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THE CAPE FEAR REGION’S FUN FAMILY NEWSPAPER KIDSVILLE NEWS INC. PRESIDENT Bill Bowman bbowman@kidsvillenews.com PUBLISHER Your Info Here editor@yourpaperhere.com KIDSVILLE NEWS! NATIONAL EDITOR Joy G. Kirkpatrick kvnews@kidsvillenews.com
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Dear Kids, The old saying goes that March “comes in like a lion, out like a lamb.” The weather in March can be pretty tricky and hard to predict. Some parts of the country might be still buried under snow, while others already have spring flowers popping up. Here’s a fun activity to try to see if this saying holds true. Make a table with two columns, Lamb and Lion. Each day in March, write down the date, and think about the different elements of weather, like temperature, wind, rain or snow. Document the weather for the day and decide whether you think it’s more ferocious like a lion or gentle like a lamb. It’ll be a fun experiment to see how the month turns out! March is also full of fun — like Saint Patrick’s Day and National Reading Month! Be sure to pick out a great book at the library and get busy reading. Be sure to visit the Kidsville News! website at www.KidsvilleNews.com for fun and games all month. Have a magnificent March! Your friend,
Reading Is Fun! Let’s Celebrate It in March!
March is all about reading! It is National Reading Month and has Newspapers in Education Week, and we celebrate NEA’s Read Across America Day! Read Across America Day is held on March 2, which is the birthday of Dr. Seuss. In May 1997, a small reading task force at NEA came up with a big idea. “Let’s create a day to celebrate reading,” the group decided. “We hold pep rallies to get kids excited about football. We assemble to remember that Character Counts. Why don’t we do something to get kids excited about reading? We’ll call it ‘NEA’s Read Across America,’ and we’ll celebrate it on Dr. Seuss’s birthday.” And so was born on March 2, 1998, the largest celebration of reading this country has ever seen. That day-long celebration of reading has turned into a whole month of celebrating reading with National Reading Month! One of your favorite things to read might just be this newspaper! Newspapers are an important part of our society. And, they are an important part of education. That’s why the
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first week in March is dedicated to Newspapers in Education. Did you know that your teachers and parents can find worksheets on the KidsvilleNews.com website to make using Kidsville News! in the classroom even more fun? It’s true — check it out! You read every day, whether you realize that you are doing it or not! This month, hang on to this list, and check off the different things that you read during the month (add your own things at the bottom of the list). It’ll be fun, and you’ll learn a lot and be reminded of just how important reading is! See if you can check off 30 things that you read during the month of March! Check it off! ____ ABC books ____ Advertisements ____ Animal Books ____ Atlas ____ Billboards ____ Board Games ____ Cereal Boxes ____ Comic Books ____ Computer Screens ____ Dictionary ____ E-mails ____ Encyclopedia ____ Fables
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____ Fairy Tales ____ Fiction Books ____ Food/Drink Labels ____ Greeting Cards ____ How-to Books ____ Informational Books ____ Journal/Diary ____ Magazines ____ Maps ____ Menu ____ Newspapers ____ Picture Books ____ Poetry ____ Realistic Fiction ____ Road Signs ____ School Newsletters ____ Science Fiction ____ Stories You Wrote ____ Stories Friends Wrote ____ Thesaurus ____ Trading Cards ____ TV Screens (words, slogans, subtitles) ____ Video Games ____ Websites ______________________________ ______________________________
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Kidsville News!
On March 3, 1931, “The Star Spangled Banner” became the official American National Anthem. It was approved in a bill passed by Congress and signed by President Herbert Hoover. So this March, we celebrate the 80th anniversary of our National Anthem. But is it really National Anthem Day? Yes, but it’s not an “official” holiday. However, the song itself has been around much longer, and in fact, some schools celebrate the National Anthem in September as part of the National Anthem Project. The song was written on Sept. 14, 1814, when author Francis Scott Key was on a boat in Baltimore Harbor during the Battle of Baltimore when the British attacked Fort McHenry. After hearing the battle all night, the next morning he was so excited to still see the American flag standing that he wrote “The Star Spangled Banner.” So — next question — do you put your hand over your heart when the National Anthem is played, or not? According to the U.S. Code, you should stand at attention and put your right hand over your heart for BOTH the Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem. Many past generations of students (maybe even your parents!) were taught that you only put your hand over your heart for the pledge. You should always stop what you are doing and pay respect to the flag and the National Anthem. By the way, did you know there are four stanzas or verses? Here they are: The Star Spangled Banner Words by Francis Scott Key, Music by John Stafford Smith O say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light, What so proudly we hailed at the twilight’s last gleaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars, through the perilous fight, O’er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming? And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. O say does that star spangled banner yet wave O’er the land of the free, and the home of the brave? On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep. Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes, What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep, As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses? Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam, In full glory reflected now shines in the stream: ‘Tis the Star-Spangled Banner! O long may it wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.
Did you know that Yellowstone National Park was established as a national park on March 1, 1872? It was the first area in the world to become a national park! Yellowstone is also in three states. Most of it is in Wyoming, but parts are also in Montana and Idaho.
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And where is that band who so vauntingly swore That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion A home and a country should leave us no more? Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps’ pollution. No refuge could save the hireling and slave From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave: And the Star-Spangled Banner, in triumph doth wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave. O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand Between their loved homes and the war’s desolation! Blest with vict’ry and peace, may the Heaven-rescued land Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation. Then conquer we must when our cause it is just And this be our motto: “In God is our Trust.” And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave! What do leprechauns have to do with Saint Patrick’s Day? Nothing really, but since they are known as Ireland’s national fairy, leprechauns have become a fun symbol of Ireland. And on March 17, Saint Patrick’s Day, it seems as if the whole world turns a little Irish. Ireland, after all, is from where the celebration of the holiday came. St. Patrick was the patron saint of Ireland. He spent 40 years in Ireland preaching, building churches and helping the Irish tribes. While there, it is written that Patrick performed a number of miracles, wrote many books and shared love with the people of Ireland. He died on March 17, 461, and was later named a saint by the Catholic Church. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated worldwide. Today it has become more of a fun celebration than the Christian holiday it was originally. In many cities, there are large parades, parties and lots of green. The shamrock is also a symbol you see a lot during St. Patrick’s Day. It is said that Saint Patrick used the three-leafed shamrock during his sermons as a symbol to explain the Holy Trinity. In Ireland, many people still wear a bunch of shamrocks on their lapels or caps on this day or green, white and orange badges (after the colors of the Irish flag). In America, many people celebrate by wearing green-colored clothing (or risk getting pinched!).
Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone, was born on March 3, 1847. Did you know that he got his interest in sound and the way people hear from his father, Melville Bell? His dad was a teacher of the deaf. And, did you know that March 13 is the beginning of Deaf History Month? It runs through April 15. Now you know!
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MARCH 2011
AR
UND THE W
Northern Hemisphere
March 20 is the first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Spring begins with the vernal equinox, which occurs at 7:21 p.m. The Northern Hemisphere includes all of North America. It also includes the northern reaches of South America, about two-thirds of Africa, all of Asia, excluding parts of Indonesia, and all of Europe.
India
On March 19, a spring festival, Holi, is celebrated in India. This is a day of fun, and people run through the streets and throw colored water and brightcolored powders on each other. They play Holi by throwing water balloons and smearing washable dyes on friends and family. They also build a huge bonfire made of dried leaves and branches the night before.
RLD Iran
The Iranian New Year, or Noruz, is celebrated on March 21. It is the traditional Persian New Year and is celebrated with the arrival of spring. People decorate their houses with symbols for the seven good angels. Theses symbols are sprouts, wheat germ, apples, hyacinth, fruit of the jujube, garlic and sumac. The symbols stand for life, rebirth, health, happiness, prosperity, joy and beauty. Families also visit one another and have special dinners and parties to celebrate the new year.
Cardinal
Spring is on the way, and the birds are out and about. You can hear their chirping in the mornings, and soon you may see baby birds being fed by their mothers. It might be a good time to start bird watching. The Redbird, or Cardinal, is easy to recognize. The Cardinal (also known as the Northern Cardinal) has a crest on the top of its head (like a little mohawk!) and a mask on its face around the bill (beak). The male Cardinal is bright red with a black mask. The female is Kingdom: Animalia a dull grayish brown with a gray mask. She has only a Phylum: Chordata touch of reddish color on her wings and tail feathers. The Class: Aves Cardinal is found in North America. It lives in southern Order: Passeriformes Canada and throughout the Eastern United States. It can Family: Cardinalidae even be found in parts of Hawaii and in Mexico. Cardinals love bird feeders — especially those filled with sunflower seeds, safflower seed and corn. Away from the feeder, it feeds on insects, spiders, wild fruits and berries and seeds. Male birds are sweet to their mates — they feed them! The male cardinal will pick up a seed and hop over to the female, and she will take the seed by touching beaks. The pair often travel together. The male also has a special chirping signal that he will make to alert the female if a predator is near the nest. The Cardinal is a songbird and both male and females sing. According to the Stokes Field Guide to Birds, the song may sound like “whoit whoit whoit, cheer cheer cheer.” The Cardinal is about eight and a half inches long and can have a wingspan of up to 12 inches. The Cardinal likes to make its nest in shrubs or branches of a small tree. They use twigs, strips of bark, vines, leaves and grass to make the nest. Sources: Stokes Field Guide to Birds, 1996; Images: www.metrocreativeconnection.com.
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RECORDING ARTISTS? This month we met some very talented young musicians, Summer Collins and Isaac Ball. Summer is 15 and her cousin Isaac is 19. Together, they are Summerfield, a new musical duo that is releasing their first CD this month! They have their own Youtube channel (The Summerfield Band) with thousands of fans and over a million views, and they run their own record label and publishing company! They started the band almost a year ago and are both so excited about their new career as professional musicians. TRUMAN: What’s it like to be a recording artist? SUMMER: Being an independent recording artist is the most fun for us in the sense that we have complete control of our music. However, sometimes it is very tough because of the many hours of rehearsal required for even a short performance. We have a 40-song repertoire of country/pop mixes along with 25 originals. We usually practice about 12-18 hours for a two-hour performance. In the studio, recording a single song can sometimes take hours and countless “takes.” This particular CD we started writing in June, and the engineers in Nashville just completed the final masters on Feb. 1st, eight months. It is always worth it in the end, and we are very proud of our first CD, Sunlit Destination. ISAAC: Being a recording artist takes a lot of hard work and dedication. For me, it is so rewarding at the end of a recording session to look back on what we accomplished that day and be able to say “yeah, that is good stuff.” I love it, hard work and all! I love to create in the studio, and many times I just let it all hang out. When someone says, “That’s it!”, I just recreate the same melody.
SUMMER: A typical day (after school) involves practice for twoplus hours, either by myself or together with Isaac. We also spend a fair amount of time planning and discussing who we are and where we are going. On the weekends or nights when we perform, it’s anywhere from 45 minutes to four hours at a time. In the recording studio, a day session can last eight to 10 hours, depending on whether we are singing, or just playing instruments. Over the years, I’ve learned that my voice can last about four hours before there is any noticeable change in quality. I try to drink hot tea with honey throughout a session in order to “keep the pipes warmed up.” We usually end a recording or performance session with a trip to grab a burger! A little-known (Nashville) secret is that greasy foods can also help the vocal chords … HA! Sometimes a seasoned vocalist would actually share a bag of greasy potato chips with me in the studio. ISAAC: A typical day (after work) involves practice for a few hours, maybe a show that night as well some songwriting. I think the most important part of my job is spending time plugging Summerfield online. The Internet is a huge part of my job! Youtube, Myspace, Facebook and many others have all allowed us to reach people all over the world. To me that is amazing! We spend a few hours every day working online to promote ourselves.
TRUMAN: What does it take to become a recording artist?
Summer and Isaac doing what TRUMAN: What’s the hardest part of your job? SUMMER: It takes musical talent and definitely they do best as Summerfi eld. SUMMER: It would have be the dedication. Sometimes I just being able to play an instrument or to sing, either want to go outside and have fun and spend time with my friends; self-taught or formally trained. I started with formal training, but now our however, I know that I have to stay focused on Summerfield. I guess it’s just practice and rehearsals take so much time that it is difficult to schedule regular different from other professions in that they may be in the future after college, coaching sessions, so we get what we can. It also takes dedication; you canbut this is NOW, as a 15-year-old! Education and grades are important to me, not be a performer or recording artist one day and then the next day say to and I take a full honor’s core-class load, and maintaining As is a challenge, yourself, “I don’t really feel like it today.” Once you are in it, you are in it! As but expected if I want to get ahead. I know that if a music career doesn’t work a teenager, this means missing out sometimes on some other fun stuff, like a out for us, that I will have an opportunity to apply myself in college. I’ve been movie or sleepover with friends if we have an upcoming performance. It also nominated to attend the North Carolina Governor’s School this summer, and means having the desire or at least willingness to get up in front of a crowd and that is as important to me as this CD is. entertain them. It’s what I love the most, and why the practice pays off. ISAAC: I think first and foremost it requires talent. Even if you don’t think you are naturally talented, with some hard work, anything is possible. Secondly, I think it takes patience and the ability to work with others. When we began recording, we met so many great people and were introduced to many new ideas and styles. Keeping an open mind played a huge part in the making our first album. TRUMAN: When and why did you first become interested in performing music as a profession? SUMMER: I have always enjoyed singing; however, the idea of becoming a professional came when I started playing guitar in 2009, and then playing and singing covers at my parents’ restaurant after my lessons. I really enjoyed it, and I felt that others did, too. I would put my guitar case out and perform for tips. ISAAC: As a classical violinist, I wanted to perform ever since I can remember. Music has always been my passion. After I played the Dogwood Festival in April of 2010 with my cousin Summer, I knew Summerfield was where I wanted to be! TRUMAN: What do you do? Describe a typical day on the “job” as a musician/recording artist?
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ISAAC: Sometimes getting started — rise and shine, get out of bed and get moving. The music industry is hard, and it requires a never-quit attitude. The hardest part of my job is staying with it every single day, even when I don’t feel like it. My uncle always says, “Writers write, musicians play music and performers perform.” Sometimes you have to pick up the pen or bow and just get started. You perform where you’re invited, and sometimes even places you’re not…Ha! TRUMAN: What’s your favorite song, or who is your favorite musician? SUMMER: Vanessa Carlton, because she has a wonderful voice. I also enjoy the lyrics and piano parts in her music. One of my favorite songs right now is “Thunder” by Boys Like Girls. I also love Dolly Parton because she has done so much more than just sing and perform. She is also an actress and entrepreneur! ISAAC: Hilary Hahn, a classical violinist. I admire her because of her unwavering perfection when she plays. She sets a standard for me that I am always trying for. My favorite song right now is “Why Don’t We Just Dance” by Josh Turner. The sweet lyrics mixed with its fun groove and catchy melody make it the song I cannot get out of my head. TRUMAN: There was more to this interview than I could put here, but you can read the whole thing online at www.kidsvillenews.com and watch Summerfield’s newest video. Check it out!
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March Maze Craze
National Reading Month March is National Reading Month, and we celebrate Read Across America Day and Dr. Seuss’s birthday on March 2! Find the hidden words in the puzzle.
Answer: Vernal (Spring) Equinox Source: www.metrocreativeconnection.com
BOOKS IMAGINATION LEARN LIBRARY
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L P M L I T E R A C Y H N Q P
P I O E F P O Q N E B I T F S
K K B C V U U E Y F A H L G P
L X U R X K W E U U Z W U P A
I T V A A S Y W N Q L L M Z I
LITERACY MAGAZINE NEWSPAPER READING
O M A I P R O O K I R E O U P
G O A A F G Y R T C Z E A V P
V X P G Y G B D U Y M A G R X
N E D G I O K S L I D E G D N
R O V G O N Q W G G S F Y A X
RHYME SEUSS WORDS WRITE
W Q V K J U A S X D K V O X M
R Q S O D R S T G N I D A E R
I R Y V B U U N I V N Z X V J
T F Y T E V H Z L O J Y S T E
E X Y S F R H Y M E N M K S X
Visit www.kidsvillenews.com for more fun & games all year long!
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MARCH 2011
Coloring Corner Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! Color in this picture to create your own masterpiece.
Image: www.metrocreativegraphics.com 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.
MARCH 2011
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KIDSVILLE NEWS - PAGE 9
Celebrating Amazing Women!
Throughout American history, women have made significant contributions in all walks of life. The following women are among those whose achievements are worth celebrating, during Women’s History Month and all year long! Louisa May Alcott: Best known for her novel Little Women, Louisa May Alcott actually published more than 250 works, despite passing away at the young age of 55 in 1888. An advocate for women’s rights, including the right to vote, Alcott was the first registered woman voter in Concord, Massachusetts. Elizabeth Blackwell: Are you a girl who wants to be a doctor when you grow up? Well you can, thanks to Elizabeth Blackwell, who was the first female doctor in the United States. After repeated rejection from medical schools because of her sex, Blackwell was eventually accepted into New York’s Geneva College, braving prejudice from professors and fellow students alike who felt a woman did not belong studying medicine. Pearl S. Buck: Award-winning writer Pearl S. Buck won both a Pulitzer Prize and the Nobel Prize for Literature, becoming the first American woman to win that prestigious award. Buck was also a noted humanitarian whose works helped shed light on a host of topics, including immigration, adoption, missionary work and women’s rights. Grace Hopper: Grace Hopper was a pioneer in the field of computer programming. She was
also a well-respected, not to mention, high-ranking, Naval officer. The USS Hopper, a guided missile destroyer ship in the U.S. Naval fleet, is named after the woman whose nickname was “Amazing Grace.” Helen Keller: Despite a childhood disease that left her deaf, mute and blind, Helen Keller became a nationally recognized advocate for people with disabilities, in addition to an expert author and lecturer. An ardent anti-war activist, Keller, who passed away in 1968, also campaigned for women’s suffrage and worker’s rights. Sandra Day O’Connor: The first female justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, Sandra Day O’Connor served as an Associate Justice for a quarter century until her retirement in 2006. A breast cancer survivor, O’Connor was awarded the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama in the summer of 2009. Dr. Sally Ride: Dr. Sally Ride was the first American woman, and then-youngest American, to enter space. A Los Angeles native, Dr. Ride is currently the President and CEO of Sally Ride Science, a company devoted to creating entertaining science programs and publications for upper elementary and middle school students. Sources: www.metrocreativeconnection.com.
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS... BANGLADESH?
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!
Pull out your globe and find coordinates 24º N and 90º E, and you’ll find the country of Bangladesh in Southern Asia. It is surrounded on three sides by the country of India, sharing only a small border at the southeasternmost corner with Burma. To the south, it borders the Bay of Bengal. Although it is smaller in size than our state of Iowa, Bangladesh is a very crowded country! In terms of people, it is the seventh most populated country in the world, with over 156 million people! The country used to be called East Pakistan. In 1971, it seceded from its union with West Pakistan and was renamed Bangladesh. The name Bangladesh means "Country of Bengal" in the official Bengali language. Where in the World Most of the country is on deltas of large rivers flowing from Word the Himalayas. The country has annual monsoon floods. Dursecede [si-seed], to ing the monsoon rainy season (June to October), one third of the withdraw from an country floods. alliance, federation, Bangladesh is a very poor country. Only half of the population political union, etc. can read and write. Half of the people work in agriculture, with rice as the most important product. Source: The World Factbook prepared by the Central Intelligence Agency.
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KIDSVILLE NEWS - PAGE 11
COME OUT AND PLAY!
Bowling: Pick Up a Ball and Get Rolling! There are lots of youth sports to choose from: baseball, soccer, basketball, football, dance, and the list goes on. But there’s another sport that may not be at the top of your mind — bowling! Bowling is a sport that you can start as a child and stay with forever! And your physical size or shape doesn’t really matter. Great bowlers come in all shapes and sizes. Physical size and strength don’t matter as much as they do in contact sports like football or basketball. Bowling does have physical benefits — burning calories and working muscles. In bowling, it’s your technique that’s really important. The object of the game is to knock down the 10 bowling pins with the bowling ball. Matches consist of each player bowling a “game.” Each game is divided into 10 “frames.” In each frame, a bowler has two chances to knock down all 10 pins. The number of pins that fall in each frame is recorded, with a running total. The player with the highest score
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in his or her game wins the match. When a bowler knocks down all the pins in one try, it is called a “strike.” If all the pins are knocked down on the second try, it is termed a “spare.” Equipment for bowling consists of a bowling ball and special bowling shoes. When you go to a bowling alley, they will provide both for you. It is important to select a ball that is not too heavy, but not too light. It also needs to fit your hand well. You grip the ball with your middle and ring fingers (of your dominant hand) inserted into the holes, and your thumb in the thumb hole. It’s important to roll the ball and not throw it. Bowling is a great youth sport and even offers scholarships for academic, leadership and of course, bowling skills. Youth bowlers as young as five have earned scholarship awards through USBC certified leagues and tournaments. (The USBC — United States Bowling Congress — is the organization that is the national governing body for bowling, as recognized by the United States Olympic Committee.)
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MARCH 2011
A Really Big Picture
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MARCH 2011
Last year, the United States government took a census. They tried very hard to count every single person in the country. This was a very big job! Now, imagine trying to take a census of every single star and galaxy in most of the universe. The whole Earth has far fewer people — about 6.8 billion — than our own Milky Way galaxy has stars — about 100 billion. And there are maybe 200 billion galaxies in the universe! But accounting for most of those stars and galaxies is the job of the Galaxy Evolution Explorer space telescope. It has already completed one census, or survey, that covered 65% of the sky. Now it’s working on a second survey, peering even deeper into space. This space telescope is special in two ways. First, it looks at the stars and galaxies in ultraviolet light. This is a kind of light that our eyes cannot see. This light contains more energy than visible light. New stars, which are hotter than older stars, put out lots of ultraviolet light. So the Galaxy This image of the sky is made up of 400 Evolution Explorer is separate images taken in ultraviolet light by particularly good at the Galaxy Evolution Explorer spacecraft. It seeing where new stars covers a piece of sky that is 1600 times as big are forming in galaxies. as the full Moon appears. The second way this telescope is special is that it has a wide field of view. In this case, that means that every image covers a piece of sky about four times larger than the full Moon. The Explorer’s team recently pieced together 400 of the telescope’s individual images. To show how much of the sky this mosaic image includes, they added an image of the Moon at the same scale. It looks very small floating in the lower left corner. As large as it seems, this whole big picture is only 1% of the all-sky imaging survey. What you see in this image is part of the Gum Nebula. This nebula is the wispy gas and dust left over from a supernova explosion that happened a million years ago. A supernova is the big “blowout party” when a huge star (much bigger than our Sun) comes to the end of its life. The nebula looks very big because it is much closer than the stars in the background. To see this image in detail on your computer and download a poster of it, visit The Space Place at spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/ educators/posters/#survey. You can also play “Photon Pile-up” at spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids/galex/photon to help the Galaxy Evolution Explorer make beautiful space pictures. 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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KIDSVILLE NEWS - PAGE 15
Art Gallery Michelangelo and the Italian Renaissance In 1501, Michelangelo returned to Florence. There he completed the gigantic Michelangelo was an Italian Renaissance artist. A statute of David. Other artists of the time celebrated the masterpiece and praised gifted painter, sculptor and poet, he is one of history’s Michelangelo for his artistic genius. Soon afterwards, he was asked to paint a most famous artists. mural on freshly plastered walls or ceilings, called a fresco, in the Council Hall for Michelangelo di Lodovici Buonarroti Simoni was the new Florentine Republic. Although he began this fresco, Michelangelo never born on March 6, 1475, in Caprese, Italy, but spent finished it because the leader of the Catholic Church, Pope Julius II, called him his childhood in Florence. His mother died when away to Rome to design the pope’s tomb. Michelangelo was six. As a boy, Michelangelo was sent Michelangelo worked on Pope Julius II’s tomb for many years. In between to study grammar with a local teacher. But he liked art working on the tomb, he also painted a fresco of Christ’s 12 more! At school, Michelangelo met disciples on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. As he worked, his another, older student who was fresco grew and grew. By the time he was done with the fresco learning to paint. This friendship made in 1512, he had painted more than 300 figures on the ceiling! Michelangelo even more interested The extraordinary mural included images of prophets as well as in art. scenes from the Bible, including the famous image of God At 13, Michelangelo began creating Adam. apprenticing with a local painter. Soon After returning to Florence for a short time in the late after, he began studying sculpture in the 1520s, Michelangelo finally left his hometown for the last time gardens of the Medici court. Lorenzo in 1534. Moving back to Rome, he painted more frescos at de Medici was a very important the Sistine Chapel and was made chief architect of St. Peter’s politician in Florence. One of the Basilica. He continued painting and sculpting until he was an founders of the Italian Renaissance, old man. he took Michelangelo under his guidance. So, while sculpting On February 18, 1564, Michelangelo died after a long in the Medici gardens, Michelangelo also learned about human anatomy, philosophy, poetry and other forms of art and culture. illness. He was almost 89 years old. Michelangelo’s The Statue of Written by Tamar Burris, a former elementary school After Lorenzo died, Michelangelo left his hometown for Rome. David, 1504, is one of the most teacher who now works as a freelance writer and curriculum There he studied classical statues and started carving full-size famous works of the Renaissance developer for PBS, the Discovery Channel and other educationsculptures. When he was in his early 20s, he finished one of his period. related companies. Sources: Michelangelo Buonarroti, http://www. most famous sculptures, the marble Pietà that depicts the Virgin michelangelo.com/buon/bio-index2.html, Web Gallery of Art: Michelangelo Buonarroti, Mary holding Jesus Christ across her lap. Today, it still stands in its original home http://www.wga.hu/frames-e.html?/bio/m/michelan/biograph.html. at St. Peter’s Basilica.
P ARENTOWN’S K ID S HAPE Benefits of Camp Last a Lifetime It’s never too early to begin thinking about summer camp. The experience is guaranteed to bring children lifelong benefits. Camp builds several crucial traits and has myriad benefits: Self-confidence: Having to tackle the day-today routine of camp without relying on a parent’s intervention affords the child an opportunity for intense self-growth. Shouldering responsibility increases a child’s self-esteem. Confidence is gained with each added success. Independence: Being away from a parent can be a good thing when the child is in an environment that fosters growth and learning opportunities. Being with other peers in an unfamiliar setting can create leadership chances. Cooperation: Group living is a part of summer camp. Learning how to give and take is a crucial part of youth development. Improved social skills are a huge benefit of camp. Skills: While most camps offer a variety of activities, there are many camps that focus on a specific area, such as sports or the arts. Either way, your child will be learning valuable skills at camp. Whether it’s working on passing skills at soccer camp or doing arts and crafts, boating or swimming at a general overnight camp, practicing important
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skills — or learning a new one — will be a great experience for your child. Friendship: There’s nothing that speeds up the familiarity factor as quickly as becoming bunkmates with kids of the same age. Because of the commonality of the camp experience, campers form bonds that far outlast the short time at camp. Many of these friendships last a lifetime. Appreciation for the natural environment: Whether it is hiking, swimming, boating, roasting s’mores or camping in a tent, summer camps embrace the outdoor environment. They teach responsibility for our surroundings and appreciation for nature. Play and Physical Activity: While camps are definitely learning environments, they are also a source of playtime. The American Academy of Pediatrics said, “Play is essential to development as it contributes to the cognitive, physical, social and emotional well-being of children and youth.” Camps encourage play and physical activity. Getting kids moving, instead of having a sedentary summer in front of the TV, will keep them healthy and happy. Investigate the local camps in your area and begin making your plans for summer break. Talk with the camps about the particular benefits their camp offers. Many camps fill up quickly, so start now to find the best fit for your child.
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Conservation o r n e r Water Treatment and Conservation
There are six and a half billion people on Earth, and that number grows every year. Our population may increase, but our freshwater supply remains the same. So, the water we use every day has to be cleaned and reused. There are water treatment facilities in your town to clean the water and make it safe for us to use. In the U.S., we enjoy one of the best supplies of drinking water in the world. Water utilities clean the water to remove harmful pollutants that can make us sick. They use processes like filtration and disinfection. Through screens, gravel and sand (filtration), and sometimes by adding chemicals to kill microscopic organisms that cause disease (disinfection), water treatment plants can make sure the water is safe and clean. After it is cleaned, the water is stored in water tanks and water towers. There are some easy ways that you can help conserve water. • Time your shower to keep it under 5 minutes (you’ll save 1000 gallons of water per month!). • Use a nozzle on your water hose, and turn off the water while you wash your car or bike (and save 100 gallons). • Turn off the water when you brush your teeth, and you’ll save four gallons of water every minute! • Use a broom instead of the water hose to clean off sidewalks and driveways (and save 80 gallons of water).
Sources: www.wateruseitwisely.com; Fayetteville Public Works Commission.
MARCH 2011
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KIDSVILLE NEWS - PAGE 17
AT THE MOVIES Rango (In Theaters: March 4) Rango is a chameleon lizard who needs to figure out who he’s supposed to be in life. Like any good chameleon, Rango wants to adapt to his surroundings. But the insect-eating lizard is suffering from an identity crisis. He might be a hero, but it’s too soon to tell. In the Mojave Desert town of “Dirt,” not everybody wants to be Rango’s friend. Filmmaker Gore Verbinski uses a different kind of approach for recording actors like Johnny Depp (the voice of Rango), Abigail Breslin, and Isla Fisher. The performances are captured on camera and then transferred to match their facial expressions to that of the animated characters. Johnny Depp calls it “emotion capture.” There a lot of animal creatures in this story. We get a gun-toting horny toad, a hat-wearing cobra, a grumpy tortoise named John, and more than a few species of kooky birds — to name a just few. Rango is a fish-out-of-water story where the “fish” is one very funny lizard. Rated PG for rude humor, language, action, and smoking. 107 mins. (Paramount Pictures) Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (In Theaters: March 25) Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon) is still working out the many challenges that come with being a “wimpy kid.” Greg enters seventh grade with plenty of teasing and bad advice from his not-so-helpful older brother Rodrick (Devon Bostick). Rodrick’s “rules,” about things, like setting “low expectations” for their parents, are sure to get Greg in trouble deep. David Bowers, the director of Flushed Away and Astro Boy, oversees the goofy situations in which young Greg finds himself in on a daily basis. Greg and Rodrick’s parents want their sons to get along better. But trying to make the boys act nicer to one another comes with problems the parents can’t begin to imagine. Rated PG. 94 mins. (20th Century Fox) MOVIES ON DVD The Ten Commandments (Available March 29) Cecil B. DeMille’s grand-scale telling of one of the most popular Bible stories is an unforgettable movie. The 1956 film stars Charlton Heston as
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Moses. The baby Moses was saved by the Pharaoh’s daughter after being sent down the Nile river in a basket by his Hebrew mother. As an adult, Moses’s rival Rameses discovers Moses’s Hebrew heritage and casts him out of Egypt. After crossing the desert and raising a family, Moses is commanded by God to return and free the Hebrew slaves of Egypt. As an epic biblical movie, The Ten Commandments is the stuff of Hollywood legend. The parting of the Red Sea is still one of the most amazing things you could ever hope to see. Rated G. 221 minutes. (Paramount) Dinosaurs: Giants of Patagonia (Available March 1) Originally shown on giant IMAX screens, Dinosaurs: Giants of Patagonia is the dinosaur movie to end all dinosaur movies. Tracking the history of the extinct creatures, the movie takes you on a journey 80 million years back in time with computer- generated images that bring the many different species of dinosaurs to life. Donald Sutherland provides narration about the largest creatures to ever roam the planet. Tyrannosaurus Rex, Giganotosaurus, Apatosaurus and Triceratops are just a few of the mammoth creatures you’ll have fun learning about. If you love dinosaurs — and who doesn’t? — this DVD is for you. Not Rated. 40 mins. (Image Entertainment) Batman: The Brave and the Bold - Season One, Part Two (Available March 15) Based on the DC Comics “team-up” series, Batman: The Brave and the Bold is a lively television cartoon series that features the Caped Crusader and his side-kick Robin teaming up with other DC super heroes to defeat their assorted villains. Super heroes like Plastic Man and Aquaman put their particular crime-fighting skills to use. The tone is light and features references to the popular Batman television show of the 1960s. Young kids especially go for the campy humor and broadly drawn style of this energetic comic book TV series. Not Rated. (Warner Home Video) 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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KIDSVILLE KITCHEN
Together Time — Ask an adult for help with projects!
Pop to It! Want to scare up some fun in the kitchen? Try making these three-eyed monster pops. Turn a boxed cake mix, icing, Candy Melts and little candies into sweet treats that everyone will want to get their hands on. These colorful pops are perfect for a “First Day of Spring” celebration!
TRIFOCAL CAKE BALL POPS WHAT YOU NEED: • 1 box (18 ounces) favorite cake mix • 1box (3.4 ounces) instant pudding mix • 4 eggs • 1 cup water • 1/3 cup vegetable oil • 1/2 cup Creamy White Decorator Icing
• Lollipop Sticks • White, Red, Orange and Green Candy Melts, melted • Candy eyeballs, spice drops, banana-shaped hard candies
HOW TO MAKE IT: • Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray two 8- or 9-inch round pans or one 13 x 9 x 2-inch sheet pan with nonstick spray. • In large bowl, combine cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, water and oil; beat at medium speed with mixer 2 minutes. Pour into prepared pans. • Bake 30-35 minutes for round pans, 35-40 minutes for sheet pan, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans and cool completely. Divide cake in half; freeze one half for future use. • In large bowl, use fingers to crumble remaining cake until no large chunks remain. Add icing; mix with fingers until well combined. Form into 1-1/2-inch balls. Chill in refrigerator at least 2 hours. • Dip lollipop sticks into melted Candy Melts and insert into cake balls; let set. Dip cake balls into melted candy. Chill until firm. • Attach candy eyeballs, spice drops and banana-shaped hard candies with melted candy to make fun monster faces! For more Pops ideas, visit www.wilton.com. Recipe courtesy of Wilton and Family Features.
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Dear Parents, Long-time reviewer Judy Freeman put together a couple of booklists for READKIDDOREAD that many parents have told us are very useful. We’re pleased to give you a sampling here. For the full lists, just go to READKIDDOREAD.COM and click on table of contents. Are boys and girls different in their reading tastes and habits? In many ways, they are. While there are plenty of children’s books that appeal to everyone, Judy has made lists of the things boys like best and those girls most like, and matched them with irresistible books that have true boy or girl appeal. ALMOST CAN’T MISS, SURE-SHOT BOOKS FOR BOYS: Boys of all ages, even toddlers, are infatuated by heavy machinery and love to watch vehicles in motion. I STINK By Kate McMullan, illustrated by Jim McMullan For ages 3-7 A no-nonsense, tough-talking New York City garbage truck explains how he chows down on all your trash each night while you sleep.
DANIEL X SERIES Beginning with THE DANGEROUS DAYS OF DANIEL X By James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge For ages 10 and up Fifteen-year-old Daniel X has taken on his father’s job as Alien Hunter since his parents were killed by the Prayer, a ruthless alien who has taken the form of a six-foot praying mantis in this fast-paced engrossing series.
ALMOST CAN’T MISS, SURE-SHOT BOOKS FOR GIRLS: Girls who are expected not to make a mess and to be good and kind and helpful and quiet often appreciate living vicariously through sassy girls in books who are none of those things. EMMY AND THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING RAT By Lynne Jonell; illustrated by Jonathan Bean For ages 8 and up The more Emmy tries to be good, the more everyone seems to ignore her. The Rat who lives in a cage in her classroom tells her, “The bad ones get all the attention.” So Emmy tries it! Girls like to fall over laughing, finding humor in a world full of super-serious life situations with demanding teachers, nagging parents, whining siblings and annoying friends. BABYMOUSE books Beginning with BABYMOUSE: OUR HERO By Jennifer and Matthew Holm For ages 7-11 This series of young graphic novels tells of daydreamer Babymouse, who has to contend with the everyday problems of life – from missing the school bus (again) to facing off with her nemesis, the cat.
Boys are captivated by fiction books where animals talk, especially with clever, snappy main characters that happen to be mice, rats or other small, smart rodents. THE MOUSE AND THE MOTORCYCLE By Beverly Cleary; illustrated by Louis Darling For ages 9 and up When his parents check into the old Mountain View Inn, Keith encounters a remarkable mouse named Ralph, who takes great delight in zooming around on Keith’s toy red motorcycle.
Where boys want action, girls want conversation. Girls like characters they can connect with personally and stories with emotional resonance that make your heart soar — or break — or just beat a little faster.
Boys love action. When they read about danger, adventure, sports, survival, mystery, intrigue and wise-cracking kids that get into big trouble, they like to imagine themselves in the thick of it.
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ESPERANZA RISING By Pam Munoz Ryan For ages 10 and up Born into a prosperous Mexican ranching family, Esperanza lived a life of privilege until her Papa was murdered, and she and her mother go to California and find work picking crops.
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P ARENTOWN’S A Financial Call to Action Everyone, from retirees who can’t afford to live on Social Security, to baby boomers who were downsized, to college graduates who can’t find work, to homeowners who drained the equity from their homes, helped push 2009 personal bankruptcy filings up in 2009. More than 1.4 million American consumers filed bankruptcy in 2009, according to AACER (Automated Access to Court Electronic Records) and the American Bankruptcy Institute. Until we decide to connect children and financial literacy in our school systems and hold innovative financial literacy campaigns across the country, we will always have escalating personal bankruptcies, higher credit card debt, payday loans, car title loans and pawn shops. Our silence as parents about money and its lessons is doing nothing but keeping our children from becoming financially literate adults who are neither equipped nor prepared to take on life’s financial challenges. Imagine sending your 18-year-old out into the world. Imagine you’ve been teaching your kid since the age of 7 the good, bad and ugly about money, the smart and not-so-smart ways of handling money, where money comes from, how to earn it, how to save it, how to spend it and how to help others out who may not have it. Wow, imagine that watching what they spend. Imagine the tools and lessons you’ve equipped them with for 11 years. Paying with cash — now that’s a novel idea! The average age a child makes his own first purchase at a store is 8 ½ years of age. Why are we not teaching our children about the resource they will work the hardest for when they become adults — money. Let’s teach them early in life while they are developing their opinions and experiences around money. Do you think we’d have this foreclosure problem if consumers were TRULY educated as they sat at the table of their closing and CLEARLY understood the documents they were signing? Do you think that if a working parent lost his or her job, there would be rainy-day savings in place to keep them on track and the bills current until they get back to work? I’ve seen enough in my 20 years of being a financial educator that it does not take a six-figure salary or degreed individual to save money. We have all heard the old adage, it’s not what you make; it’s what you do with what you make. There are average families making average salaries and living just fine BECAUSE THEY LIVE BELOW THEIR MEANS, and there are families out there making well over six figure incomes that are sweating every month when the bills come due because they are living beyond their means. Now, would you rather live in a smaller house where you can sleep at night with no money worries or in a larger house with the perception/deceit to yourself and your neighbors that all is well inside the mansion. Too often we continuously buy things for our children that are guaranteed to lose value over time, like expensive designer clothes, shoes, videos, electronics, cars — need I say more? Now of course, I am not saying you should not provide these things for your kids; just make sure their cost is within reason, especially with the clothes. Kids grow out of them so fast. Here’s an idea, purchase something that will possibly increase in value — stocks, and reinforce the old idea of saving money regularly. Now I know we all want our kids to have nicer things in life, but no one is going to remember what little Johnny wore to his best friends birthday party. You know what they are going to remember? How little Johnny had enough money saved to go to college without taking on a student loan, and that little Johnny knew how to handle his credit cards so by the time he graduates college, his FICO score is so high, he basically gets to name the interest rate he will pay on his first home or a new car. Imagine that. Keep in mind I am not talking either/or; I am talking in the both/and mentality. Let’s vow to our children to say farewell to financial ILLITERACY. 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 from those who register on our Website at www.BornToSave.org.
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K ID S MART ¡Una llamada de acción financiera!
Todo mundo, desde lo que se retiraron y no pueden vivir solo del seguro social, los baby boomers que perdieron su trabajo, los recién graduados que no encuentran trabajo, a los que son dueños de una casa que han vaciado su línea de equidad de sus casas, contribuyeron a aumentar las limaduras de bancarrota personales en el 2009. Más de 1.4 millones de consumidores americanos aplicaron para bancarrota en el 2009, según AMER (Automated Access to Court Electronic Records) y al Instituto Americano de Bancarrota. Hasta que decidamos unir la instrucción financiera en el sistema escolar y los niños y sostener campañas innovadoras de instrucción financiera por todo el país, la bancarrota personal, deudas de tarjetas de crédito, prestamos del día de paga, prestamos sobre el titulo de un coche, y tiendas de empeño seguirán escalando. Como padres nuestro silencio acerca del dinero y las lecciones financieras no hacen más que evitar que nuestros hijos sean adultos con sabiduría de cómo manejar el dinero y que no estén preparados para enfrentar los desafíos financieros. Imaginen enviar a su hijo de 18 años al mundo exterior. Imagine que le ha enseñado desde los 7 años lo bueno, lo malo y lo feo del dinero, las formas sabias de manejar el dinero y las no tan sabias, de donde viene el dinero, como ganarlo, como ahorrarlo, como gastarlo y como ayudar a los que no lo tienen. ¡Wow! Se imagina… que sean cuidadosos con lo que gastan, imagina las herramientas y lecciones con las que los has equipado y preparado por 11 años… pagar con efectivo… eso es una nueva idea. Los niños hacen su primera copra la edad de 8½. Porque no le enseñamos a nuestros hijos acerca del recurso por el cual van a trabajar tan duro para obtenerlo cuando crezcan, el dinero. Hay que enseñarles a una temprana edad, mientras que están desarrollando sus opciones y experiencias alrededor del dinero. ¿Crees que tendríamos el problema de ejecución de hipotecas si los consumidores estuvieran VERDADERAMENTE educados cuando se sientan a firmar el día del cierre de su nueva casa y que entienden CLARAMENTE los documentos que firman? ¿Crees que si el padre de familia que pierde su trabajo tendría ahorros para casos de emergencias para poder seguir pagando las cuentas y poder sobrevivir hasta que encuentre trabajo? He visto lo suficiente en mis 20 años de ser educador financiero que no se toma un salario de seis dígitos o tener un diploma para poder ahorrar. Hemos oído el viejo dicho… No se trata de cuanto ganas...Sino de lo que haces con lo que ganas! Hay familias que ganan salarios medios y viven bien PORQUE VIVEN DEBAJO DE SUS MEDIOS, y hay familias que tienen salarios de más de seis dígitos y se las ven difíciles cada mes cuando llegan las cuentas porque viven mas allá de sus medios. Ahora ¿Prefieres vivir en un a casa pequeña donde puedes dormir todas las noches sin preocuparte del dinero, o en una casa grande engañándote a ti mismo y a tus vecinos que todo va bien dentro de la mansión Continuamente compramos cosas para nuestros hijos que están garantizadas a devaluarse con el tiempo, como ropa de diseñador, zapatos, videos, electrónicos, carros ¿es necesario seguir con la lista? Por supuesto que no estoy diciendo que no le compremos estas cosas a nuestros hijos, sol o asegúrate que el costo sea razonable, especialmente con la ropa, los niños crecen muy rápido. Aquí les doy una idea – Compren algo que aumente en valor…como acciones, y la vieja idea de ahorrar dinero regularmente. Yo se que todos queremos que nuestros hijos tengan cosas buena en la vida… pero nadie se va acordar de lo que el pequeño Juan se puso para el cumpleaños de su mejor amigo. ¿Sabes de que se van acordar? Que el pequeño Juan tenía suficiente dinero ahorrado para ir a la universidad sin tener que sacar préstamos estudiantiles, y que el pequeño Juan sabia como manejar sus tarjetas de crédito, así que cuando se gradué de la universidad su puntaje del FICO va a estar tan alto que básicamente que porcentaje de interés el va a pagar en su primera casa o un carro nuevo. Solo imagínalo. Recuerda que no hablo de uno ni del otro; estoy hablando de los dos y de la mentalidad. Hagamos un voto a nuestros hijos, decirle adiós al analfabetismo financiero! Keva Sturdevant es la fundadora de Born To Save, una organización sin fines de lucros con base en Washington, DC con la misión de enseñar a los niños de todas las edades la importancia de ahorrar e invertir. www.BornToSave.org.
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