P ARENTOWN’S K ID S HAPE
Playground Safety February is Safety Awareness Month, and playgrounds can be a major source of injuries for children. Each year, more than 200,000 children visit hospital emergency rooms because of playground injuries. Many playground injuries can be prevented. Use this guide to examine your children’s playground so that they can run, jump, swing and slide to their heart’s content — safely. Soft surface Because nearly 79 percent of playground injuries are caused by falls to the ground, improper surfacing is the first thing parents should watch for when they inspect a playground. Wood chips, bark mulch, wood fibers, sand, pea gravel, shredded tires and rubber mats cushion falls well. Avoid concrete, grass and dirt; they’re too hard. A minimum depth of 12 inches of material surrounding each piece of equipment in a 6-foot fall zone is recommended. And regular maintenance is also crucial, if not daily, then at least monthly. Swings Swings are the pieces of moving equipment that are most likely to cause injuries to children. Animal swings have caused several deaths and should be removed from playgrounds. Metal or wooden seats should be replaced with soft seats. Swings should be set far enough away from other equipment so that children won’t be hit by a moving swing. Only two swings should be in each supporting framework, and they should be at least 24 inches apart. Full-bucket seats are recommended for younger children. Half-bucket seats are dangerous because babies and toddlers can slide out of them. Smooth sliding Slides should be well anchored and have firm handrails and good traction on the steps. There should be no gaps between the slide itself and the platform. There should also be a bar at the top of the slide so that children have to sit before they go down. One of the greatest dangers with slides occurs when drawstrings on children’s clothes get caught at the top of the slide. Although most children’s clothing manufacturers have quit making drawstrings, many children have older clothes. Safe seesaws and merry-go-rounds Spring-loaded seesaws are best for young children. Avoid adjustable seesaws with chains because children can crush their hands under the chains. A traditional type seesaw should have a tire or some other object under the seat to keep it from hitting the ground. Merry-go-rounds, or “whirls” or “roundabouts,” are best for school-age children. They should have good handgrips, and the rotating platform should be level, free of sharp edges and with adequate clearance to prevent crushing or severing limbs. Climb carefully Forty percent of all playground injuries are related to climbing equipment. More children are injured falling off climbing equipment or horizontal ladders than anything else on the playground. Children under 4 shouldn’t play on this equipment. However, climbers are great for encouraging upper body strength. Watch older children when they’re climbing, check that steps and handrails are in good condition and make sure a guardrail or barrier surrounds raised platforms. Any climbing ropes should be secured at the top and bottom. Information and recommendations are compiled from sources believed to be reliable. The National Safety Council makes no guarantee as to and assumes no responsibility for the correctness, sufficiency or completeness of such information or recommendations. Other or additional safety measures may be required under particular circumstances.
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KIDSVILLE NEWS - PAGE 3
Connections “A person’s a person, no matter how small.” These are words written by Theodor Seuss Geisel. You might know him better as Dr. Seuss. Dr. Seuss once said, “Children want the same things we want. To laugh, to be challenged, to be entertained and delighted.” What better way for you to be entertained and delighted than through the reading of a good book. Books can be your best friend, but only if you open your mind and use your imagination to put yourself in the story. That’s one of the things that Dr. Seuss did very well. He wrote stories that make us laugh. His words were joyous. They made us think: How do green eggs and ham really taste? And if he was around, wouldn’t Sam I Am be a great friend? In celebration of Dr. Seuss and of reading, the National Educators Association decided to honor Dr. Seuss by celebrating books on his birthday, which is on March 2. This year, Dr. Seuss’ birthday is on a Saturday, so the Read Across America celebration will be held on Friday, March 1, so that you can celebrate with all of your friends at school. Every year, millions of children across the country celebrate Dr. Seuss and the fun that can be found through reading by celebrating Read Across America Day, which is a nationwide reading celebration that brings thousands of schools, libraries and community centers across the nation together to partici-
pate in the celebration. The theme of this year’s event is “Grab your Hat and Read with the Cat.” Most of you have probably read the book that the theme is taken from. Can you figure it out? You’re right! It’s The Cat in the Hat. The book tells the story of poor Dick and Sally who are stuck in the house with nothing to do. If you have read the book, then you know that once the cat arrives, no one is bored anymore. The big Cat in the Hat changes the dull day into a crazy adventure, and, while he is at it, he almost wrecks the house! While most of us think the book is just fun, Dr. Seuss wrote it for a particular reason. At the time the book was written, the books that children learned to read from were called “primers.” Dr. Seuss thought the books were altogether too boring and that the children were “too polite and too clean.” He thought that children were not interested in reading about these kinds of children, and that by forcing them to read these books, schools were actually making children not want to learn to read. So he put fun back into reading class! That’s why the Nationa Education Association decided to celebrate this tale of mischief and the joy
of reading. Dr. Seuss’ writing, which so many of us love, has been called “brilliant and playful.” The books, which always showed respect for kids, have been favorites of four generations of children, and along the way, it has taught millions of kids how to read. Maybe you are one of them. The first Read Across America was held on March 2, 1998, with a stated purpose of motivating children to read. Over the years, the celebration has grown. The National Education Association puts on the celebration with support from more than 50 national nonprofit and association partners. Locally, everyone — from schools to libraries to community centers to churches to hospitals to bookstores — is invited to host local events to celebrate and promote children’s reading. In many places, schools take great joy in participating in the Read Across America event. Many of you may remember marching in a parade at your school last year or dressing up like Dr. Seuss characters in celebration of the day. Last year at some schools, students had the chance to do daily activities throughout the week. In many communities, kids had a week full of fun. At one school, Monday was wear red and blue in celebration of the book One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. On Tuesday, students wore a shirt with the name of a place they had visited, which saluted the book Oh, the Places You’ll Go! Wednesday was wear funky socks day, and students read Fox in Socks. Thursday, kids wore mismatched outfits in celebration of Hooray for Diffendoofer Day, and Friday was “wear a star or no star” day, which comes from the book Sneetches. One of the big events all across the nation is an attempt to break the record for the most Accelerated Reader tests taken in one day. Last year, at Rockfish Elementary School in Fayetteville, N.C., students took 1,574 AR tests, which broke the national record! What will you do to celebrate Dr. Seuss and to encourage your friends to read?
Did you know that Dr. Seuss really wasn’t a doctor at all? Did you also know that we actually pronounce his name wrong? If you want to pronounce the name the way his family did, say Zoice like voice, not Soose. Seuss is a Bavarian name and was his mother’s maiden name. Theodor Seuss Geisel — known as “Ted” to family and friends — liked to say that he adopted the name “Dr. Seuss” because he was saving his real name for the Great American Novel he would one day write. But that’s probably not true. He was more interested in telling a good story than he was in telling a true story.
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FEBRUARY 2013
AR O UND THE W O RLD United States
On Feb. 14, people all over the world start thinking about love. In America, Saint Valentine’s Day, or what we commonly know as Valentine’s Day, is celebrated in a number of ways, from making homemade Valentine’s Day cards for your friends to exchanging candy or flowers. For adults, Valentine’s Day may mean a date night for your parents who go out to spend some quiet time together. But Valentine’s Day wasn’t really about romance until the Middle Ages. In reality, Saint Valentine’s Day was a religious celebration, which most people agree celebrated the life of Saint Valentine who was imprisoned for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry. It is said that during his imprisonment, he healed the daughter of his jailer Asterius, and before his execution he wrote, “from your Valentine” as a farewell to her.
Kingdom: Phylum: Subphylum: Class: Subclass: Order: Family: Genus: Species:
Animalia Chordata Vertebrata Mammalia Theria Tubulidentata Orycteropidea Orycteropus Afer
South Africa
When you think of Africa, many people think of exotic animals like giraffes, zebras and lions. When people go to Africa to see these animals, they call it going on a safari. South Africa is known for its large number of both public and private game reserves and national parks. These areas are known for their conservation of wildlife. If you wanted to go on safari, you might want to check out Addo Elephant Park, the Bontebok National Park and the Mountain Zebra National Park. Each of these parks specializes in the protection and well-being of the animal from which it takes its name.
Mozambique
In Mozambique, Feb. 3 is celebrated as Heroes’ Day. While it is the celebration of a number of heroes, it particularly concentrates on the life of Eduardo Mondlane, who was a leader in the fight for independence. Mondlane was President of the Mozambican Liberation Front from 1962 until his assassination on Feb. 3, 1969. Each year his death is remembered by parades and speeches. Mozambican Heroes’ Day reminds all Mozambique citizens to pay homage to the sacrifices given by Mondlane to bring independence to the country. Ceremonies, like the one below, are held at the heroes’ graveyard in the Mtwara region.
Aardvark
The name aardvark comes from a word meaning “earth pig.” Although the aardvark, which is a native of Africa, shares some similarities with the South American anteater, the two are not related. The last survivor of a group of primitive ungulates (which is an animal that walks on its tiptoes), the aardvark could more accurately be called a near-ungulate that has developed powerful claws. The aardvark has a short neck connected to a massive, almost hairless body with a strongly arched back. The legs are short, the hind legs longer than the front ones. The head is elongated, with a long, narrow snout and nostrils that can be sealed. The long, tubular ears are normally held upright but can be folded and closed. The short but muscular tail is cone-shaped and tapers to a point. The thick claws on the forefeet are well adapted for digging. Aardvarks are found in all regions, from dry savanna to rain forest, where there are sufficient termites for food, access to water and sandy or clay soil. If the soil is too hard, aardvarks, despite being speedy, powerful diggers, will move to areas where the digging is easier. Aardvarks are mostly solitary and nocturnal (which means they move around at night) but sometimes will come out during the day to sun themselves. When aardvarks sleep, they block the entrance to their burrow, leaving only a very small opening at the top, and curl into a tight ball. Especially during the rains, aardvarks may dig themselves new burrows almost nightly. Many animals, including ground squirrels, hares, civets, hyenas, jackals, porcupines, warthogs, monitor lizards and birds, use abandoned aardvark holes as shelter. When pursued, an aardvark will furiously dig itself a hole, and when attacked, may roll onto its back and defend itself with its large claws or use its thick tail to somersault away from its attackers. As it is nocturnal and has poor eyesight, the aardvark is cautious upon leaving its burrow. It comes to the entrance and stands there motionless for several minutes. Then it suddenly leaps out in powerful jumps. At about 30 feet out, it stops, rises up on its legs, perks up its ears and turns its head in all directions. If there are no sounds, it makes a few more leaps and finally moves at a slow trot to look for food. Aardvarks give birth to one offspring at a time. The pinkish, hairless newborn stays inside the burrow for about two weeks and then begins to follow its mother in her search for food. The young aardvark first eats solid food at three months of age and is suckled until four months. At about six months, the young male becomes independent and goes off on its own while the young female stays with the mother until after the next baby is born. The young female may then dig her own burrow a few yards away from her mother but still join her to forage for termites. Aardvarks eat termites. They move from one termite mound to another, dismantling the hills with their powerful claws. Insects are trapped by the aardvark’s long protractile tongue (as long as 30 cm), which is covered with a thick and sticky saliva. Sometimes the aardvark will press its snout against an opening in a mound and suck up the termites. Aardvarks, with their keen sense of smell, also hunt for the long columns of termites that move outside the mounds at night. Source: www.awf.org/content/wildlife/detail/aardvark
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KIDSVILLE NEWS - PAGE 5
Where In the World Is... South Africa
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 24° E and latitude of 29° S, and you’ll find South Africa at the southern tip of the continent of Africa. A little less than twice the size of our state of Texas, South Africa shares borders with Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. The terrain features a large interior plateau surrounded by rugged hills and nearly 2,800 km of narrow coastline. South Africa’s climate is primarily semi-arid, though subtropical along the coast, with sunny days and cool nights. The country is rich in many natural resources, especially diamonds and gold. In 1652, Dutch traders traveling the spice route between the Netherlands and the Far East founded the city of Cape Town at the southern tip of modern day South Africa. The British seized the Cape of Good Hope area in 1806, and many of the Dutch settlers, or Boers, traveled to the north to make their own countries. With the discovery of diamonds and gold, many more Boers immigrated to the area, bringing the native peoples under their control. The British and the Boers continued to fight over the mineral-rich area, but the British defeated the Boers in the Boer War from 1899 to 1902, and in 1910, the British and the Boers, now called Afrikaners, began ruling the land together, creating the Union of South Africa. In 1948, the ruling party, the National Party, established a policy of apartheid, a system of racial segregation or separation and political and economic discrimination against non-whites, who were the majority of the population in the country. Like American civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., who fought for desegregation in the United States, Nelson Mandela, a member of the African National Congress, helped lead the struggle to end apartheid. He spent many decades in prison for his efforts, but after years of protests and rebellions, South Africa held its first multi-racial elections in 1994, ending apartheid and establishing majority rule under a government let by the African National Congress. Source: “South Africa,” The CIA World Factbook, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sf.html.
Math-A-Muse
by Evelyn B. Christensen, Ed.D.
Coin Caper
What 3 U.S. coins are worth 60 cents? Find two solutions.
Subtraction Sudoku
Solve each problem. Then fill in the squares so that each row, column and 2x3 rectangle has the numbers 1-6. 9 – 8 =
10 – 6 =
12 – 9 = 6 – 4 =
7 – 5 =
that doing each operation along the road will bring you to the last number.
7 – 4 =
14 – 9 = 14 – 8 =
COIN CAPER ANSWERS:
7 – 6 =
HNN, QQD
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3
5
8
If you enjoy this puzzle, you may also enjoy Math Puzzles Level B, published by MindWare. ADDITION SQUARE ANSWER: 9,1,3,3,8,8,24
3
4
2
4
9 – 5 =
11 – 8 =
Find the missing numbers. In each row, the fourth number is the sum of the first three. The same is true of each column.
2
2
4
12 – 8 =
10 – 9 =
13 – 7 =
8 – 4 =
Put operation signs in the squares so
15 – 9 = 8 – 3 =
Addition Square
Road Riddle
ROAD RIDDLE ANSWER: +,
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X,
-
6 1
9
8 More puzzles are available at www.evelynchristensen.com.
FEBRUARY 2013
What’s It Like to Be... A Baseball Player Have you every wondered what it’s like to play a professional sport? When he was little, Marcus Stroman played all kinds of sports — football, basketball and baseball. He really excelled at baseball and now he’s playing the game professionally! The right-handed pitcher for the Toronto Blue Jays is originally from Medford, N.Y., on Long Island. He was a pitcher at Duke University for the past three years, and in June 2012 was selected in the 2012 Major League Baseball amateur draft in the first round, and 22nd overall. There’s talk that he could be selected for the Major Leagues in the next year or two. His fastball can reach 94-95 mph, but his best pitch is the “slider.” Marcus was excited to tell Kidsville News! more about what it’s like to get started in professional ball. Truman: What does it take to become a professional player? Stroman: It takes a great deal of dedication and hard work to become a professional athlete. I’ve worked to become a professional athlete ever since I could walk. While my friends were out having fun, I was often practicing and doing everything it took to become successful. I’m a very confident individual who has defied many stereotypes over my career. I’m 5’8”, which is considered really small for a pitcher. Many scouts and critics have doubted my ability based purely off my height. I use that to motivate me and continue to have a chip on my shoulder to prove all the doubters wrong. HEIGHT DOESN’T MEASURE HEART! Truman: When, and why, did you first become interested in this profession? Stroman: I’ve loved baseball ever since I began playing sports at the age of 3. Baseball was actually my third favorite sport behind basketball and football. As I grew older, I started to realize that baseball was my best sport and the sport that I could make it the furthest in. I played shortstop and pitched all throughout college (Duke University) but realized that pitching would take me to the next level after my dominant summer in the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League in which I did not
FEBRUARY 2013
allow an earned run in more than 27 innings. Truman: What do you do every day? Describe a typical day on the job. Stroman: During the season, I work out daily, do my throwing program, condition and play games. We often play night games, so I would show up to the park around 1 p.m. for a 7 p.m. game. Before the night game, I would workout, run, get my arm loose, eat some good food and play some ping pong before heading out to the field. In the off-season, I work out daily and train extremely hard to ensure that I’m ready for the season. Truman: What has the transition been like from being a college baseball player to becoming a professional player? Stroman: The transition has not been tough at all. My coach in college (Sean McNally) had plenty of experience
Truman: What’s the best part of your job? Stroman: The best part of my job is definitely the interaction with fans. I love interacting with fans and signing autographs. Honestly it is the best thing in the world! To know that you could make someone’s day just by signing an autograph or having a conversation. Twitter is a huge tool to help me interact with my fans. I love it! Lol! If you are on Twitter, follow me @MStrooo7. Truman: What is one accomplishment in your career of which you are most proud? Stroman: One accomplishment that I am most proud of is being drafted in the first round. Everyone said I wouldn’t be able to do it because of my height, and it was the best moment of my life when it happened, to know that all my hard work throughout the years had finally paid off. Truman: What is your favorite hobby or thing to do when you are not working/playing baseball? Stroman: Just hanging out with friends and shooting some hoops. Basketball is my favorite sport and if I was blessed with some height there’s a good chance that I would have pursued it. But everything happens for a reason! I also love food! I enjoy going out to eat at the best places in whatever town I may be in.
in the professional Truman: What advice would you baseball world. We did give to kids who are interested in everything as if it were pursuing a career as a professional a professional team athlete? setting. My transition was easy because my Stroman: I would say that you must work ethic stayed the be dedicated and willing to work hard same, and I found that from a young age. Playing profesI was successful doing sional sports takes great commitment the same things I did and the ability to work hard when at Duke. The only no one is watching. Also, to focus thing that changed was on your grades in school. I was able that the competition to do very well academically in high is much better on the school which allowed me to get into a profession level than Photo courtesy of Alyson Boyer Rode, Alycat Photography prestigious university known as Duke. college. Without school, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to showcase my talents in college, which Truman: What’s the hardest part of your job? means that there’s a good chance that I would never be drafted. Stay in school, work hard, and have fun! Stroman: Hardest part of my job is being able to stay humble and focused when things get tough. Truman: Thanks for sharing with us, Marcus! Good Sometimes, when you’re struggling, its hard to stay luck in your career, and maybe I’ll get to see one of confident. It’s important to not let a bad game get your games someday! to your head! The ability to have a short memory is crucial.
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KIDSVILLE NEWS - PAGE 7
PUZZLEVILLE! What’s The Difference? There are four things different between Picture A and Picture B. Can you find them all?
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Creative Coloring
It’s time for Valentine’s Day. Color in this picture to create your own masterpiece.
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FEBRUARY 2013
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. Clusters of someone's hair (or what people use keys to open) 4. Pres. Lincoln wore a long one 7. A single piece of hair 8. A short haircut for women (or a short name for a man named Robert) 10. Justin, the teen with cool hair who makes many girls scream when he sings "Baby" 12. What you have to do to "The Cat in the Hat" to find out what happens to the blue-haired creatures named Thing One and Thing Two 14. The long hair at the end of a pony 16. To cut someone's hair (but just a little bit) 18. A line in your hair made
A Very Hairy Crossword by a comb 19. Jungle animals whose manes are the main thing you notice on their faces 21. What a blow dryer makes as it blows hot air through your hair 22. A girl with straight hair who wants a new style might call it a hot rod: ______ iron
Parents Down
1. Like Rapunzel's hair 2. If it's intentional, it's a tie (if not, it's a tangle) 3. One with hair like Cameron Diaz 4. Classic updo (or burger bread) 5. Michael Jackson's round childhood hairstyle 6. Makeover in a bottle
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7. Condition of ends that can cause a frizzy effect 8. Cute clip on a pigtail 9. Trademark hair hue of the humorous Mrs. Arnaz 10. Flaps one's lashes, as the average person does about every five seconds 11. Sultry starlet who sang that diamonds are a girl's best friend 13. Sitcom's "it" girl: Roommate Rachel, with impressive tresses 15. It's the salt in salt and pepper 17. Cartoon theme lyrics: "_____ Bear is always in the Ranger's hair" 20. Initials of actor who said, "All the men in my family were bearded, and most of the women": ___ Fields
™
This Week’s Solution
kris@kapd.com
KAPD ebooks now available on www.kapd.com
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12/30/12
© 2012 KAPD, LLC
FEBRUARY 2013
Love One Another by Barbara Gilmour
“Hello, everyone,” said Ms. Gilmour as she greeted Tanner, Nicole, Rudy, Stephen, Carmen and Truman the Dragon. She continued, “In our last class, we talked about setting goals for the New Year. Who remembers what we called those?” Several hands went up, but Rudy was first to say, “New Year’s resolutions.” All the kids cheered for Rudy. “Who knows what holiday we have this month?“ asked Ms. Gilmour. All hands went up. Everyone said “Valentine’s Day” at once. “What is Valentine’s Day all about?” she asked. “LOVE!” Some of the kids made smooching motions. Others said, “Yuk” to that. But all knew what “love” meant. “Let’s continue our New Year’s resolutions with a “Cool Kind Kid Challenge” to love one another,” Ms. Gilmour suggested. Nicole was first to say, “I like that idea. Let’s make big red hearts to put around the school.” Stephen jumped in with, “We can write ‘LOVE’ on each one.” Carmen was excited to add, “Let’s also add something to each heart not to do, like ‘LOVE, don’t tease.’” Everyone was getting into this idea. Tanner shared, “These hearts can be reminders of ways to treat others.” Truman added, “I like those signs that have a line through what you shouldn’t do. We could do something like that. ‘LOVE — teasing.’” Ms. Gilmour watched as the kids got excited about this idea. She said, “It looks like you have an art project. How many different things should be included?” Many suggestions were made, including staring, picking on, bullying, excluding and ignoring. Truman thought about these and added, “Those are things we shouldn’t do. Let’s add some things we should do to show love to one another.” Ms. Gilmour smiled and said, “Great idea, Truman. Now what can we add to the hearts to challenge kids to ‘love one another’?” Nicole jumped in with, “LOVE — be kind!” Rudy added, “LOVE — be caring!” Tanner said, “LOVE — be polite!” Carmen added, “LOVE — be friendly!” Stephen said, “LOVE — include everyone!” Tanner said, “What about ‘LOVE — defend the bullied!’” “Good one, Tanner,” said Ms. Gilmour. Truman said, “I have one that will help kids learn that ‘kind is cool.’ It is ‘LOVE — is cool!’” “That’s an important one, Truman, because we want kids to learn that showing love and kindness is cool, and that teasing and bullying are uncool,” shared Ms. Gilmour. “Where else can you show LOVE besides school?” she added. “I know,” exclaimed Nicole. “To my family.” Rudy added, “That’s not so easy. My older brothers always tease me.” Everyone came around Rudy and told him they cared about him. They encouraged him to show love to his brothers anyway. Truman spoke up here and said, “I know how that feels. I get teased about being big, about being different, even being green. But I try to not let it bother me. When I show Barbara Gilmour, Tanner’s grandmom, is love to others, they soon show love back to me.” the creator and developer of the “Cool Kind Tanner added, “That sounds as though The Kid” Social Skills, Character Values and Anti-Bullying educational materials and the Golden Rule works!” award-winning “Cool Kind Kid” (Try this heart activity in your school or family.) Audio CD. She also writes the Children’s © Cool Kind Kid
FEBRUARY 2013
Manners Blog, offering tips for teaching your children manners and social skills. www.CoolKindKid.com.
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KIDSVILLE NEWS - PAGE 11
Cultural Connections: Harlem Renaissance
The Harlem Renaissance was a 10-year period that changed America forever. Music and writing were two art forms that changed greatly during the Harlem Renaissance, but another great thing that happened was that it helped to bring equality to America. A renaissance is when artists, like painters, writers and musicians, change the way they make art. The biggest change that happened was the growing popularity of art created by African-Americans. Before this time, African-American artists were not very popular across America. A great number of the people who lived in Harlem were from the African and Caribbean colonies, so many of them spoke French. Harlem is a part of New York City. It was in this part of the city that most of the changes in art grew and became extremely popular. Even though the Harlem Renaissance took place in the 1920s and 1930s — more than 70 years ago —Harlem is still known as a great place for music and art. One of the biggest changes to occur during the Harlem Renaissance was in music. Jazz, a style of music that is mix of ragtime and the blues, became popular again during the Harlem Renaissance. Jazz music was a music that was often played with brass instruments like saxophones and trumpets, but other instruments, such as bass guitars, were also used. One of the really special things about jazz music was that much of it was improvised when it was performed; when the musicians went on stage to play, they made up some of the song as they went along. A certain style of jazz called scatting was also developed. Scatting occurs when musicians make up nonsense words in the song so that their voice sounds like an instrument. The first person to scat was Lois Armstrong, the famous trumpet player. Duke Ellington was another extremely popular jazz musician who was very good at scatting. Literature or writing also changed greatly in the Harlem Renaissance. Much of the writing talked about the struggles African-Americans faced in America while it was still segregated. Langston Hughes was one of the most famous writers during this period. He was famous for all of the poetry he wrote, and he helped to write many pieces that explained what African-Americans faced at the time. Many African-American authors became very popular during this time. One of the most important things the Harlem Renaissance did was to change how white Americans viewed African-Americans. Before the 1920s, when the movement occurred, African-Americans were usually seen as poor farmers. The Harlem Renaissance, however, proved that African-Americans were great Langston Hughes — Author artists. Prior to the Harlem Renaissance, white actors would take the role of African-Americans in plays, but after this period, African-Americans were seen more as equals and were allowed to act in plays about them. The Harlem Renaissance helped to bring equality to America, as well as new art. Ella Fitzgerald — Singer
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KIDSVILLE NEWS - PAGE 15
Conservation Tips Just for Kids o Taking care of our environment r is a very important job. n e r
Make a bulletin board that has pictures of areas that are clean and those that are spoiled by litter or trash. Write a story about the difference between the two and what can be done to make dirty areas clean again. Whenever you visit a park or beach, carry out what you bring in — keep unwanted items in a bag or backpack until you can put them in a litter basket. Ask an older family member or teacher to find out who keeps your city’s parks and public areas clean. Have your class write letters inviting them to come to the school and speak about the importance of not littering. Learn more about how you can take care of your community’s public lands by reading Keep America Beautiful’s brochure “Take Care of America.� Have everyone in your class or youth group write a letter to a different business to ask that they help keep the city clean by keeping the lids on dumpsters closed. If your family puts recyclables in a bin at curbside, tie up loose papers that could blow out. Source: Keep America Beautiful
Come Out and Play... Baseball
Since the 1800s, Americans have loved baseball. Alexander Cartwright is known as the father of baseball. According to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, in the mid 1840s, Cartwright was a founding and influential member of the Knickerbocker Base Ball Club of New York City, baseball’s first organized club. Cartwright likely played a key role in formalizing the first published rules of the game. In 1849, Cartwright left New York and went to California in search of gold. On his journey west, he took his love of the game with him and shared it with people he met along the way. The Knickerbocker Club and the New York Nine played the very first game of baseball in 1845 in Manhattan. They were the first two official baseball teams that existed, but rules weren’t made the same for everyone that played until 1851. This was a huge step and allowed leagues to be formed and the sport to be united. Unfortunately, for many years, not everyone could play baseball together. African-Americans had their own leagues and couldn’t play with everyone else. They couldn’t play in any of the minor or major leagues that were becoming extremely popular. It didn’t even matter how great of a player one was; if someone was African-American, he couldn’t play in the all-white leagues. It wasn’t until 1946, almost 100 years after baseball became popular, that Jackie Robinson signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers. This event was important because Jackie Robinson was a fantastic player, but he was also black. Today players of all nationalities come together to compete, and race does not matter at all when it comes to baseball. Age doesn’t matter in baseball either. It is a game that anyone can play, children or adults. In order to play, you need a baseball, a bat, four bases, a glove and a few people to play with. It is best to play the game outside in a large and open area. The four bases should be placed around the field in a diamond shape. The first is home plate. The next is first base, then second and finally third base. A pitcher stands in front of the home plate, and the batter stands at the home plate. When the pitcher throws the ball, the batter tries to hit it. If the batter hits the ball, he then runs to first base. If he hits the ball far enough, he can run further, but he doesn’t have to. All the other players on the field who are on the other team try to tag the runner out. If the batter misses the ball, it is called a strike, and he is allowed three before he is automatically out. Instead of being measured in halves or quarters, baseball is measured in innings. There are nine innings in baseball (six in Little League). In an inning, both teams have a chance at bat. The teams switch after three outs, and after the second team has had its three outs, the inning is over. Players include one guarding each base, a pitcher and three people in the outfield to catch the ball in case it goes too far. A catcher sits behind the batter with a facemask and a large glove and chest padding to catch the ball in case the batter misses. Baseball is a great way for friends and family to have a fun time and stay fit together. Source: Baseballhall.org
Exploring Nature!
4IFSJ "NTFM t XXX FYQMPSJOHOBUVSF PSH Exploringnature.org is an award-
Hibernation Fun Fact! The heartbeat of true hibernators slows from about 80 beats per minute to just four, while their temperature can drop from 98° to 40°!
winning science resource.
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True Hibernators - E, Migrates South - C, Deep Sleepers - A, Turns White in Winter - B, Food Searchers - D
PUZZLEVILLE! Answers What’s the Difference? ANSWERS: 1. Mom is wearing lipstick. 2. Dad has a moustache. 3. Mom’s sweater is a different color. 4. The bowl is missing from the table
Get the Picture ANSWER: BOX OF CHOCOLATES
Body Fact ANSWER: THE HEART
People Fact ANSWER: ST. VALENTINE
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FEBRUARY 2013
In Theaters
Escape From Planet Earth February 14 Scorch Supernova (voiced by Brendan Fraser) is the greatest hero in the universe. “Rescue” is his middle name. He’s also a big ham. Scorch and his brother Gary are proud protectors of the galaxy. Just because they are blue aliens from the faraway planet of Baab doesn’t mean that Scorch and Gary (Rob Borddry)
can’t make their way to the notoriously dangerous planet Earth when they get an SOS signal. Once on Earth, Scorch gets captured and sent to the top-secret military site known as Area 51. It’s up to Scorch’s smart but undersized brother to break him out so they can return to their home planet and save their own people. Jessica Alba, Sarah Jessica Parker and James Gandolfini contribute voice characterizations to the animated 3D fun. Not Yet Rated at press time. 95 mins. (The Weinstein Company)
Children’s DVDs An American Girl: McKenna Shoots for the Stars Available February 19 Learn about the athletic world of child gymnastics with Meet McKenna Brooks (played by Jade Pettyjohn). McKenna is an ambitious young gymnast with her sights set on going to the 2016 summer Olympics. McKenna falls behind in her studies at school because she’s so worried about doing well in gymnastics. She’s not studying enough. Her parents want to get a tutor for their daughter, but McKenna insists she can do better in school without a tutor. Problems pile up as McKenna tries to overcome her personal weaknesses in order to do
FEBRUARY 2013
well in her studies — and in the gymnasium. It’s a good thing her parents, coach and teachers know how to give McKenna the help she needs. Gymnastics champion Cathy Rigby stars in this warm-hearted family movie, along with Nia Vardalos (“My Big Fat Greek Wedding”). Not Rated. 94 mins. (Universal Studios) Mark Twain Original Family Classics Available February 5 Here are two enjoyable movie adaptations of Mark Twain classics — “Huckleberry Finn” and “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.” “Huckleberry Finn” (1975) is a made-for-television movie staring a young Ron Howard in the title role of a poor but carefree Southern boy who has his own ideas about everything. Dodging death and danger at every turn is all part of Huckleberry Finn’s daily adventures. After escaping the clutches of his father, Huck teams up with his old pal Jim, a runaway Mississippi slave. Together, the two
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friends explore the wild world around them. “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” is a timeless movie from 1938. It follows Tom Sawyer as he gets in and out of trouble along the Mississippi River. Tom’s best friend Huckleberry Finn shows up to share adventures on a remote island with Tom after the boys witness a murder. Look for mystery and suspense to go along with the laughs. Not Rated. 168 mins. (Echo Bridge Home Entertainment) 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.
KIDSVILLE NEWS - PAGE 17
Exploring Nature! 4IFSJ "NTFM t XXX FYQMPSJOHOBUVSF PSH
Deep Sleepers
Hibernation Hidden Picture Find the 10 things hidden in this hibernation scene.
Black Bear
Ursus americanus
Black bears can sleep for six months of the year, but they are not true hibernators. They go into a deep sleep called torpor. They don’t eat or drink, and their body does cool off, but unlike true hibernators, they can wake up in case of danger.
Hibernation Fun Fact! The heartbeat of true hibernators slows from about 80 beats per minute to just four, while their temperature can drop from 98° to 40°!
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D C
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Migrates South
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Turns White in Winter
Searches for Food All Winter
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FEBRUARY 2013
2012: Year of Eclipses When Earth and the Moon were very young, they were much closer together. The Moon was so close, it took up a huge part of Earth’s sky. When it hung overhead in the daytime, it cast such a shadow on the surface of Earth that in many places, it would have been almost like night. Over Earth’s long history, the Moon has drifted a lot farther away. Now it just so happens that the Moon takes up almost exactly as much of the sky as the Sun does. That is because the Sun is 400 times wider (larger in diameter) than the Moon, but it is also 400 times farther away than the Moon. Isn’t that awesome? What are the odds? Actually, nobody knows. What this happy coincidence allows is a perfect total eclipse of the Sun. That means the Moon, when it is just in the right spot at the right time, can hide the Sun, exactly covering its disc. When this event happens, the Sun’s corona, or atmosphere, “pops out,” looking like a broad halo of fire. On the left is the annular eclipse of The Moon’s orbit around Earth May 20, 2012, as seen from a slightly cloudy sky in Tokyo, Japan is not an exact circle, however. (photo by Norihito Nakae, Wikimedia Sometimes it’s a little closer to Commons). On the right is the total Earth than at other times. The solar eclipse of November 13, 2012, closer it is, the bigger it looks to as seen from Mt. Carbine in Australia us. If a solar eclipse occurs when (photo by Specialcreateru, Wikimedia Commons). the Moon is farthest from Earth, the Moon looks smaller. This smaller-looking Moon does not quite cover the disc of the Sun. This type of eclipse is called an annular eclipse. The Sun’s disc shows as a thin “ring of fire” around the edges of the Moon. What a great year for eclipses 2012 was! We had two solar eclipses: an annular eclipse on May 20 and a total eclipse on November 13. These eclipses looked different, depending on your location. If you were right in the Moon’s shadow as it moved across Earth’s surface, you would see the annular (May 20) or total (November 13) eclipse. If you were outside the shadow, you would have seen only a partial eclipse, with some or most of the Sun still peeking out from “behind” the Moon. Find out more about solar and other kinds of eclipses, including the rare Venus transit of 2012, at spaceplace.nasa.gov/venustransit. This article was written by Diane K. Fisher and provided through the courtesy of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
FEBRUARY 2013
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KIDSVILLE NEWS - PAGE 19
KIDSVILLE KITCHEN
Together Time — Ask an adult for help with projects!
Grapes in a Canoe Created by Ellie Krieger Makes: 4 servings 4 large celery stalks 8 teaspoons peanut butter or almond butter 1 cup red California grapes 32 thin pretzel sticks, preferably whole wheat If necessary, make a slice or two on the spine of each piece of celery so it lies flat on a plate. Spread 2 teaspoons peanut butter or almond butter into each celery stalk. Place the grapes in a row inside the celery, pressing them lightly into the nut butter. Position 8 pretzel sticks along the sides of each celery “canoe” to look like oars for the grape “rowers.”
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FEBRUARY 2013
“
GREAT ADVANCED READS HOLES By Louis Sachar For ages 11 and up Stanley Yelnats is accused of stealing sneakers and sent to Camp Green Lake where the warden makes the boys dig holes, 5 feet wide and 5 feet deep day after day. It doesn’t take Stanley long to figure out that the warden is looking for something. And try: THE CHOCOLATE WAR By Robert Cormier For ages 12 and up
FEBRUARY 2013
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KIDSVILLE NEWS - PAGE 21
P ARENTOWN’S K ID S MAR T
Doing Good, All Year Long While charitable giving increases towards the end of the year as important community needs are showcased, such needs continue all year long. Unfortunately, giving tends to drop off after the holidays, leaving many organizations with a shortfall of donated goods, cash and even volunteers in the new year. “While it is true that part of the Christmas and holiday tradition is to give back to others, there are needs in our community throughout the year,” said Major George Hood, National Community Relations and Development Secretary for The Salvation Army. “The Salvation Army serves nearly 30 million people every , and we cannot do that without the generosity of the American public who gives back, beyond the holidays.” What You Can Do Whether you volunteer or collect goods to donate, resolve to take simple steps in 2013 to better your community. To shine a light on ways to give back, Ericka Lassiter, pro football player partner, avid volunteer and president of the nonprofit Off The Field Players Wives Association, shares her top three tips on how to make giving a year-long tradition: Tip #1: Simple Items Make a Big Difference: Many local charities collect clothes and essentials for families, particularly children, all year long. From warm coats and blankets to socks, toothpaste and soap, the simplest items can make a real difference for those in need. Consider donating gently used items after your annual spring cleaning, organize a donation drive in your neighborhood or if you buy in bulk at warehouse clubs like Sam’s Club, choose a few items from each trip to set aside for donation to your favorite local charity. Tip #2: Think Outside the Can: Food banks are always in need of cash and food donations throughout the year. Feeding America says that for $1, food banks can provide 8 meals to men, women and children facing hunger; $50 will provide 400 meals. Donate at www.FeedingAmerica.org or call your local food bank and ask for their “most wanted” list. Often, proteins are at the top of the list along with peanut butter, baby food and juice boxes. Home gardeners with bumper crops can glean their harvests and share fresh vegetables and fruits so they don’t go to waste. Tip #3: Ways to Help are Closer Than You Think: Your local community center, religious institution or library most likely has programs to help those in need, so you can help as part of your regular routine. Ask if you can volunteer to serve meals to the homeless after church services, or offer to read to children at the local library. There are countless ways to lend a hand, so find one that feels right to you or visit www.volunteermatch.org for ideas. “Every community will have unique needs and strengths,” said Susan Koehler, Senior Manager of Community Involvement for Sam’s Club. “To make the greatest impact, those wanting to give back should consider asking about workplace programs that match volunteer hours and local donation guidelines or making giving back a regular family activity.” Photo courtesy Getty Images
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Si bien las donaciones de caridad aumentan hacia fin de año cuando se destacan las importantes necesidades de la comunidad, esas necesidades continúan todo el año. Lamentablemente las donaciones tienden a disminuir después de las fiestas, y muchas organizaciones necesitan donaciones, dinero en efectivo e incluso voluntarios para el nuevo año. “Si bien es cierto que una parte de la tradición de la Navidad y de las fiestas implica hacer regalos a los demás, existen necesidades en la comunidad todo el año”, afirmó el alcalde George Hood, Secretario de Desarrollo y Relaciones con la Comunidad Nacional para El Ejército de Salvación. “El Ejército de Salvación atiende a casi 30 millones de personas todos los días; no podríamos hacerlo sin la generosidad del pueblo estadounidense que realiza donaciones en todo momento”. Qué puede hacer Independientemente de si se ofrece como voluntario o junta cosas para donar, en 2013, siga estos simples pasos para ayudar a su comunidad. Para aportar ideas sobre formas de donar, Ericka Lassiter, esposa de un jugador de fútbol profesional, es una ávida voluntaria y Presidente de la organización sin fines de lucro denominada Off The Field Players Wives Association (Asociación de esposas de exjugadores), y comparte sus principales tres consejos sobre cómo hacer de las donaciones una tradición para todo el año: Primer consejo: Las pequeñas cosas aportan una gran diferencia: Durante todo el año, muchas asociaciones de caridad locales juntan prendas de vestir y artículos esenciales para las familias, en especial, para los niños. Desde abrigos hasta frazadas y medias, pasta de dientes y jabón, las cosas más simples pueden representar una gran diferencia para los necesitados. Considere donar artículos con poco uso después de la limpieza general de primavera, organice una reunión de donación en su barrio y si compra por mayor en grandes almacenes como Sam’s Club, elija algunos artículos de cada compra y sepárelos para donar a su asociación de caridad local favorita. Segundo consejo: Piense más allá: Los comedores comunitarios siempre necesitan donaciones de dinero en efectivo y alimentos todo el año. Feeding America afirma que por $1, los comedores comunitarios pueden proporcionar 8 comidas a hombres, mujeres y niños con hambre; por $50, les proporcionará 400 comidas. Realice su donación en www.FeedingAmerica.org o comuníquese con el comedor comunitario más cercano y pregunte qué alimentos necesitan más. A menudo, las proteínas son las más solicitadas, junto con la mantequilla de maní, el alimento para bebés y las cajas de jugos. Aquellos que tengan huertas en su hogar pueden recoger sus cosechas y compartir frutas y verduras frescas antes de que se echen a perder. Tercer consejo: Las maneras de ayudar están más cerca de lo que cree: Su centro comunitario local, institución religiosa o biblioteca probablemente tenga programas para ayudar a los necesitados; por lo tanto, puede ayudarlos como parte de su rutina habitual. Pregunte si puede ayudar como voluntario para servir alimentos a los desamparados después de la misa o si puede ofrecerse como voluntario para leer a los niños en la biblioteca local. Existen innumerables maneras de dar una mano; encuentre la que prefiera o visite www.volunteermatch.org para obtener ideas. “Cada comunidad tiene fortalezas y necesidades únicas”, afirmó Susan Koehler, gerente sénior del área Participación en la Comunidad de Sam’s Club. “Para lograr el mayor impacto, los que deseen realizar donaciones deberían pensar en los programas de trabajo que necesitan voluntarios, conocer las pautas locales sobre donaciones o hacer de las donaciones una actividad familiar habitual”. Fotografía cortesía de Getty Images
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