Bear Essential News August 2020, Phoenix Edition

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August 2020 • Phoenix Edition • www.bearessentialnews.com

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FEATURE

NEWS

NEWS

FAMILIES

CONTEST

Bear’s S uper S urvey! Sports Fa ns Are Ready A Tale of Two Twins Breakfast Pops Great Prizes!

Plus, fun online resources pages 8, 9 & 10

Spotlight on John Lewis’ Legacy News Highlights page 3

& more news kids can use Scoops pages 5 & 12

An easy & fun recipe Page 16

and school survey Page 8, 9 & 10

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August 2020

Wherever You Are, Bear Is There for You! Have a Great Year!

Start It Off Right with Bear Essential News Parents, Caregivers & Educators—Every month, Bear Essential News delivers fun, relevant, thoughtprovoking news and features for your young reader.

Sign up for the free classroom worksheets, stairstepped by grade level and aligned with AZCCRS at BearEssentialNews.com. Students in grades 3 through 8 can become Young Reporters and write for this award-winning newspaper!

With more than four decades of publishing, this Arizona original remains a highly trusted news source, and Young Reporters contribute their news stories for an exceptional publication. Since students have not been able to return to classrooms yet, Bear Essential News is arriving on doorsteps along with the Sunday home delivery of the Arizona Republic throughout the Valley once a month!

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Fantastic Contests!

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There’s always something fun in the pages of Bear Essential and on Bear’s website. Fill out the survey in this month’s feature (pages 8 & 9) and complete the entry form on page 10 for a chance to win!

For Our Outstanding Arizona Teachers!

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News Highlights

Sports Adjust, Athletes Return to Action There are few aspects of our lives that haven’t been affected by the coronavirus pandemic, and sports are no exception.

The spotlight is on football as the NFL figures out how to safely play this season. While football has its own challenges being a contact sport, there are models for how other sports have restarted their seasons.

Some athletes have OPTED not to play this season due to safety concerns, but many of our favorite players are back in action.

Golf was the first sport to resume as the PGA returned on June 11 with 350-plus players, caddies and other personnel traveling around the country.

The WNBA returned to action on July 24, and the NBA resumed their season on July 30. The NBA created a bubble: all of the teams playing this season, 22 of them, are living in hotels at Walt Disney World and playing their games at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

This follows the model of Major League Soccer which returned to action on July 8 with a 54-game tournament being held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

The National Hockey League returned on Aug. 1 with 24 teams competing for the Stanley Cup. Similar to the NBA, the NHL is trying to limit players’ expo-

sure to the virus by limiting travel. All of the remaining NHL games this season will be played without fans in attendance in two cities: Toronto and Edmonton.

Major League BaseDr. Fauci baseball trading card ball returned at the end of July as well for a 60-game season plus playoffs. Unfortunately, as soon as the season started, there was a major bump in the road as more than 15 players from the Miami Marlins tested positive for COVID-19, leading to a quarantine of the team and a delay of several games.

While baseball fans can’t attend games this season, one team got creative about filling their stadium.

The Oakland Athletics has an option for individuals to upload a photo and pay for a cutout of themselves or their favorite furry friend to fill a seat at the Coliseum!

Little Red Panda’s Really Big Adventure Kora, a 19-pound red panda at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, was reported missing on the morning of July 22. News outlets across the country reported the story, and the zoo told people that Kora was not a threat to the public because red pandas are gentle NOCTURNAL creatures. Kora’s keepers noted that she was also quite shy and easily spooked, so they were anxious to get her home safely.

In the late afternoon of July 23, two guests at the zoo spotted Kora in some dense foliage. After the guests reported the sighting to zoo staff, a team of animal health care experts quickly arrived. Unfortunately, Kora wasn’t quite ready for her adventure to end and climbed high into a nearby tree.

The zoo staff tried to coax Kora down from the tree with her favorite treats. When that didn’t work, they brought her two cubs to the area. Kora moved toward

the cubs and responded to their noises, but she wasn’t ready to go home just yet.

The zoo staff decided the safest decision was to tranquilize her and catch her in a net after she fell asleep and fell from the tree. She was safely returned to her habitat and reunited with her cubs. While she hadn’t traveled far within the zoo, it was certainly an exciting couple of days for her!

As for how Kora found her way out of her enclosure, zoo officials can only guess. There were strong storms the night before Kora was reported missing, and zoo officials said the storms may have caused the tree branches to bend in a way that gave Kora a path out of her home.

In the wild, red pandas live in central and southwest Asia and share their bamboo forests with giant pandas. However, red pandas aren’t pandas at all!

They actually belong to their own unique family. Red pandas are endangered, largely because of deforestation and habitat loss.

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Civil Rights Leader John Lewis Honored America honored one of its greatest Civil Rights leaders last month after U.S. Rep. John Lewis lost his six-month battle with cancer on July 17. He was 80.

Lewis dedicated his life to peacefully pursuing equal rights for Americans and fighting discrimination. As a young man growing up in the SEGREGATED South, he became a leader in the Civil Rights Movement of the early 1960s, standing beside Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and writing and delivering some famous speeches during historic protests.

As he marched with thousands and thousands of protesters, Lewis suffered beatings by the police and was arrested several times.

Courageously, he continued to lead peaceful protests to fight things like segregation and unfair voting laws that prevented many Black Rep. John Lewis FACTS: • Born Feb. 21, 1940, Alabama • Became a leader of the Civil Rights Movement in the ’60s • Elected to Atlanta City Council in 1981 • Elected U.S. Representative for Georgia in 1986

people from voting. Segregation in the United States was racially based and affected things like where African Americans could live, the medical care they could receive, how they could use public transportation, and the education they received.

“You must find a way to get in the way,” Lewis said in a famous 2014 college graduation speech. “You must find a way to get in trouble—good trouble, necessary trouble.”

The American Civil Rights hero didn’t stop when segregation came to an end and the Voting Rights Act was signed into law. Lewis helped millions of people register to vote. In 1986 he became a Congressman representing Georgia in his fight for equality.

Since his passing, Lewis has been honored in many ways. On July 26, his flagdraped coffin was carried by horse-drawn wagon over the Edmund Pettis Bridge in Selma, Alabama, the site where he had nearly lost his life at the hands of state troopers.

In Washington, D.C., his body lay in state under the Capitol dome for two days before being taken to Atlanta for his funeral services, where three former presidents spoke.

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Tooth Safety—Be Good to Your Teeth!

Strong, healthy teeth and gums are less susceptible to damage in case of accidents.

Many accidents can be prevented and some caution will reduce your chances of losing a tooth or causing other mouth injuries.

The following everyday items can cause injury to the mouth and teeth.

1. Water Fountains—Children playing by pushing the drinkers face into the water.

2. Bicycles—Riding in wet weather and using ill-fitting replacement parts.

3. Sports—Every participant in every sport that involves contact, potential contact, running or hazardous equipment (like rackets) should wear a mouth guard.

4. Popsicle sticks—Running, walking or driving with any stick-like object in the mouth is dangerous.

5. Brittle Foods—Chewing creates about 100 pounds of pressure per square inch, and biting can generate up to 275 pound of pressure. Biting down on a hard object, such as hard candy, hard pretzels or ice, can cause cracking or fracturing of the teeth.

Be Prepared for This School Year—Contact Us Today!

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News Stories Written by Kids— for Kids

A Tale of Two Twins—for National Twin Day! Isabella, the older twin (by minutes!)

Gianna, the younger twin

by Reporter Isabella Mercado Salvidio, Apache Elementary

by Reporter Gianna Mercado Salvidio, Apache Elementary

Hello, my name is Isabella and I have an identical twin sister named Gianna! Since National Twin Day is in the month of August, I am going to tell what it’s like being a twin.

First of all, I am the older twin by three minutes, but my sister was born a quarter of an inch taller than me. Though we have a lot of similarities, we actually have a lot of differences.

One of our very many differences is that my sister is the bolder, more talkative, and competitive twin while I am more quiet and sensitive. I love anything pink but my sister dislikes pink and loves purple or blue. We have the same taste in clothes but we usually wear opposite colors. Also, she likes to read realistic fiction books based on the life of the character while I am the one who’s more into action books.

Aside from differences, we have a lot of things in common like our taste in movies, clothes or activities. For example, we both love animals, exercise by playing volleyball or Just Dance, Selena Quintanilla, fashion, cartoons, and the U.S. version of the show “The Office.”

We also have a lot of qualities that make us unique, such as the fact that we sometimes will be thinking the same thing at the same time without knowing it or we’ll know what each other is saying or thinking without needing to say a word.

Another thing is that we get along really well and don’t really argue.

One of the questions we get asked often is if we like being twins, and I do! I like that I have someone to talk to and experience new things with. Also, because we are twins we do a lot of sharing.

In conclusion, my sister and I have a lot of fun being twins and, for those of you who wonder what it’s like to be a twin, I hope your questions are answered!

My name is Gianna and I have an identical twin sister named Isabella. Since National Twin Day is in August, I would like to tell you, from my perspective, what it’s like to be a twin.

When my twin and I were born, Isabella was older than me by three minutes, but since then, I’ve always been a quarter of an inch taller. We’ve been best friends since we were young and we do a lot of activities together.

Although we are twins, we each have our own personalities and interests that make us very opposite from each other. For example, Isabella sticks to what she likes, but I like to try new things. She likes to go to bed early when she can, but I like to stay up really late. She has a more calm and reserved personality and I’m shutterstock.com more energetic and outgoing.

Isabella and I are very different, but at the same time, we are very alike in many ways. We both have a very kind and caring personality, share the same interests in movies and TV shows, and both enjoy doing activities like Just Dance, painting and swimming.

The best thing about being a twin is that I always have someone to talk to and have fun with.

Mirror Test Reflects Animal Behavior

by Elite Reporter Athena O’Brien

Do you recognize yourself in a mirror? Does your dog? Scientists have determined that most children recognized themselves in a mirror by the age of 2, but what about animals?

In 1970, a scientist named Gordon Gallup Jr. created the Mirror Test or MSR Test to see if animals had self-awareness. It works like this: a mark is painted on an animal in a place they cannot see, like their face, and then they are placed in front of a mirror. If the animal recognizes the mark as being something that shouldn’t be there and attempts to remove it, then they have self-awareness.

Surprisingly, ants have passed this test. Ants

with no markings were placed in front of a mirror.

They moved their antennae and shook their heads as though they recognized themselves. Then, a blue mark was placed on some of the ants’ heads. The ants that saw blue marks on their heads tried to remove them. When ants with blue marks were introduced to other ants, the unmarked ants noticed the blue marks and attacked the marked ants, not being able to recognize them.

Orcas and dolphins also passed the test. Orcas recognized marks on their foreheads. Dolphins stuck their tongues out at their reflections. They also swam to the edge of the pool and tried to rub the mark off because they realized that the mark should not be on them.

Scientists also tested manta rays. The manta rays

MORE MIRROR TEST, page 12 ➧

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Girl Scouts Get Ready for School and Make New Friends!

For many kids this can be an exciting time or a scary time of year. Is your young girl ready to begin her school adventure? Girl Scouts can help make the transition to school easy and fun!

Make New Friends is a kinder readiness program offered by Girl Scouts Arizona Cactus-Pine Council.

The upcoming series of virtual sessions begins Sept. 8 with new sessions beginning each week in September.

This program is perfect for girls entering kindergarten as it prepares them for their new responsibilities, helps them learn to make new friends and prepare for the big changes school will bring. Make New Friends

eases the way, especially if learning is taking place virtually this year for her.

This program for Daisies is a four-part series with 45-minute virtual sessions. You and your girl will log on, tune in, and take part in a free kindergarten readiness program created just for girls. To register visit www.girlscoutsaz.org/join or call or text 602-452-7030.

Make New Friends allows your girl to process a new routine; stay safe and healthy while engaging with other girls her age, and grow her confidence to tackle new experiences! In addition, this program will offer free virtual read-along sessions for girls.

Elise and other new Girl Scout Daises participatied in Girl Scouts virtual sessions over the summer, and you can, too! She’s gained new social and communication skills, learned about coding and participated in activities that are engaging and support her learning!

Make New Friends is designed to strengthen four competencies for girls entering kindergarten: • Language and literacy • Cognition • Approaches to learning • Social and emotional learning Make New Friends is perfect for girls and families who are interested in learning more about the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. It also gives girls and families interested in joining Girl Scouts the opportunity to find a school-based troop.

There are fun events for girls in other grades, too! Girls in grades K–3 are invited to join us for an Animal Dance Party and girls in grades 4-6 are invited to a Robot Building Party. These virtual events begin Aug. 13 and run through early October.

Your girl will meet other girls in her grade level and engage in a fun activity, while parents learn more about the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.

We also have information events for girls of all ages interested in getting questions answered and signing up as a Girl Scout!

So why wait? Contact Girl Scouts today!

Join Girl Scouts today!

Visit girlscoutsaz.org Call or text 602-452-7030

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August 2020

NOW

August 2020

Trending...

T

ell us what you think! We want to know what’s trending with you!

This is your chance to share what school looks like for you these days, how you are feeling, and what things you miss.

We also want to know what you look forward to seeing in the pages of Bear Essential each month, and what you would like to see in future issues. Fill out the survey, send it in, and you might win a great prize!

3.

7.

What’s your go-to physical activity that’s a welcome break from being on the computer or other electronic device?

• Playing outside

• Dancing

Since face masks will be required at school, do you plan on wearing one with a design, or superhero or just a regular mask?

• Online (remote) Learning ______________________________

4.

Overall, what are two of your favorite parts of Bear Essential News?

• News Highlights & In the Spotlight

• Home School _____________________________________________

• The main feature

• Go to a School In Person ___________________________________

• Scoops! stories written by Young Reporters

Virtual teaching &

learning is the “N

ew Normal” for no

• The front cover Seek ’N Find

2.

Did you attend school in person before they were shut down due to the coronavirus?

• Yes

• No

If Yes, what did you miss the most?

• Friends • Teachers • Recess • Afterschool Clubs • Lunch • Sports • Other: __________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________

w.

• The activities • Other: _____________________________________

5.

Write down a topic you’d like Bear to cover or a regular column you’d like to see added to the pages of Bear Essential News:

________________________________________________

6.

As you continue to learn remotely or home school, how supported do you feel by your family?

• I feel well-supported.

• I feel somewhat supported.

• I don’t feel supported much at all

Page 9

If you haven’t yet explored the new online STEM Resource Directory SciTech Institute recently developed to help parents find quality educational resources and support students learning at home, then you don’t know what you’re missing. The Resource Directory is a comprehensive catalog that compiles STEM-related educational opportunities and activities from hundreds of leading local and national organizations in a single place, organized clearly by audience and topic.

Parents have had to adjust to a new normal of both working at home while also being teachers for their children who are learning remotely. As these last days of summer come to an end and we embark on another school year, SciTech Institute’s free online Resource Directory provides quality, vetted resources to support online learning and to help meet parent, teacher and student needs.

The directory offers families access to a wealth of engaging and interactive content in an easy-to-navigate format that is fun to search and explore.

• Riding a bike

10.

shutterstock.com

1.

• Other: __________________________

• Swimming

Take Boomer Bear’s Super Survey!

BEAR 40 YEARS

Find out What’s Trending in SciTech Institute’s New STEM Resource Directory.

This comprehensive guide helps parents keep children engaged with learning

_________________________________

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

For the time being, would you prefer to do school remotely (online learning), be home schooled or go to school in person? Please give a few of your reasons why!

•

Another Boring Afternoon—Not!

Students around the country are finally heading back to school—some virtually, and some back into the classroom! BEAR wants to know how kids in Arizona are feeling about the upcoming changes.

8.

What’s something you’re looking forward to learning about this school year or are passionate about?

Also explain why.

_________________________________

_________________________________

_________________________________

_________________________________

9.

Check out five of SciTech Institute’s favorite featured resources of the month:

What is one thing you can try to do to make sure that you don’t fall behind in your classes this year?

_____________________________

_________________________________

_________________________________

If you have a new teacher(s) this year, what is something you’d like to know about this person?

_________________________________

_________________________________

_________________________________

1

2

See next page for Contest Entry Instructions and, watch for the Survey Results in the September issue of Bear!

50 Easy Science Experiments

Kids Can Do at Home With Stuff You Already Have You don’t need special equipment or a Ph.D. to get kids excited about science. These easy science experiments are a snap to pull together, using household items you already have on-hand. Let the learning—and fun—begin! (As always, take proper safety precautions and provide adult supervision as needed.) https://www.weareteachers.com/ easy-science-experiments/

Space Station Explorers

A community of educators, learners and organizations that make STEM learning fun and exciting through connections with the International Space Station (ISS) National Lab. We collaborate with many partners on innovative programs and resources for K–12 students, educators and the public, including opportunities to design experiments to launch to space! https://www.spacestationexplorers.org/

See more resources and Contest on next page!

shutterstock.com

Page 8

BEAR 40 YEARS •

www.bearessentialnews.com

August 2020

NOW

August 2020

Trending...

T

ell us what you think! We want to know what’s trending with you!

This is your chance to share what school looks like for you these days, how you are feeling, and what things you miss.

We also want to know what you look forward to seeing in the pages of Bear Essential each month, and what you would like to see in future issues. Fill out the survey, send it in, and you might win a great prize!

3.

7.

What’s your go-to physical activity that’s a welcome break from being on the computer or other electronic device?

• Playing outside

• Dancing

Since face masks will be required at school, do you plan on wearing one with a design, or superhero or just a regular mask?

• Online (remote) Learning ______________________________

4.

Overall, what are two of your favorite parts of Bear Essential News?

• News Highlights & In the Spotlight

• Home School _____________________________________________

• The main feature

• Go to a School In Person ___________________________________

• Scoops! stories written by Young Reporters

Virtual teaching &

learning is the “N

ew Normal” for no

• The front cover Seek ’N Find

2.

Did you attend school in person before they were shut down due to the coronavirus?

• Yes

• No

If Yes, what did you miss the most?

• Friends • Teachers • Recess • Afterschool Clubs • Lunch • Sports • Other: __________________ _________________________ _________________________ _________________________

w.

• The activities • Other: _____________________________________

5.

Write down a topic you’d like Bear to cover or a regular column you’d like to see added to the pages of Bear Essential News:

________________________________________________

6.

As you continue to learn remotely or home school, how supported do you feel by your family?

• I feel well-supported.

• I feel somewhat supported.

• I don’t feel supported much at all

Page 9

If you haven’t yet explored the new online STEM Resource Directory SciTech Institute recently developed to help parents find quality educational resources and support students learning at home, then you don’t know what you’re missing. The Resource Directory is a comprehensive catalog that compiles STEM-related educational opportunities and activities from hundreds of leading local and national organizations in a single place, organized clearly by audience and topic.

Parents have had to adjust to a new normal of both working at home while also being teachers for their children who are learning remotely. As these last days of summer come to an end and we embark on another school year, SciTech Institute’s free online Resource Directory provides quality, vetted resources to support online learning and to help meet parent, teacher and student needs.

The directory offers families access to a wealth of engaging and interactive content in an easy-to-navigate format that is fun to search and explore.

• Riding a bike

10.

shutterstock.com

1.

• Other: __________________________

• Swimming

Take Boomer Bear’s Super Survey!

BEAR 40 YEARS

Find out What’s Trending in SciTech Institute’s New STEM Resource Directory.

This comprehensive guide helps parents keep children engaged with learning

_________________________________

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

For the time being, would you prefer to do school remotely (online learning), be home schooled or go to school in person? Please give a few of your reasons why!

•

Another Boring Afternoon—Not!

Students around the country are finally heading back to school—some virtually, and some back into the classroom! BEAR wants to know how kids in Arizona are feeling about the upcoming changes.

8.

What’s something you’re looking forward to learning about this school year or are passionate about?

Also explain why.

_________________________________

_________________________________

_________________________________

_________________________________

9.

Check out five of SciTech Institute’s favorite featured resources of the month:

What is one thing you can try to do to make sure that you don’t fall behind in your classes this year?

_____________________________

_________________________________

_________________________________

If you have a new teacher(s) this year, what is something you’d like to know about this person?

_________________________________

_________________________________

_________________________________

1

2

See next page for Contest Entry Instructions and, watch for the Survey Results in the September issue of Bear!

50 Easy Science Experiments

Kids Can Do at Home With Stuff You Already Have You don’t need special equipment or a Ph.D. to get kids excited about science. These easy science experiments are a snap to pull together, using household items you already have on-hand. Let the learning—and fun—begin! (As always, take proper safety precautions and provide adult supervision as needed.) https://www.weareteachers.com/ easy-science-experiments/

Space Station Explorers

A community of educators, learners and organizations that make STEM learning fun and exciting through connections with the International Space Station (ISS) National Lab. We collaborate with many partners on innovative programs and resources for K–12 students, educators and the public, including opportunities to design experiments to launch to space! https://www.spacestationexplorers.org/

See more resources and Contest on next page!

shutterstock.com

Page 8

10

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August 2020

Another Boring Afternoon—Not! SciTech Institute’s favorite featured resources continued from Feature:

3 4

Wide Open School

Wide Open School is a free and open collection of online learning activities for PreK-12th grade students and families. The website is created by Common Sense Media, with input from education, media and technology partners. Wide Open School is an easy-to-navigate hub of resources that will be invaluable to teachers, students and families. https://wideopenschool.org/

Freeport-McMoRan’s Dig Into Mining: The Story of Copper – From Ore to More Virtual Lab Get a behind-the-scenes look at a working copper mine in Arizona and hear from different professionals to learn about their role in the mining process, from mine planning to reclamation. Explore the incredible technology, equipment and chemistry at work and show your students an exclusive look at the careers inside the copper industry. https://www.digintomining.com/virtualfieldtrips/archive

5

Wonderopolis

Let natural curiosity and imagination lead to exploration and discovery in learners of all ages. Each day, find an intriguing question—the Wonder of the Day®—and explore it in a variety of ways. https://wonderopolis.org/

Be sure to take advantage of SciTech Institute’s STEM Resource Directory to enhance online learning. With this tool, students can continue to explore, connect, and build their skills and knowledge, all while having fun with STEM. https://scitechinstitute.org/resources

SciTech Institute is dedicated to enhancing and promoting STEM awareness and engagement in Arizona and beyond.

The organization strives to make science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) accessible to all.

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Mental Health Tips as You Learn from Home!

I

Images: shutterstock.com

t’s a new school year—well, sort of! With the coronavirus continuing to ALTER school plans, families will face new challenges. So Bear Essential News asked its friends at the Phoenix Children’s Hospital (PCH) for a few tips on ways to adapt and to be resilient.

Synthia Puffenberger is a staff psychologist with PCH. “School is so much more than academics,” she points out. “Students also are social; they also get knowledge about respecting other adults, being in the classroom and having expectations, and all of those things are very, very important.”

Not returning to school right away can bring about negative feelings. “It can feel very lonely to be at home and not have (classmates and teachers for those kinds of interactions). It can feel sad; it can feel like grumpy; sometimes it feels like anger,” Dr. Puffenberger points out.

Taking care of our mental health is something we all should be doing—especially doing PROACTIVE things.

“Mental health focuses on how we feel emotionally— whether we feel happy or sad or grumpy. It’s really important for us to feel good about things and for us to be able to recognize the things that we’re good at and that we can feel good about, but also for us to be able to tell someone or get help if we aren’t feeling so good or our mood is making us not the way we want to feel,” Dr. Puffenberger encourages.

Staying positive even when things aren’t perfect is a good example for parents to set for their kids. “It’s important to model resilience, a positive approach to this online learning,” she encourages. “Really focus on what are your kids’ strengths.

How do we communicate that to teachers? How do we focus on effort and not just outcome?”

Many kids thrive when they have routines to follow, like breaks for fun physical activities (like dancing, sports or playing tag), having family meals together and a set bedtime. Knowing what’s expected of them throughout the day also can help.

“Being active is extremely important for good mental health,” Dr. Puffenberger says. “It can be a good way to burn some stress or some anxiety. It can be good for kids who may have ADHD or other attention difficulties—to just get out some physical energy. Getting our bodies moving helps us really learn and process information as well.”

If you’re feeling like something is not quite right, are worried (anxious) or sad (depressed) or irritable, it’s important to turn to a trusted adult—a parent, aunt or uncle or even a big sister or brother.

And parents may need to Helpful References: know that “emotional health is National Suicide Prevention: also physical in 1-800-273-8255 nature—so while The Calm App can help with kids may not tell you ‘I’m depressed,’ anxiety and worry: you may see some physical changes https://www.calm.com/ like inability to get up and out of their room or do the things that they enjoy, Talkspace online therapy: https://www.talkspace.com/ increased need for sleep or changes in their appetite,” Dr. Puffenberger says.

How to Use BEAR at Home!

• When you read an article in Bear Essential, can you identify the 5 W’s & H—the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How? Please share what the story’s about (summarize)!

• What parts of speech can you find in a headline?

Is there always a noun? Underline the noun. How about a verb? Circle the verb. Can you find any adverbs or adjectives?

• Write a letter to a friend or relative that tells them the major points of the story, what you thought about what you learned, and whether you would like to learn more about the topic.

• Find a black-and-white photo or illustration in the newspaper, then color it with crayons, pencils or markers to give it some pizzaz!

• Stories on the News Highlights page often feature other parts of the country or the world.

Can you find the places mentioned on a map, atlas or globe? If you do not have one at home, can you find a map online?

• When you are done reading Bear Essential, you can recyle it or repurpose it. Make a paper hat.

Cut the paper into strips and weave it into a mat or basket. Roll the paper into tubes and use a little tape to secure the tubes. What can you construct with these cylinders?

Every month, Bear Essential News delivers fun, relevant, thought-provoking news and features for kids and families. Sign up for our electronic weekly Newsletter for parents and family oriented businesses. You also can sign up for our free classroom worksheets that augment the newspaper each month, designed by grade level and aligned with AZCCRS at BearEssentialNews.com. Students in grades 3 through 8 can become Young Reporters for this award-winning newspaper, too!

Bear Essential is a free, fun and trusted news source, providing quality informational text that’s great for classroom (or at home) reading, writing and discussion. Bear Essential is a literacy award-winning publication.

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August 2020

Get the Scoop!

More Mirror Test

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were not marked. However, they waved their fins and blew bubbles at the mirror. Rays do not commonly blow bubbles.

Animals who pass the mirror test often interact with their reflection, like the manta ray or the dolphin. Some animals will also try to look at parts of themselves that they cannot typically see without a mirror.

Asian Elephants first got acquainted with the mirror by moving their heads back and forth so that their heads were visible, and then not visible. One of the elephants, named Maxine pulled her ear toward the mirror and repeatedly put her trunk in her mouth. Maxine and another

elephant tried to get behind the mirror to see what was behind it. The third elephant, Happy, passed the mark test. When an ‘x’ was painted on her forehead, Happy repeatedly touched it. However, when the ‘x’ was painted on Happy in clear paint she did not touch it.

The mirror test’s credibility is sometimes debated because dogs do not use sight as much as smell.

They will most likely ignore their reflection, as it does not give off a scent. However, humans and many animals have passed the mirror test, and so it is accepted as an indicator of self-awareness. See if your pet recognizes itself in a mirror!

Avoid Getting Chomped in Dino Crunch Game

by Reporter Paul Perez Kiva Elementary I’m writing this report about a game called “Dino Crunch”

by Goliath Games. It’s really fun because the T-rex tries to bite you. There are big tweezers that you grab the eggs with, and the noises sound like you’re in the wild with the dinosaurs.

I’m 8 and I played with my 5-year-old sister and my mom (she said I didn’t have to tell her age) and we all had fun! Although the tweezers made it hard to pick up the eggs, it was interesting and fun because the T-rex would snap at you when you were least expecting it.

The Story of Me, My Dog and Quarantine

by Reporter Josue Valdez St. John Vianney Catholic School I was never really close to my dog, Puchi, until the stay-at-home order was issued in Arizona.

During the first few months of staying at home and learning online, I wasn’t really stressed out.

But once school ended and I didn’t have much to keep me occupied, I got anxious.

During one of my most stress-filled days, I randomly decided to sit down next to my dog and start petting him. I never knew the amazing effects a dog could have on your emotional well-being until then. My dog seemed to cure all the uneasy feelings I had in an instant.

And as it turns out, there may be some science behind this! Studies have shown that dogs and other pets help reduce stress, anxiety, and combat loneliness. This information also helps explain why the number of pet adoptions have gone up during the COVID-19 pandemic—people just need someone to keep them company.

So if you are feeling lonely or anxious during quarantine, I highly suggest getting a pet. While it may be a dog for me, I advise you to find the right companion for yourself.

Tips for Choosing an Online Camp

by Reporter Theron Plant, Gilbert Christian School I learned a lot in my online summer camp experiences. I did different camps and they were either a webinar or a small group class. I wrote this article to help you understand which type might be best for you.

The first type of class I did was a webinar. A webinar is a large online meeting and is often free. Free is good because you can explore many classes, but because the class sizes are extremely large when I asked questions, they did not get answered—only a few kids got their questions answered. Also, since it’s a webinar, you probably won’t have the option to unmute or turn on your camera.

The next type of summer camp I did was a small group. These classes are often paid classes, so you might want to make sure you want to commit to it.

I felt a good thing is the smaller class size allows more collaboration and the instructor calls you by name. You can also turn on your camera and unmute to talk to the instructor and/or classmates. Lastly, you can type a question in the chat, and it gets answered.

Overall, I enjoyed both formats, there are pros and cons to both. Depending on what you are looking for, it’s always good to have expectations going into each type of online summer camp experience.

I Guess My Brother Isn’t So Bad

by Reporter Makenna Wogan, Homeschool

This game is for 2 to 4 players, ages 4 and up.

The goal of the game is to be quick in grabbing the eggs so that you’re not the player who gets chomped. On a scale of 1 to 5, I give it a 4. It was fun to play with my sister because it was exciting when the dinosaur chomped down, but it was a pretty easy game.

I have learned a lot during my stay-at-home time during the coronavirus 19 (COVID-19). For one, I’ve learned that I can’t go out to lunch or go to the mall, that some people are losing their jobs, and that no one can shake each other’s hands. I hate that I cannot hang out with my friends, but the pro on that is that I have a little brother, Christian. He has gotten me through the tough times.

Even though we fight a lot, I have learned to appreciate him because he is all I have, after all. I try to spend as much time with him as I can and to learn from him. He looks up to me as a big sister and I want us to bond.

So far we have made a secret handshake, and for Earth Day we painted rocks, made an Earth in a bottle, and I made a rose out of an egg carton. No one understands me like my brother—now we get each other, although it is hard having him home because I am usually homeschooled. We get to play starting at 3 p.m. and I want to try to learn a new language so that if I ever go to Paris I am prepared.

August 2020 •

e-mail: boomer@bearessentialnews.com

Valley Metro’s 2020

Cool Transit STUFF

ART CONTEST Open to all 3rd graders!

BEAR 40 YEARS

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smile /smil/ noun

1. a pleased, kind, or amused facial expression, typically with the corners of the mouth turned up and the front teeth exposed.

Keep smiling and wear your mask because you care!

I

t may be a little tougher to see smiles these days, but they are still abundant around our community. Even under a face-covering, you can see that twinkle of a smile. Smiles are simple, free, and powerful. With just a curve of your mouth, you make yourself, and others feel good.

We could all use miles of smiles.

At Valley Metro, there are smiles for miles: on the riders traveling on city buses and light rail trains, on the transit operators getting people from here to there, on the maintenance workers, and the smiles from random acts of kindness.

For the time being, please only take essential trips, but you can start your family smiling as you plan your future transit trip!

Valley Metro FUN The online Valley Metro Fun page has something for everyone. There are coloring and activity pages to make you smile! They also help you to learn about Valley Metro services, the benefits of using public transportation, and how to use Valley Metro safely. Safety is a shared responsibility we all need to practice.​ Please check it out and keep coming back for more cool stuff in the series.

https://www.valleymetro.org/ valley-metro-fun

Please visit

valleymetro.org or call

602.253.5000

for all the latest updates.

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www.bearessentialnews.com

e-mail: boomer@bearessentialnews.com

August 2020 •

BEAR 40 YEARS

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BEAR 40 YEARS •

August 2020

Back to School with

What’s In It for YOU?

www.bearessentialnews.com

MILK!

Make a special breakfast treat for your family!

MILK helps

Calcium Vitamin D Phosphorus

helps build & maintain

Strong Teeth & Bones

Promote

Vitamin A

helps keep

G R O W T H

Breakfast Popsicles

Skin & Eyes Healthy

Protein helps build & repair

Riboflavin Pantothenic Acid

Muscle Tissue

helps

Body Use Carbs, Fats & Protein for Fuel

2 cups vanilla Greek Yogurt 1/2 cup milk 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1/3 cup rainbow sprinkles Combine the Greek yogurt, milk and vanilla until smooth. Add the sprinkles and stir to combine.

Pour the mixture into your popsicle molds or cups with a wooden stick.

Freeze for at least 6 hours.

Enjoy!

Vitamin B12

Niacin Used in

helps with

Normal Blood Function

helps keep the

Nervous System Healthy

Energy Metabolism in the Body

www.arizonamilk.org