July 2012 - KV

KIDSVILLE NEWS - PAGE 3JULY 2012 WWW.KIDSVILLENEWSTN.COM

TRUMAN’S LETTERDear Kids,

I hope you are enjoying your summer. July is a special month for all Americans because we celebrate the birthday of our country on July 4. In this issue, learn about how our country gained its independence and the importance ofthe celebration.

The are many wonderful things about this country. Did you know our national emblem is the bald eagle because it is a symbol of strength? Read about this amazing animal in Wildville.

This month is National Parks and Recreation month as well. What’s your favorite thing to do at your parks and rec.? I love it all: playing baseball, jumping off the driving board at the pool, playing on the playground and more.

I hope you enjoy this issue of Kidsville News! Remember to check us out this summer at kidsvillenews.com for more reading fun and games.

Have a jovial July!

Your friend,

KIDSVILLE NEWS JULY 2012WWW.KIDSVILLENEWSTN.COM

On July 4, we are having a party, a birthday party for America!

The birthday of the United States of America is known as Independence Day or the Fourth of July.

Everybody has a birthday, even countries. But do you know how a country is born? For our country, the birth was on July 4, 1776, when the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. This meant that the colonies were separating from Great Britain and becoming an independent country.

But the birth of our country started way before that. In 1750, there were 13 small colonies in America. Each colony was separate, but the King of England ruled them all. The colonies had to send money to England to pay taxes. All of the laws and rules were also made in Great Britain, and there was no representation or input from the people of the American colonies.

The people of the colonies began to believe that they should be independent and not ruled by a king who lived across the ocean. They wanted to be free to choose the kind of government they wanted. The king refused to give up the American colonies and sent ships fi lled with soldiers to America.

The colonies realized that in order to fi ght the king and his army, they would need to unite. Each colony chose men to go to Philadelphia and meet.

This was called the First Continental Congress. They drafted a letter to the king and asked him to change unfair laws and to send his soldiers back to England. Instead, the king sent more soldiers to America, and the Revolutionary War began.

The fi rst shots of the Revolutionary War were fi red on Lexington Green on April 19, 1775. The war for

independence was not an easy war. Even after the Declaration

of Independence, the war continued. It lasted eight years.

Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence in June of 1776. In the declaration, Jefferson expressed the feelings of the American people. It explained

the ideals of individual liberty through “self-evident truths,”

proclaiming that “all men are created equal, that they are

endowed by their Creator with certain rights unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” The document also explained that governments are

created to help ensure these rights. The Declaration listed how the government

of Great Britain was infringing on the rights of the people and justifi ed the separation of the

colonies from Great Britain.On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence

was adopted. Even though it took a few more years to win our freedom, the ringing of the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia signaled that a new nation had been born. Happy Birthday, America!

©Kidsville News!

The 99th annual Tour de France started on June 30 and will run through July 22. The famous bicycle race is made up of 20 stages, covering 2,172 miles. One hundred and eighty cyclists participate

in the race.

Did you know that the fi rst Special Olympics was held on July 20, 1968? Then, 1,000 mentally disabled athletes from the U.S. and Canada competed at Soldier Field in Chicago, Il. Now, the Special Olympics includes more than a million athletes from more than 100 different countries, with local, state, national and international games.

It’s a Birthday Party!

There are 20,000 individual parks in 100 of the largest cities in the U.S.

It is estimated that in the U.S. trees in urban parks remove 75,000 tons of air pollutants annually.

The most visited park, New York’s Central Park, averages 35 million visits annually (fi ve times greater than the number of visits to the Grand Canyon).

The total area covered by urban parks in the U.S. exceeds one million acres.

GET WILD about parks and recreation!

July is National Parks and Recreation Month

Celebrate and Enjoy the Beauty of the U.S.A.


AR UND THE W RLD England

The Olympics have arrived in London. The summer games offi cially start July 27 and run through August 12. The Olympic Torch arrived

in the United Kingdom on May 18. The Summer Olympic Games occur every four years and include 26 sports with

more than 10,000 competitors. There are 302 medal events over the 19 days of competition. The Paralympic Games, which are a major international multi-sport event where athletes with a physical disability compete; include 20 sports with 4,200 athletes.

FranceOn July 14, the French celebrate Bastille Day,

or La Fête Nationale. The fall of the Bastille prison marked the beginning of the French Revolution in 1789. The people of Paris stormed the Bastille prison and freed the political prisoners, who were placed there

by order of the King (on this historic day, there were only seven prisoners, none of whom wer very important). Today Bastille Day is the French national holiday

celebrated by ceremonies, dances, military parades, dinners and fi reworks.

GuamGuam is an island in the western Pacifi c

Ocean near Japan. During World War II, Guam was attacked and invaded by Japanese forces. It was occupied for almost three years. On July 21, 1944, the U.S. returned and fought the Battle of Guam to recapture the island. Guam became a territory of the United States, and the Guamanian people, also known as Chamorro, were granted United States citizenship.

Each year on July 21, the people of Guam celebrate Liberation Day with ceremonies, parades, fi reworks and gatherings with family and friends.

Bald EagleIt’s July, and as we celebrate the birthday of our country, it’s a good time to learn about our national bird,

the bald eagle. It even appears on the offi cial seal of the United States of America and has been on the Great Seal since 1782. The bald eagle stands for strength, courage and freedom. It is also a spiritual symbol for Native American people.

The bald eagle is not really bald. Its name comes from an older meaning of the word “bald,” which meant “white headed.” The bald eagle is brown with a white head and tail. The feet and bill are yellow.

Bald eagles are large birds of prey. They can grow to about three feet in height and have a wingspan of more than six feet! The females are even larger than the males. Bald eagles love to fi sh, and their hooked bill helps with this. They will also eat small birds, rodents and other dead animals that they come across. Bald eagles have an average lifespan of 15 to 20 years but can live up to 30 years or longer.

Because they like to fi sh, Bald Eagles like lakes. You can see them soaring overhead and in trees surrounding lakes. They live in North America, from the Mexican border up to Canada. They even live in Alaska! They build their nests in the tops of trees and return to the same nest with their mate each year. Bald Eagles lay two or three eggs, which take a little more than a month to hatch. The parents will take care of them for a few months and bring them food. When they are about 4-months-old, they will learn to fl y, but they still stay near their parents. Eventually they will go out on their own and will fi nd a mate when they are about 5-years-old. Young bald eagles are almost all brown. As they get older, their heads and tails turn white, and their bills turns from brown to yellow.

Sources: National Wildlife Federation, www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Wildlife-Library/Birds/Bald-Eagle.aspx; Cornell University, Cornell Lab of Ornithology,www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/bald_eagle/id.

Kingdom: AnimaliaPhylum: ChordataClass: AvesOrder: AccipitriformesFamily: AccipitridaeSpecies: H. leucocephalus

Yy Zz


It’s time to get out your globe! You need to know about the imaginary lines on globes and maps. These lines are called lines of latitude and longitude, and they tell a pilot or ship’s captain exactly where in the world a certain place is located. Basically, latitude lines (also called parallels) are the horizontal lines on your map. Lines of longitude (also called meridians) are the vertical lines that run from the North Pole to the South Pole.

This mapping system is written in degrees and uses the symbol °. Get ready to travel the world!

If you take out your globe and locate longitude 2° W, latitude 54º N, you will fi nd the United Kingdom. Within this country, also known as the UK or Britain, is another country called England. Many people think England and the United Kingdom are synonymous, but actually Great Britain is made up of four countries — England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. countries within a country. (Originally, America was also a British colony. But we gained our independence in 1776, which we celebrate as Independence Day.) It’s a little complicated. For this article, we will focus on England.

England is located in the United Kingdom — a group of islands in Western Europe, off the western coast of France. England takes up two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and even includes other offshore islands, like the Isle of Wight and the Isles of Scilly. It borders two

other countries of the UK, Scotland to the north and Wales to the west. It is separated from France only by 21 miles of sea. The two countries are connected by the Channel Tunnel, which goes under the sea. The seas surrounding England are the Irish Sea, North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.

England has mountains, green rolling hills, fertile valleys and many lakes. The oldest mountain range in the country, the Pennines, is thought to have originated at the end of the Paleozoic Era 300 million years ago! The climate in England is called a temperate maritime climate. This means that temperatures are mild (not lower than 32ºF in winter and not hotter than 90ºF in summer), but it is damp, with rain occurring throughout the year.

As part of the United Kingdom, the political system in England is a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary system. The Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth II, celebrated her 60th year as Queen last month. There are nine regions and 48 counties in England. London is the largest city in England and one of the busiest in the world. There are more than 8 million people in the Greater London Urban Area. There are 51 million people in all of England.

The Romans founded the fi rst cities in England, and many examples of Roman architecture are still there. Ancient standing stone monuments from the prehistoric period, such as Stonehenge are also there.

The English people have contributed many inventions and discoveries to the world. Just a few of these include the jet engine, the fi rst computer, the vacuum cleaner and lawn mower, steam engines, the electric motor and the fi rst successful blood transfusion. Newton mechanics, Edward Jenner’s smallpox vaccine and Darwin’s theories of evolution and atomic theory are also products of Englishmen.

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS...ENGLAND?

The game of cricket originated in England. As you will learn in this issue, before the U.S. gained independence on July 4, 1776, our nation was ruled by England. America’s “favorite pastime” baseball, was created from cricket. In fact, before baseball, there are records of President George Washington playing cricket. This sport has been around since before the 1300s. As the British traveled to other countries they brought the game with them. That is why it’s so popular in places like India and Pakistan. If you like playing baseball or softball, you should give cricket a try.

There are two teams, with 11 members on each team. The goal of the game is to score the most runs, just as in baseball. The fi elding team spreads out on the fi eld to catch the ball and get the batsman, or batter, out.

In cricket, the batting is done in pairs. One player bats as the teammate runs. The bowler will bowl (pitch) the ball to the striker batsman, meaning the batter. The batter stands in front of the wicket as the pitcher throws the ball towards the batter’s wicket. The non-striking batsman, meaning the runner, is by the opposite wicket ready to run. A wicket is made up of three vertical sticks Once the ball is hit, the two batsmen run in opposite directions toward the other wicket, meeting in the middle of the fi eld. When the runner makes it back to the wicket he or she stood at originally, then a point is scored for the team. They could continue to do so until the ball comes near them. The bowler will attempt to hit the wicket while

the batsmen are running, so the batsmen must be careful to stop running once the ball is near so as to guard the wicket.

If the bowler’s ball rolls past the boundary of the cricket fi eld, then the batman’s team earns four points. If the ball is still in the air from being hit

when the boundary line is passed, then the batman’s team earns six points.

When the pitcher or bowler throws the ball, if the pitcher hits the wicket, which is behind the batsman, then the batsman is out and doesn’t get to bat again. If the batter hits the wicket while trying to hit the ball, then the batter is also out. And, if the team in the fi eld catches the ball in the air, the batter is out.

The game continues until every member of the team is out. Then the batting team switches with the fi elding team. Everyone has a chance to bat.

There are many similarities between cricket and baseball. In both games, teammates take turns batting, and as the other team bats, the opposing team is in the fi eld trying to catch the batman’s ball. Unlike baseball, cricket includes wickets, which adds a twist. Instead of bases, players run between the wickets, and instead of trying to tag the batsman at a base, players in the fi eld are trying to hit the wicket to get the batsman out.

Next time you decide to go outside and throw the ball around with friends, give cricket a try. It’s where America’s favorite pastime originated, and it’s a fun twist!

COME OUT AND PLAY!Give the Game of Cricket a Try!


July is National Parks and Recreation Month. I love to visit our state and national parks, play in the woods and explore! This month, I met a person who gets to do that as part of his job! Paul Terry is a park ranger with the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation. He has worked at Raven Rock State Park for four years. Terry learned a great love of the outdoors through scouting. He joined the Cub Scouts in the fi rst grade and stuck with scouting through the Boy Scout ranks and earned his Eagle Scout rank in 2002. Although he didn’t know what he wanted to do when he graduated high school, he knew he didn’t want a job stuck behind a desk indoors all day. As a park ranger, he gets to do lots of work outdoors, and he loves it!

Truman: What does it take to become a ranger?Terry: As far as education goes, you have to have at least a

two-year college degree, but a four-year degree is preferred. I graduated from Ferrum College in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in Parks and Recreation Management. As far as your personality goes, you need to enjoy being in the outdoors and be good at talking with people. You also need to be willing to accept new challenges and learn new things. As a park ranger, you have to be a jack-of-all-trades.

Truman: When, and why, did you fi rst become interested in this profession?

Terry: I became interested in the job because it fi t my criteria of “something where I wouldn’t be stuck behind a desk all the time.” I heard that the caretaker of our church camp was retiring, and they were looking for a replacement. Unfortunately I was just starting college and not in a position to apply. It did lead me to discover the Parks and Recreation Management degree. When I fi rst enrolled in the program at Ferrum College, I was thinking more about being one of these caretakers at some church or scout camp. During my college career I had to complete an internship, which I did with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Park Rangers at Philpott Lake. I found out during the internship that I really enjoyed the park ranger job and decided to go that route over the summer camp route.

Truman: What do you do every day? Describe a typical day on the job.Terry: There is no typical day for a park ranger. That is one of the reasons

I love the job so much. One day I might be out in the woods with a GPS mapping out rare or invasive species of plants. Another day I might lead a hike with a class of 4th graders, talking about the geology of the park. And then another day I might be searching for a lost or injured person or fi ghting a wild fi re. Park rangers wear a lot of different hats, so any given day we could be doing police work, education and natural resource management, providing fi rst aid to injured visitors, answering general park questions or working on the construction of a new trail, etc. There is always something different going on, and it is very hard to say, “This is what my average or typical day looks like.” Today I am being interviewed for Kidsville News!, and tomorrow — who knows?

Truman: What is the hardest part of your job?Terry: The hardest part of the job for me is staying organized and keeping

up with all the different projects I may be involved with. At a small staffed park like Raven Rock, I am able to be involved in a wide variety of projects and have many responsibilities. I really like being able to contribute to so many different things, but if you don’t stay organized and manage your time well, it can quickly become overwhelming.

Truman: What is the best part of your job?

Terry: The best part of my job is getting to meet and talk to so many different and interesting people. When you have so many people visit the place where you work, you can’t help but meet some interesting people with fascinating stories. A very close second to the best part of my job is when I am explaining

something to someone and you see the light bulb go off in his or her head, indicating that he or she now understands. I get a very good feeling when I know I have successfully passed a little bit of my knowledge on to another person.

Truman: What was your favorite subject in school when you were a kid?

Terry: Science. I always have and still do love to learn how and why things work the way they do.

Truman: What’s your favorite wildlife animal?Terry: Tough choice, but I would probably go with the grey fox

(I always loved elephants when I was a kid, but we don’t have those around here under normal circumstances). I don’t get to see them nearly as often as the deer and squirrels that live in the park, so when you do happen to spot one, it’s kind of special. I also just like watching the way they walk and move.

Truman: What advice would you give to kids who are interested in this profession?

Terry: First, never pass up an opportunity to learn something new. Whether you are at school, a museum or a park, reading a book or even just watching an educational program on TV, pick up extra knowledge every chance you get. Second, when you get old enough, try to get a job as a part-time summer worker or volunteer at a park so you can get a true feel for the job. This will help you decide if the job is really for you, and if you do pursue the career, it will give you some experience that will look good on job applications and in interviews.

Truman: Thanks so much for talking to us about your awesome job!

A PARK RANGER?

Above: Terry loves all animals. He is holding a corn snake. Left: As a park ranger, Terry takes charge of emergency situations, such as fi res.


Source: www.metrocreativeconnection.com

What’s the Difference?There are four things different between Picture A and Picture B.

Can you fi nd them all?

4

1

3

2

3

1

Math Ramble JambleCan you fi nd the missing numbers? Each row and each column must have the numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4. Numbers cannot be repeated in the row or column. Take the Mumble Jumble challenge to see if you can

fi gure out where the missing numbers belong.


Truman’s Tricky Picture Find these

items! Be sure to fi nd Truman’s hat! Look for more fun and games at

www.kidsvillenews.com.

July’s Maze Craze

July 28 is National Day of the Cowboy. Help this cowboy make his way through the maze to fi nd his trusted horse, Gallop.

As you color the Fourth of July teddy bear, think about how you will celebrate. Are you going to a parade or to watch fi reworks?


LOUIE: What’s in the bag?DAVY: Garrett stuffed the leather

pouch in his pocket and continued to climb.

TOBY: What did you fi nd, Garrett? Gold doubloons?

DAVY: Garrett’s face went white. How did they know? he thought. They didn’t. It was a guess. But Garrett’s face told them they had guessed right.

TOBY: We heard about the armor and the sword. Where’d you fi nd it?

DAVY: As Garrett climbed the rocks, he pretended to struggle so he had time to put rocks into his pockets. Garrett climbed a couple more boulders to the crest of the highest rock. There on the sand in front of him were all the boys that had humiliated him in front of the whole school, as well as a few new ones.

LOUIE: What’s in yer pocket, Garrett?

DAVY: When Garrett got within a short distance of the group, he stopped.

TODD SMITH: We found your crutch over there on the beach. Tell’ya what, we’ll trade you the crutch for what’s in your pocket.

GARRETT: I don’t want any trouble. I just want to be left alone and go home.

TODD SMITH: We don’t want any trouble, either.

TODD SMITH: So just give us the gold, and there won’t be any problem.

DAVY: The boys all laughed at Garrett as he was forced to keep hopping. The boys smiles left as they all began to surround Garrett.

TOBY: I said give us what’s in yer pouch, kangaroo boy.

DAVY: Fred moved closer.GARRETT: Ok.DAVY: Garrett pulled a handful of

rocks from his pocket and let one fl y.FRED MUNROE: Owwww!DAVY: Fred was so close and so

surprised that Garrett would do anything that violent, that the rock struck him square in the forehead, and he fell backward like a buoy struck by a cannon. Garrett hit three more

boys with rocks in quick succession and grabbed his crutch. The others scattered and Garrett started to run for home. The boys found their own rocks and began returning fi re. Several missed, but fi nally one of the boys hit Garrett squarely in the middle of the back and knocked him to the sand. Garrett tried his best to ignore the pain and get to his feet. He turned to throw another rock, but the boys were on top of him. In moments, they had him pinned to the ground. Todd reached into Garrett’s pocket and pulled out the pouch. Garrett grabbed it and clung to it with every bit of strength he possessed. The pouch ripped open, scattering the gold on the sand.

DAVY: Garrett snatched the doubloons and the pouch almost the instant they hit the sand, but not before the boys had seen them.

LOUIE: Pirate’s gold!TODD SMITH: Doubloons!DAVY: Toby pulled Todd off Garrett.TOBY: Get out of my way! Let me

take care of him! I’ll get the gold!DAVY: Toby doubled up his fat fi st

and raised it up near his shoulder. He was ready to deliver the knockout punch of his life when suddenly the ground fairly shook by the force of the sound.

QUETZALCOATL: “Screeeechhh!”DAVY: Toby turned to see

Quetzalcoatl’s enormous bloody face only inches from his.

TOBY: Aaaa!DAVY: Toby rolled off Garrett and

sprinted to his friends who had all run to the safety of the rocky slope. The boys were stunned by what they saw. Quetzalcoatl lay stretched out before them in terrible majesty, blood still oozing from his open wounds. Garrett put the gold back into the torn pouch and stuffed it back into his pocket.

LOUIE: Give us the gold, and we’ll let your lizard go.

DAVY: Garrett’s blood boiled at the very mention of harming his gentle friend. Garrett reached into his pocket, but before he could even

grasp another rock, he was struck squarely in the chest by a baseball size stone. Garrett tumbled over backwards as if he had been hit by a meteor. In the blink of an eye, Quetzalcoatl pounced forward like a gigantic jungle cat placing himself between them and Garrett. It was obvious from Quetzalcoatl’s spring that he was capable of completely overwhelming all of them on a whim. Several boys saw that they were hopelessly outmatched and wisely fl ed.

LOUIE: I’ll get my dad and the others, and we’ll kill that thing!

DAVY: Toby and those that stayed all moved back to where they were sure they were a safe distance from the creature.

TOBY: Now, give us the gold!DAVY: Garrett was struggling for

breath. Louie hurled a fi st-sized rock that struck Quetzalcoatl squarely in an open wound. His whole body fl inched and trembled. It was in that moment the boys knew that they had the upper hand. They could stand back and kill the creature from a safe distance and then take the gold. The boys began to hurl their rocks. With the impact of each stone Quetzalcoatl’s great body quivered and shook. Fresh blood began to trickle down his beautiful green feathers. With each stone, the

boys’ confi dence grew. They knew they could kill this great animal, and the feeling of power drove them to a frenzy. Quetzalcoatl’s long body and tail curled tightly around Garrett’s limp body. Like a warm, healing wave, Garrett felt new life and strength sweep through his body from head to toe.

DAVY: Garrett’s face went from a pale ashen gray to reddish pink. The pain in his back, chest and head were gone. Quetzalcoatl spoke to Garrett’s heart. Run! Garrett’s eyes fl ew open. He looked at Quetzalcoatl, and then for the fi rst time in his life, Garrett wiggled the ankle and toes of his crippled leg. It was what he had wanted his entire life, the experience he thought he would never have. He could feel strength, power and feeling in both of his feet. Both his legs were long, straight and powerful. He was whole! Garrett spoke to Quetzalcoatl. You run, too. Once you’re in the water, they cannot hurt you. Quetzalcoatl spoke to Garrett’s heart. Run. Run to the ocean. Garrett looked puzzled. He could see Quetzalcoatl was making no attempt to move. Garrett looked down and saw Quetzalcoatl’s leg was now crippled and disfi gured exactly as his had been. In that instant Garrett’s joy turned to absolute anguish that pierced his soul like a white-hot barb.

Story Time with Truman

Quetzalcoatl(Ketz-al-co-ah-Tel)

Chapter Nine

To listen and read along with the rest of this month’s episode of QUETZALCOATL, go to www.talesofdavyjones.com or www.kidsvillenews.com. A Teacher’s Guide to accompany this 12-chapter story is available at www.KidsvilleNews.com. An audio version CD set and workbook are also available online. Copyright 2011 by Carl F. Gundestrup. All rights reserved. Now Available: Get the “Digital Download” audio adventure for $1.99 for Kidsville News kids, teachers and parents at www.talesofdavyjones.com. Use the code word DAVY JONES.


Freedom PoemBy Barbara Gilmour

“Hello again, everyone,” said Ms. Gilmour. Tanner, Rudy, Nicole, Stephen, Carmen and Truman the Dragon all said, “Hello, Ms. Gilmour.” “School is over and summer is here,” Ms. Gilmour said. “Who’s ready for that fun summer holiday, the 4th of July?” The kids all jumped up and cheered.

“Last year when we talked about the 4th of July, we had fun creating a rap from the poem, ‘Freedom’,” said the teacher. Rudy jumped up. “That was fun. Can we do that again?” Tanner added, “I learned the poem better by singing it!” Nicole agreed.

“Let’s see what the ‘Freedom’ poem really means to you,” she said. Truman looked puzzled and asked, “What do you mean?” “Well, Truman, the fi rst stanza of the poem says ‘Freedom for me, Freedom for you, Available to all, In the red, white, and blue.’ What does that mean to you?” she asked. Truman smiled as he replied, “Everyone can live here freely, even dragons!” The rest of the kids reached up and high fi ved Truman. Nicole added, “I think that means we are all equal here.” The other kids all nodded.

“The second stanza says, ‘Respect our fl ag, Our country, too, And each person here, So they’ll respect you.’ What does that mean?” asked Ms. Gilmour. Tanner was fi rst to say, “Take good care of our fl ag; fl y it proudly.” Rudy added, “Take it down in bad weather, and don’t drag it on the ground.” “Don’t say bad things about our country, and be proud to live here,” shared Carmen. Stephen added, “We all deserve the same respect. We should treat everyone with The Golden Rule.”

“What would Cool Kind Kids do about the third stanza?” the teacher questioned. “Take care of our land, water, trees and shore, If we don’t do that, They will be no more.’ Three of the kids said, “Recycle!” Truman looked sad and said, “If we don’t take care of our oceans, lakes and parks, kids in the future won’t have anywhere to swim or play.” Everyone decided that recycling, picking up trash and helping keep their schools, neighborhoods and communities clean was easy to do and could help future kids and families.

“The poem ends with, ‘Show that you care, Be grateful, too, For all that we have, In the red, white and blue.’ How would Cool Kind Kids show that they care and are grateful for our country?” All hands went up. Carmen said, “First, we should thank our parents for all they do for us and give us.” Stephen shared, “Thank teachers and others who help, like police and fi remen.” Rudy added, “Thank a veteran for our freedom.”

Tanner jumped in with, “Go to the 4th of July parade and salute our fl ag.” Nicole held up a pretend fl ag and paraded around the room. Truman marched behind her starting to rap the poem. All the kids joined in. Truman said, “Now that we know what the poem means, let’s practice the Freedom poem rap so we can help other kids become Cool Kind Kids. Let’s perform it at the parade!”

Barbara Gilmour, Tanner’s grandmom, is the creator and developer of the Tanner’s Manners: Be a “Cool Kind Kid” Social Skills, Character Values and Anti-Bullying educational materials and the award-winning “Cool Kind Kid”

F eed m P emF eed m P emFreedom Poem

FreedomFreedom for meFreedom for youAvailable to all

In the red, white and blueRespect our fl agOur country, too

And each person hereSo they’ll respect youTake care of our landWater, trees and shore

If we don’t do thatThey will be no moreShow that you care

Be grateful, tooFor all that we have

In the red, white and blue

.


Exploring Nature!

The Desert Tortoise Gopherus agassizii Found in the deserts of the American west and Mexico, the desert tortoise can live for 100-years. Sadly, they are now threatened by habitat loss from human recreation and over-grazing.

Find 10 things hidden in the desert, then color it!Fi d 10 hi hidd i

Desert Hidden Picture

This black and orange striped lizard comes out at night to hunt. It is called “monster” for its poisonous bite used to subdue prey. It is a:

*___ ___ ___ ___

Find these hidden things:

Desert Fun Fact!

Death Valley is one of the hottest places on Earth with temperatures

reaching 120° in summer.

Desert Animal!

Exploringnature.org is an award-winning resource that inspires learning about science, conservation and the outdoors through ��and online resources. Explore outside today! *G

ILA

Desert Food Web - Predators are animals that eat other animals (prey) .Draw an arrow from the prey in the bottom row to the predators in the top row that eat them. Predators may eat more than one kind of prey.

scorpion(beetle, grasshopper), tortoise(cactus), rattlesnake(kangaroo rat, jackrabbit), fox(all animals), hawk(kangaroo rat, jackrabbit)


Art Gallery

Frida Kahlo was a painter and a political activist. Even though she had no formal art training, she is remembered as one of Mexico’s greatest artists.

Kahlo was born Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo y Calderon on July 6, 1907, in Mexico City, Mexico. She suffered from polio as a young child, which left her with a permanent limp in her right leg. Kahlo’s father was a well-known photographer, and he encouraged his daughter to play sports as a way to heal her body, which was something that girls did not do at the time. This probably helped her go on to be a very powerful woman as an adult!

Like her father, Kahlo was very talented and earned a place at the prestigious National Preparatory School for in 1922. Again, she was one of only a few girls to attend. Kahlo dreamed of being a doctor, but that dream ended when she was 18. She was hit by a bus, and the accident left her in a body cast for several months. It was then that she took up painting. At 19, she painted her first self-portrait, a

picture of herself in a velvet dress.In 1929, Kahlo married another famous Mexican painter, Diego Rivera. He

encouraged her to keep painting. She was a very productive artist who created watercolors, drawings and portraits of people, including Diego. But she is most famous for her self-portraits, of which there were at least 55 paintings!

Kahlo was well known for her brightly colored traditional Mexican clothing and jewelry. Like her style of dress, her art also embraced the indigenous folk cultures of Mexico. She used vibrant colors and showed a lot of pain and intense emotions

in her paintings. Her artwork is sometimes called surrealist because she painted people and familiar objects in a way that made them look dreamlike or strange. Activity

Have you ever painted a portrait of yourself? Kahlo painted many! In her self-portraits, Kahlo captured her own unique sense of style and the way she felt at the time. Try painting a self-portrait of yourself the way that Kahlo did.

What You Need: paper or large construction paper, colored tempera paints, paintbrush, water, paper plate and a mirrorDirections:

Get yourself ready for your self-portrait. Think about how you want to look in your self-portrait. Are you feeling happy? Sad? What clothing do you want to wear? Do you have any favorite jewelry or a hat that you want to include?

Set up an easel or painting area for yourself in front of a mirror, or have a friend or adult take a digital picture of you and print it out so that you can use it as a model. Use the colored paints to paint a picture of yourself!

As you work, think about Kahlo. Is it easier or harder for you to paint yourself than to paint other subjects? Why?

When your painting dries, share it with your friends and family.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: “Beyond the Myth, Art Endures,” The New York Times, July 7, 2007, www.nytimes.com/2007/07/07/arts/design/07frid.html?pagewanted=all; Frida Kahlo on Biography.com, www.biography.com/people/frida-kahlo-9359496, Frida Kahlo, www.fridakahlo.com.

Frida Kahlo: Painter and Political Activist

Kahlo painted “Self-portrait with Monkeys” in 1943.


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

During the summer, we get to enjoy the great outdoors and eat fresh fruits and vegetables straight out of the garden. Unfortunately, many organic (natural) scraps that are good for the environment get thrown away in the trash can, only to produce more waste at a landfi ll. But you can reduce the amount of trash and use grass clippings and leftover apple slices to create a compost pile in your backyard to make nutrient-rich soil for plants.

There are three basic ingredients for composting: brown materials, such as dead leaves, branches and twigs; green materials, such as grass clippings, vegetable waste, fruit scraps and coffee grounds and water.

To build your own compost pile:1. Select a dry spot near a water source and dig up the grass in the area to loosen the dirt.2. Add your brown and green materials in layers and add water

between layers.Once your compost pile is established, mix grass clippings and other

green waste and stir the compost with a shovel or rake every few days.When the material at the bottom is dark and rich in color,

your compost is ready to use. This process usually takes a few months.

It’s fun to watch the pile of leaves and scrap turn into the perfect soil for plants. Be on the lookout for worms and small bugs that will join the compost party to help out.

For more tips on composting, visit www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/rrr/composting/index.htm.


AT THE MOVIES

The Magic of Belle Isle — In Theaters July 6

Morgan Freeman, the coolest old-guy actor ever, plays Monte Wildhorn, a famous Western novelist who doesn’t feel like writing anymore. Confi ned to a wheelchair, Monte moves into a rural lakeside cabin in the beautiful setting of Belle Isle. Monte makes friends with his new neighbor Mrs. O’Neil and her three daughters, Willow (Nadeline Carroll), Finnegan (Emma Fuhrmann) and Flora (Nicolettte Pierini). The girls and their mom give new meaning to Monte’s way of looking at the world. He discovers a newfound inspiration for writing and a kind of pure happiness he could never have dreamed up in one of his books. The Magic of Belle Isle is a family movie from director Rob Reiner (The Bucket List). Rated PG. 109 mins. (Magnolia Pictures)

Ice Age: Continental Drift — In Theaters July 13

Our favorite little saber-toothed squirrel Scrat still needs the giant acorn he’s forever chasing. It’s two million years ago when Scrat’s frantic attempts at hanging on to his acorn set off an Earth-changing chain of events. Continents are breaking apart. Now, Manny the woolly mammoth (Ray Romano), Diego the saber-toothed tiger (Dennis Leary) and Sid the sloth (John Leguizamo) have to fi gure out how to survive when every piece of ground beneath their feet is shifting or breaking apart. Stranded on an island made out of ice, the fearless trio does battle with giant waves and a gang of animal pirates in an effort to get back to their families. “The end of the world is just the tip of the iceberg” for some of the most daring and fun-loving prehistoric creatures you’ve ever seen. Rated PG for mild rude humor and action/peril. 94 mins. (20th Century Fox)

Katy Perry: Part of Me — In Theaters July 20

Katy Perry tells her fans, “Be yourself, and you can be anything” in this 3D documentary celebration of the singer’s rise to superstardom. The movie was fi lmed during Katy’s 2011 California Dreams World Tour, for which she did 124 performances. Filled with plenty of backstage and rehearsal footage, as

well as lots of live performances of her popular songs, the movie gives special attention to Katy’s young fans. Home movies from Katy’s youth give a window into her childhood spent singing in church that led her to choose a career as a professional singer and songwriter. With the constant help of her sister Angela, Katy Perry is one of the most successful American singers today. If you’re a Katy Perry fan, you probably want to see Katy Perry: Part of Me — presented in 3D. Rated PG for adult language. 93 mins. (Paramount Pictures)

ON DVD

Pippi Longstocking: The Best of Pippi Longstocking — Available July 24

Pippi Longstocking, the red-haired girl with ponytails that stick straight out, is the hero of this fun, animated adaptation of Astrid Lindgren’s famous children’s books. “What shall Pippi Longstocking do today” is the eternal question that starts off each show with a song. Whether she’s saving old folks or running off to see the fair, Pippi has plenty of ideas about how to spend her time with her two best friends. Sometimes, just sitting on a fence is a great way to wait for something to happen.

This collection includes 24 of the best episodes from the cartoon series. Not Rated. 132 mins. (Phase 4 Films)

Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids: The Complete Series — Available July 31

Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids was one of the most popular Saturday morning cartoon series of the ‘70s. Beloved comedian Bill Cosby hosts the show and lends his voice to many of its colorful characters, especially Fat Albert himself. Each episode has educational lessons for kids that Bill Cosby helps explain during live-action segments. Set in urban Philadelphia, the shows include plenty of lively music to make you tap your toes. Here is the complete series. The DVD box includes Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids (36 episodes), The New Fat Albert Show (24 episodes) and The Adventures of Fat Albert and Cosby Kids (50 episodes). Not Rated. 2,340 mins. (Shout! Factory)

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.


If all trees were blue, and every tree you had ever seen was blue, would you ask, “Why are trees

blue?” Maybe not. But if suddenly one day you saw a green tree, wouldn’t you ask, “Why

is this tree green when all the others are blue?” That’s what happens when you discover new things. It makes

you curious. It makes you want to know why one thing is this way, and another thing is that way.

That’s what exploring the solar system has done for humans. Before NASA’s two Voyager spacecraft explored them in the 1970s and ‘80s, we didn’t know very much about Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. The Voyagers revealed surprising differences among even Jupiter’s four largest moons. Io had active volcanoes. Europa was covered in ice with crazy, crisscrossing cracks. Saturn’s rings had “spokes,” and in Saturn’s atmosphere, the wind was blowing at more than 1,000 miles per hour. Neptune’s moon Triton had ice volcanoes. What a bunch of weird places!

Many other NASA spacecraft have orbited or fl own past these and other planets, moons, comets and asteroids in our solar system. All in all, we have learned that our solar system is stranger and more diverse than anyone imagined. No two planets or moons look alike. Why not? Many appear to have formed in different ways. Why? And why do they orbit and rotate as they do — and where they do?

Now our telescopes on Earth and in space are fi nding other planetary systems in our galaxy. But they have not yet found any similar to ours. Most of the gas giant planets in other solar systems orbit very close to their stars — even closer than Earth’s orbit of the Sun. Our own gas giants are way, way out there, far from our star. Why?

NASA’s planetary science missions are all about fi guring out our own solar system. How did it form? Why is it the way it is? Is it likely other solar systems are like ours? Just how lucky are we, anyway?

Explore the solar system for yourself at The Space Place, http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/menu/solar-system.This article was written by Diane K. Fisher and provided through the courtesy of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Our solar system is made up of a huge diversity of planets, moons and other bodies. How did they form, and why are they all so different?

Our Crazy Quilt of Planets

Pick of the Month: Almonds

Delicious and Nutritious

Whether you’re playing baseball all day or busy at summer camp, feeling hungry can make it hard to be at your best. Healthy snacks; however, can keep you fueled and focused.Having nutritious snacks on hand is a smart way to go, but it’s challenging to fi nd a snack that tastes great and that you can take anywhere. Give this Almond Crunch a try to keep you engerized and on the go!

Ingredients 1 cup slivered almonds, toasted2 1/2 cups rolled oats (either old-fashioned or quick cooking)1 cup fl aked coconut3/4 teaspoon cinnamon1/2 cup honey1/4 cup almond or vegetable oil

Preparation Preheat oven to 350F. Combine toasted almonds with oats, coconut and cinnamon. Whisk honey with oil and drizzle over almond-oat mixture, tossing to mix well. Bake 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from oven, loosen with spatula and cool.

*To toast almonds: Spread almonds in a single layer in a shallow pan. Place in a cold oven; toast at 350 F, 9-11 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly toasted. Cool on counter. *For a spicy twist, combine 2 tsp. chili powder, 1 tsp. curry powder,1 tsp. garlic powder and 1 Tbs. olive or almond oil in a skillet until bubbly. Then add 2 cups toasted whole, natural almonds, 1/2 tsp. hot pepper sauce, or to taste and1 tsp. ground red pepper and mix until almonds are covered. Allow to cool, and you have Fire Cracker Almonds. The spicy bites are to take to a Fourth of July party or as an energy-boosting snack when you visit your local parks and rec. for National Parks and Recreation Month. Recipe Courtesy of Family Features.

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

Almond Crunch Keeps You Active and Energized

Almonds have the highest levels of protein, fi ber, calcium, vitamin E, ribofl avin and niacin among all tree nuts. Ribofl avin (Vitamin B2) works with other B vitamins to aid in growth and red blood cell production. And most importantly, it helps give you energy from the food you eat.


PARENTOWN’S KIDSMART

Growing up in a time of economic struggle, today’s kids might be inadvertently learning lessons about money. If Mom and Dad have been forced to cut back or even lost their jobs, chances are kids have noticed and learned something as a result.

Even if parents have managed to weather the economic storm of the last several years without making too many sacrifi ces, they can still start teaching kids about money, even if kids have just entered kindergarten. It’s never too early to teach kids lessons about money. The following tips are a few ways parents can do just that.

• Give kids an allowance. Many parents give their kids an allowance so they can have some spending money when out with friends. But giving an allowance is also a great way to teach kids about managing their money. Start with an amount that is small but large enough for kids to make purchases. In so doing, kids will learn that things they want cost money and that properly managing their money will enable them to purchase the things they want. If kids spend all their money by Monday and don’t get their allowance until Friday, resist the temptation to give them more money if the kids ask for it. This, too, will help kids learn the value of managing money.

• Open a savings account in your child’s name. Another way to teach kids about money is to open savings accounts in their names. Once the account is opened, take your child to the bank once a week to deposit a predetermined amount of money. This shows the child the importance of steadily saving money. It might be diffi cult at the outset to get kids into this habit, but once they make savings deposits part of their routines and their balances start to grow, they will likely grow more enthusiastic about their weekly trips to the bank.

• Encourage kids to document their fi nances. Encouraging kids to document their fi nances, including deposits, withdrawals and expenditures, is an effective way to teach them basic fi nancial analysis. If the bank supplies savings books, make sure kids use them. But go one step further and give kids a fi nancial journal where they can document all of their purchases in addition to their deposits and withdrawals. Such documentation enables kids to analyze how they spend their money. Periodically go over these expenditures with children, and if they’re frustrated about their saving and spending habits, work with the children to develop more effective strategies. Kids may appreciate these small lessons in analysis down the road when it’s time to purchase their fi rst vehicles or fi nance a larger expense, such as their educations or even their fi rst homes.

• Help kids make larger purchases. Helping kids make larger purchases, be it a new bicycle or a video game console, is another way to teach them about money. Such purchases teach kids about long term fi nancial goals and how it’s necessary to stay diligent with savings in order to meet those goals. Paying for half is a good way to reward kids for meeting these long term goals.

It’s never too early to start teaching kids about money, and parents can do just that in a number of ways.

Content and photo provided by Metrocreativeconnection.com.

Simple Ways to Teach Kids about Money

El crecer en momentos de problemas económicos, hace que los niños de hoy en día aprendan inadvertidamente lecciones acerca del dinero. Si mama y papá se han visto forzados a recortar gastos, o han perdido su trabajo, lo mas probable es que los niños lo han notado y como resultado aprendieron algo.

Aunque los padres hayan logrado sobrepasar la tormenta económica en los últimos años sin hacer muchos sacrifi cios, pueden empezar a

enseñar a los niños sobre el dinero aunque los niños apenas hayan empezado el kindergarten, nunca es demasiado temprano para enseñar a los niños lecciones sobre el dinero. Los siguientes consejos son algunas maneras en que los padres pueden hacerlo• Dar a los niños una pensión semanal. Muchos padres le dan a sus hijos una pensión para que puedan tener dinero para gastar cuando salgan con sus amigos. Pero dar una pensión es también una buena manera para enseñar a los niños como manejar su dinero. Comienza con una cantidad pequeña, pero lo sufi ciente para que puedan comprar cosas. Así los niños entenderán que las cosas que quieren cuestan dinero y que el manejar su dinero apropiadamente les permitirá comprar las cosas que mas quieren. Si los niños gastan todo su dinero antes del Lunes y reciben su pensión los Viernes, resista la tentación de darles mas dinero si se lo piden. Esto también les ayudara aprender el valor de manejar su dinero.• Abra una cuenta de ahorros bajo el nombre de su hijo. Otra manera de enseñar a los niños sobre el

dinero es abrir una cuenta de ahorros a su nombre. Una vez tengan su cuenta abierta, lleve a su hijo al banco cada semana a depositar una cantidad pre-determinada de dinero. Esto le enseñara a los niños la importancia de ahorrar dinero constantemente. Puede que sea difícil acostumbrar a los niños a este habito, pero una vez que hacen los depósitos parte de su rutina diaria y sus balances comienzan a crecer, ellos estarán mas entusiasmados de sus visitas semanales al banco. Anime a sus hijos a documentar sus fi nanzas, incluyendo depósitos, retiros y gastos, es una manera efectiva de enseñarles los análisis básicos de las fi nanzas. Si el banco les provee los libros de ahorros, asegúrese de usarlos. Pero de un paso mas y déle a su hijo un diario fi nanciero donde puedan documentar todas sus compras en adición a sus depósitos y retiros apesta esta documentación ayuda a que los niños analicen como gastan su dinero. Periódicamente repase los gastos de los niños, y si están frustrados por sus ahorros y los hábitos de consumo, trabaje junto con ellos para desarrollar estrategias mas efectivas. Los niños apreciaran estas pequeñas lecciones de análisis fi nanciero en el futuro cuando sea tiempo de comprar su primer carro o tengan que fi nanciar un gasto mas grande, como su educación o la compra de su primer casa.

• Ayudar a que los niños hagan compras mas grandes. Ayudar a que los niños hagan compras mas grandes, ya sea una bicicleta o una consola de video juegos, es otra manera de enseñarles sobre el dinero. Dichas compras les enseñaran a los niños acerca de las metas a largo plazo, y lo necesario que es que se mantengan estrictos con sus ahorros para lograr sus metas. Pagar la mitad es una buena manera de recompensar a los niños por alcanzar sus metas a largo plazo.

Nunca es demasiado temprano para empezar a enseñar a los niños acerca del dinero, y los padres lo pueden hacer de muchas maneras.

Contenido y fotos cortesía de Metrocreativeconnection.com

Maneras Simples de Enseñar A Los Niños sobre El Dinero


PARENTOWN’S KIDSHAPE

How to Help Kids Find the Right Extracurricular ActivityToday’s kids are busier than ever before. Be it the increasingly competitive

nature of scholastic life or the increase of two-income households where kids need something to do other than come directly home after school, children today are much busier than their school-aged counterparts of yesteryear.

While it can be fun and benefi cial for kids to participate in extracurricular activities, fi nding the right fi t isn’t as easy as it sounds. When helping kids fi nd an extracurricular activity, it’s best to consider a host of factors. Keep in mind that not all kids are the same with respect to interests. And what was enjoyed by their parents won’t necessarily be enjoyed by them. Summer is a good time to explore the options of extracurricular ideas and decide on the activities they most enjoy.Getting Started

The best place to start is to speak to kids about their interests. Just because Dad loved playing football doesn’t mean Junior is destined to be a gridiron great. Kids have their own interests, and those interests can be cultivated with the right extracurricular activity. For example, a creative child might enjoy an after-school art class a couple of times per week. Parents should also consider extracurricular activities that can help kids grow as people. For instance, a child who’s shy in public but loves hamming it up at home might embrace an after-school theater program.

Once options have been discussed with kids, take in a session or two before committing to anything. The shy youngster might visit the local theater program and enjoy it thoroughly, or he or she might decide against it. Either way, a visit will give kids and parents a sense of what the program is like and whether or not it’s the right fi t. When visiting, observe the nature of the program. Is it an encouraging, vibrant environment? Do the adults and kids involved appear to be having fun?Get the 411

Parents want their kids to be as safe after school as they are during it. When looking for an extracurricular activity, inquire about the staff-to-child ratio and

about the staff’s professional background. Any staff-to-child ratio that is greater than 12:1 likely indicates a program that is understaffed, which could mean kids won’t get the attention they need. Also, ask for the staff’s references and work history in the fi eld of child care. If certifi cation is necessary or recommended, make sure the staff meets all requirements.

Parents should also inquire about program costs. Though many programs are up-front about fees, some have hidden fees that can add up. Such fees can be for uniforms, equipment, class trips, etc. Extra fees don’t have to exclude a program from consideration, but it’s better to know about them in advance than have them come as a surprise. Consider a Child’s Grade Level

A child’s age and grade level should also be considered when choosing an extracurricular activity. Consult teachers about fi nding an age-appropriate extracurricular activity. For example, less competitive activities that emphasize fun might be more appropriate for kids in kindergarten and the fi rst grade. For second graders, activities not offered at school, like learning to play an instrument, can

help cultivate a child’s interest in a noncompetitive environment. As kids

reach third grade and beyond, consider more rules-based activities, including team sports, as kids at that age are more capable of understanding rules and handling losing than younger kids. As children get older and move on to middle school, look for activities that reinforce learning and help develop a young person’s character, including the ability to interact with others.

When looking for an extracurricular activity for kids, parents should consider a host of factors, including the child’s interests and age. Take the time to explore options with your child before the family schedule becomes even more hectic with the start of the school year.Photo and article provided by Metro Creative Graphics, Inc., www.metrocreativegraphics.com.

Team sports, including baseball, can be a great extracurricular activity once kids are old enough to understand rules and cope with losing.

July 2012 - KV

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