2012 6th Final Magazine

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The Most Awesomest 6 Grade Class’ Final Magazine

Your teacher is proud of you!

Great work!

!!Volleyball!!!

By: Beth W. Volleyball is played all around the world by many different people. Volleyball has a very long and interesting history. Volleyball has lots of rules that a player must know to play the sport. The game of volleyball can be very difficult to play because there are many different strategies that you need to know.

The history of volleyball is very interesting. Volleyball was first created by William G. Morgan.

Its real name use to be Mintonette but Alfred Halstead re-named Mintonette to Volleyball. It came to the USA in 1895. Volleyball has spread to 211 countries around the world. In 1896, the first official game of volleyball was played at Springfield College. In 1913, volleyball was held in the Far Eastern Championship Games and that’s how the game of volleyball started.

There are many different rules in volleyball. The coach must have 6 or more players on the team. There must be 6 players on the court at all times until substitution or another player comes in. A match is won when a team wins 2 out of 3 sets or games. The team can only have a maximum of three hits per side. If the ball hits or is hit outside the antenna on the net it is the other team’s ball. A ball hit on the line on the other teams side is called “in”. It is okay if the ball hits off of any player's body. If two or more players touch the ball at the same time it is counted as one touch and the other players on the court can keep on playing. Players may not hold, catch, or throw the ball during the game. These are just a few of the basic rules in volleyball. There are many other rules in volleyball that players must know to play it.

The game of volleyball can be very difficult to play. Indoor volleyball has 3 players in front and 3 players in back. Here are some basic positions that players need to know in indoor volleyball. There is a Outside Hitter, a Middle Blocker, a Right Side Hitter, a Setter, a Libero, and a Defensive Specialist. A Outside Hitter or (OH) hits and blocks left front. A Middle Blocker or (MB) hits and blocks in the middle front. A Right Side Hitter or (RS) hits and blocks in the right front and sometimes if the setter gets the first ball then they step in and takes their place. A Setter or (S) hits, blocks, and sets from right front. A Libero or (L) doesn’t hit or block she/he just digs balls up in the back row. A Defensive Specialist or (DS) is a back row player who can hit back row sets. The front row players are responsible for attacking the ball at the other team and for trying to block the other team who is trying to attacking at them. The back row players are responsible for passing the ball up to their setter when it comes to them and to dig the ball up so any other player on their team can get it. The 3 touches during a play should be a pass, set, hit. Volleyball can be very competitive or it can be played just for fun. It is very important to focus and have fun while playing volleyball.

There are many different strategies players must know to play the sport volleyball. Like if you are a hitter, hit to the spaces that are open and if you are a libero, locate where the ball is going. It is always important to play to the best of your abilities, to focus and to always HAVE FUN!!! Remember try your best in everthing you do and you won't fail.

For more info visit http://www.strength-and-power-for-volleyball.com/invented-volleyball.html

Soccer By: Sophia Soccer is a very popular sport worldwide. Today, soccer is one of the most popular sports in Europe and America. A fun fact about soccer is that Hungary has won the most Olympic medals for soccer. In some countries soccer is called football.

Soccer began in China during the Han Dynasty, where people would dribble a ball made of leather into a net. In the 1820’s, modern soccer slowly started taking shape in the public schools of England. Then, in 1862, grads began making the Cambridge Code, 10 basic rules of soccer. In 1904, football associations from seven countries met in Paris and founded the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, also known as FIFA. Today, FIFA has 205 member associations.

There are many rules in soccer, as well as two different kinds of soccer, indoor and outdoor. In outdoor soccer, there is a minimum of 11 players on the field per team. In indoor, there is a minimum of 6. In indoor soccer, cleats are not allowed. Jewelry is also not allowed in outdoor. Some rules are that soccer players must wear uniforms such as a team shirt, shorts, shin guards, socks, and cleats, and only use their feet to handle the ball. The exception is the goalie, who can use hands to stop the ball. The positions are forward, midfield, defense, and goalie.

There are some differences and similarities between boys and girls soccer. For example, some similarities are that they all must be played with the same amount of players, 6 minimum for indoor and 11 minimum for outdoor. Boys also must wear the same uniforms, shirt, shorts, shin guards, socks, and cleats. One difference is that boys play more roughly than girls, but that is just an opinion.

Overall, there are no big differences between boys and girls soccer.

Soccer is a great way to stay active, meet people, and have fun. Soccer has gone from dribbling a leather ball into a net to The World Cup. Even though soccer started in China, it is very popular worldwide. Some benefits of soccer are strength, exercise, and competition.

For more info about soccer visithttp://www.historyofsoccer.info/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_football http://www.sportsknowhow.com/soccer/history/soccer-history-2.shtml

Roman Myths By: Lucas M. Ancient Rome became the empire it is known as today after taking control of Greece. The Romans did so in 200-86 B.C. when they finally took over Athens. After taking control of Athens and the rest of Greece they adopted their religion. They adopted the 12 main and other gods and goddesses but renamed them. For example, Zeus became Jupiter. Many gods and goddesses were named after planets because of their discovery of astronomy. The Romans used myths to teach, explain and help with life. While they are different from Greek myths, they do share some similarities.

Roman Myths are around to teach and explain mystical events. In the area of weather, myths can teach why there are storms. Some myths teach about seasons, such as growing season and the cold season. Others still tell about amazing events, people, and occurrences like Medusa. Myths can explain land features like volcanoes or how things became like they are today.

Roman Myths are used to help with life. They can be about history such as the myths to explain who founded Rome and why Rome was founded. They can tell about religion. They can tell the Romans who to worship and for what. Jupiter is the god of power and skies, and Neptune is the god of the seas. The Romans stole mythology and gods from the Egyptians and the Greeks. This shows that the Romans were smart and valued the myths.

Many differences can be found, however small and unnoticeable they may be, between Greek and Roman mythology. All the gods or goddesses names were changed along with their personalities. They are stronger in Roman mythology to show conquering power. Roman religion blended many different religions like Greek, Egyptian, and Roman. The Romans believed their gods were not gender specific, while the Greek gods were. Romans also believed their gods thought that actions speak louder than words. The Romans also had many afterlife myths unlike the Greeks.

Roman Myths are not as popular as Greek but just as exciting. Ridley Pearson is creating a book series where Roman and Greek demi gods, the children of gods and humans, save the world.

This series is based on Greek and Roman Mythology and is called Heroes of Olympus. Many people of all ages find Roman Myths exciting.

The Iron Chefs of America By: Keeley The history of the Iron Chefs traces all the way back to Japan on October 10, 1992. This was the year in which Iron Chef Japan started. Iron Chef Japan allowed chefs to compete for the title Iron Chef. After Iron Chef Japan ended, Food Network announced that Iron Chef America would be aired in 2004. Chefs from America now got the chance to compete in their own country. Iron Chef America was not the first chance chefs got in America, there was once an Iron Chef USA but that show failed. To become an Iron Chef you have to compete and win as many battles as you can to earn the title Iron Chef. There are many famous Iron Chefs today.

Iron chef Bobby Flay is one of the first Iron chefs of America. At age 8 Bobby Flay asked for an easy bake oven, this helped him to learn about cooking. Bobby Flay dropped out of high school at age 17 and worked at an ice cream parlor called Baskin Robbins. Bobby Flay is known to be an Irish American, but attended a French culinary school even though he doesn't cook a lot of French cuisine. Bobby Flay’s first challenger was Iron chef Masaharu Morimoto. During the battle Bobby Flay slammed his knife on the counter, in Japan this is a disrespectful thing to do. But both chefs are friends today and continue to battle each other in culinary battles.

Iron chef Masaharu Morimoto was one of the first iron chefs from Iron Chef Japan, but then later became an Iron Chef in America. Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto is known for his unique style of presenting food. Masaharu Morimoto got his start on Iron Chef Japan then later after the show ended in 1999 he opened his own restaurant. Morimoto was influenced by western cooking styles so he closed his restaurant in Hiroshima and traveled to America to open a new restaurant. When the earthquake struck in Japan, Masaharu Morimoto sang at the Thousand Hearts Benefit for the Japan earthquake.

Mario Batali is one of the most successful chefs in America. Mario Batali’s restaurant Babbo is an award winning restaurant in Greenwich Village, New York. Mario Batali went to college at Le Cordon Bleu in London, he left the college because he lost interest for the school. Because of his lack of interest he went to Italy to learn all there is to know about cooking. Mario Batali has been with the Food Network for 11 years and is hanging up his chef coat at Food Network.

Iron Chef America travels all around the United States. Iron Chef America gives chefs from America the chance to become an Iron Chef. Maybe they just might travel to a state near you. Now get in the kitchen and start cooking! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Chef_Ame http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario_Batali rica http://www.mariobatali.com/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Flay http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Masaharu_Morimoto

The Ancient Olympics By: Olivia People from all around the world want to be in the Olympics. There was also an Ancient Olympics. The Ancient Olympics were held in Greece in Olympia. They held the Olympics to honor their god Zeus. They also do this because they want to keep their bodies in great shape and be healthy. If someone won a competition, that person would get an olive branch to show they had won the game.

Also in the Ancient Olympics they played very competitive with one another to win victory for an olive branch to show that they had won a game. They also did this to keep themselves in great shape and show their god Zeus how strong they are. They want to show Zeus how strong they are because they want to impress him. This is why they do the games. They also do it for the fun of it.

The only people who were involved in the Ancient Olympics were the men. Women and slaves were not allowed to play in the games at all. Women had to stay back and learn how to cook, clean, and sew clothes. They could also trade with other people to get the materials they need to cook, clean, or sew. Men played at the arena in Olympia.

The Olympics are still played to this day. Olympics are held all around the world, every 4 years. They have many more games than they did years ago. Tourists go there and watch the Olympics. One difference is that now women can play. People still play in the games because they want to stay strong and healthy. In the modern Olympics, they do not get olive branches anymore, they get medals if they win 1st, 2nd, or, 3rd. In the Olympics, they play games not just for Greeks, but all kinds of people! They play racing, wrestling, and much much more. The games are still held every 4 years. Hope everyone can go see a Greek Olympics!

The Wonderful World of Disney By: Emily M. The Disney franchise all started with a dream. A very big dream. A dream of a franchise that would make kids happy for years on end. It was all started by a man. A man who changed the world of animation as we knew it. His name was Walt Disney.

The Disney Company was created by Walt and Roy O. Disney. Walt was born on December 5, 1901 in Chicago, IL. At age sixteen Walt dropped out of school to join the military, but rejected due to the fact that he was underage. He and a friend then joined the Red Cross and were sent to France to drive an ambulance for a year. Walt Disney started his own business in Kansas City, Missouri named Laugh-O-Gram. Sadly, they did not make enough money to pay for the salaries of the workers and went bankrupt. After the failure of his company he decided to set up his company in Hollywood, California. Disney hired a woman named Lillian Bounds and they married the same year. In 1928 Walt lost his first animation hit Oswald the Lucky Rabbit and most of his creation and animation staff.

After the loss of Oswald, Walt and Ub Iwerks made a new animation that all of us know and love, Mickey Mouse. His name was originally Mortimer, but was changed by Walt’s wife because she thought that the name Mickey fit better than Mortimer. Mortimer then became Mickey’s arch nemesis.

In 1929, Walt and Ub made a new series called Silly Symphonies. The first episode was completely animated by Ub Iwerks. In the early 1930’s Ub Iwerks left Walt Disney to make his own animation studio, but returning to the franchise in 1940. n 1932 Walt received an Academy Award for the creation of “Mickey Mouse” (the series). Walt had one child, Diane Marie Disney and adopted a another child Sharon Mae Disney. Disney made countless films, but to name some of his firsts they would be Snow White and the seven dwarfs, Pinocchio, Bambi, Fantasia, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, The Wind in the Willows, and Dumbo. By the 1940’s Walt Disney started animation on Cinderella. In the late 1940’s Walt was envisioning a theme park where his employees could play with their children. On Sunday, July 17, 1955, Walt Disneyland opened. Walt gave a speech on live television and to the audience of which included Ronald Reagan. The speech said “To all who come to this happy place; welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past .... and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams and the hard facts that have created America ... with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.” In 1964 Disney had ideas to open Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. The center of Walt Disney World would be the Experimental Prototype City (or Community) of Tomorrow, also known as EPCOT, for short.

Walt Disney, like many others in this time, was a chain smoker. In 1966 Disney was scheduled to have surgery at the hospital across from the Disney studios to repair a neck injury he claimed from years of playing polo. During x-rays the doctors of Providence St. Joseph Medical Center noticed there was a tumor in Walt’s left lung and after a biopsy they said it had spread across the entire left lung. After removal of the lung Walt was told he had six months to two years to live. On December 15,

1966 at 9:30 a.m. Walt Disney died of acute circulatory collapse, caused by lung cancer. He was only fifty-six years old. Despite popular belief that Walt Disney was cryogenically frozen, but he was actually cremated on December 17, 1966 and the first known human cryogenic freezing was in January 1967.

Roy kept the company financially stable. After Walt’s death Roy took over the building projects for Walt Disney World and became the president of Walt Disney Productions for two years. Just two months after the opening of Walt Disney World, Roy was complaining about a spot over one of his eyes and scheduled a meeting with an optometrist. He was discovered dazed and confused by his bedside and died from a seizure. He was seventy-eight years old.

Over the 86 years of the Disney Corporation countless classic movies and television shows were made and produced by the Disney Company like Steamboat Willie and Plane Crazy. Some of the first movies ever made by the Walt Disney Company were Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Pinocchio, Fantasia, Dumbo, Bambi, Saludos Amigos, The Three Caballeros, Make Mine Music, Song of the South, Fun and Fancy Free, Melody time, Seal Island, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, Cinderella, Treasure Island (Disney’s first ever live-action film), and Alice and Wonderland.

Those movies were all made through the years 1937-1951. Peter Pan was released in 1953. By 1955 through 1961 Disney made many outstanding films like Lady and the Tramp, Old Yeller, Sleeping Beauty, The Shaggy Dog, Pollyanna, Swiss Family Robinson, One Hundred and One Dalmatians, The Parent Trap, and The Absent-Minded Professor. From 1969 to 1982 twelves movies were made.

They were The Love Bug, The Aristocrats, Bedknobs and Broomsticks, Robin Hood, Escape to Witch Mountain, Freaky Friday, The Rescuers, Pete’s Dragon, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Black Hole, The Fox and the Hound, and Tron. In 1981 Dumbo was the first animated Disney home video release. From 1985 to 1989 the films The Black Cauldron, Return to Oz, The Journey of Natty Gann, Flight of the Navigator, The Great Mouse Detective, The Brave Little Toaster, Benji the Hunted, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Oliver and Company, The Little Mermaid, and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. In 1991 Beauty and the Beast was made and was the first animated Disney film to be nominated for an Academy Award for best picture. Beauty and the Beast was also remade in 3D on January 13, 2012. In 1992 the movie Aladdin comes out. In 2000 to present time these are some of the more popular shows that have been added to the Disney Channel lineup. (NOTE: Some of these shows have been taken off of the lineup.) Even Stevens, Lizzie Mcguire, House of Mouse, That’s So Raven, Hannah Montana, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Wizards of Waverly Place, My Friends Tigger and Pooh, Good Luck Charlie, Shake It Up, Jake and the Neverland Pirates, A.N.T. Farm, and Austin & Ally.

Walt Disney designed many many characters. There are so many to name, but here are the main characters, and a little about them, that we all know and love. Mickey Mouse was created in 1928 by Ub Iwerks and Walt Disney. He usually wears red shorts, yellow shoes, and white gloves.

Mickey has a pet dog named Pluto and a girlfriend named Minnie. He is also friends with Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Goofy, and Horace Horsecollar. His arch nemeses are Pete and Mortimer Mouse.

Mickey was voiced by Walt Disney himself from 1928-1947, by Jimmy MacDonald from 1947-1977,

by Wayne Allwine from 1977-2009, and by Bret Iwan from 2009 to present. Mickey starred in many movies like Steamboat Willie, Plane Crazy, The Gallopin’ Gaucho, The Mickey Mouse Club, Building

a Building, and Mickey’s Orphans. Mickey also had his own comic series named Mickey Mouse and Friends. Mickey Mouse has had his face on everything from clothes to kitchen utensils. “Mickey” is also present at the Disney theme parks. He has his own video games by the names of Mickey Mania: The Timeless Adventures of Mickey Mouse, Epic Mickey, Mickey Mouse: Magic Wands!, Castle of Illusion Starring Mickey Mouse and Mickey Mousecapade. Just to name a few. He received nine Academy Award nominations. Mickey was the first cartoon character to receive a star on the Hollywood walk of fame.

Minerva “Minnie” Mouse was created by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks in 1928. She usually wears a red-polka dot dress with a red polka-dot bow and yellow shoes with red bows on them. She has a mother named Margie Mouse, a father named Marcus Mouse, twin nieces named Millie and Melody Mouse, a sister named Mandie Mouse, an uncle named Mortimer Mouse, and grandparents named Marshall and Matilda Mouse. She is the girlfriend of Mickey Mouse. Her friends are Daisy Duck and sometimes Clarabelle Cow. Walt Disney voiced Minnie Mouse in 1928, Marcellite Garner voiced Minnie Mouse in 1929-1939, Thelma Boardman voiced Minnie in 1941-1942, Ruth Clifford voiced Minnie in 1944-1986, and Russi Taylor voiced Minnie from 1987- present. She acted in many Disney productions like The Gallopin' Gaucho, Steamboat Willie, and Plane Crazy. Minnie is sometimes shown as a damsel in distress and needs Mickey to rescue her. Minnie has a black and white kitten named Figaro.

Donald Fauntleroy Duck was created by Walt Disney Productions in 1934. He usually wears a sailor's suit, minus the pants with a black or red bow. Donald has appeared in more films than any other Disney character. His girlfriend is Daisy Duck. Donald appeared in many cartoons, movies, and television shows like The Wise Little Hen, Mickey's Christmas Carol, The Three Musketeers, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, House of Mouse. Donald has three nephews by the names of Huey, Dewey, and Louie. He also has an uncle named Ludwig Von Drake. Donald has an unnamed twin sister who married Daisy’s brother. Donald is known for his temper and his jealousy towards Mickey. Donald also has a long list of nemeses. That list would include Chip and Dale, Humphrey the Bear, Spike The Bee, Mountain Lion Louie, Bootle Beetle, Witch Hazel, Aracuan Bird, and Baby Shelby. Donald has appeared in various books like The Donald Duck Book, Donald Duck's Toy Sailboat, Donald Duck's Christmas Tree, Disneyland Parade with Donald Duck, and Donald Duck: Private Eye. He was voiced

by Clarence Nash from 1934-1985 and Tony Anselmo in 1985- present.

Daisy Duck was created by Walt Disney Productions in 1940. She usually wears a blouse, bow, bracelet, and heeled shoes. She was voiced by Gloria Blondell in 1945-1950, Kath Soucie in 1996, and Tress MacNeille 1999-present. Daisy is the sister of Donald’s Brother In-law. That makes her the aunt of Huey, Dewey, and Louie. She is also the aunt of three girls April, May, and June. She also has an unnamed sister. Her friends are Clarabelle Cow, Clara Cluck, and Minnie Mouse. Daisy is the girlfriend of Donald Duck and like him, shows a temper at some points, but has a greater selfcontrol. Some say that Daisy was first introduced as Donna Duck, but others say that Donna Duck was an entirely different character. She has appeared in television show like Mickey Mouse Works, Disney's House of Mouse, and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

Goofy (Dippy Dawg, George G. Geef, James Boyd, Goofus D. Dawg, and Goofy G. Goof) was created by Walt Disney Productions in 1932. He usually wears an orange turtleneck, a black vest, blue baggy pants, big brown shoes, and a small green hat. He was voiced by Pinto Colvig in 19321965 and Bill Farmer from 1987- present. His father’s name is Goofy Sr., his mother's name is Gramma Goof, and his son’s name is Max Goof. His friends’ names are Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Horace Horsecollar, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, and Clarabelle Cow. Goofy had his solo series called How to.... This series showed interesting ways to do things, like become a rock star or play baseball. Goofy has an alter ego named Super Goof.

Pluto was created by Walt Disney Studios in 1930. Pluto is a mixed-breed dog. He is usually light brown or yellow, with black ears, and a green collar. He is Mickey Mouse’s dog and pal. He has been seen in countless television programs like Mickey Mouse Works, House of Mouse, and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Pluto was voiced by Pinto Colvig from 1931-1961, Lee Millar from 1939-1941, and Bill Farmer from 1990-present. His friends are Fifi the Peke, Dinah the Dachshund, and Ronnie the St. Bernard Puppy. Other animals that are not one of Pluto’s favorites would be Salty the Seal, Butch the Bulldog, Figaro the Kitten, Chip 'n Dale, Spike the Bee, Ol' Bent tail the Coyote, and Milton the cat, to name a few. Pluto also has a son named Pluto Junior and a brother named K.B. Disney, in my opinion, is one of the best franchises ever made. Disney is popular and around the globe. The Disney franchise is eighty-six years old and is still going. It has produced countless television and movie hits and made many theme parks across the globe. Disney never loses sight of Walt’s dream: To make entertaining, family friendly, and fun merchandise, television programs, and movies.

My Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Disney http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Walt_Disney_Company#cite_note-10K-1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_The_Walt_Disney_Company http://issuu.com/sakerson/docs/6thaslsmag/21 Disneyland- page 6 Disney World-page 20 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mickey_Mouse#Censorship http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnie_Mouse http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Duck http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daisy_Duck http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goofy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pluto_(Disney)

Pittsburgh Steelers/Pirates By: Mark The Pittsburgh Steelers have a long and impressive history. The Steelers also have a very successful Super Bowl history. There are also some of the greatest and most known NFL players who were Steelers. The Pittsburgh Steelers Defense was so good it had a nickname of “The Steel Curtain.”

Pittsburgh Steelers first took to the field as the Pittsburgh Pirates on September 20, 1933.

Before the 1940 season, Art Rooney decided he wanted to quit the copycat business because of the Pittsburgh Pirates (Baseball team) so he changed the name to the Steelers. They are in the American Football Conference (AFC) East Division with many other great teams. The Steelers first winning record was in 1942, when they had 7 wins and 4 losses.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have an impressive amount of Super Bowl wins. Pittsburgh has six Super Bowl wins, which is more than any other NFL team. They are the only team to win back to back Super Bowls twice. The Steelers have some Super Bowl win and losses. The won against the Minnesota Vikings in 1975, the Dallas Cowboys in 1976 and 1979, the Los Angeles Rams in 1980, the Seattle Seahawks in 2006, and the Arizona Cardinals in 2009. Steelers have only lost against two teams in the Super Bowl: Dallas Cowboys in 1996, Green Bay Packers in 2011.

The Steelers have many well-known players. These players are known for making an impact in the NFL. Some of their best players are “Mean” Joe Green (Hall of Fame), Terry Bradshaw (HOF), Lynn Swann (HOF), Jerome Bettiis, Tommy Maddox, Heinz Ward, and Charlie Batch. None of these players still play but they were very good in their careers.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are a very impressive team with many wins. They have many Hall of famers. They carry a long history of wins and losses. In my opinion the Steelers are very best team in the NFL because they have the most Super Bowl wins.

Nike By: Colton Every athlete knows the Nike Swoosh when they see it. The logo is one of the most recognizable logos in the sports world today. People see the logo on everyone from couch potatoes to weekend athletes to the highest paid professional athletes. Ever wondered what's behind Nike, the history, the products, the owner?

The history of Nike is very interesting. Nike opened in 1964 and was originally known as Blue Ribbon Sports. Nike’s first commercial aired during the New York Marathon in October of 1982. One of Phil Knight’s said that they should call the business Nike, named after the Greek Goddess of Victory.

Every year Nike comes out with new products. Not all their products are clothing or shoes. For example, Nike has come out with an app called Nike + GPS. The app tracks your pace, distance, and route from the Nike chip in your shoe. Some of Nike's designs are sport inspired like Air Jordan inspired by Michael Jordan, Kobe inspired by Kobe Bryant, and Lebron inspired by Lebron James.

The main owner of Nike is Phil Knight. Phil Knight was born on February 24, 1938. Phil Knight was inducted into the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame for his contribution to the sports of Oregon. Phil Knight has contributed 230 Million dollars to the University of Oregon. Phil Knight's stake in Nike made him the 47th richest man in the world and 19th richest man in the U.S. Don't expect Nike to lose its edge in the sports world any time soon. Nike continues to come out with new styles every year, adding to their success.

Dreams Park Cooperstown New York By: Dylan Dreams Park in Cooperstown New York is a baseball complex for teams all across America.

Dreams Park is open for all teams in America to play for one week. Teams compete to win the championship of a tournament. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to play in Cooperstown because you can only be a twelve year old boy to play.

Dreams Park was established in 1996. Dreams Park was chosen to be located in Cooperstown, New York because Cooperstown is where the game of baseball was invented by Abner Doubleday in 1839. Dreams Park is where history is made for one team every week during the summer. The first and second place teams of the one hundred teams in the tournament are given trophies after the championship game during an award ceremony.

Over 500,000 people the mix of players, fans, umpires, and parents come to Dreams Park once a year. Dreams Park is home of the biggest baseball tournament in America. Things that players get to do are play at least seven games or more if seeded. Seeded means teams were in the top fifty and will advance to play more and more games if they keep winning. Also all players and coaches are inducted into the American Youth Baseball Hall of Fame.

Teams stay in the Barracks for a week when they stay in Dreams Park. When teams are not playing they are in their Barracks (bunkhouse). Teams bring their pins to trade with other teams. Pins are the teams logo put on a pushpin and are traded to other teams for their pins. On Thursdays and Saturdays all teams are invited to come to the lunch hall and have a chicken BBQ. Teams have enjoyable and memorable times with each other in the Barracks.

Players do not just play baseball when they are in Dreams Park. Teams are allowed to leave the barracks for one day and do whatever they want. Some teams do team things like having a party or going to a Mets or Yankees game. Other things players might do is see family or they might just REST! All teams get to leave Dreams Park for another day to go tour the National Baseball Hall of Fame. This is another once in a lifetime opportunity for a lot of people some not as much.

Dreams Park does not allow teams own uniforms. Dreams Park supplies each team’s uniforms. Each player gets two uniforms, hat, and socks. Coaches get a navy blue pullover and coach’s shirt. The teams official certified umpire gets their own gear like an umpire’s shirt and much more. The uniform colors are the colors that represent Dreams Park; they are red, white, and navy blue.

Teams from across America say how fun, interesting, enjoyable, and amazing Dreams Park is.

When Teams get back to their hometowns they can tell what an enjoyable experience they had with their family and friends. Teams also get to show off their uniforms and rings they got at Dreams Park.

The Hunger Games By: Emma The Hunger Games is a novel written by Suzanne Collins. The book is written from the point of view of Katniss Everdeen. Katniss lives in Panem, which is a country where North America once existed. The Hunger Games are an annual event in which one boy and one girl between the ages of 12-18 from each of the 12 districts surrounding the capitol are selected by lottery to compete in a televised battle where only one child survives. Katniss and Peeta are taken to the capitol city by Haymitch Abernathy, who instructs them what to do during the Games. There is also a romance between the two tributes Peeta Mellark and Katniss Everdeen.

The Hunger Games book and movie were well received by critics. People, like critics, find The Hunger Games book and movie to be exciting, violent and deadly, and in a way very romantic. The reason why it is found deadly is kids from ages twelve to eighteen compete for their lives in order to survive and keep the government under control. These books were mainly written for young adults, but in my opinion, I think it would be good for children about 9 years or older, if they OK with reading about some violence. Critics say that the Hunger Games has very good detail makes it popular.

One Blogger, named Aliza, who writes on a blog called “I Know What Hunts You”, writes that “The Hunger Games was a very interesting experience because even though I read the books, it’s been a while. I had only a vague memory of the general storyline, but as I watched, the scenes came back to me like a half-remembered dream.” Someone who commented on her blog said that they did not like Katniss Everdeen in the book version. In fact they also include that it’s safe to say that they had hated her. One way in which the movie was more impactful than the books was you could see the violence actually happening.

The Hunger Games is a thrilling and exciting story. I found that once I started reading the book I could not put it down. Fans across the country seem to have the same thoughts about the books and movie. The Hunger Games is a trilogy of stories. I wonder if the 2nd movie will also have some differences from the book.

Links for more reviews-http://iknowwhathuntsyou.wordpress.com/2012/03/30/is-the-hungergames-movie-better-than-the-book/

Figure Skating by: Autumn Figure skating is a popular sport worldwide. Many people like to watch and participate in figure skating. Figure skaters put a lot of hard work and time into skating. Many skaters skate up to 20 hours a week. A main training facility for figure skaters who want to make the Olympics is in Colorado Springs.

Figure skating has a long history that involves Russia, Germany, Great Britain, and Scandinavia. At first the blades started out as primitive bones, but then the Dutch made the blades out of steel in the 13th or the 14 century. The Netherlands considered ice skating proper. In the 18th century ice skating was split into two groups: speed skating and figure skating. In Oslo, Norway the star Sonja Henie was born she was the first women to wear short dresses in figure skating and won more Olympic and world titles than any other women. Figure skating was in the Olympics for the first time in 1908. Since then figure skating has split into four groups, pairs, singles, ice dance, and speed.

Now figure skating is a worldwide sport.

Figure skating has many moves but some people wonder how they came about? Many of the moves were made and then named after the person who originated it. Like Axel Paulsen made the Axel jump the hardest jump because the jump is 1 and a half rotations unlike others that are just 1 rotation. Ulrich Salchow made the Salchow jump which is 1 rotation and takes off an outside edge.

Jackson Haines made the Sit spin which is one of the most used spins. Cecilia Colledge made the Layback spin. If these people wouldn't have made these moves then figure skating wouldn't have a wide variety of moves.

Figure skating is one of the many sports in the winter Olympics. Many figure skaters want to get into the Olympics but it takes time and hard work. People have to start at a very young age. Then, they have to be a member of the international skating Union. They also have to compete at a junior level and be at a world class level which includes local, regional, national, and open competitors.

Then finally try out for the Olympic team. Figure skating takes a lot of time and practice to get to Olympic level.

Figure skating is a great way to get healthy, exercise, and have fun. Figure skating used to be just for fun but now it has gone into the Winter Olympics. Even though figure skating started in Europe it came to the United States in 1840 and is very popular worldwide. websites used

www.usfsa.org http://www.usfsa.org/About.asp?id=101] www.funtrivia.com/en/sports/figure-skating-18934.html

Spongebob Squarepants By: Andrew Spongebob Squarepants is sponge who lives under the sea, and is on the Nickelodeon TV show with the same name. What is the history of Spongebob Squarepants?. Who are the characters in the show? Also why do people even watch Spongebob? Also why is Spongebob still making episodes?

Spongebob Squarepants was first made in 1999 for its first season. Spongebob creators have been making episodes every year since. Spongebob was originally going to be named Spongeboy. Over the years Spongebob has been nominated and won many awards. For example it won a Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice award for best show.

There are many funny and weird characters in Spongebob Squarepants. Spongebob Squarepants is a lovable sponge and is the main character in the show. Spongebob's pet is Gary the snail. Spongebob’s best friend is Patrick Star and one of his neighbors. Spongebob's other neighbor is Squidward who also works at the Krusty Krab with him. Spongebob's boss is Mr. Krabs and is the owner of the Krusty Krab. Mr. Krabs is a very cheap crab. The Krusty Krab arch enemy is Sheldon Plankton, but they call him just Plankton. He has been trying to steal the Krabby Patty secret formula. One of Spongebob's friends is Sandy Cheeks, who is a squirrel that loves karate and lives underwater.

Why do people watch Spongebob? People still watch Spongebob since he is a nice and soft sponge and not a mean and greedy person. People obviously love Spongebob because the show has won many awards. For example, it won for best cartoon in the Nickelodeon Kid’s Choice award. The show won this award in countries around the world. Another award Spongebob won was an Emmy awards for best animated program.

Spongebob is a great show and there are many reasons people should watch it. The show has great characters and cast. It has been loved by many people since it came to the world. So turn your TV on and watch the show.

Gymnastics By: Rose Gymnastics has been around for a long time. In the last 2000 years, gymnastics has changed dramatically. The history of gymnastics is very fascinating. The word gymnastics comes for the Greek word gymnos, meaning naked, which at the time suited gymnastics, as competitors were often naked when taking part in the sport. There are many types of gymnastics, including rhythmic gymnastics and trampoline.

Gymnastic first started in Greece. The Greek gymnastic events were mounting and dismounting a horse and circus performance skills. It has been around for 2000 years but only as a competitive sport for little more than 100 years. Greek cities had gymnasiums or courtyards used for jumping running or wrestling. As the Roman Empire got bigger, the Romans used gymnastics for military training. The Romans introduced the wooden horse to boy’s gymnastics. Gymnastics is a great sport, then and now.

There are four events in girl’s gymnastics. The events are vault, balance beam, uneven bars, and floor. To do vault, gymnasts run to a spring board and land on a vaulting mat or flip over a vaulting horse. The uneven bars are two bars at uneven heights and gymnasts perform a routine on them. The beam is a padded beam that gymnasts do leaps, acrobatic skills, somersaults, turns and dance elements. To do the floor main events, gymnasts perform a choreographed routine. Gymnastics involves a lot of strength and focus.

Girls and boys gymnasts are different and alike. Girl’s gymnastics has only four events, boys gymnastics has six events. The girls’ floor events have music, while the boys do not. Both the girls boys gymnasts are judged on all of their events for their execution, degree of difficulty, and overall presentation skills. Only girls complete in rhythmic gymnastics. Boys and girls both do trampoline and tumbling. Boys and girls both do acrobatic gymnastics. This shows that boys and girls gymnastics is similar and different.

In gymnastic there are many benefits. Some are strength, fitness, and flexibility. The lifting in gymnastics gives you strength. Various workouts lead to improved lifestyle and better fitness.

Stretching and continuous body movements over and over again make it easier to move and make the body flexible. http://www.scgymnastics.com/facts-and-benefits-of-gymnastics.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gymnastics http://shrike.depaul.edu/~vbard/histpg.html http://www.chevroncars.com/learn/sports/history-olympic-gymnastics http://www.life123.com/sports/team-sports/gymnastics/facts-about-gymnastics.shtml

Greek Mythology By: Kyle Greek mythology is very different from the Christian beliefs because, they have more gods/goddesses and Christians only have one God. They had to sacrifice numerous things when Christians sacrifice money for donations and other things similar to that. They would get severely punished back then if they disobeyed or did not do what their gods said/told them to do.

The three main gods for Greeks are Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon. The strongest of them all is Zeus. He is the god of the sky and all weather. The second strongest is Poseidon the god of seas, earthquakes and even horses. Hades was tricked by Zeus and got the lowest of the deal, the underworld. Also the gods had a father named Cronus. He was a titan and he was deadly evil. Cronus ate all the other gods because he was afraid that they would rule over him one day. He ate all of them except for Zeus. So, Zeus combined all of their staffs, Hades pitchfork, Poseidon's trident and Zeus’ very own lightning bolt and killed Cronus.

The worship of the Greek gods affected the Greek’s lives a lot. Occasionally they had to send offerings to the gods. Also they always tried not to offend the gods because they think they will have great punishments. The Greeks believed that the gods could see everything they were doing and know if they were doing good or bad. Before sailors would go out to sea they would give offering to Poseidon so they would not have bad storms. If the sailors did not give Poseidon offerings he would become deeply offended and cause humongous storms come and sway the sailor’s boats. Before entering Earth the gods took the form of a human being or an animal.

The Greeks and Romans differed in their mythology. The Romans’ gods are named after the planets. What is amazing is that the Greeks thought of the gods first. Also the Roman mythology came 1,000 years later. Every Roman story is the sort of different then Greek stories but the Romans used their gods rather than Greek god’s. The Greeks were paying attention to earth and life more than the Romans did. If the Romans did not praise their gods they would get punished by the government/officials. The same as getting punished they would get punished more severely if they did not sacrifice offerings to their gods.

When the Greek years finally came to an end a new era came, the era of Roman mythology.

Roman mythology is not as complex as Greek mythology, but they are similar. It is more like the Greeks gave up on making those ‘’stories’’ and the Romans thought that they might as well have their own gods but copied after the Greeks and the stories the same but different word routed. The Greeks eventually stopped 1,000 years before the Romans started doing theirs.

Justin Bieber By: Katie Justin Bieber was born on March 1, 1994. What was Justin’s life was like before he was famous? His discovery started with Youtube videos. Justin’s life changed a lot after he was discovered.

Justin Bieber was a very active child. He played a variety of sports including hockey, soccer, and chess. He was a very talented musician, even when he was little, but he kept it to himself. Justin taught himself to play the piano, drums, guitar, and the trumpet. When he got older, he entered a singing competition in Stratford, Canada and took 2nd place. So Justin really loved to sing but he really never told anyone.

Justin’s discovery is an interesting story. He was discovered by Scooter Braun after he saw Justin on You Tube. The musician Usher said that Beiber had talent. Justin Timberlake wanted to sign him, but lost the bidding war to Usher. In fall 2009 Bieber made his first album called “My World” which included “One Less Lonely Girl”, “Love Me”, “Favorite Girl”, and more. In 2009 for Christmas, Justin performed Stevie Wonder's "Someday at Christmas" for the president and his family.

After Justin Bieber became famous his life changed from how it used to be when he wasn’t famous. An example of this is how he doesn’t get to see his friends or family as much. Also he got a chance to live the life of a pop star, as well as starring in his own movie Never Say Never. He also has a lot of fans who love his singing.

I think Justin Bieber is a great singer and more people should learn about him. He had an active life before he was famous. His discovery shows that anyone can be discovered. I really like Justin Bieber and his songs and everyone should give him a chance.

Dance By: Courtney Dance can be used as an activity and a way to exercise as well as many other things. Dance can be used for other certain purposes. What are these purposes? Dance has a history like all other things. What is the history of dance? Dance can be divided into many different styles and categories.

What are some of those styles and categories?

There are many types of dance from many different countries and cultures which are put into main categories and styles. One of the categories is House Dance which includes Footwork, Waacking, and Hustle dance. Another category, Concert dance includes Ballet, Modern, Arco, and Tap dance. There are dances from ancient cultures such as Greece, Rome, and some of the Classical Indian dances from India. Street, Robot, and Snap dance are in the Hip-hop and Funk dance category. The Latin dance category includes the Salsa, Rumba, and Cha Cha dance. Dance includes many more styles and categories.

Archeologists think that dance has been around since the ancient cultures and was developed into many different styles. Ballet was created in the 15th and 16th centuries during the Italian Renaissance. Then in the 18th century, ballet migrated from the Royal Court to the Paris Opera and led to many discoveries like pointework. The United States formed a new type of ballet called Neoclassical Ballet in the 20th century. Early in the 20th century Modern dance suddenly became popular. Over the years different styles have become popular and other styles have developed from other styles.

Dance can be used in many different things and ways. Dance can be used as a language. The ancient cultures used dance in telling myths. It can be an important part in ceremonies, rituals, celebrations, and entertainment. Certain poses can be used for art purposes such as statues. Some types of dance like Ballet can help in other sports like football. Dance can be more helpful than some people think.

Dance can be used for many purposes such as art, languages, and group gatherings. There are many styles and types of dance used for different things. Dance has been around for a long time and has led to different forms of a certain type or style. Dance is broken up into main categories that include different styles. Out of those styles have come other styles.

For more information on dance visit these links below: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_dance_style_categories http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_dance http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_ballet http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ceremonial_dance