kidsville news - may 2009

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Dear Kids,

Wow, I love springtime! They say April showers bring May fl owers, and I think it’s true. I love to be outside and see all of the fl owers in bloom. I also love to watch the birds in my yard. This month, I decided to write about bird watching. Give it a try and it just might become your new favorite thing to do on a nice spring day!

Although I love to be outside enjoying nature, sometimes I like to watch a little TV, too. One of my favorite shows is Extreme Home Makeover. I was so lucky that my friends in Tallahassee, Florida, invited me to see what happens live on the set of the show and an actual home makeover. It was really amazing! The carpenters, designers, builders and all of the volunteers really came together to create a wonderful new home for a special family.

Don’t forget Mother’s Day on May 10! Visit my Web site at www.kidsvillenews.com and check out games and articles that you might have missed. I hope you have a marvelous May!

Your friend,


May Word FindFind the words below that have to do with the month of May!

R H Z T Q H O A M F E J Z O N G E U K G J V F N K G H T Q O S W H M A Y H M I I B E P H I G M G T Q N E B Z G M L G Y T K K Q Q O G C K E C F A R G A H C X O F M S H U O L A L S I E T D B M G R I C L T D C S C G M H D P I C T E I E R T Z E F I T N E S S R L D A I T V R A P Z I Z O G I X M C B H M P R V L X F Y M D B O H W P T P G N I D A E R P T D E S C E A C Z W L E R I N L O R B P U X Z I R P H M V I P D N L X R Y L I G U I V R E T E B U R H I

ALLERGYANIMALSAPPRECIATIONBIKE

BIRDEGGFITNESSMAY

MILITARYMOTHERREADINGTEACHER

Name That Bird!Do you know what your state bird is? Try to match up the birds with the state. Hint: The Cardinal is the state

bird of Virginia and another state.

CardinalMockingbirdMeadowlarkBluebirdGoldenwinged WoodpeckerBrown ThrasherCarolina WrenHermit ThrushRobin

AlabamaFloridaGeorgiaMichiganMontanaNew YorkNorth CarolinaSouth CarolinaVermontVirginia

Q. What do you

call a buffalo that’s

been running for

too long?A. A huff and puffalo!

Q. What did the cowboys call the city fellow in his best clothes?A. A dress-perado. Q. What did Juliet say when she

came out west to see a show?A. O rodeo, rodeo, wherefore art thou, rodeo?

HO HO HOME ON THE RANGE!

Q. What did the sheriff

say about the quiet night?

A. It was just ho-hum on

the range.


Also called the “equine triathlon,” a horse trial is a unique competition. It has three phases: dressage, cross-country and stadium jumping. The sport was originally known as a military test performed by members of the cavalry (soldiers on horseback). It debuted as a sport at the Stockholm Olympics in 1912 but was mainly for experienced cavalry soldiers until World War II.

As the military cavalry started to decline, horse trials or “eventing” became more popular with civilian riders. An organization, now known as the US Eventing Association, was created in 1959 to

guide the grow-ing sport. The USEA now has over 14,000 members and offers horse trials across the country each year.

Event compe-titions occur at different levels. But all levels have the same basic challenge: a single horse and rider perform in

three equestrian disciplines. The winner is the team with the lowest number of penalties after completing all three phases of competition.

Dressage tests the horse’s strength and obedience to the rider’s signals. The horse and rider must complete a series of movements called a dressage test. Judges score each movement from one to 10. Total points earned are subtracted from the total number possible to arrive at the penalty score.

Stadium jumping is probably the most exciting phase of the horse trials. Fences vary from less than three feet to almost four feet, depending on the level. They are brightly colored and easy to knock down. This is a test of the horse’s athletic ability, confi dence and obedience. The jumping course must be completed within a certain amount of time. Riders and horses are also penalized for knockdowns, falls and refusing to jump a fence.

The cross-country portion of eventing is what separates it from other horse sports. This phase tests the endurance and bravery of the horse and rider. They have to jump fences as well as water, logs, walls, ditches and other obstacles. Information provided by Deborah and Jessie Phillips.

COME OUT AND PLAY!Horse Trials Are Quite an Event

She Does It!Jessie was born on April 20, 1992. At age

7, she and her older sister started tak-ing riding lessons at a local barn. Her instructor said the minute Jessie got on the horse, she knew that Jessie was born to ride. By age 10, she was participating in her fi rst dressage show.

In November 2006, Jessie bought a 16.3-hand dark bay thoroughbred gelding named Tadpole. His show name is Hyly Prized. Jessie started out jumping him at novice level (fences to 2’7”), then went to training level (fences to 3’3”) and now is com-peting at preliminary level (fences to 3’7”).

This past summer, Jessie was chosen for a scholarship to work with a former Olympic rider for two weeks. She lived and worked at the barn while receiving one-on-one lessons on her horse and a number of other talented horses.

Jessie has learned a lot from riding. One of the most important lessons is she is responsible for her and her horse’s well-being. If things go wrong, it is up to her to fi x it. She has learned that being dedicated means lots of hard work, but the rewards are worth it. She has learned that the skill of being organized and prepared saves time and reduces frustrations. And she has learned that even when things don’t go as planned, there is always tomorrow to try and do better.

In addition to barn chores, Jessie has had a part-time job at a local res-taurant. She has used the money she earned to buy tack and supplies for shows. She maintains a 3.98 grade point average and is currently a junior at U-32 High School in East Montpelier, Vermont.


A Quality Serials StoryBy Mary Maden

Illustrated by Vicki Wallace

THE STORY SO FAR… Pancake, a hurt loggerhead turtle, is taken to a sea turtle hospital after she is rescued and treated. At the hospital, a young girl named Lolly bonds with Pancake. Pancake is getting well until, suddenly, one day she stops using her fl ipper. After a long period of rehabilitation, Pancake regains the use of her fl ipper and may be well enough to be released. But is Lolly ready to let her sea turtle friend go?

That next week, Dr. Andy came to visit the turtle hospital to check on all the patients, but especially to check on Pancake! That day, he would determine if she was ready to be released.

Lolly helped Dr. Andy by keeping Pancake calm while he checked her over thoroughly.

“You are a good helper,” Dr. Andy said. “You have a way with all the turtles, especially Pancake.”

“I like the turtles,” Lolly responded, adding, “and Pancake’s my favorite!”

The doctor fi nished examining Pancake’s shell. “Very good,” he muttered, as he worked. “Yes, she’s healed nicely.”

Next, Dr. Andy checked the sea turtle’s front fl ipper. Pancake wiggled her front fl ippers and squirmed on the table.

“I see her fl ipper is healed, too!” Dr. Andy laughed, holding on to the big turtle.

“Pancake’s better, isn’t she?” Lolly asked.“She sure is,” the doctor answered, smiling, “thanks to you and

everyone at the turtle hospital. Her carapace is healed; her fl ipper is strong and working just fi ne. She’s ready to be released back to the ocean.”

Lolly couldn’t help smiling, too. It made her feel good to know that she had done her part to help Pancake!

The hospital was in a fl urry. Preparations for Pancake’s release had to be made. There were a lot of details to attend to. Everyone was busy.

Lolly was busy, too. It was almost the end of the school year, and she was occupied with end-of-year activities. It was also the start of her mom’s bookstore’s peak season. There was much to do!

But Lolly found time to visit her special friend every chance she got. She wanted to spend as much time as she could with Pancake before she was released. Lolly looked in the turtle tank. Pancake looked well and happy.

“It won’t be long now until you can go back home,” Lolly told Pancake. “It will be great. You can eat and swim to your heart’s content!” Lolly smiled down at her special charge. She felt happy and a little sad all mixed together!

“We all did a good job, huh, kiddo,” Jan said, coming up behind Lolly. For a moment, she and the young girl quietly watched the totally

recovered sea turtle. Each was lost in her own private thoughts. Soon the big day arrived! Everyone was there to see Pancake off. All

the staff from the sea turtle hospital turned out. Many members of the community were there to show their support, too. Even people who didn’t live at the beach had traveled for miles to watch the sea turtle release. And of course, Lolly was there.

Quite a crowd gathered on the beach waiting for the sea turtle. Pancake was the star of the moment! Newspaper reporters and people from TV stations turned out to record the exciting event. Pancake was going to be in the newspaper –– and on the six o’clock news.

But before Pancake was released, the doctors were giving her one last check-up. Then she was scrubbed, measured, weighed and tagged. The tag was put on Pancake so people could identify her if she was spotted again. The tagging process was painless, and the new tag wouldn’t get in Pancake’s way at all.

Soon Pancake was ready to go home! A cheer went up from the crowd when they spotted Pancake. Everyone was happy for the sea turtle.

The hospital staff placed Pancake on the sandy beach, pointing her in the direction of her home –– the ocean. Lolly stood close behind Pancake.

The reporters with their cameras struggled to get a good shot of the sea turtle. People took pictures. Everyone gathered around; they all wanted to be able to see the sea turtle being released.

The turtle hospital staff followed Pancake, keeping the onlookers at a safe distance. Pancake crawled slowly and awkwardly toward the water, shuffl ing her heavy body across the sand.

On land, Pancake was clumsy and slow. But once she was in the water, Pancake swam quickly through the surf despite her long stay at the hospital. She swam gracefully out toward the open sea as if she had never been injured at all!

Lolly waved goodbye as she watched her special friend go. She felt a little sad––she would miss Pancake. But she knew that Pancake was going home where she belonged. And that made Lolly very happy!

The crowd gave a loud cheer as Pancake swam away. Everyone stood on the beach and watched until Pancake was out of sight. Slowly the crowd trickled away.

Lolly was left alone on the beach staring out at the vast blue ocean. It had been a big day! All the hard work had paid off. Pancake was fi nally home.

But Lolly couldn’t help wondering: Would Pancake be all right?Next Time… Pancake Returns!A Teacher’s Guide to accompany this six-chapter story is

available on the Kidsville News! Web site at www.KidsvilleNews.com. Copyright 2001 by Mary Maden. All rights reserved. Mary Maden is an award-winning author. Visit her on the Web at www.marymaden.com.

Story Time with TrumanThe Sea Turtle Story

Chapter Five - The Big Day!


Other books byKim Norman

Dear Kim Norman,

Your book, Crocodaddy,

makes me want to play

a pretend crocodile hunt

with MY dad. It’s fun

reciting the part that

goes, “Crocodaddy,

Crocodaddy...!”

The back of the book

says you remember

having fun, swimming

with your dad. Was he

a Crocodaddy?

Your friend,

Truman

Hi, Truman.I’m glad my book has inspired you to play a new game with your dad!

I think my father was a Crocodaddy at heart, but I didn’t come up with that word until my own sons came along, playing a pretend game with their dad in our backyard pool. We called him the Croco-daddy, which gave me the idea for the book.

I got more ideas for the book while vacationing in Maine. I live in Virginia, where we have a little backyard pool, but in Maine we swim in a lake. During school visits, I remind students that there are no real crocodiles in chilly Maine lakes, of course, but if you add just a touch of imagination, you can have a lot of fun playing pretend games.

Your friend,

www.kimnorman.com

CROCODADDYby Kim NormanIllustrated by David WalkerSterling Publishing Co., Inc., 2009(A subsidiary of Barnes & Noble)

Jack of All Tailsby Kim NormanIllustrated by David ClarkDutton Children’s Books, 2007

The Museum Duckby Verne EdwardsIllustrated by Kim NormanPearl Line Press, 2000

Rolling in the AislesChildren’s poetry anthologyEdited by Bruce LanskyKim Norman, contributorMeadowbrook Press, 2004

Mothers are the unsung heroes of the world. Every day they sacrifi ce their time and devote their love to the children they brought into the world.

What mother doesn’t hope to be celebrated and pampered, if just for a bit, by her children in recognition for all that she does for them? That is why every year on the second Sunday of May, children celebrate their moms on Mother’s Day.

Mother’s Day hasn’t always been a standard spring holiday. In fact, mothers went offi cially uncelebrated for years and years. It wasn’t until the 20th century that an offi -cial holiday was established to honor mothers, grandmothers and the other special women in people’s lives.

Anna Jarvis was a woman who made great strides toward establishing a national

holiday for mothers. Jarvis held annual gatherings called “Mother’s Friendship Day” with an objective to heal the pain of the victims and those affected by the Civil War. After her own mother died in 1905, Jarvis decided a national celebration of mothers was in order and began to campaign for such a holiday.

Jarvis began by soliciting the pastor at the church where her mother had taught Sunday School classes for a special commemorative mass. The church obliged, and the fi rst Mother’s Day celebration took place on May 10, 1908 at Andrew’s Methodist Church. Later that day, Jarvis celebrated Mother’s Day again with her brother at her home in Philadelphia.

The Mother’s Day idea eventually caught on, and President Woodrow Wil-son made it offi cial in 1914 that the sec-ond Sunday in May would be celebrated annually as Mother’s Day.

Since then, families have gathered annually together to give thanks to the special women who have helped shape their lives.

Photo: metrocreativegraphics.com

Mother’s Day Is May 10!


(Over, Down, Direction) ALLERGY (12, 5, SW)ANIMALS (8, 1, SE)APPRECIATION (15,12, N)BIKE (8, 4, NE)BIRD (12, 10, N)EGG (12, 3, SE)FITNESS (1, 9, E)MAY (4, 3, E)MILITARY (7, 11, NE)MOTHER (6, 6, NW)READING (7, 12, W)TEACHER (11, 7, S)

May Word FindR H Z T Q H O A M F E J Z O N G E U K G J V F N K G H T Q O S W H M A Y H M I I B E P H I G M G T Q N E B Z G M L G Y T K K Q Q O G C K E C F A R G A H C X O F M S H U O L A L S I E T D B M G R I C L T D C S C G M H D P I C T E I E R T Z E F I T N E S S R L D A I T V R A P Z I Z O G I X M C B H M P R V L X F Y M D B O H W P T P G N I D A E R P T D E S C E A C Z W L E R I N L O R B P U X Z I R P H M V I P D N L X R Y L I G U I V R E T E B U R H I

Name That Bird!CardinalMockingbirdMeadowlarkBluebirdGoldenwinged WoodpeckerBrown ThrasherCarolina WrenHermit ThrushRobin

AlabamaFloridaGeorgiaMichiganMontanaNew YorkNorth CarolinaSouth CarolinaVermontVirginia


The Art of Dance

Martha Graham was an American dancer and choreographer. One of the early pioneers of modern dance, she was the first professional dancer ever to perform at the White House!

Martha Graham was born on May 11, 1894, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Her early childhood was spent there, but when Martha was a young teen, her family moved to Santa Barbara, California. Although she was a good athlete as a girl, Martha was not a dancer. That changed when Martha was almost 17 years old and she saw the famous ballerina Ruth St. Denis dance at the Mason Opera House in Los Angeles. Martha loved the ballet so much that she enrolled in a college specializing in dance and the

arts. Seventeen is very old to start dancing if you want to be a professional, but Martha was determined!

After college, Martha joined the Denishawn School, a school and dance company led by non other than Ruth St. Denis herself. Martha studied both American and world dance with Ruth and her husband, dancer Ted Shaw, and danced several important roles in their ballets. She stayed with the school for eight years—first as a student and later as a teacher and dancer. In 1923, Martha left Denishawn and began teaching dance at the Eastman

School of Music. Before she knew it, she was given control over Eastman’s entire dance program! As head of the program, Martha began branching

out from traditional ballet and started experimenting with a new kind of dance, modern dance.

Martha developed her choreography skills while at Eastman. In modern dance, dancers are less concerned about being graceful and careful in their moves. Martha thought modern dance showed more emotion, and she enjoyed it more than traditional ballet. Soon, she started her own dance company, the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance. As a modern dancer with her own company, Martha earned numerous awards and choreographed many famous dances. She was invited to dance at the White House eight times!

After a very long career, Martha stopped dancing professionally when she was in her mid-70s. Even after retir-ing from the stage, she continued to teach and to choreograph new modern ballets. Martha died in 1991, at the age of 96. When she died, Martha was in the middle of choreographing her last dance, a ballet called The Eye of the Goddess.

Written by Tamar Burris, a former elementary school teacher who now works as a freelance writer and curriculum developer for PBS, the Discovery Channel and other education-related companies. Sources:

“American Masters” Martha Graham: About the Dancer, www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/martha-graham; Biography of Martha Graham, www.kennedy-center.org; Time 100: Martha Graham, www.time.com/time/time100/artists/profile/graham.html. Photo: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Van Vechten Collection, reproduction number LC-USZ62-116601.

Martha Graham: Pioneer of Modern Dance

Martha Graham, the fi rst dancer to perform at the White House, shown here with Bertram Ross

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 merid-

ians) 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!

To fi nd the Netherlands, also known as Holland, get out your globe, and fi nd longitude 5º E and latitude 52º N. Located in Western Europe, the Netherlands borders the North Sea, between Belgium and Germany. This small country is only about twice the size of our state of New Jersey.

Not only does this country border the sea, but it is also at the mouths of three major European rivers: the Rhine, Maas (or Meuse) and Schelde. The name "Netherlands" means low-lying country. The

coastal areas are almost completely below sea level. They are protected by dunes and dikes to prevent fl ooding. Windmills are seen throughout the country. Many are still in use to generate electricity, and they also are used to pump water from behind the dikes and back out to sea.

The Netherlands is a cloudy country. On the average day, three-fi fths of the sky is clouded! It has a mild temperature, with warm winters and cool summers. It is pretty rainy, with only about 25 clear days each year.

The language of the Netherlands is Dutch. The country is divided into 12 provinces. In the northern province of Friesland, they speak their own language called Frisian. You'll also hear plenty of English, French and German spoken in the Netherlands. Even though Western Europe is far from the Caribbean,

the kingdom of the Netherlands also includes six islands in the Caribbean known as Netherlands Antilles, and also Aruba.

Wooden shoes, tulips and windmills are just a few symbols of Dutch life. The Dutch are known for their arts and crafts. Dutch painters — among them Rembrandt and Vincent van Gogh — are some of the greatest in art history.

Sources: “Netherlands,” The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, www.cia.gov; "The Netherlands," Encyclopædia Britannica.

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS...THE NETHERLANDS?

Where in the World Word

dike [dahyk], an embankment of earth and rock built to prevent fl oods.


C o n s e r v a t i o n orner

Every year, each American family produces about 6,600 pounds of landfi ll trash. As a child you might ask, “What can I do about the growing problem?” But if enough people do them, even small things can make a big difference. There are some simple things that you and your family can do in order to make a difference in the amount of trash entering our landfi lls.

When you are fi nished with a soda, do you throw the container away? Most soft drinks are either in aluminum cans or plastic bottles. These empty containers are very easy to recycle. Some places even pay money for aluminum cans. Recycling bottles and cans is simple. Get an empty box or trash can and collect them. Remember to tell everyone in your house to do the same. Then, when you have enough, you can take the bottles to your local recycling center.

An even better option is instead of buying sports drinks in bottles, persuade your parents to buy sports drink mix. You can make your own drinks and reuse your bottle instead of creating more trash. And, your parents will save money at the grocery store. Of course, you could always just drink water in a reusable bottle. After all, water is the ultimate sports drink for your body!

We all share this planet, and each of us needs to do the little things to keep our planet clean. Recycle, reduce, reuse — if you keep these three words in mind and practice them often, you can make a difference. Enough of us doing the little things will make a big impact.


At the Movies

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (In Theaters: May 22)This follow-up to the enjoyable 2006 family comedy Night at the Museum, puts security guard Larry Daley (played by Ben Stiller) at odds with various characters from history — this time inside the much-loved halls of Washington, D.C.’s gigantic Smithsonian Museum — in order to rescue his buddies Jedediah and Octavius. There’s a ruthless Egyptian pharaoh called Ka Mun Rah (played by Hank Azaria), a Russian bully named Ivan the Terrible (Christopher Guest) and an imperious Napoleon (Alain Chabat). Owen Wilson returns from the fi rst movie as the kooky cowboy Jedediah, along with Steve Coogan as Octavius. Robin Williams returns to do Presidential honors as Teddy Roosevelt. “When the lights go off, the battle is on.” Rated PG for mild action and brief language. (20th Century Fox)

Up (In Theaters: May 29)In this bigger-than-life, computer-animated 3-D adventure, grumpy old man Carl Frederickson (voiced by the great Edward Asner) is a 78-year-old retired balloon salesman who once promised his wife Ellie that they would visit South America. Ellie passed away before Carl could make good on his promise, so he ties a huge bunch of colorful balloons to the top of his house and takes off for the skies on an adventure to carry out his pledge to his late wife. Carl gets a big surprise when he discovers a stowaway passenger in the form of a cheerful eight-year-old Wilderness Explorer named Russell (voiced by Jordon Nagai). Together, the cranky old guy and the happy-go-lucky boy fi nd wild adventures in a lost world of South America that includes some very scary creatures and lots of rugged terrain. Rated G. (Disney/Pixar)

Movies on DVD

The Looney, Looney, Looney Bugs Bunny Movie (DVD Release: April 28)The gifted Oscar-winning animator Friz Freleng presents a zippy retrospective of some of his best cartoon work from an illustrious career in this movie-length collection of remastered Looney Tunes favorites dating back to 1958. The movie highlights memorable cartoon characters like Rocky and Mugsy, the rabbit-hungry cowboy Yosemite Sam, the stuttering Porky Pig, eternal rivals Tweety Bird and Sylvester, the ever-jealous Daffy Duck and the smarty-pants rabbit of honor, Bugs Bunny. Every cartoon is a classic, and there are a few ‘90s-era Looney Tunes cartoons included as extras on the DVD. There’s only one Bugs Bunny, and to know him is to love him. Children of all ages never get tired of watching these great car-toons from a master animator working in the golden age of Saturday morn-ing TV entertainment. “Th-th-th-that’s all folks!”Not Rated. (Warner Home Video)

Galaxy Quest (DVD Release: May 12)A goofy parody of the ‘60s-era TV show Star Trek and the not-so-glamor-ous future of its famous cast, Galaxy Quest fi nds a washed-up group of actors, from a fi ctional television sci-fi show that ended 17 years ago, now making public appearances to enjoy what’s left of their fame. Things get strangely real when a group of “aliens” called “Thermians” convince Jason Nesmith AKA Commander Taggart (played by Tim Allen) to go with them to make what he thinks is an amateur movie with some eager fans in cos-tumes. But as it turns out, the aliens are genuine extraterrestrials who have fashioned their society out of transmissions of the original Galaxy Quest TV show. Justin Long, Sigourney Weaver, and Alan Rickman (of the Harry Potter movies) add to the fun in this very silly movie.Rated PG. (Dreamworks Video)

Cole Smithey, also known as “the smartest fi lm critic in the world,” has been a fi lm 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.


A Delicate Balance: But

How Delicate?

Greenhouse gases are in the news — the bad news.

However, if not for green-house gases, the oceans would

freeze. We would not be here. It would be far too cold for most life. Greenhouse

gases turn our atmosphere into a cozy blanket and our planet into a garden.

But, too much of a good thing can be bad. Balance is best. If the Sun heats the atmosphere a certain amount during daytime, it should cool off by the same amount at night. If the atmosphere holds just a little too much heat, this delicate balance will be upset. Here’s how it might work.

Water evaporates from the oceans and rises into the air as water vapor. Water vapor traps heat. That makes water vapor a greenhouse gas. It is the most abundant greenhouse gas. More water vapor traps more heat. And the warmer the air, the more water vapor it can hold.

The air contains another greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, CO2. The atmosphere has much less CO2 than water vapor, but CO2 is really good at trapping heat. When hu-mans burn gas or coal, the burning makes CO2, which mixes into the air. Thanks to us, CO2 in the air is increasing.

The CO2 traps heat, warming the air, so the air can hold more water vapor. With more water vapor, the air traps even more heat. The air can then hold even more water vapor, and so on. But what else is involved, and how far will this process go?

NASA satellites such as Aura and Aqua have instruments that study Earth’s atmosphere. The Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer — TES for short — on Aura is one of them. It measures greenhouse gases, including water vapor, at different altitudes all over Earth. Another instrument, the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder on Aqua, studies CO2. Scientists put all this information together to try to fi gure out how the whole Earth system works. In this way, they can better predict what might happen next.

Learn more about greenhouse gases. Make some yourself from candy gumdrops. Visit spaceplace.nasa.gov/en/kids/tes/gumdrops.

This article was written by Diane K. Fisher. It was provided by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Water vapor measurements from the TES instrument show that warmer air near the equator holds more water than colder air near the Poles. The TES data is shown as a Google Earth fi le.

What Is Memorial Day?If you think that Memorial Day is the day the public pools

open and families gather for picnics and stores have giant sales, you need to think again.

Memorial Day is actually a solemn holiday that started shortly after the Civil War in the United States. It was declared a Federal Holiday in 1971 by President Richard Nixon.

Back in the 1800s, people wanted to fi nd a way to honor those who had given their lives in battle, so they decorated the graves of those lost in the Civil War. Although it’s a solemn holiday for some, Memorial Day isn’t supposed to be sad all the time, and it’s okay to enjoy a family get-together. But if your family prays before digging into the potato salad, remember those who gave their lives so you could be free. That’s what Memorial Day is all about.

When is Memorial Day? The traditional Memorial Day holiday is May 30; however, it is observed on the last Monday of May. This year, Memorial Day is observed on Monday, May 26.

How to Honor the Heroes in Your CommunityThere are many ways to remember those who have given

their lives for this country.Children can write letters to those serving in the Armed

Forces or can participate in putting fl owers or fl ags at the graves of soldiers who have died.

A way to make others notice and remember the day is to have a bike parade in your neighborhood. Decorate your bike with patriotic streamers and fl ags and have a silent ride around your block.

Finally, everyone can participate in a National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. (your local time) on Memorial Day. Spend one minute being quiet and thinking about the people who lost their lives so that we could be free.


BOOKSHELF

PARENTOWN

I Live in the Greatest Country!Author/Illustrator: Fred AtkinsPublisher: Children’s Patriotic PressAge Range: 6 and up“I live in the greatest country! I live in the USA. The United States of America, I am very proud to say.”

So begins this very patriotic children’s book, perfect for Loyalty Day coming up on May 1, Memorial Day later in the month and year round as a reminder of the privileges of living in America. With short sentences in big bold type, the author explains with pride and joy the freedoms that all living in America enjoy. The freedom to do what you want, be anything you want to be, say what you want, practice your religion and read what you want to read are highlighted in this quick read. Terrifi c, and some poignant photos accent the text. The book concludes with the Pledge of Allegiance on the back cover. Every American should read this book to his or her child, no matter what the age. After all, it’s never to early to teach your child to love America. —JK

How to Draw HorsesAuthor/Illustrator: John GreenAge Range: 8 to 12From the Publisher: Aspiring Picassos will be champing at the bit to get started on this simplifi ed guide to drawing horses. The series of step-by-step, black-and-white illustrations will show kids how to transform lines, curves and geometric shapes into such diverse breeds as the Clydesdale, Arabian, Pinto, Lippizaner, and Palamino, teaching as it entertains. Includes blank practice pages.

A SECTION ESPECIALLY FOR PARENTS

TM

M is for MomAuthor: Mary Ann McCabe Riehle, Chris Ellison (Illustrator)Publisher: Sleeping Bear PressAge Range: 8 to 12Perfect for Mother’s Day, this book captures the everyday moments shared between a mother and child. Travel through

the alphabet connecting letters to special things that mother’s do, from H for hugs to J for the juggling act that moms are so good at. The poetry for each letter is accompanied by a sidebar with additional text for more experienced readers. Beautiful full-page, full-color paintings bring the book to life with expression and realism. —JK

Mexican Immigrants in AmericaAuthor/Illustrator: Rachel HanelPublisher: Coughland PublishingAge Range: 8 to 12This “You Choose” book is an interactive history adventure about the life of Mexican immigrants in America. The choice to come to America is a diffi cult one for Mexicans. Pretend you live in a small village in Mexico and are struggling to feed your family. Should you take the risk of going to the United States to fi nd work? In this book, there are three story paths to take. Life is a series of choices. With 43 choices to make in this book, the reader can see how the choices we make can change our life for the better or worse. The author collaborated with Anne Martinez, a professor of history, to reveal accurate, although not always happy, details about the diffi cult life of immigrants. While many Mexican immigrants to end up living the American dream, many of the 17 endings in this book are not happy ones. —JK


PARENTOWN’S KIDSMART

Everywhere we turn it seems we are inundated with bleak news sur-rounding the current market environment: record unemploy-ment, plummeting home values and personal savings which are at an all-time low. Eventually there will be a turnaround, but what can we do today to make sure that our kids are prepared for future periods of economic uncertainty? One place to begin is around the kitchen table. Now more than ever, it is imperative that we talk to our children about managing money properly. The numbers reveal how critical these conver-sations are:

• In 2008, 1.2 million people declared personal bank-ruptcy.

• Americans are currently carrying $951 billion in credit card debt.

• 71% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. What’s wrong with this picture? Quite simply, we are living above our

means. As a nation, we are pretty good about imparting information to our children on issues that affect their health and personal well-being, such as teenage drinking. What about their fi nancial health? What tools can we begin to equip our children with so these staggering statistics do not hold true dur-ing their generation? When it comes to money matters, it’s time to teach our children well!

Kids know exactly how much the newest iPod, designer jeans or latest sneakers cost. But ask them how much the last cable bill was or the cost of weekly groceries, and they have no clue. Again the numbers are revealing.

According to the Small Business Administration, kids between the ages of 4 and 12 spend $14.4 billion annually and infl uence household purchases of $132 billion a year. Teenagers spend approximately $95 billion per year.

• Tip: Create a short-term savings goal for your kids. Once they’ve met that goal, set a new one.

• Activity: Open a savings account in your child’s name. Take them to the bank once a week to make a deposit into their account from the money earned from their allowance. Be sure they are keeping track of their savings manually. Bring back the passbook!

Gone are the days when kids see their parents taking their paycheck to the bank for deposit. More times than not, those checks are direct deposited into their parents’ accounts. The result is a “free money” perception some kids have about the ATM machine. Mom and dad go to the ATM to withdraw cash, and presto, the money is there. Missing, is that one vital piece of information that a paycheck had to be earned to make the “magic happen”.

• Tip: Start involving your kids in managing household and school-related expenses.

• Activity: During summer break, encourage your kids to earn money to-wards their school tuition or other school-related expenses.

Benefi t/Key Takeaway: Saving regularly is a habit that can be taught early and will stay with your children for the rest of their lives.

Next Month: Preparing your child for real life: teaching them how much it costs to run the household

Keva Sturdevant is the founder of Born To Save, a non-profi t 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 in households across America between parents and their kids. In an effort to foster those conversations, we grant actual shares of stock to kids. To register for your child to win a share of stock in our monthly stock giveaway, please visit our Web site at www.BornToSave.org.

Teach Your Children Well Enseñe bien a sus hijos.Donde quiera que miramos estamos inundados con noticias deprimentes so-

bre la situación económica: cifra record de desempleo, valores de las casas por los suelos y ahorros personales que están más bajos que nunca. Eventualmente habrá un cambio, pero ¿qué podemos hacer hoy para asegurarnos de que nuestros hijos

están preparados para periodos futuros de inseguridad económica? Un buen lugar para empezar es alrededor de la mesa de la cocina. Ahora más que

nunca es necesario que hablemos a nuestros hijos de cómo gestionar el dinero adecuadamente. Los números revelan lo críticas que estas conv-ersaciones son:

• En 2008, 1,2 millones de personas se declararon en bancarrota. • Los americanos actualmente deben $951 mil millones en tarjetas

de crédito. • 71% de americanos viven de cheque a cheque.¿Qué es lo que va mal? Es simple, vivimos por encima de

nuestros medios. Como nación somos bastante buenos en ofrecer información a nuestros hijos sobre temas que afectan a su salud y su bienestar personal, tales como el alcoholismo en adolescentes. ¿Qué es lo que pasa con su salud fi nanciera? ¿Con qué herramientas podemos comenzar a equipar a nuestros hijos para que estas sorprendentes estadísticas no se conviertan en realidad du-rante su generación? ¡Cuando se trata de temas de dinero, es hora de enseñar a nuestros hijos bien!

Los muchachos/as saben exactamente cuánto cuestan el último IPod, los jeans de diseño o los últimos pares de tenis. Pero pregúnteles cuanto costó la última factura de su televisión por cable, o las compras semanales y no tendrán ni idea. De nuevo los números son alarmantes.

De acuerdo con la Administración de Pequeños Negocios, los muchachos entre las edades de 4 y 12 se gastan $14.4 mil millones anualmente e infl uyen en compras para el hogar de $132 mil millones al año. Los adolescentes gastan aproximadamente $95 mil millones al año.

• Consejo: Crear una meta de ahorros a corto plazo para sus hijos. Una vez que hayan conseguido su meta, establezca otra.

• Actividad: abra una cuenta de ahorros a nombre de su hijo. Llévelos al banco una vez a la semana para hacer un depósito en su cuenta con el dinero que han ganado con sus propinas. Asegúrese de que llevan un control por escrito de sus ahorros. ¡Recupere el viejo libro de registros!

Ya no existen los días cuando los niños ven a sus padres llevar los cheques al banco para depositarlos. Más a menudo estos cheques son depositados directa-mente en las cuentas de sus padres. El resultado es una percepción de dinero gratuito que los niños tienen sobre los cajeros automáticos. Mamá y papá van al cajero automático a sacar dinero y rápidamente el dinero está ahí. Se pierden esa vital información que el cheque tiene que ser ganado para que esa magia suceda.

• Consejo: Comience a implicar a sus hijos en gestionar los gastos relaciona-dos con la casa y con la escuela.

• Actividad: durante las vacaciones de verano anime a sus hijos a ganar dinero para la inscripción de la escuela u otros gastos relacionados con la escuela.

Benefi cio/Consejo para recordar: el ahorrar regularmente es un hábito que puede ser enseñado pronto y que permanecerá con sus hijos por el resto de sus vidas.

Próximo mes: el preparar a su hijo para la vida real, enseñarlos cuánto cuesta el llevar una casa.

Keva Sturdevant es la fundadora de Born To Save, una organización benéfi ca ba-sada en Washington, DC con la misión de enseñar a los niños de todas las edades la importancia de ahorrar e invertir. Nuestra meta es comenzar conversaciones sobre el dinero en los hogares a través de América entre los padres y sus niños. En un esfuerzo por fortalecer estas conversaciones, concedemos acciones de mercado reales a los niños. Para registrar a su hijo para que gane acciones de mercado en nuestro concurso mensual, por favor visite nuestra página web www.BornToSave.org.


PARENTOWN’S KIDSHAPE

Avoid Allergens in the Spring SeasonThe rejuvenating power of spring is well known. When the

weather warms up, adults and children alike typically take full advantage, soaking up some sun and shaking off the cobwebs of another long winter.

But as fun as spending time outdoors can be each spring, lurking allergens can quickly ruin a picnic or trip to the park. Sneezing, itchy eyes, sore throats and runny noses are often unwelcome guests during spring. These reactions emphasize the importance of limiting exposure to allergens like pollen as much as possible to ensure you and your family get the most out of the spring season. May is National Allergy/Asthma Awareness Month and the perfect time to learn how to minimize allergies this spring.

Though allergists recommend avoiding the outdoors during the peak of the allergy season, parents know it’s hard to keep kids from enjoying the great outdoors when the weather fi nally warms up. To minimize exposure to common allergens, consider the following tips.

* Know the pollen counts and limit outdoor activities during times when the pollen count is highest. In general, the pollen count is at its highest at specifi c times depending on the season. In spring, for example, tree pollens make their presence felt most strongly during morning hours, whereas allergens such as ragweed tend to do their damage in the middle of the day during the fall season. Daily pollen counts are often documented in the local newspaper or on local news broadcasts. Familiarize yourself with these and use them to your advantage.

* Don’t use clotheslines. Clotheslines are popular in the suburbs during spring time, and they can be more environmentally friendly. However, hanging clothes or bedding on clotheslines can invite pollen to attach itself to such items, which can bring allergens into the home.

* Close the windows when pollen counts are high. Home and car windows don’t have to be up all the time to avoid exposure to allergens. However, when pollen forecasts are predicting higher

pollen counts, it’s best to close the windows in both the car and home. To put this in perspective, if you own a dark-colored automobile, closely examine it on a day when the pollen count is high. You’re likely to notice that it’s covered in a yellow dust. That’s pollen, and that thick coating is a testament to just how pervasive pollen can be on days when the pollen count is especially high. While it’s nice to let the warm air in during spring, you could be letting in a whole lot more than that if you’re not paying attention to the daily pollen predictions.

* Consider bathing before going to sleep at night. One of the worst things about allergy season is how invasive allergens can negatively affect our daily lives, including our sleeping habits. Bathing before bedtime can help wash off a day’s worth of allergens and make it easier to enjoy a good night’s sleep in

the process. Information from metrocreativegraphics.com.

Exposure to pesky and invasive allergens can be limited during the height of allergy season by taking a few easy, but necessary, precautions.


All over the world, eggs are important as a food. Eggs are a naturally nutrient-dense food, which means they have a high proportion of nutrients to calories. One large egg has only 75 calories and provides 13 essential nutrients in varying amounts. Eggs are an excellent source of choline and a good source of the highest-quality protein and ribofl avin. Many of the egg’s incredible nutrients are found in the egg yolk, including choline, folate, lutein, zeaxanthin and vitamin D. The yolk also includes healthy monosaturated and polyunsaturated fats and almost half of the high-quality protein found in eggs.

Because eggs are so easy to prepare, they’re often the fi rst food young people learn how to cook. This easy egg salad recipe is delicious and nutritious. When you cut it in half, one round pita bread makes two pockets. And, when you fi ll the pockets with egg salad, they make handy portable lunches. Make the salad the night before. In the morning, fi ll the pockets with the salad and some veggies. Then, wrap the pockets and pack them along with frozen juice boxes to keep them cool until mealtime.

KIDSVILLE KITCHENTogether Time — Ask an adult for help with projects!

EGG SALAD POCKETSWHAT YOU NEED: • 3 tablespoons sour cream • 1/4 teaspoon fresh dill weed OR 1/8 teaspoon dried dill weed • 4 hard-cooked eggs, chopped • 4 thin cucumber slices • 4 thin tomato slices • 2 whole wheat pita breads, cut in half

HOW TO MAKE IT (makes 4 servings):

1. Put the sour cream and dill weed into the bowl. Stir with the spatula until the ingredients are well blended and you can’t see any clumps of dill weed any more. Add the eggs to the bowl and gently stir until they are evenly coated with the sour cream mixture.2. Cover the bowl with the plastic wrap or foil. Put the bowl into the refrigerator. Let it stay in the refrigerator for several hours or overnight.3. When you’re ready to pack the pocket sandwiches, put 1 cucumber slice and 1 tomato slice into each pita pocket. Carefully spoon 1/4 cup of the egg salad into each pita pocket.

Information courtesy of the American Egg Board. For more recipes, visit the web site at www.incredibleegg.org.

May Is National Egg Month

kidsville news - may 2009

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