials and the award-winning “Cool Kind Kid” Audio CD. She also writes the Children’s Manners Blog, offering tips for teaching your children manners. http://childrenmanners.blogspot.com. The “Cool Kind Kid” team is committed to helping kids reject bullying by offering them the social skills tools they need to redefine “cool.” © Cool Kind Kid. 866-KID-KIND. www.CoolKindKid.com

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DECEMBER 2010

Red, White & True Mysteries Thomas Rolfe Is Forgotten, But His Mother’s a Legend

Thomas Rolfe was the product of what is probably the first interracial marriage in U.S. history. But that’s not his claim to fame. Actually, he never became famous, but his mother sure did. At a time when the country was at war in the 1600s, it was Thomas Rolfe’s mother who helped bring about temporary peace at Jamestown, Virginia. The long-running wars between the native Indians and the British colonists, known as the Anglo-Powhatan wars, occurred near Jamestown in the 1600s. The first war lasted from 1610 until 1614, while the second war lasted from 1644 to 1646. The second war is the one which forced the Indians from their land. In 1613, the English colonists captured the princess daughter of the Powhatan tribe’s chief and held her captive for nearly a year, causing an immediate ceasefire. When they finally met up with the Powhatan chief, whose name was Chief Powhatan, the English and the Indians arranged for the daughter to marry the Englishman John Rolfe. The marriage improved relations between the English and the natives significantly, at least until the second Anglo-Powhatan war. Her given name was Matoaka, but she took the name of “Rebecca” when she was baptized in 1612. If this cast of characters’ names hasn’t confused you enough by now, then here’s one more: She is known throughout history not as Matoaka nor as Rebecca, but by a nickname that was given to her as a child. Rebecca and John Rolfe, along with their infant son Thomas, traveled to England in 1616 to meet with British royalty in order to raise money and attract new settlers to the Virginia colony.

DECEMBER 2010

Thomas returned to Virginia nearly 20 years later and married Jane Poythress. By this time, his grandfather Chief Powhatan had died and the chief’s brother had succeeded him as the new chief. Rather than joining with the Powhatan Indians, Thomas joined the English military where, ironically, he helped take control of the land previously owned by the Powhatan Indians. Despite this, his mother is one of the most well-known Indians in history. OK, so you probably don’t remember studying about the Anglo-Powhatan wars in history class, but they did happen. There are probably a lot of things that you don’t remember from history class, but that doesn’t mean that they didn’t happen. Thomas’s father John also played a role in history. John Rolfe was one of the first to introduce tobacco to the colonies. Thirteen years after John died, Thomas returned to the Virginia colony and took over his father’s tobacco plantation. It was Thomas’ mother who became a household name, though. Her legacy included descendents such as President Thomas Jefferson’s son-in-law Thomas Mann Randolph, Jr. (who married Martha Jefferson) and President Woodrow Wilson’s wife, Edith. I mentioned earlier that she went by a nickname that was given to her as a child. Her birth name was Matoaka, her Christian name was Rebecca; then she became Rebecca Rolfe when she married. But you remember her as Pocahontas. © 2010 Paul Niemann. This story is part of the Red, White & True Mysteries series by author Paul Niemann. For more information, please visit www.InventionMysteries.com.

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KIDSVILLE NEWS - PAGE 17

AT THE MOVIES The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (In Theaters: December 10) Legendary British filmmaker Michael Apted brings to life C.S. Lewis’s epic fantasy about the worldtraveling adventures of brother and sister Edmund and Lucy Pevensie, and their nervous cousin Eustace. An innocent-looking painting on a wall releases a flood of water that sweeps up the children and transports them to a strange world and onto an ancient Narnian ship called the Dawn Treader. King Caspian is there to greet his old friends. Along with the mighty lion Aslan, the tricky warrior mouse Reepicheep, Tavros the Minotaur and the devious White Witch (Tilda Swinton), the children must use all their bravery to save Narnia from a terrible end. State-of-the-art special effects promise to make Voyage of the Dawn Treader a fantasy movie to remember. Rated PG for some frightening images and sequences of fantasy violence. (Fox Walden) Tron: Legacy (In Theaters: December 17) Jeff Bridges comes back to his role as powerful video-game developer Kevin Flynn, from the first groundbreaking 1982 science fiction adventure movie Tron, in this Disney sequel. Kevin’s 27-year-old son Sam discovers a computer message that draws him inside a weird digital universe where his dad has been held prisoner for more than 20 years. There Sam meets computer program warrior Quorra (Olivia Wilde), an expert at traversing the complicated cyber creation where super-fast vehicles are part of the neon-lit futuristic landscape created by Sam’s dad. The “grid” is a fascinating place of never-ending possibility and danger where Kevin Flynn’s self-styled creation has rebelled against him. Sam will have to prove himself as a cyber gladiator to have any hope of helping his father escape. If you thought the spaceship chases in Star Wars were cool, you haven’t seen anything yet. Rated PG for action and some language. (Disney Pictures)

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Yogi Bear (In Theaters: December 17) Happy-go-lucky bears Yogi (voiced by Dan Aykroyd) and BooBoo Bear (voiced by Justin Timberlake) have it made in the shade stealing picnic food from travelers in Jellystone Park when they aren’t doing fun things like “borrowing” a motorboat for a little waterskiing exercise. However, not as many human visitors are coming to visit the park’s great, big outdoors, so the Mayor wants to shut it down and sell the land. Yogi and Boo-Boo Bear decide to make a truce with their human rival Ranger Smith (Tom Cavanagh) and team up and save the wilderness they call home. Yogi might be “smarter than the average bear,” but he’ll have to prove he’s able to do more than steal food if Jellystone Park is to last another 100 years. Rated PG for some mild rude humor. (Warner Bros. Pictures)

Gulliver’s Travels (In Theaters: December 22) New York mail-room-clerk-turned-travel-writer Lemuel Gulliver (Jack Black) worms his way into a writing assignment in Bermuda. It seems there is a man there who claims to hold the secret to the Bermuda Triangle. Gulliver’s boat ride goes upside-down and places him on an island called Lilliput that’s full of miniature people called Lilliputians. Grabbing the opportunity to lord over the little people as their “hero,” Gulliver claims to be “Manhattan’s President-the-Awesome,” with Yoda as his Vice President. Gulliver befriends little Horatio (Jason Segel) and advises him on winning the hand of the lovely princess Mary (Emily Blunt). Adapted from Jonathan Swift’s classic novel, Gulliver’s Travels is an interesting fantasy story about a man who learns to see the world in a very different way. Rated PG. (20th Century Fox) Cole Smithey, also known as “the smartest film critic in the world,” has been a film critic for 11 years and writes for over 50 publications, in print and on-line. Truman loves to watch movies and has the highest appreciation for great popcorn.

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DECEMBER 2010

KIDSVILLE KITCHEN

Together Time — Ask an adult for help with projects!

Ham It Up with Green Eggs and Ham

“Do you like green eggs and ham?” 2010 marked the 50th Anniversary of Dr. Seuss’s classic book. To answer the enduring question and celebrate the 50th anniversary of Green Eggs and Ham, The National Pork Board teamed up with celebrity chefs Michael Symon and Melissa d’Arabian to bring the story to life with tasty new recipes inspired by the book. Try this fun recipe on a relaxing holiday morning and reread Green Eggs and Ham with your family!

GREEN EGGS AND HAM MINI TARTLETS Yield: 4 servings Prep time: 30 minutes Cooking time: 12 to 14 minutes WHAT YOU NEED: • 1/3 cup finely chopped fully cooked ham • 4 1/2-inch-thick slices soft white sandwich bread, crusts removed • 2 tablespoons butter, softened • 1/2 cup frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry • 2 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, softened • 3 tablespoons grated fresh Parmesan cheese • 1 teaspoon 2% milk • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder • 4 medium eggs • Freshly ground black pepper

December Word Find

Can you find all the words that have to do with December?

E Q K S N E H P L Y G R S U U

E E R T A A L S U X Z E T P D

L G U A A M Q T L S M I F Y Q

F A M I L Y T L A C D N I Q C

B W A U S U O S H W G D G P N

Z U T L O K W H H R P E S R T

F F A M T L R S A A H R W Z T

G X R S A N T A C N B C S E Q

G J C K W N E K E Q U R D R D

G B T N I K A D I E E K G S N

A U I E C G G J E T K H A T I

G I C W E D D M N O S F G H M

A Z A S U A H I W O N S U I E

W T U O L S W B M Q S B Q Y W

Math Puzzler

HOW TO MAKE IT: • Preheat oven to 375°F. Press white bread with palm of hand until flat and doughy, and butter both sides. Gently place in 2 1/2-inch muffin cups or 4-ounce ramekins, pressing to form 4 individual tartlet crusts. • Mix spinach, cream cheese, Parmesan cheese, milk and garlic powder in small bowl; set aside. • To assemble tarts: Divide ham among the 4 bread cups in muffin cups. Crack 1 egg into each tartlet crust, season with pepper and top with a generous spoonful of spinach mixture. Bake in oven for 12 to 14 minutes or until egg whites are firm, but yolks are still moist. Cool slightly. If using muffin cups, remove from cups to serve. Recipe courtesy of Melissa d’Arabian and Family Features. For more information, including Green Eggs and Ham recipes from Mitzi Dulan, RD, CSSD, and top food blogger Jaden Hair, visit www.TheOtherWhiteMeat.com.

Sports Should Be Fun Answer Key: 1. Rules 2. Poor sport 3. Feelings

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P ARENTOWN’S K ID S MART Ensuring Your Future Financial Health As we slowly make our way out of one of the worst economic recessions since the 1920s, several recent surveys conducted over the last year have revealed some sobering statistics surrounding the state of basic financial knowledge about money and debt among teens and young adults in the United States. According to a 2008 study of college students sponsored by the National Association of Retail Collection Attorneys: • 31% of students polled do not worry about debt, believing that they can pay it back once they are out of school and earning a regular paycheck. • More than 25% think it is reasonable to run up a debt to splurge on a special celebration with friends at a restaurant or to use a credit card as a way to “raise cash.” • An average of 23% chooses to ignore overdraft penalties and the prospect of months or years of paying off a debt incurred for a moment of fun. A 2008 survey by The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.: • 55% of parents with children aged 16-24 voiced concern over their children’s ability to become financially independent without monetary assistance from them. • Nearly 72% of the parents surveyed acknowledged that they are their children’s primary source of personal financial education, although 44% admit to needing more guidance on how best to teach their children the skills necessary to become financially responsible and successful adults. In a nutshell, basic and essential financial concepts are not getting through to the next generation. Unless steps are taken now to close this “financial literacy gap” millions of young people will be unprepared to weather the next economic downturn. There are three components vital to the success of their financial future. Spending Plan This is where the importance of having a budget comes into play. The foundation of any solid financial plan begins with having a budget or spending plan in place. You want to look at actual take-home pay for various salaries and tracking living expenses such as rent/mortgage, food, utilities, car note, insurance, etc. Saving Plan The importance of having an emergency fund in place is essential, considering the current state of the economy and unemployment statistics. You need at least 3-6 months of living expenses put away. Investing Plan Investing is a key component in building personal wealth. Save for your retirement. Look at it this way: let’s say you want to live on $50,000 annually once you retire. That means for every 10 years you spend in retirement, you need $500,000. Don’t put off saving for retirement. Look at it this way: for every year you delay saving for retirement, you add that number of years to your continuing to have to work. Save for college, if you can. Remember, you can borrow to pay for college; you cannot borrow to pay for retirement. A retirement savings study: In 2009, a study released by Ariel/Hewitt shows the 401(k) savings disparities across racial and ethnic groups. They call it “A Simmering Crisis.” Take a look at some of the numbers: African American Asian Hispanic White 401(k) Plan Participation 66% 76% 65% 77% Percentage With Loans 39% 16% 29% 21% Hardship Withdrawals 7.8% 2.0% 3.4% 2.1% The racial and ethnic differences identified in savings behavior are a wake-up call. The answer is not a simple, singular action. We need to balance the remedies with reality. However, failure to act could create a future in which American workers will be financially insecure, which ultimately affects society as a whole.

Keva Sturdevant is the founder of Born To Save, a nonprofit based in Washington, D.C., with the mission of teaching kids of all ages the importance of saving and investing. Our goal is to begin conversations about money between parents and their kids in households across America. In an effort to foster those conversations, we grant actual shares of stock to kids across the country. Born To Save grants one share of stock per month by randomly selecting one winner to those who register on our Website at www.BornToSave.org.

DECEMBER 2010

Asegurar Su Futura Salud Financiera Conforme salimos lentamente de una de las peores recesiones económicas desde 1920, varias encuestas recientes conducidas durante el año pasado, revelaron algunas estadísticas acerca del estado de conocimiento financiero básico sobre el dinero y las deudas entre adolescentes y adultos jóvenes en Estados Unidos. Según un estudio conducido en el 2008 de estudiantes universitarios patrocinado por la Asociación Nacional de Abogados de Colección al por menor: • 31% de los estudiantes examinados no se preocupan por sus deudas, creen que lo pueden pagar una vez que salgan de la escuela y empiecen a ganar un cheque regular. • Más del 25% piensan que es razonable aumentar sus deudas para derrochar en una celebración especial con los amigos en restaurantes o utilizar su tarjeta de crédito como manera de aumentar su efectivo. • Un promedio de 23% elije ignorar las penas de saldo descubierto y el prospecto de meses o años de saldar deudas incurridas en un momento de diversión. En una encuesta hecha por Hartford Financial Services, Inc. En el 2008: • 55% de los padres que tienen hijos entre las edades de 16-24 expresaron preocupación acerca de la inhabilidad de que sus hijos se hagan financieramente independientes, sin la constante asistencia monetaria de los padres. • Cerca del 72% de los padres examinados reconocieron que son el recurso primario de la educación de fianzas personales de sus hijos, aunque un 44% admitieron necesitar ayuda para enseñar a sus hijos las habilidades necesarias para ser financieramente responsables y ser adultos acertados. En pocas palabras, conceptos financieros básicos y esenciales no se están pasando de generación en generación. Al menos de que se tomen medidas ahora para cerrar el “vacío de la instrucción financiera” millones de jóvenes no van a estar preparados para enfrentar el siguiente descenso económico. Hay tres componentes vitales para el éxito de su futuro financiero. Plan de gastos Aquí es donde tener un presupuesto entra en juego. La fundación de cualquier plan financiero sólido comienza con tener un presupuesto o un plan de gastos. Tienes que ver la paga que se lleva a casa de varios sueldos y seguir los costos de vivienda como: Renta/hipoteca, comida, utilidades, pagos de carro, seguro, etc. Plan de Ahorro Es importante tener un fondo de emergencia, es esencial considerando el estado de la económica y las estadísticas del desempleo. Necesitas tener por lo menos de 3-6 meses de gastos de vivienda ahorrados. Plan de Inversión La inversión es un componente clave para construir la riqueza personal. Ahorrar para el retiro. Mírelo de esta manera, digamos que quieres vivir de $50,000 anuales después de retirarse. Esto significa que por cada diez años que pase retirado, necesita $500,000. No retrase el ahorrar para su retiro. Mírelo de esta manera, por cada año que retrase el ahorrar para su retiro, tiene que sumar un año más de trabajo. Si puede ahorre para la universidad. Recuerde, puede pedir préstamos para pagar la universidad, pero no puede pedir préstamos para su retiro. Un estudio sobre los ahorros de retiro: En el 2009 un estudio lanzado por Ariel/ Hewitt muestra las disparidades de ahorros del 401(k) a través de grupos raciales y étnicos. Lo llaman “Una crisis que hierve a fuego lento.” Checa algunos de los números:

Afro-Americanos Asiaticos Participation en el Plan 401(k) 66% 76% Porcentaje con Prestamos 39% 16% Retiros con dificultad 7.8% 2.0%

Hispanos 65% 29% 3.4%

Blancos 77% 21% 2.1%

Las diferencias raciales y étnicas identificadas en el comportamiento de los ahorros es una llamada de atención alarmante. La respuesta no es tan simple como una acción singular. Necesitamos balancear los remedios con la realidad. Sin embargo, no actuar puede crear un futuro en el que los trabajadores Americanos pueden estar financieramente inseguros, que ultimadamente afecta a la sociedad en conjunto.

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KIDSVILLE NEWS - PAGE 21

2010

SUPERSTRUCTS CUSTOM KITS Ages: 3 & Up Price: From $9.95 Parents’ Choice Recommended Manufacturer: WABA Fun, LLC www.superstructs.com An update to Superstructs’ versatile building sets, Superstructs Custom Kits allow gift givers to compile a set of models and ship them together in a personalized box printed with a child’s name and one of several messages, ranging from “Way to Go!” to “Happy Birthday.” Building sets include a vehicle-oriented themes, such as a dune buggy, forklift, jet, motorcycle and more. DR. SEUSS WHAT’S IN THE CAT’S HAT? Ages: 3 & Up Price: $19.99 Parents’ Choice Silver Manufacturer: I Can Do That! Games presented by The Wonder Forge, LLC www.icandothatgames.com Guess what’s hidden in the Cat’s hat? In this Dr. Seuss-inspired game, children take turns hiding household items in the hat as other players work through question cards and action cards that suggest that they feel, smell, or touch the object, all in an effort to guess what’s in the Cat’s Hat. RECYCLED CARDBOARD DOLLHOUSE Ages: 4 & Up Price: $29.99 Parents’ Choice Silver Manufacturer: Creativity for Kids www.creativityforkids.com The Recycled Cardboard Dollhouse is a wonderful art project for a range of ages. The package wastes

nothing — even the box itself becomes part of the house. Children will love putting it together, decorating it and using it as a set for days of play. ORBO Ages: 4 & Up Price: $9.99 Parents’ Choice Recommended Manufacturer: Popular Playthings www.popularplaythings.com

Budding bug collectors will love this toy. From the microscope to the red “laser” pointer, the bug vacuum makes easy work of capturing and observing a variety of insects. Bugs can be set free with a simple twist of a dial.

The Orbo is studded with 12 holes, each outlined with a different color. Marble-sized spheres of corresponding colors peek out from 11 of the holes. The twelfth is empty so players can snap a neighboring ball into the interior in a series of moves to randomly rearrange the mini-balls. The object then is to return them to their original conformation, enjoying all the satisfying clicks along the way. HEXBUG NANO Ages 5+ Price: $9.99 Parents’ Choice Approved Manufacturer: Innovation First International www.innovationfirst.com

CLASSIC WOOD CRAFTS Ages: 5 & Up Price: $29.99 Parents’ Choice Recommended Manufacturer: Creativity for Kids www.creativityforkids.com

Release the Hexbug from its home tube, put it on the ground and watch it come alive and move like the real thing – scurrying across the floor and doing its best not to bump into walls or obstacles. Using a product code unique to each Hexbug, kids can go online to discover a world of problemsolving challenges in the Hexbug “factory.”

In addition to over four hundred pieces of wood, this kit includes feathers, chenille stems, cotton and elastic string and wooden people and beads. Glue, paints, paint brushes, a marker and sand paper round out the necessary supplies for making lasting wooden crafts. Crafters can follow the idea pages, or let their imaginations be their guide.

BACKYARD SAFARI OUTFITTERS LAZER BUG VACUUM Ages: 5 & Up

Wild Cards are durable, cleverly packaged, beautifully printed cards that are loaded with learning and filled with fun. Deck themes include

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Price: $19.99 $ Parents’ Choice Recommended Manufacturer: Summit Products LLC summit.38pages.com

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WILD CARDS Ages: 6 & Up Price: $10.95 Parents’ Choice Silver Manufacturer: Bird Cage Press www.BirdcagePress.com

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DECEMBER 2010

Dogs, Cats, Baby Animals and Dinosaurs. Each set comes with a fact-filled illustrated booklet offering additional information about the creatures shown on each card.

U-BUILD CONNECT FOUR Ages: 6 & Up Price: $19.99 Parents’ Choice Silver Manufacturer: Hasbro Games www.hasbro.com The classic Connect Four board game has been refreshed with a pinball-like playing area that children must build in order to play. A system of ramps leading to chutes topped with movable bumpers that guide checkers to a grid at the bottom. Players compete to be first to line up four of their checkers in a row. ECO KIT TYRANNOSAURUS Ages: 6 - 12 yrs. Price: $19.99 Parents’ Choice Recommended Manufacturer: iLot 307 www.ilot307.com Made from environmentally friendly materials, this kit comes with directions and pieces to construct a Tyrannosaurus model in multiple poses. Unlike other puzzles, this 3-D version will be ready for hours of imaginative play. ANIMAL MASTERMIND TOWERS Ages: 6 & Up Price: $11.99 Manufacturer: Pressman Toys pressmantoy.com Both players secretly stack their animal tiles into their towers. Players take turns asking ask a yes or no question like, “Is the lion below the giraffe?” The game is over when one player successfully guesses the order of the other’s tower.

DECEMBER 2010

FEROCIOUS CREATURES Ages: 7 & Up Price: $29.99 Parents’ Choice Recommended Manufacturer: LEGO Systems, Inc. http://www.lego.com For LEGO aficionados ready for a challenge, this set makes a crocodile, a dinosaur or a sea monster. Connecting cords allow children to move the creatures like puppets. Kids over seven should require no help and will have as much fun building the toys as playing with them, and then re-building them into newly imagined creatures with pieces from other LEGO sets. Q-BITZ Ages: 8 & Up Price: $24.95 Parents’ Choice Gold Manufacturer: MindWare www.mindware.com Created for keen observers who thrive on solving visual and spatial puzzles, Q-bitz players compete to arrange their sixteen cube pieces to match a pattern on a challenge card. Whoever matches and collects the most cards wins. FASHION ANGELS FASHION DESIGN SILK SCREEN SUPER SET Ages: 8 & Up Price: $24.99 Parents’ Choice Recommended Manufacturer: Fashion Angels Enterprise www.fashionangelsenterprises.com For ‘tweens and teens in need of a fashion fix, the Silk Screen Super Set includes a silk screen machine, stencils, fabric paints, a paint brush, squeegee, silk material, t-shirt sketch pad, design sheet, colored sequins, design guide and more. A fun way to revive and recycle clothing and accessories.

Manufacturer: Crorey Creations Inc. www.myfbm.com This self-contained, easily-stored or carried craft kit, features: fifty-six threads pre-cut to 60” length in 14 colors, an adjustable butterfly clip for securing string during the knotting process, string holders to prevent tangling, and instructions. The mechanism is easy to use and can create bracelets of various lengths and widths. RUBIK’S SLIDE Ages: 8 & Up Price: $19.99 Parents’ Choice Silver Manufacturer: Techno Source www.technosourcehk.com/ With two ways to play and over ten thousand challenges, Rubik’s Slide is a 21st-century variation on the classic cube puzzle. Nine backlit squares arranged in a three-by-three formation must be twisted and slid until they match a target pattern.

About this Guide For the past four years, Kidsville News! has partnered with Parents’ Choice to bring you the “Not-Your-Ordinary-Gift Guide” as a service to help parents and grandparents find quality toys and games for their young ones. Established in 1978, Parents’ Choice is the nation’s oldest nonprofit guide to quality children’s media and toys. The Parents’ Choice Awards program honors the best material for children: books, toys, music and storytelling, magazines, software, videogames, television and websites. Parents’ Choice Foundation’s panels of educators, scientists, performing artists, librarians, parents and, yes, kids themselves, identify the very best products for children of different ages and backgrounds, and of varied skill and interest levels. For the complete Parents’ Choice 2010 Holiday Guide, visit www.parentschoice.org. The Foundation’s purpose is to search out and recommend products that help kids grow — imaginatively, physically, morally and mentally — fairly priced products that are fun, safe and socially sound.

MY FRIENDSHIP BRACELET MAKER Ages: 8 - 12 yrs. Price: $24.99 Parents’ Choice Approved

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hosc@charter.net

r e t n e C e c n e i c S n Hands o Happenings

931-455-8387

vd.. hell Blvd 101 Mitche 88 8 73 38 37 ma, TN 3 laho hom ullla TTu www.hosc.org

Museum Hours

MONDAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CLOSED TUESDAY - SATURDAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 - 5 PM SUNDAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 - 5 PM

Birthday Parties at the HOSC... Are fun for the kids and easy on the parents! Includes the party room for 1.5 hours & admission for 15 children.

For more details, visit www.hosc.org or call 931-455-8387

ADMISSION

Members - $50 per year.

Membership includes free admission to HOSC and other science centers, 10% OFF in the gift shop, discounts on birthday parties, programs and special events!

Adults $5.00 - Seniors $4.00 - Children $5.00 Children 2 years & under are free

HANDS-ON SCIENCE CENTER’S EVENTS AND NEWS... HONEY BAKED HAM CHRISTMAS FUNDRAISER Last day to order is Dec. 20th. Hams can be picked up at the Hands-On Science Center Thursday, Dec. 23rd from 10-5 PM. Ham: Spiral Cut. Honey Glazed. Fresh not frozen. Small half Ham - $44, serves 12. Large half Ham - $49, serves 16. Whole Ham - $89. Small boneless Ham $29, 3-4 lbs. Turkey Small boneless Turkey Breast - $29.

SHOP CHILD FREE! Christmas Childcare Weekends December 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19

12:30 - 4:30 PM $20

WIZARD CIRCLE CORPORATE SPONSORS

Ascend Federal Credit Union Thank u! Cubic Transportation • Jacobs o Goodrich Landing Gear • ATA Y

Family Memberships - $50/year

MAKES A GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFT! This page proudly sponsored by:

CLOSED CHRISTMAS EVE CLOSED CHRISTMAS DAY Call for reservations

SHOP THE HOSC GIFT SHOP FOR UNIQUE CHRISTMAS GIFTS.......

SANTA DOES! *HOSC is a non-profit organization with all proceeds going to up keep of the center.

2002 Hillsboro Blvd. Manchester, TN

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DECEMBER 2010