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April 2019
Hi, HiKid, s!Kids!
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2 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • April 2019 • www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett
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Carvings are usually made of a specific tree called the “Mpingo” or African blackwood. It is native to Africa. The tree has two types of wood. The center of the tree, the heart, is made of a dark hard wood. The outside is a light soft wood called sapwood. The artists use only the hard and dark inner wood for carvings. Traditionally, pieces are carved from a single tree, so they cannot be larger than the size of a single log of heartwood.
• • • • • •
The traditional carvings show a variety of subjects. Typical subjects are families, animals, spirits and people doing the work of everyday life. There are eight major styles of Makonde carving. Shetani is the most popular style. Artist Samaki Likankoa created it in the 1960s. This style usually depicts distorted humans and animals to represent spirits. Shetani are spirits common in many East African beliefs and mythology.
These sculptures were an important part of Makonde culture for hundreds of years, but few of the sculptures found today are old. The sculptures and masks played a vital role in religious and cultural ceremonies like celebrations and initiation ceremonies. However, when European missionaries came to Africa in the 1920s, they burned many of the sculptures because they thought the Makonde people worshiped the wood. www.tzaffairs.org/1981/07/makonde-art/ africa.uima.uiowa.edu/peoples/show/Makonde www.tanzanian-art.de/service/the-makonde-by-prof-e-jengo.html
Kneeling Mother and Child
•
Africa, Tanzania-Mozambique border area, Makonde people
he Makonde people are native to Tanzania. They primarily live in the east of Tanzania and can be found in Mozambique as well. Makonde communities consist of independent villages that are ruled by a head man. Many of their villages survive by farming maize, sorghum and cassava. Makonde people are also famous for their artistic tradition of woodcarving. Many Makonde artists trade and sell their carvings to tourists and art collectors.
Days to remember in April
Gems that come from specific places
T
anzanite is a rare gemstone found only in one area in the world — a small part of the African country of Tanzania. It is made of a mineral called zoisite. This mineral occurs naturally in many colors like clear, gray, yellow brown, pink and green. Tanzanite is a special zoisite that occurs in a beautiful color range of blue to violet. One of the stone’s unique properties is that the colors change depending on the light around it. People living in the area discovered the gemstone in the 1960s. It can only be found in an 8-square-mile area in northern Tanzania at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro. Because it is only available in such a small part of the world, tanzanite is rarer than diamonds. Experts believe that tanzanite mines will be empty in 25-30 years. • • • • •
Tanzanite formed in the earth 585 million years ago. Often the gem is heat treated. This treatment brings out deeper blues in the stone. During this treatment, stones can be heated to 500 degrees Celsius. The deeper the blue, the more valuable the tanzanite is. Tanzanite is relatively easy to scratch.
• • • •
•
Tanzanite formed when Mt. Kilimanjaro was formed. Tanzanite is the birthstone for December. The largest tanzanite stone ever found was 16,839 carats. The people native to the area in Africa where tanzanite is found are called the Maasai. Tanzanite has sacred meaning for them. The Maasai people first discovered the tanzanite.
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• •
The Maasai consider blue a sacred color; tanzanite is often given as a gift to celebrate newborn children. Tanzanite is named after the country where it originates —Tanzania. geology.com/gemstones/tanzanite/ www.tanzanitefoundation.com/about-tanazanite/ introduction-to-tanzanite/ www.gemrockauctions.com/learn/additional-gemstoneinformation/gemstones-from-africa
Playing jokes on APRIL FOOL’S DAY can be a lot of fun, but no one knows for sure when this tradition started. Some historians think it may have been in France during the 1500s. Others think it goes back to ancient Rome to the Hilaria festival. If you choose to play April Fool’s Day tricks this April first, remember to be kind! We celebrate EARTH DAY to make us all more aware of the planet and how we treat it — and how we use its resources. In 1971, United Nations General Secretary General U Thant signed a proclamation making Earth Day an official day of observation. This year, Earth Day is on April 22, but there are things we can do every day to celebrate the earth. Recycle. Conserve water. Conserve electricity. Plant a tree.
www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett • April 2019 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • 3
Jewels from the earth
Photo of the Cullinan diamond
Humans have been creating and wearing jewelry for thousands of years. The earliest example of jewelry can be found in the tombs of Sumerian rulers buried thousands of years ago. One of the most popular gemstones to use in jewelry today is the diamond. Diamonds take a long time to create. They are formed in the earth’s crust over millions of years. Magma from the earth’s mantle gets pushed through the crust to the earth’s surface. The path that the magma takes creates an opening that looks like a pipe. Then, the magma cools, turning into kimberlite. The carbon atoms in the pipe-shaped hole are under intense pressure and heat from deep beneath the earth’s surface. Over millions of years, the pressure and heat compress the carbon and it turns into diamonds. www.capetowndiamondmuseum.org
Left image: Cullinans II, I and III. Right image: Cullinan diamonds IV and III with a scale (IV is 2.4 cm across).
• Diamonds are the hardest naturally occurring substance on earth. • In addition to being beautiful, their hardness makes them useful as tools. • Ancient people in India used diamonds to engrave other gemstones as far back as 300 BCE. • Diamonds were first found in Kimberley, South Africa. • Diamonds come in many colors, including yellow, brown, blue, green, orange and red. • Diamonds are measured in carats. One carat is .2 grams • The largest rough diamond ever found was the Cullinan diamond. It was found in 1905 and was 3,106 carats.
www.gia.edu/gia-news-research-diamond-fun-facts
kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/science/diamond/#diamonds-raw.jpg
4 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • April 2019 • www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett
www.britannica.com/art/jewelry/The-history-of-jewelry-design
Find three ways that the sum of three digits in a line equal 17. Don’t repeat the digits within a design.
Use the digit 8 four times to make 89.
(88 + 8/8 = 89) Encourage students to create similar problems to challenge their classmates.
MATH
TIME
(Combinations of digits that work are 6-9-2, 3-9-5, 1-9-7, 5-8-4, 6-8-3, 7-8-2, 6-7-4, 9-7-1, 8-7-2.) The combinations listed all add up to 17. The middle digit should be in the middle circle of each design. Digits smaller than 7 will not work in the middle because of having to repeat.
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www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett • April 2019 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • 5
What’s it like to be ... an illustrator
Christian
Robinson
Today, we hear from Christian Robinson, illustrator of The New York Times bestseller “Last Stop on Market Street” and “Carmela Full of Wishes.”
What first made you excited about art?
As a child, I loved making things: drawings, paintings, sculpture, anything I could get my hands on. Creativity allowed me to be in charge, to make my own rules, and create my own little world on paper.
What illustrated book from childhood has stayed with you over the years? “Are You My Mother?” by P.D. Eastman. I remember feeling really invested in this lost little bird trying to find his real mother. The illustrations blew me away as a kid, and I still admire them today.
Where do you find inspiration for your illustrations?
Epic question! So many things inspire me: children’s book illustration and graphic art from the ‘50s and ‘60s, nature, simplicity, cities, children’s art, animation, fine art, music … I could keep going.
What does your workspace look like? I work in an old warehouse that’s been converted into a shared artist studio.
What materials do you most like to use?
I love working in collage. “Last Stop on Market Street” was produced using a mix of paint and collage. Other books I’ve illustrated like “The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade,” written by Justin Roberts, were created in colored pencil. I have the most fun by experimenting and trying all sorts of different mediums and techniques.
What design resources would you recommend to young artists?
Not sure if this is a design resource, but I’m obsessed with Pinterest and collecting images that inspire me. The best design resource would have to be a museum or library though. That’s were I go when I need to recharge and find a spark of inspiration.
What’s the best name for a color that you’ve ever heard? Pleased as Punch; it’s a very happy red. Christian Robinson likes to tell stories with pictures, making a living as an illustrator and animator in San Francisco, California. He’s worked with Pixar Animation Studios and The Sesame Street Workshop and has illustrated a number of awardwinning picture books including Josephine by Patricia Hruby Powell, Gaston by Kelly di Puchhio, and Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña.
This interview is reprinted with permission from readbrightly.com. Brightly is a resource to help parents and educators raise lifelong readers. 6 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • April 2019 • www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett
©www.readbrightly.com/meet-illustrator-christian-robinson/
time they become toddlers, when bathing introduces them to splashing and bobbing toys. Use these opportunities to take your child into the water, so he or she acclimates to feeling the water on his or her body and face. Kids can sit with adults on pool steps or retrieve toys from within reach. An adult always should be nearby. • Wait before submerging kids. The American Red Cross says to wait until a child is around age three before submerging him or her under the water. Young kids can swallow a lot of water, which can be dangerous. Sputtering water also may turn a child off to swimming completely. • Begin in calm water. The open ocean can be daunting, even to adults. So it might be better to begin swimming lessons in a calm body of water, such as a lake or pool. • Invest in formal swimming lessons. Parental perceptions and anxieties may interfere with parents’ abilities to properly teach their children how to swim. Therefore, hire third-party professional instructors to teach kids to swim. The Red Cross can put you in touch with certified swimming instructors who also are knowledgeable in first aid. As children become more confident in the water, they can practice swimming strokes and submerging themselves for underwater swimming.
METRO ATLANTA
GCPS is Hiring Bus Drivers!
Drive for success at our Bus Driver Fair! Applicants are required to have a good driving record and a high school diploma or GED.
When: Saturday, April 13, 2019
Time: 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Where:
Gwinnett County Public Schools J. Alvin Wilbanks Instructional Support Center 437 Old Peachtree Road, NW - Building #200 Suwanee, GA 30024
Make our Bus Driver Job Fair your first stop! Visit GCPSJobs.org 592842-1
Swimming is a popular activity once temperatures heat up. Millions of people flock to beaches to dip their toes in the water, and scores more spend afternoons exploring the depths of backyard pools. Upon being introduced to the water, younger children may be somewhat apprehensive, as swimming in pools or oceans can be intimidating to youngsters. Parents should exercise extreme caution when teaching kids to swim, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that more than one in five fatal drowning victims are children under the age of 14. Although swimming can be dangerous, experts in pediatric and adolescent medicine affirm that participation in formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning considerably. Children whose parents swim may be eager to join mom and dad in the pool. The following are some tips for parents as they start to develop a plan to teach their kids to swim. • Wait until the child is developmentally ready. The American Association of Pediatrics recommends that parents wait until after a child’s fourth birthday to teach them how to swim. This is when children have developed enough to understand commands and have the motor skils required for swimming. At this point, parents can register children for swimming lessons with trained instructors. • Introduce playing in the water early on. Parents should make sure their children grow accustomed to playing in the water. Many kids start to like the water around the
www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett • April 2019 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • 7
M
any people have a wonderful resource at their disposal just minutes from their homes. This resource can transport them to distant lands, teach their children valuable lessons and serve as a great place to meet new friends. So what is this magical place? The local library. Libraries are filled with books for adults and children. But libraries have even more than books to offer, making them an invaluable resource for the entire community. The following are just a handful of the many great reasons to visit your local library. • Reading may help improve longterm mental health. A 2001 study from researchers at Case Western Reserve University found that patients with Alzheimer’s disease were less active in early and middle adulthood in regard to intellectual, passive and physical
activities than people who did not have AD. Young adults and middle-aged men and women who visit their local libraries and check out a good book might decrease their risk for cognitive decline later in life. • Reading can improve your vocabulary, even as you get older. Reading for pleasure as a child has long been linked to helping young people age 16 and under develop strong reading and math skills. But a recent study from researchers at the University of London that examined how the vocabularies of more than 9,400 people developed between the ages of 16 and 42 found that vocabulary continued to improve long after teenage years. By continuing to read books from their local libraries into adulthood, adults can further develop their vocabularies. •
Libraries
provide
lots
of
8 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • April 2019 • www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett
free
entertainment. Libraries are home to thousands of books, but that’s not all you can find at your local branch. Newspapers, magazines, CDs and DVDs are some examples of the forms of entertainment available at local libraries. Better yet, such entertainment is free to card holders. • Libraries offer age-appropriate programs for kids. Some parents may lament the lack of programs available for their youngsters. Such parents are urged to visit their local libraries,
which are often home to many programs that can inspire kids to read and foster their creativity. The scope of kid-friendly programs at your local library is wide and may range from sing-a-long sessions for toddlers to group art programs for preschool-aged children to STEMbased programs for elementary and secondary school students. The local library is an invaluable resource than can benefit people of all ages.
Creative Coloring
Celebrate lawn and garden care. Color in this picture to create your won masterpiece.
What’s the Difference?
There are four things different between Picture A and PIcture B. Can you find them all?
At Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, you will always have a team of pediatric surgical specialists, whether it’s something minor like ear tubes or big like spine surgery. Because kids and teens aren’t adults, they need pediatric care. Where you take them matters.
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Learn why at choa.org/surgery.
©2019 Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc. All rights reserved.
www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett • April 2019 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • 9
SUNDAY
MONDAY
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TUESDAY
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WEDNESDAY
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THURSDAY
FRIDAY
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12:05PM Gwinnett Vs. Durham
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10 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • April 2019 • www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett
Did You
KNOW? Self-driving cars might once have seemed like a futuristic concept that may never come to fruition, but the future is now. In 2018, Waymo, once known as the Google selfdriving car project, launched its commercial self-driving car service in Phoenix Arizon. While it’s not widely available and safety protocols, including the presence of human safety operators behind the wheel, are in place, Waymo has made it possible for people to pay for self-driving car rides. Tech industry insiders note that Google’s fellow tech giants, including Apple and IBM, also are working on self-driving car services. And much like many things in the tech industry, the self-driving car market figures to evolve rapidly, making it seem as though the availability of self-driving cars became widespread overnight. However, today’s self-driving vehicles are the byproduct of years of research and sizable financial investments. For example, a little more than a decade ago, Darpa, the experimental laboratory of the Pentagon, hosted the Urban Challenge at an Air Force base in Southern California. At that event, which was one of a handful sponsored by the United States military, several driverless vehicles traversed real traffic conditions. That showcase was an integral component of the foundation of the modern self-driving car industry.
When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors
The important thing to remember is:
WHEN THUNDER ROARS, GO INDOORS! Did you know that lightning is hotter than the surface of the sun? There are more than 25 million lightning strikes each year in the United States. Lightning reaches a temperature of 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit. Yeah, you don’t want to mess with lightning.
Lightning Myths There are so many myths about lightning that are not true. For instance, if you are outside dur-
ing a thunderstorm, the best thing to do is crouch down to reduce your chances of being struck or hide underneath a tree to stay dry. These are myths. You are not safe anywhere outdoors during a thunderstorm. The best option is to run and find a sturdy building or a hard-topped vehicle. Another myth: If there are no clouds over your head, or if it’s not raining, you are safe from lightning. This is false. Lightning can strike from over three miles away from you. There’s been lightning that can strike as far as 10 to 15 miles from a thunderstorm. These are called “bolts from the blue.” You’ve probably heard that lightning never
strikes the same location more than once. This is false. Lightning can and will strike the same location several times. In fact, the Empire State Building in New York City gets struck by lightning, on average, 23 times each year.
Let’s summarize:
Earth Day 2019
• When thunder roars, go indoors!
• If outside during a storm, seek a sturdy building or a vehicle with a roof.
• Once indoors, remain indoors for at least 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder to allow the storm to pass.
Saturday, April 13 Gwinnett County Fairgrounds 9:00am - noon Come recycle paint, tires, paper, and electronics!
592874-1
Lightning can be scary, unpredictable and deadly. Twenty Americans died last year due to a lightning strike. The majority of these deaths occurred when people were participating in a leisure activity such as camping, fishing, swimming, visiting the beach or even playing an outdoor sport.
www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett • April 2019 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • 11
Come Out & Play The Maasai are a native people in Africa who can be found in Kenya and Tanzania. Experts estimate that there are more than 1 million Maasai people in Africa. They speak Maa and are known for their strong attachment to their cattle. The cattle are their primary source of food. The Maasai diet relies on the blood, milk and meat that cows provide. Because the cows are so important to the survival of the Maasai people, the cows are also culturally important. The more cows a man has, the wealthier he is. • The Maasai are also extremely dedicated to protecting their cattle from predators like lions. • Traditionally, a Maasai boy becomes a man when he has hunted and killed a lion. • Lions are endangered, so the Kenyan government discourages the Maasai tradition of hunting lions. There are too many people and not enough lions. • As a way to protect lions and to keep the Maasai tradition of competing, the Maasai Olympics was created. • The first games were held in 2012. www.maasaiolympics.com
• Every two years, Maasai people from all over Kenya and Tanzania gather near Mt. Kilimanjaro to compete in athletics. • The games are based on traditional skills associated with Maasai warriors. • Spear throwing and races are examples of some of the Maasai Olympics events. • The winners of these games receive medals and money as well as honor among the Maasai people. • These games are important because they give the Maasai people a way to protect and enjoy their culture while also protecting the local ecosystem in which they live.
greatplainsfoundation.com/safaripros/
www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Maasai
www.reuters.com/article/us-kenya-maasai-olympics/kenyan-warriors-hunt-cash-not-lions-in-maasai-olympics-idUSKBN1OE0MF
Tanzania is a country in eastern Africa. It has a diverse population. There are 120 different African tribal groups living in the Tanzania. The very first people to live in Tanzania came in 5000 BCE. They were hunter-gatherers. Traders from India, Arabia and Iran later came to the area around 800 AD. In 1890, Britain and Germany had control of the area. Britain gained total control after World War II. Tanzania became independent in 1964. Most of the people living in Tanzania today, 90 percent of the population, live in rural areas. They survive by subsistence farming. This type of farming means that most of what the farms grow is used to support the farmer and his family. •The largest tribe in Tanzania is the Sukuma people. •The capital is Dodoma. •It is the largest country in East Africa. •The islands of Zanzibar, Pemba and Maia are also part of Tanzania. •The official languages are Swahili and English. •The money is the Tanzanian shilling. •The tallest mountain in Tanzania is the tallest mountain in Africa — Mt. Kilamanjaro. •Tanzania also has Africa’s three largest lakes: Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika and Lake Nysa. •The biggest city is Dar es Salaam. •Dar es Salaam was the capital of Tanzania until 1974. •Human fossils more than 2 million years old have been found in Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania. •These are evidence of some of the oldest human settlements in the world. •120 languages are spoken in Tanzania. •Tanzania is about twice the size of California. •Tanzania has the same national anthem as South Africa and Zimbabwe. •The population is 36,481,000. •Mpingo trees are native to Tanzania. They are the most expensive hardwood in the world. •Thirty percent of the country is national parks. www.britannica.com/place/Tanzania
africa-facts.org/facts-about-tanzania/
www.natgeokids.com/uk/discover/geography/countries/country-fact-file-tanzania/
12 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • April 2019 • www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett
© Kengee8 - own work
SPRINGTIME PLANET PARTY By David Prosper
This article is distributed by NASA Night Sky Network. The Night Sky Network program supports astronomy clubs across the USA dedicated to astronomy outreach. Visit nightsky.jpl.nasa.org to find local clubs, events, and more!
Earth from orbit on the March equinox, as viewed by EUMETSAT. Notice how the terminator – the line between day and night - touches both the north and south poles. Additional information can be found at http://bit.ly/earthequinox Image credit: NASA/Robert Simmon
The morning planets on March 31. Image created with assistance from Stellarium.
March brought longer days for northern hemisphere observers, especially by the time of the equinox. Early risers saw the majority of the bright planets dancing in the morning skies, with the moon passing between them at the beginning and end of the month. The vernal equinox occured on March 20, marking the official beginning of spring for the northern hemisphere. Our sun shines equally on the northern and southern hemispheres during the moment of equinox, which is why the March and September equinoxes are the only times of the year when the earth’s north and south poles are simultaneously lit by sunlight. Exacting astronomers will note that the length of day and night on the equinox are not precisely equal; the date when they are closest to equal depends on your latitude, and may occur a few days earlier or later than the equinox itself. One complicating factor is that the sun isn’t a point light source, but a disc. Its edge is refracted by our atmosphere as it rises and sets, which adds several minutes of light to every day. The sun doesn’t neatly wink on and off at sunrise and sunset like a light bulb, and so there isn’t a perfect split of day and night on the equinox — but it’s very close!
Ruddy Mars still shone in the west after sunset. Mars scooted across the early evening skies from Aries towards Taurus and met the sparkling Pleiades star cluster by month’s end. March opened with the morning planets of Jupiter, Saturn and Venus spread out over the southeastern horizon before sunrise. A crescent Moon came very close to Saturn on the first and occulted the ringed planet during the daytime. Lucky observers were able to spot Mercury by the end of the month. March 31 opened with a beautiful set of planets and a crescent moon strung diagonally across the early morning sky. It started with bright Jupiter, almost due south shortly before dawn, and then it slid down and east towards Saturn, prominent but not nearly as bright as Jupiter. Stargazers continued east to the moon, and then towards the beacon that is Venus, its gleam piercing through the early morning light. They ended with a challenge: finding elusive Mercury above the eastern horizon. Some needed binoculars to spot the closest planet to the sun as it was low and obscured by dawn’s encroaching glow. What a way to close out March!
www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett • April 2019 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • 13
Kidsville Kitchen Get back on track with healthy, low-fat dining Diet and exercise have long been the ideal recipe for shedding pounds. In order to do so, a person must create a calorie deficit, which occurs when a person burns more calories than he or she consumes. Healthy, low-fat and low-calorie foods can help people create a calorie deficit. This recipe for “Smoked Haddock on a Nest of Potatoes” from Sue Kreitzman’s “Low Fat for Life Cookbook” (DK) checks in at just 221 calories per serving with 2 grams of total fat, making it a great choice for those who want something light and healthy.
Smoked Haddock on a Nest of Potatoes Slice the potatoes paper-thin. Using the slicer on the side of a grater is the best way to get fine slices. Put into a colander and rinse well, then drain and dry in a dish towel. Toss the slices with a pinch of the paprika and a spritz of oil-water spray. Spray a baking sheet and spread the slices out. Bake in a preheated oven for 10 minutes, then stir them, spread out again, and bake for about 5 minutes more, until tender and browned. They should be crisp in patches. Sprinkle a pinch of paprika and a grinding of pepper over the fish. Lightly salt the potatoes and arrange
in two piles on the baking sheet. Place a piece of fish over each pile of potatoes. Bake for about 7 minutes at 475 degrees Fahrenheit, until just done. Garnish with watercress and serve with sautéed mushrooms alongside, if desired. Oil-Water Spray Fill a new, clean plant mister or small plastic spray bottle with 7⁄8 water and 1⁄8 desired oil. Give the bottle a good shake before using it to spray food or pots and pans. This oil-water spray cuts down on calories and makes for low-fat cooking.
Serves 2 1⁄2 2 2
pound potatoes, scrubbed but unpeeled pinches paprika Oil water spray (see below) Salt and freshly ground black pepper pieces smoked haddock, each about 5 ounces, skinned and bones removed Bunch of watercress to garnish
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Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Suborder: Feliformia Family: Hyaenidae Genus: Crocuta Species: C. Crocuta
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potted hyenas are dog-like mammals that can be found in a large part of Africa. Hyenas are unique in the way that they live in the grasslands. They live in large clans that can include up to 80 members. This is an incredibly large group of animals to live, hunt and play together. These clans are led by females and will often break up into small groups for activities like playing and hunting. In fact, female hyenas are larger than males. Usually, there are large dens in the middle of their territory that all of the clan members can meet in and use. Cubs are born in separate dens, but after several weeks, they are moved to large communal dens where they learn how to live in the pack. • Spotted hyenas are the most common type of hyena. • They are omnivores, meaning they eat meat and plants. • Hyenas have a unique way of communicating across the grasslands. They have 11 different sounds that they use. • They use groans and squeals to greet each other.
• Whoops are used to call other hyenas to food or to help fight. • Hyenas are famous for their calls that sound like a laugh. They use this sound when they are nervous. • They can run 35 miles per hour. • Instead of sleeping in dens, hyenas prefer to sleep in holes and shallow pools, or under bushes, to hide from the heat. • They are active in the day and night but rest during the hottest part of the day. • Hyenas hunt large prey like young rhinos, wildebeests, zebras, buffalo and smaller prey like gazelles, foxes, rabbits and fish. • Clans of hyenas will often steal food from lions. • What the hyenas hunt depends on how large the clan is. Larger clans hunt larger animals. • Spotted hyenas typically weigh 88 to 190 pounds. • They have sand-colored hair with dark brown or black spots all over their body.
www.livescience.com/55037-hyenas.html animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/spotted-hyena kids.nationalgeographic.com/animals/spotted-hyena/#spotted-hyena-walking-toward.jpg
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www.kidsvillenews.com/gwinnett • April 2019 • KIDSVILLE NEWS • 15
Sesame Street: Celebrate Family I absolutely love each episode of “Sesame Street: Celebrate Family” because the characters are so colorful and cute. Each episode has an abundance of vibrant energy and many great lessons for families. This DVD is a great place to learn about the importance of family. “Sesame Street: Celebrate Family” has five parts covering
different topics with all of the different Sesame Street characters. The stories include Abby and her stepfamily visiting Elmo for a fun “father/kids’ night” to learn about the different things families do together. We get to see the challenges that Cookie Monster has trying to make something for his mom on Mother’s Day. He likes to gobble everything up because it reminds him of cookies (surprise!). For Father’s Day, Rosita makes something special for her dad because he’s away from home. We also get to see a grandparent’s party and learn about different grandparents such as Baby Bear’s grandpa. There are several positive messages throughout the DVD. My favorite is that family is so very important, and that you should
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take time to celebrate with them. Family is important no matter what you do or how different yours is. These episodes also touch on ways to have self-control, acknowledge your differences and give love to your family and friends. They also show that it is okay to be nervous about meeting new people and that you can still celebrate even if your special person isn’t there. Each episode makes me want to celebrate family even more. “Sesame Street: Celebrate Family” is kid friendly. It promotes positive social behavior and treating one another appropriately. There is no bad language and nothing risky or dangerous that children might imitate. I give this DVD 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 2 through 11. Adults will also enjoy this show. This DVD is available now, so look for it. I recommend it.