Kid's World

Tuesday • March 20, 2012 — D1

The Sentinel at www.cumberlink.com Megan bollinger Copy Editor Phone 240-7111

Kids World

Fax 243-3121 Email mbollinger@cumberlink.com

When kids speak out, The Sentinel listens

Kids Speak Out

Tell Me A Story

The snow was beinning to melt so I....

The snow was beginning to melt so I gathered all of it up and put it in the freezer for ten minutes. After that I took it out of the freezer, it was melted. I said, “Oh no!” I sat down a little bit then it hit me. I ran outside and ran to my uncle’s house. I said, “I need you wood chipper.” He said, “That’s a dangerous tool, son!” I said, “I know.” So I pushed it home heaving and heaving. I eventually got home and I put it in place and I got some blocks of cheese and threw it in the machine. Finally we had snow again. It was cheese snow!

Landon Miller, 8 (WINNER) W.G. Rice Elementary School Third grade The snow was beginning to melt so I made some fake snow out of small pieces of paper. Then I would spread it all over the yard. Then I would play in it all day long. I told my parents to come play with me. Then we had a fake snowball fight. I won against my parents. I was happy. So I made a snow angel. I was beginning to be said. All the snow would blow away over night. I went to bed very sad and droopy. The next day all the snow was gone. I made another yard full of snow. I was now very happy.

Ethin Dyche, 7 and a half (WINNER) North Dickinson Elementary School Second grade The snow was beginning to melt so I called up God to make more snow. Then I will go to my cousins. Then I will get my snowsuit on. Then I will go outside.

Anthony DePietress, 6 and a half (WINNER) Shaull Elementary School First grade

Tell us what you think at www.4Kids.org/ speakout

To complete the Kid Quest Challenge: Visit the websites featured in this issue, find the answers to our questions, then go to www.4Kids.org/ kidquest

Go to our website: www.4Kids.org/askamy Or write: Ask Amy, 236 J.R. Pearson Hall, 1122 West Campus Rd., Lawrence, KS 66045

The snow was beginning to melt so I would play with it before my brother eats it. And I love snow so much I would keep it too.

Emma Steinkamp, 6 Shaull Elementary School First grade The snow was beginning to melt so I go to the pool and get ice cream and got to the beach.

Sam Blacksmith, 7 Shaull Elementary School First grade The snow was beginning to melt so I got a bucket of snow and shoved it in the freezer. I kept doing that until it was full. And the next morning my mother went to get a waffle and all of the snow filled the kitchen. And she said, “Michael Ronan, what did you do?” I said, “The snow was melting and I wanted it to stay.” “That doesn’t mean you fill the freezer with snow,” she said. Then end.

Michael T. Ronan, 9 W.G. Rice Elementary School Third grade

Amy answers your questions about the World Wide Web at www.4Kids.org/askamy

Play Chess

Excuses, Excuses…

Unravel the mystery and intrigue surrounding the discovery of ancient chess pieces in Unmask the Lewis Chessmen, nms.ac.uk/kids/unmask_ the_chessmen.aspx. Start with the interactive map to begin gathering evidence for your own case file.

Then examine your case file and throw away fake clues. After you learn how the Chessmen were made and where they were discovered, read a collection of stories and guess which one is true. Ready to play games? Choose the Chessmen to meet the characters, then play the walrus tusk game.

The U.S. Department of Energy wants you to take a good look at your energy use at Lose Your Excuse, loseyourexcuse.gov. You would be shocked to find out just how much energy the average household uses. Find the Easy Energy Action Plan and try 10 simple ways to save energy in your home, such as shutting off computers and unplugging your phone chargers.

Bust a Move to Lost Excuses Land and help the characters get past their energy-wasting ways. Be sure to play the Energy Rescue Game before you turn off your screen.

What year were the Lewis Chessmen discovered?

Springtime Celebration

What kind of light bulbs should you be using?

Wild Ways Return to the Wild, canadiangeographic.ca/wildlife-nature/english, and see all the natural wonders of North America. Visit Ecozones and explore the map. There are many different ecozones to learn about, from Arctic to Desert. Fabulous photos provide stunning visual comparisons, so feast your eyes on the beauty the continent has to offer. Click on Species to meet animals such as the beluga whale, grey wolf, honeybee and others that call certain regions home. Themes will show you what you can do to help with conservation efforts.

How does the caribou differ from other “cervidae”?

Tuesday, March 20, marks the first day of spring this year. It might still be chilly outside, but the beginning of spring reminds me that warmer days will be here soon. I'm ready to welcome spring, so I've collected sites with lots of ideas to celebrate the new season. Whether you're into making crafts or playing in the dirt, you're sure to find something that tickles your fancy.

30 Fun Spring Crafts for Kids familyfun.go.com/spring/spring-crafts/springcrafts-ideas-gallery-854285 Starting Seeds Indoors root4kids.com/dig/starting-seeds-indoorssparks-early-gardening-fun Garbage-Can Gardening www.kidsgardening.org/activity/garbage-cangardening Homemade Bird Feeders web4.audubon.org/educate/educators/bird_ feeders.html — Amy

How you can get involved with Kids Speak Out Want To See Your Name Here?

Hey, kids! How would you like to get your story published in Kids Speak Out? Just write a short story on one of our prompts and send it to The Sentinel. You can also draw a picture to go with your story. Each week, The Sentinel will publish some of the stories we receive in KidsWorld and on www.cumberlink.com. Only the top three essay writers, published on this page, will receive KidsWorld T-shirts. To claim T-shirts, visit The Sentinel during normal business hours.

You must be 5 to 13 years old to enter. Stories must be 150 words or less.

Be sure to include your full name, age, address, school and grade. Mail your entry to “Kids Speak Out,” The Sentinel, 457 E. North St., Carlisle, PA 17013, drop it off at either Sentinel office or mail it to frontdoor@cumberlink.com with the subject “KidsWorld.”

Upcoming Topics Due March 23 My least favorite chore is...

Due March 30 The best April Fool’s prank I pulled was...

Due April 6 I woke up and saw a dinosaur in my back yard...

Due April 13 My favorite pet is...

Due April 20 I was visiting the moon when....

Copyright © 2012, 4Learners Associates, Inc. Distributed by Universal Uclick 03/18/12

What is your favorite wild animal? Why?

The snow was beginning to melt so I ran outside and put all of it in the freezer. Then in the summer I got it out and played with it.

Madison Dicely, 9 Fishing Creek Elementary School Fourth grade

The shade tree An Asian folktale adapted by Amy Friedman illustrated by Jillian Gilliland

One warm spring day, a young man was out walking. As he walked, the sun rose higher and higher. The young man was tired and hot, and he wished he could find a nice cool spot to rest.

As if he had conjured it in his imagination, he suddenly came upon that very spot. A patch of grass was shaded by a tall Zelkova tree that grew in the yard of a wealthy merchant’s house. The tree was tall, its branches long, and now, at noon, it spread shade outside the garden gates, into a tiny park beside the merchant’s house.

The young man smiled and sat in that sweet pool of shade. He sighed with delight. “This must be heaven,” he said aloud, but at that same time the merchant was arriving home. When he saw the young man sitting there in the shade of his Zelkova tree, he stopped before him.

“Excuse me, you can’t stay here,” he said.

The young man squinted up at him. “I beg your pardon.

Why is that?” he asked.

“You’re sitting in my shade,” said the merchant.

“Your shade?” the young man asked. He could not believe what he was hearing. “But I am not sitting inside your gate.”

“The Zelkova tree belongs to me,” the merchant said. “My grandfather planted it, and I own the tree and its shade! If you want to remain where you are, you’ll have to pay me for its use.”

The young man was a clever fellow. He thought about this briefly. He had heard that the merchant was a greedy, selfish man. Perhaps he needed to learn a lesson. After some moments the young man said, “I’ll pay you for your shade, but you’ll have to sign a contract that explains I have purchased the use of your shade.”

The merchant smiled. “Of course,” he said, and he offered an outrageous sum, hoping to end this conversation.

The young man smiled. “Glad to pay,” he said. “So long as you’ll sign the agreement,” and with that he wrote out a brief agreement on a piece of paper, giving him the right to use the shade of the Zelkova tree whenever he wished.

Happy to end the conversation, the merchant signed the agreement and took the money. As he walked inside, he shook his head and muttered, “Fool.”

The young man fell asleep, and when he woke, he hurried home to tell his friends of his marvelous purchase.

The next day was sunny again. The young man waited until late in the afternoon when the sun had moved across the sky and the shade of the Zelkova tree extended into the merchant’s yard.

He and his best friend, carrying a basket, walked to the merchant’s house. They stepped inside the gate, sat upon the merchant’s lawn and unpacked their picnic.

When the merchant looked out his window and saw the young men eating lunch, he stormed outside. “This is my property!” he said. “You can’t sit here.”

The young man laughed and pulled the contract from his pocket. “You sold me the shade of your Zelkova tree, and as you can see, we are simply sitting in its shade.”

“That’s not what I meant!” the merchant raged.

“But it is our agreement,” the young man said. Now the sun moved farther west, and the shadow moved toward the porch. The young men walked to the porch and made themselves quite comfortable.

“I’ll return your money,” the merchant said. “Just leave my property.”

“No, thank you,” said the young man. “I quite like my purchase.”

“I’ll pay you double then,” the merchant sputtered, and just then he saw the shadow slide into his house, and the two young men opened the door and walked inside.

The merchant followed them. “Triple, I’ll pay you triple!” he cried.

Once again the young man shook his head.

“What do you want?” the merchant wailed.

Once again the young man thought a while. If he had a great deal of money, he could be helpful to the poor. He looked at the merchant. He had no wish to destroy anyone.

“Give me half your fortune and I’ll sign back my rights to your shade,” he said.

The merchant agreed, and so it was that everyone in the village lived happily ever after.

Sleep In! School Closings and Delays @

www.cumberlink.com

D2 — The Sentinel at www.cumberlink.com Megan bollinger Copy Editor Phone 240-7111

Tuesday • March 20, 2012

Kids World

Fax 243-3121 Email mbollinger@cumberlink.com

When kids speak out, The Sentinel listens 11-1 (12)

release dates: March 17-23

Mini Spy . . .

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Mini Spy loves the artwork of her favorite video game.

3EE IF YOU CAN FIND s ICE CREAM CONE s WORD -).) s SNAIL s BANDAGE s LADDER s LETTER % s NEEDLE s SOCK s PENCIL s BROOM s HEART s BOOK s KITE s OWL s SCISSORS Š 2012 Universal Uclick from The Mini Page Š 2012 Universal Uclick

Creating New Worlds

Early games

Filling in the blanks

In the 1970s and early 1980s, there were limits to what video game technology could do. Designers weren’t able to tell the full stories they may have pictured in their minds. Players used their imagination to fill in the gaps of the story.

For example, in Atari’s game “Combat,� two players control tanks, jets and biplanes. Instead of a battlefield, the game uses a plain green screen with rough battle lines and dividers drawn in. “Combat� does not include a story. Players invent their own story. This is part of the fun.

Players bounce ammunition off the walls and dividers. This adds something else to think about. “Combat� players learn to use strategy to defeat their opponent.

Designers had to be creative to get around the low technology. For example, in “Donkey Kong,� there weren’t enough pixels available for the designer, Shigero Miyamoto, to create a whole face. So he took out one pixel between Mario’s nose and mouth.

Because the background was black, that empty space looked like a black mustache. Mario still has it today.

In “Pitfall!� the designer, David Crane, was trying to figure out how to make a human figure run. He made up a story about why the man was running. That led to the first adventure game with a human-like figure.

Meet Tommy Tallarico

from The Mini Page Š 2012 Universal Uclick

from The Mini Page Š 2012 Universal Uclick

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Supersport: Kyrie Irving

Height: 6-3 Birthdate: 3-23-92 Weight: 191 Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia Grew Up: West Orange, N.J.

This time last year, pro basketball scouts were raving about Kyrie Irving’s potential. Now they are raving about his production.

With crossover dribbles, spin moves and long jumpers, the sleek Cleveland Cavaliers guard looks more like an NBA veteran than a 19-year-old rookie.

In the first 23 games, Irving averaged 18 points, shot 49.2 percent from the field, dished out 5.1 assists and fearlessly took pressure shots. That’s why the Cavs picked him No. 1 in the overall 2011 draft. ,AST SEASON )RVING PLAYED ONLY GAMES AT $UKE 5NIVERSITY BECAUSE OF an injury. Kyrie, whose dad, Drederick, starred at Boston University, can work toward his college degree in the offseasons. But for now, he’s getting an “A� for his play in the NBA.

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Rookie Cookie’s Recipe

Honey Cinnamon Carrots

You’ll need:

s TABLESPOON HONEY s CUPS BABY CARROTS s TABLESPOON BUTTER MELTED s CANOLA OIL COOKING SPRAY s 1 4 teaspoon cinnamon s SALT AND PEPPER s TABLESPOON BROWN SUGAR

What to do:

1. Cut carrots in half lengthwise.

2. Spray a rimmed baking pan with canola oil cooking spray. Spread carrots in a single layer on the pan. Spray carrots.

3. Sprinkle carrots with salt and pepper to taste.

4. Broil for 10 to 11 minutes, stirring halfway through.

5. Meanwhile, combine remaining ingredients in a small bowl. Pour mixture over carrots and coat evenly.

6. Broil for 2 more minutes until carrots are tender.

You will need an adult’s help with this recipe. from The Mini Page Š 2012 Universal Uclick from The Mini Page Š 2012 Universal Uclick

Leaping Forward To the next level It took David Crane about 1,000 hours to write the coding for the FIRST h0ITFALL v GAME IN ,ATER games in which a player has to avoid dangers have been built on Crane’s original programming. “Donkey Kong� was the first video game in which a whole story was played out. An ape captures a girl, and the hero, now known as Mario, has to try to rescue her.

As Mario chases Donkey Kong from level to level, he has to jump and climb moving platforms, or raised stages. This type of game is called a platformer game. “Donkey Kong� began in arcades in 1981.

Nintendo later made a home version.

Donkey Kong™, 1982, Shigeru Miyamoto, creator; Garry Kitchen, programmer

“Pac-Man� came out in video game arcades in 1981. Players have to get PacMan through a maze while he either runs from ghosts or tries to eat them. This image is from the home game.

A story in the game The arcade version of “Pac-Man� was the first game to stop and tell a story between levels of game-playing.

These stories between levels are called cut-scenes or in-game movies.

The player has no control over the story in cut-scenes. It is a story thrown in for fun or background. “Pac-Man� told the story about Pac-Man and the ghosts chasing each other in three acts. The home version of “Pac-Man� did not have cut-scenes.

Storytelling Today, the technology has become so good that game creators can tell a complete story during the gameplaying. The art is so detailed that it can feel as if the player is in a movie.

In video games, unlike in other media such as movies, the player controls part of the story. The creator still controls how the story begins and ends, but the player can take side trips to explore the world where the story takes place.

Tomb Raider, Jeremy H. Smith, executive producer; Toby Gard, Heather Gibson, Neal Boyd, graphic artists; Jason Gosling, Paul Douglas, Gavin Rummery, programmers, SEGA Saturn, 1996, Š 1996 SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD. All Rights Reserved.

photo courtesy Smithsonian American Art Museum

Tommy Tallarico has composed or been sound designer for the music in more than 300 video games.

(E IS CO FOUNDER OF THE CONCERT TOUR h6IDEO 'AMES ,IVE v Some of the games Tommy has worked on include h%ARTHWORM *IM v h!DVENT 2ISING v h!LADDIN v h3COOBY Doo� and “The SpongeBob Squarepants Movie.� He HOSTED WROTE AND CO PRODUCED THE 46 SERIES h4HE %LECTRIC 0LAYGROUND v A NEWS SHOW ABOUT VIDEO GAMES (E HAS ALSO co-produced albums of video game music.

4OMMY

WAS BORN IN /RANGE #OUNTY #ALIF (E BECAME INTERESTED in composing music when he was 9, after watching the movie “Star Wars.� When he was in his early 20s, he got a job as a games tester at a video game company. He began composing music for those games.

Tommy works for several charities, including those that protect animals and encourage students in their musical careers. He loves photography, cooking, Beethoven, playing baseball and traveling.

from The Mini Page Š 2012 Universal Uclick

Pac-Man, 1981, Toru Iwatani, original concept; adapted by Tod Frye. ™ and Š NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc.

“Combat� was the first game for the Atari Video Computer System, coming out in 1977.

This scene is from “Super Mario Galaxy 2.� The first Mario Brothers game was called “Donkey Kong.�

In that game, Mario was called Jumpman because his character jumped as he chased the ape, Kong.

In that first game, the hero was a carpenter. In later games, Mario is a plumber.

Pitfall!, David Crane, Atari VCS, 1982, Activision Publishing. All trade names and trademarks are properties of their respective parties. All Rights Reserved.

CombatŽ, 1977, Joe Decuir, Larry Wagner, programming and design. Š 1978 Atari Interactive Inc.

When the first home video games for general use came out 40 years ago, artists didn’t have much to work with. They had just a few pixels (PIKS-uhls), or points of light on the computer screen, to “paint� with.

But video game art took off like a rocket, changing almost overnight.

Today, game artists mix technology with traditional art forms, including writing, painting, sculpture and music, to create a brand-new type of art.

The Smithsonian American Art Museum is the first major museum to look at video games as a form of art.

The Mini Page talked with Chris Melissinos, the curator (KHURay-tur), or person in charge, of this exhibit.

Super Mario Galaxy 2, 2010, Yoshiaki Koizumi, Shigeru Miyamoto, designers; Takeshi Hayakawa, lead programmer; Koichi Hayashida, director; Kenta Motokura, design director. Nintendo of America, Inc.

The Art of Video Games

In “Tomb Raider,� the hero, Lara Croft, explores hidden spots in the world. Toby Gard designed the game in 1996 with a female hero, unusual in early games.

from The Mini Page Š 2012 Universal Uclick

from The Mini Page Š 2012 Universal Uclick

Players Share in Art Creation

Game playing

Into the future

Two of the most popular types of video games are role-playing and sim. In role-playing games, or 20' THE PLAYER TAKES ON THE ROLE OF a character. The player controls what the character does.

In sim, or “simulation,� games, the player affects the environment of the characters. The player doesn’t directly control the character.

No one knows where art will go next. The next big dreamers and big thinkers might include you.

Chris started programming games when he was 9, and he wrote his first game when he was 12.

He said: “We need kids to keep dreaming big dreams, to think of the next big things. Computers can help them take their ideas and help other people experience them. “When you’re 12, you’re told what to eat and when to go to bed. As a 12-year-old with a computer, I could create anything I wanted. I could build. I could create any world I wanted. I could create any story I wanted. “In the real world I was powerless.

In games I became powerful. Any power or tools we can give kids to allow them to express themselves, what a gift!�

Shenmue, 2000, Yu Suzuki, director and producer; Yoichi Takahashi, designer; Eiji Ogawa, writer. ŠSEGA. All Rights Reserved.

MassEffect 2, Casey Hudson, director; Mac Walters, Drew Karpyshyn, writers; Casey Hudson, producer, Microsoft XBox 360, 2010, Š 2010 Electronic Arts, Inc. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Curator Chris Melissinos says there are three voices in video games: s 4HE ARTIST DESIGNER CREATOR s 4HE GAME ITSELF s 4HE PLAYER %VEN WHEN THEY ARE PLAYING THE same game, each player takes away something different. Players can also change the way the story goes in the game.

If you read a Harry Potter book, you might ask your friends if they remember a certain part. But with video games, you would ask if they remember a part, and then ask how they handled that part. The answer might be different with each player.

Flower, Jenova Chen, creative director; John Edwards, lead engineer. Developed by thatgamecompany, LLC, Sony Playstation 3, 2009, Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC

The powerful player

In “Mass Effect 2� (a mature-rated game), players take on the role of a space commander. Each player can decide if Commander Shepard will be a male or a female. The player’s actions decide who the enemies or friends will be and even if Shepard lives or dies. This game was designed by Casey Hudson in 2010.

The Mini Page thanks Chris Melissinos, curator, “The Art of Video Games,� for help with this issue. “The Art of Video Games� exhibit will run from March 16 through Sept. 30 at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C. After that, it will travel to several places in the United States.

In “Flower,� the player takes the part of the wind. As the wind, you blow through different environments, trying to bring them to life. The more flowers you touch and the more petals you release into the wind, the more the land heals. This sim game was designed

by Jenova Chen in 2009.

“Shenmue� is a role-playing game where a young man searches for his father’s killer. Players can exist in the game’s world as if it were real, opening drawers, getting rained on, etc. It was designed by Yu Suzuki.

Next week, The Mini Page is about the music of video games.

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The Mini Page’s popular series of issues about each state is collected here in a 156-page softcover book. Conveniently spiral-bound for ease of use, this invaluable resource contains A-to-Z facts about each state, along with the District of Columbia. Illustrated with colorful photographs and art, and complete with updated information, The Mini Page Book of States will be a favorite in classrooms and homes for years to come.

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All the following jokes have something in common. #AN YOU GUESS THE COMMON THEME OR CATEGORY Gary: How were the animals entertained in the 'REAT &LOOD Giselle: They played video games in Noah’s Arcade!

Ginger: 7HAT IS $R *EKYLL S FAVORITE VIDEO GAME Gaston: Hyde and seek!

Gordon: What age group enjoys playing VIDEO GAMES Ginny: Kideos! from The Mini Page Š 2012 Universal Uclick

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Video Game Art

try ’n find

Words that remind us of video game art are hidden in the block below. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally. See if you can find: ADVENTURE, APE, ARCADES, COMPUTER, CONTROL, DESIGNERS, GAMES, HERO, LEVEL, MOVIE, PIXEL, PLATFORMING, PLAY, PLAYER, PROGRAMMING, ROLE, SCENE, STORY, TECHNOLOGY, VIDEO. Video games haVe amazing art!

G P P L A Y E R Y

H A I A V L O E A

S E M X P M E L L

M T R E E E D O P

G O O O S L I R G

N K V R Y E V Y N

I S R I Y R S G I

M R E L E U E O M

R E T O E T D L M

O N U R N N A O A

F G P T E E C N R

T I M N C V R H G

A S O O S D A C O

L E C C V A K E R

P D L E V E L T P

from The Mini Page Š 2012 Universal Uclick

ready resources The Mini Page provides ideas for websites, books or other resources that will help you learn more about this week’s topics.

On the Web: s AMERICANART SI EDU TAOVG s YOUTUBE COM WATCH V W %2, LR 5 At the library: s h4HE !RT OF 6IDEO 'AMES &ROM 0AC -AN TO -ASS %FFECTv BY #HRIS -ELISSINOS AND 0ATRICK / 2OURKE s h4HE %LECTRIFYING !CTION 0ACKED 5NUSUAL (ISTORY OF 6IDEO 'AMESv BY 4HOMAS *AMES -ALTMAN

To order, send $15.99 ($19.99 Canada) plus $5 postage and handling for each copy. Make check or money order (U.S. funds only) payable to Universal Uclick. Send to The Mini Page Book of States, Universal Uclick, P.O. Box 6814, Leawood, KS 66206. Or call tollfree 800-591-2097 or go to www.smartwarehousing.com.

Please send ______ copies of The Mini Page Book of States (Item #0-7407-8549-4) at $20.99 each, total cost. (Bulk discount information available upon request.)

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