Bear Essential News September 2021, Tucson Edition

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September 2021 • Tucson Edition • www.bearessentialnews.com

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NEWS

Conn ected Kids

Exit from Afghanistan A S pecial 9/11 F lag Find a Field Trip Math A dventures!

Looking at kids’ online activity Pages 12 & 13

Spotlight on Toys to Treasure!

News Highlights page 5

NEWS & more news kids can use Scoops pages 7, 11 & 22

in Bear’s helpful guide.

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SEAT BELTS! CAR SEATS! Seatbelt Basics Whenever you ride in a car, wear your seatbelt every time! No matter how short the trip, you still need to buckle up.

Always buckle up as soon as you get into a car. Riding in a friend’s or relative’s car is no excuse to skip the seatbelt. Even if your friend or friend’s parents don’t wear seatbelts, always wear yours.

Toddlers 2 and under must use rear-facing car seats, and car seats are a MUST for kids under 5 Booster Seats Kids who are five or older also need a booster seat. Booster seats help you sit up high enough so the seatbelt fits properly across your chest. Kids should remain in a car seat until they are 4 feet, 9 inches tall and are at least 8 to 12 years old.

Get in the Back, and Buckle Up! Kids 12 years old and younger need to sit in the back seat and always buckle up. It’s simply the safest place to be. You have much less chance of being hurt if you’re in a crash. And you won’t be injured if the airbag inflates during a crash. Infants and children 12 years of age and under should travel in the back seat and be properly restrained.

What about Air Bags?

Air bags cushion passengers during a crash to keep them from hitting the dashboard or windshield. But even though air bags have saved many adults’ lives, kids 12 years and younger should never sit in the front seat of a car that has air bags. That’s because air bags are made to protect a bigger person’s body, and when they open they can hurt kids.

Take the True/False Test to see what you know about injury prevention!

T or F T or F

T or F T or F T or F

T or F

Most injuries from car crashes can be prevented by using car seats and safety belts.

Every person in the car needs his own safety belt or age-appropriate child safety seat or booster seat!

It’s okay to buckle two people into one belt.

Never hold a child on your lap in the car.

It’s safe for children to ride in the cargo area of a station wagon, van or pickup.

Never leave a child alone in the car, even for a moment.

Infants and children 12 years of age and under should travel in the back seat and be properly restrained.

Answers: 1)T, 2) F, 3)T, 4) F, 5) T, 6)T

2 • Bear Essential News • September 2021

TMC Car Seat Check Sept. 25 • 8am–Noon Target Spectrum 1225 W. Irvington

Child Passenger Safety Techs will help people ensure their seats are installed correctly.

No appointment needed.

September 2021 • Bear Essential News • 3

Bear Hugs:

Engaging With the Grandkids

by Mary DeStefano

Making Connections With Math!

This month let’s make connections with math. As most students return to in-person learning, they may be worried about “rusty” math skills. And possibly you’re a bit worried about helping with “today’s” math.

I’ve discovered some fun books for older children 3rd–8th that introduce geometry in a novel way. I was so interested in how children might react that I invited my 12-year-old friend, Jesse Gray from Cross Middle School, to review the book. Together we read and enjoyed the book. After reading the book, “Sir Cumference and the First Round Table” by Cindy Neuschwander, I asked Jesse for his feedback.

He especially liked the characters and the illustrations that were colorful, fun and provided helpful clues. The story was interesting because there were numerous problems to solve. When Jesse’s mom picked him up, she laughed and said she had just purchased a protractor for school.

This book is one of several that “teach” geometry concepts but many others cover additonal math topics. Check them out.

If your child is younger, a great way to help them is to use stencils or cardboard shapes. Children always seem to enjoy tracing and coloring shapes and in a short time will be able to begin naming shapes as well as recognizing the written words. Going a bit further, if you cut a handful of various shapes, your children will enjoy creating patterns and designs including stars and flowers.

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News Highlights

Toys to Treasure and Trade!

Photo courtesy of U.S

Nearly two decades after the U.S. invaded Afghanistan, the Taliban regained control last month of most of the country as the U.S. withdrew its military forces.

After President Joe Biden announced the total withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan earlier this year, the military began departing on May 1. In early July, the U.S. EVACUATED Bagram Airfield, the largest military installation in Afghanistan. Shortly after that, Biden moved up the deadline to have the troops out by Aug. 31. The Afghan military quickly lost ground against the Taliban, and the U.S. Embassy in Kabul was evacuated as Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled his own country on Aug. 15.

The images and stories that followed elicited sadness and anger around the world as U.S. citizens and many Afghan citizens who helped the U.S. military over the last two decades struggled to flee the country. Thousands of people were hurriedly evacuated by plane from the Kabul airport. Tragically, 13 U.S. military members and 169 Afghan civilians died in two bombings just outside the airport on Aug. 26.

The U.S. military presence in Afghanistan dates back to 2001. After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, President George W. Bush sent U.S. troops to Afghanistan to seek out the terrorists who planned the attacks and the Taliban members who aided them. At the peak of the U.S. presence, there were nearly 100,000 troops in Afghanistan. Then President Barack Obama announced plans for a full troop withdrawal by 2016, but

. Air Force

Many Afghans Leave As Taliban Takes Control

that did not happen. When President Donald Trump took office, he negotiated a deal with the Taliban that involved the U.S. withdrawing its troops fully by May 1 of this year. Before Trump left office, U.S. troop levels were reduced to 2,500.

The Taliban first gained control of most of Afghanistan after a civil war in 1996. The Taliban were known for their repressive treatment of the Afghan people, particularly women. While the Taliban leaders have promised peace and order in resuming control of the country, there are many who have voiced concern about the future and safety of Afghan citizens.

Honoring Those Lost On 9/11 20 Years Later For anyone old enough to remember, most can tell you exactly where they were on 9/11/01 when they heard the news that a terrorist attack was unfolding in New York City.

It was shortly after sunrise in Arizona when people were waking up to the news that a plane had flown into the World Trade Center (WTC). As America and the world stayed glued to their televisions to keep informed of what was happening, more planes were attacking.

Nineteen members of the terrorist group al-Qaeda boarded four commercial airplanes, hijacking them and overtaking the cockpits. American Airlines Flight 11, carrying 76 passengers and 11 crewmembers crashed into the north tower of the WTC at 8:46 a.m., EST. At 9:03 a.m., United Airlines Flight 175 crashed into the south tower of the WTC. There was a total of 60 passengers and crew on that flight. At 9:37

a.m., American Airlines Flight 77, carrying 59 passengers and crew crashed into the west wall of the Pentagon. Before the fourth plane crashed, the south tower of the WTC collapsed.

United Airlines Flight 93 crashed into a field near Shanksville, PA, at 10:03 a.m. The target for this plane is believed to have been either the White House or the Capitol. There was a total of 40 passengers and crew on this flight. Passengers on this flight overtook the terrorists, but the plane crashed killing all on board.

The north tower of the WTC collapsed at 10:28 a.m. Close to 3,000 people perished in the attacks, including NYC firefighters, police officers and Port Authority officers. A previous terrorist attack at the WTC took place in 1993. A bomb exploded in the parking garage killing six people and injuring over 1,000. The WTC sustained minimal damage.

One World Trade Center was built and opened in 2014 on the site where the WTC stood. There is a 9/11 Memorial & Museum on the site in honor and memory of those who perished on 9/11.

Have you ever wanted to hold onto a toy hoping that it might be worth lots of money someday? Well, you might not be wrong—collectibles have been selling at record-breaking prices recently.

Last month, a factory-sealed copy of Super Mario Bros. sold for $2 million—the most expensive video game ever sold!

That record may not last long if the last year of video game sales are any indication though. Earlier this year, a sealed copy of Super Mario 64 held the title after it sold for $1.56 million. Just before that sold, the title belonged to a sealed copy of The Legend of Zelda after it sold for $870,000.

Another popular collectors’ item set a record last month, this one for a sports card.

Recent Record-breaking Sales for Toys: • Super Mario Bros.: $2 million • Superman comic: $3.25 million • Honus Wagner card: $6.6 million

A T206 Honus Wagner baseball card sold for $6.6 million! That title was previously held by a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card that sold for $5.2 million.

The Honus Wagner cards were distributed between 1909 and 1911. There are only about 60 of the Wagner cards in the world and most of them are not in great shape—not surprising considering the cards are more than a century old! Wagner was one of the earliest athletes to have ENDORSEMENT deals. He made money with his image and name selling soda, gum, gunpowder, razors and more!

No collectible conversation would be complete without talking about comic books. The Man of Steel flew into fans’ hearts when he appeared as the first ever comic book superhero—in Action Comics #1 dated June 1938.

At the time it was released, the comic book sold for 10 cents. When the mint-condition comic sold in an auction earlier this year, it went for a record-breaking $3.25 million! So how was an 83-year old comic still in such great shape? It was buried in a stack of old movie magazines for years and has only been sold a handful of times—last in 2018 for more than $2 million.

September 2021 • Bear Essential News • 5

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Book Tells the Story of a 9/11 Flag

by Reporter Madison Divijak, Dove Mountain CSTEM K–8 Recently I read the book “30,000 Stitches” written by Amanda Davis and illustrated by Sally Wern Comport. The book is an amazing story about the American flag that flew over 90 West Street days after the Twin Towers collapsed in New York City on Sept. 11, 2001. The flag quickly became tattered, so it was taken down to be retired.

It was stored for many years until a tornado destroyed Greensburg, KS. Volunteers from New York went to assist and took the flag with them. Once the flag was in Kansas, volunteers decided to repair the flag with pieces of their flags that were damaged by the storm. The patchwork version of the flag then traveled from one state to another until it visited all 50 states.

As it traveled, in each state volunteers worked to restore the flag back to the original 13 stripes and 50 stars. There were all different kinds of people that helped restore the flag, including teachers, mothers, soldiers, first responders, family members of 9/11 victims and children.

During the flag’s last stop in Joplin, Missouri, on Sept.

11, 2011 (10 years later), 1,067 tornado survivors stitched the flag. When the flag was done it was 30 feet wide and 20 feet tall again with 30,000 stitches and was returned to New York City.

One interesting fact I learned was that one piece of the flag even came from a piece of the flag that President Abraham Lincoln was laid on after he was shot. If you want to visit the flag today, it is on display at the National

News Stories Written by Kids— for Kids

Starting the Year Off Right

by Reporter Aislyn Sheard Homeschool

September 11 Museum.

This year is the 20th anniversary of 9/11 and author Amanda Davis will be hosting a book tour on social media. Visit www.amandadavisart.com for more information on the tour and the book.

Dreams Realized in New ‘Cinderella’

by Reporter Abigail Hernandez, Arizona Virtual Academy This weekend, I got to watch the new “Cinderella.” The movie includes some familiar faces like Camilla Cabello, Idina Menzel and James Corden.

It was really cool, and I enjoyed hearing some popular songs from Queen, The White Stripes, Madonna and Ed Sheeran. The movie adds a twist to the classic Cinderella story we all know. This story takes the original Cinderella story idea— father dies, evil step-mother, meets a prince—and adds Cinderella becoming the hero of her story, not the prince.

Ella has hopes of making her dress making dreams come true. Everyday, Ella walks by the empty shop plot in the town square. Her problem? No one believes that she should and can be a dressmaker. Her step-mother believes that the only good thing a girl can do in life is marry a rich man. We also meet Prince Robert, the handsome young prince destined to become king. He also has a problem.

He doesn’t want to be king or get married. Along the way, Ella’s kindness and spunk attract the attention of Robert. Robert immediately falls for Ella, and wants to do everything he can to find his love. Ella on the other hand, isn’t interested in anyone, she wants to start her dreams. Ella’s evil stepmother has betrothed Ella to a noble, but Ella is not interested.

With a lot of help from butterflies, mice, wooden crates, queens, friends, songs, and fabric, can Ella and Robert find a way to live happily ever after, while keeping their dreams alive?

I really enjoyed the costumes, songs, acting, and story of the movie. It was really cool, and being a reader of books like “The Fault in Our Stars” and “Five Feet Apart,” this movie really pulled at my heartstrings. I hope that you and your family will have a ball watching this movie, as my family did.

MORE SCOOPS, page 11 ➧

The start of the school year can be tough, especially for older kids. It also can be hard getting into a routine. For example, getting up early and getting dressed can be a challenge in the morning.

Some other difficulties could involve new changes. Maybe you don’t have classes with your best friends, or you didn’t get the teacher you hoped for. That can be disappointing. But you never know, the kids next to you might become your new best friends. In addition, you’ve had all summer for relaxation and now it’s time for school.

Sometimes, changes can be overpowering, but the good news is that every kid is tough in their own way. So, when things get overwhelming, remind yourself that you are stronger than you think you are. If you get frustrated with a question for homework, take a break. Go outside and play for a few minutes. (This really helps me concentrate better.) When you come back in, revisit the question and if it still doesn’t make sense, find somebody to help you. The most important thing is that you persevere with a positive attitude because you CAN do it!

Here are some tips that might help: 1) Make a schedule calendar. It could help you get things in order.

2) When homework and new changes get frustrating, take a deep breath. Talk to a parent. Go to a quiet spot and read.

3) It can be nerve racking meeting new people. Just remember that they could be your new best friend.

So, when the school year gets tough, just remember these tips and tricks.

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September 2021 • Bear Essential News • 7

VIRTUAL HALLOWEEN

Costume Contest!

Join In the 2021 Virtual s e z i r P t a Costume Contest! e r G for the Entering the contest is easy! Take a picture of your child or family in their creative, funny, cute or scary costume.

W in n ers!

Just follow these simple Instructions: • Email the picture to: Boomer@bearessentialnews.com • In the subject line put: TSN Halloween Costume Contest • In the body of the email please include: Adult name and phone number Age category (for more than one child, submit separate photos and indicate an age category for each photo). t Winners 2020 Contes try Family En

Photos will be uploaded to the Halloween Costume Contest Album on Bear’s Facebook page. The photo in each category with the most Votes (likes, loves, etc.) will be the winner.

8 • Bear Essential News • September 2021

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September 2021 • Bear Essential News • 9

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LUNCH? Image: shutterstock.com

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chool is back in session! Some parents prefer to pack lunches for their children instead of school lunches. When we pack our lunches, we can ensure our children are getting balanced meals that include whole grains, lean proteins, fruits, and vegetables.

Packing your own school lunch can have so many benefits!

Healthy & delicious ideas for lunch time!

• Pack smarter, be healthier When you pack your own lunch, you can control what you put in there which means you have more control over the health of the foods and can pick foods you actually enjoy too. By doing this you ensure that you’re choosing foods that are healthier than what might be offered at school.

• Less Temptation Don’t be tempted by going through the cafeteria line! When you pack your own lunch it’s easier to turn down the unhealthy options.

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• 1 small whole grain bagel, 2 tbsp cream cheese, 1 hardboiled egg, ½ cup cherry tomatoes, ½ cup cucumber slices • 1 large apple, ¼ cup peanut butter, ½ cup pretzels, 4-5 celery sticks, ½ cup raisins • 1 cup tuna salad, 10-12 whole grain crackers, 4-5 celery sticks, 4-5 mini red bell peppers • 10 whole grain crackers, 2 oz sliced cheese, 2 oz salami, ¼ cup almonds or walnuts, ½ cup dried fruit, ½ cup carrots • Pizza Roll Up Lunch box. Recipe can be found here: https://www.budgetbytes.com/the-pizza-roll-up-lunch-box/

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Continued from page 7

Raising Chickens Is Hard but Fun

by Reporter Rori L. Divijak, Dove Mountain CSTEM K–8 Have you ever had or wanted a pet chicken? During this crazy year my family and I were building a chicken coop and on Easter morning we became the owners of ten chicks. Since Easter, we have learned a great deal about raising chickens, like the fact that they try to peck at things on you when you sit with them, including your clothes, watch and face.

We have also learned that each chick has a unique personality just like people, some of our chicks are shy, some are curious, and some are born leaders. Our chicks are getting bigger every day and as they get bigger, they get more active. One of our favorite routines is our nightly treats that we provide them including oats, watermelon, and mealworms.

Naming all of our chicks was very fun. We named most of them after their physical appearance. We have one named Oreo because she has black feathers, we also have one named Rooster because we can now tell that he is a rooster instead of a chicken. My personal favorite chick is one we named Dark Wing. We named her Dark Wing because her wings are black while the rest of her is a tan-orange color. Dark Wing is my favorite because she seems like a curious leader-like chicken. She is the one to explore things before other chickens do. Dark Wing is also the friendliest chick because she is not afraid of humans and she will willingly let us pet her.

When we first got our chicks they were about four weeks old and they were so small. But now they are thirteen weeks old and they all have feathers and they eat a ton of food every day.

In five weeks our chicks will be considered chickens because they will be eighteen weeks old.

We currently feed our chicks chicken food throughout the day and oats or dried worms in the evenings. We feed them oats for a special treat and dried worms because that makes the shells of their eggs stronger. Raising these chicks has been a very fun and fascinating experience and I cannot wait until we have fresh eggs to enjoy. Chickens are a lot of work, but it is fun to raise them and watch them grow.

Game Turns Nutrition Upside Down

by Reporter Sophia Bradley, BASIS Tucson Primary Parents are always telling their kids that vegetables are good for them, but in the game “Candy Collections” candy is good and vegetables are bad!

The game was invented by 10-year-old Cybele McKenzie, who was trying to keep her brothers busy in the summer of 2020. The box says it is for 2-6 players, ages 5 and up. Anyone who is really little and thinks it’s okay to eat the dice should not play.

In the game everyone has a little avatar that they move around the spaces on the board, with the number of spaces depending on a dice roll. The idea is to get more “candy” than everyone else. Some spaces have you pick from the “candy” pile, and some from the “Super Card” pile, which gives you instructions.

Sometimes you get a “Veggie” from the candy pile, and veggies count as a minus. Everyone takes turns rolling the dice and moving their avatar around the board, following the instructions on each space they land. There are no big twists to this game, except some Super Cards make you give away candy, or your veggies, which is fun. When the candy pile is gone, the game is over and whoever has the highest total number of candies minus veggies wins the game.

What I like about Candy Collections is how winning the candy is sweet and exciting, like life, and the veggies are like the horrible things on the Earth that can take away from the candies but the candy always wins. What I don’t like about Candy Collections is how they draw the characters, especially their hands, but they did a good job. They’re just silly, and their heads are WAY bigger than their bodies. It was fun to play with my parents, my big sister, and my twin brother Max. It was something to play when we were bored or did now know what to do with ourselves. The game not only entertained us, it brought us together to play a new game. I feel Candy Collections is a good, easy, relaxing game for families—or just the kids!

My Experience Getting Vaccinated

by Reporter Aleena Rafiyath BASIS Oro Valley On June 10, 2021, I got the second dose for the PfizerBioNTech Covid-19 vaccine. This was two weeks after my first dose late May at CVS. After getting the vaccine, I had to wait in the vaccination area for about 15 minutes prior to leaving the center, in case of any immediate side effects.

Fortunately, I had none the rest of the day.

Although I had no major side effects, I had the common ones such as soreness. In other people, other common side effects include, headache, muscle pain, chills, fever, etc. However, these are only minor effects compared to other serious effects, which are rare. If any of these minor side effects worry you and do not go away, you should contact your healthcare provider.

As a 13 year old, I fall in the youngest age category for eligibility for the vaccination. Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine is available for those age 12 and older. All other Covid-19 vaccinations are for ages 18 and older. The other vaccines approved for use in the U.S. are made by Moderna and Johnson & Johnson/Janssen.

Despite the small side effects that may need a bit of sleep to cure, my vaccination experience was just as normal as any other vaccinations I have had. I felt as if the small side effects I experienced were worth the protection the vaccination would provide for me and others.

Here’s a Tale for Cat Lovers

by Reporter Lizzy Barrett Old Vail Middle School “Cleo,” written by author Helen Brown, is an emotional memoir about how a cat mends a family after tragedy strikes. It takes place in New Zealand in the early 1980s, then it slowly goes into the early 21st century.

What I like about this book is that different parts talk about the cute activities that the cat does. It reminds me of the different adorable things that my cat does.

Another part of this book that I love is the amount of bonding the characters have with their cat. In fact, with the pandemic happening, children have had the ability to make better connections with their pets. For example, before COVID I haven’t had the extra time to bond with my cats.

Now, I have loads of time to spend with them every day and have more time to love and care for them.

What I don’t really like about “Cleo” is the amount of sadness it has in it. Sometimes, the reason I would cry when I am reading the story is because I had similar experiences. This book is perfect for those who love cats.

MORE SCOOPS, page 22 ➧

September 2021 • Bear Essential News • 11

CONNECTED KIDS

Education & More Online As much as kids enjoy being connected online, did that undergo a major change when kids were forced to go online for school and to stay connected with friends and family? Of course, but kids were adaptable.

During the pandemic families were forced to find the best online option for students, but many were 12 • Bear Essential News • September 2021

*Pew Research Center

ONLINE ONLINE ONLINE ONLINE ONLINE

looking to go back to a brick and mortar school, says Digital Elementary Principal Allison Voltaire.

She works with ASU Prep Digital and says that this school year has a whole different vibe from last school year.

“Families are grateful to have virtual opportunities for their children” this year because it gives them greater flexibility, Voltaire explains. She says a strength of online education is the personalization available.

“We can personalize instruction so easily in a digital platform. We can make accommodations for students right from home,” she says. So too. Her tips for successa need for preferential ful online learning are for seating or extra time on students and their family assignments is easier to members to remember accommodate, she says. the camera and watch The logistics are more their surroundings. She manageable online, too, says kids are now used Voltaire says. She notes to having a camera pointImage: shutterstock.com that online school is ed at them, but others “perfect for so many students in the house sometimes because they really, truly learn at different rates, forget! and we’re able to provide that so easily online.”

She advises stuAccording to Voltaire, “Young kids have adaptdents and parents to ed extremely well” to online school, but she adds “give yourself a learning that careful attention to social-emotional learning curve. Allow yourself Digital Elementary Principal is key. She says this may involve students playtime to get comfortable Allison Voltaire ing together virtually, having a cooking lesson or and explore…and learn a pet show, or going outside to look for rocks or the platform” that your school uses. clouds for a science lesson.

“One thing we knew…we did not want them online for seven hours a day,” says Kids ages 5 According to the 2020 Common Sense CenVoltaire. So educators to 8 who have sus, which looked at media use by kids 8 and DEVISED ways to have their own tablet younger, in pre-pandemic times kiddos were in students get up, get or phone: front of screens about two and a half hours a moving or go outside. day. Children between 5 and 8 averaged just “We call it Sun Devil 67 percent over three hours of screen time per day. Most Learning Time and that *The Common kids spent that time watching TV or videos (73 is their independent work Sense Census percent).

Gaming accounted for 16 percent of time,” she explains.

2020 young kids screen usage, and reading on an electronVoltaire says that it is ic device took just 3 percent of the time. important for kids, parents or The Common Sense Census gathered its data up caregivers to have patience—with until mid-March 2020. So while it found that kids under themselves, with each other and with teachers,

Kids Are Connected

Image: shutterstock.com

M

ost kids were online quite a bit before the pandemic. You may have watched a viral video, laughed at a meme or gif that your friend texted to you, played games online, or video chatted with out-of-state grandparents or cousins. A lot of kids are connected, but the last year and a half changed things in a big way. Being online went from being a convenience to becoming a necessity for kids and families.

The number of older kids who said they were almost constantly online jumped from 24 percent in 2015 to 45 percent in 2018—and that was before the pandemic! According to the Pew Research Center, another 44 percent of the kids ages 13–17 surveyed in 2018 said they went online several times day—that means that roughly 90 percent of teens were constantly or regularly online!

According to that Pew Report, a third of teens reported that it was easier to connect with a friend online than to attempt to see them in person—again, before Covid! And nine in 10 teens reported using their phones to pass time.

The most popular social media platforms for teens are YouTube, Instagram and Snapchat, according to Pew Research. In a Statista report from March 2020, the most popular social media platforms for kids under 11 are TikTok and Snapchat, with kids ages 9 to 11 most likely to use these platforms.

Teens who say they are almost constantly online: 45 percent

Stay Safe Online!

Visit these helpful sites

www.netsmartzkids.org www.webwisekids.org www.commonsensemedia.org

8 spent only 1 percent of their screen time on homework or video chatting, those activities definitely ratcheted up during the past year. The pandemic changed not just the quantity, but the quality of screen time for kids, says Kimberlee Swisher, clinical assistant professor with the ASU School of Arts, Media and Engineering.

“One thing that came out of the pandemic that’s really good about kids’ screen time is that people put out all of these amazing free resources,” says Swisher. She notes artistic content like Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems, author/illustrator of the Elephant and Piggie books, and Don’t Let the Pigeon… books.

Swisher says that Adobe and AutoCAD also made creative tools more accessible for students, often through their schools.

them. You can make these image collages and draw 46 percent, of kids ages 2 to 4 have their own tablet or phone. Over two-thirds, 67 percent, of those 5 to on them and really craft these really visual messag8 have their own device. es,” notes Swisher.

Swisher says being connected to the Swisher says digital tools can give kids new internet and having so much content ways to be creative and REFUTE the false on demand is a game changer message she believes society too often tells for kids and parents. “That kids—that they are either artists or not.

Average time kind of ‘always on, any time, She feels that time spent creating content always available’ makes it or viewing along with a parent can be kids 5 to 8 spend much harder for parents to valuable, as opposed to time a kid on screen each restrict,” she says. spends alone watching videos. day: 3 hours and According to Swisher, The Common Sense Census noted 5 minutes when kids learn to make that watching online videos on sites their own media, like building like YouTube increased dramatically for *The Common a meme, it’s a way to “easily, young kids between 2017 and 2020, from Sense Census quickly and cheaply” deliver a 19 to 39 minutes a day. And that doesn’t 2020 message “into this pixel format or count time on streaming services or on gif format that can say a lot of things demand. More than a third of kids 8 and younger without words, and it’s fun, like cartoons.” watch online videos every day. Nearly half,

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly—Cyberbullying Do kids find their online experiences to be mostly good or DETRIMENTAL? Pew Research reports that 45 percent of teens say their social media use does not have a positive or negative effect on them—31 percent claim it is mostly positive and only 24 percent say it is mostly negative.

To keep things positive, kids and parents should take steps to prevent cyberbullying. This form of harassment can include hurtful texts or emails, or posts of embarassing images or unkind comments.

To find tips to combat cyberbullying, and to read other internet safety advice,

Does Making Media Make Kids Savvy?

Does using digital tools and being comfortable online make kids more media savvy? “I think students now have a much higher level of visual literacy than perhaps before, because they see these things all the time,” says Swisher. She says kids who make their own media can get a better perspective—it makes them producers of media rather than consumers of media.

“Even if you think about something that seems kind of mundane like Instagram stories, they now have these image editing capabilities built right into

visit: www.stopbullying.gov Image: shutterstock.com

September 2021 • Bear Essential News • 13

CONNECTED KIDS

Education & More Online As much as kids enjoy being connected online, did that undergo a major change when kids were forced to go online for school and to stay connected with friends and family? Of course, but kids were adaptable.

During the pandemic families were forced to find the best online option for students, but many were 12 • Bear Essential News • September 2021

*Pew Research Center

ONLINE ONLINE ONLINE ONLINE ONLINE

looking to go back to a brick and mortar school, says Digital Elementary Principal Allison Voltaire.

She works with ASU Prep Digital and says that this school year has a whole different vibe from last school year.

“Families are grateful to have virtual opportunities for their children” this year because it gives them greater flexibility, Voltaire explains. She says a strength of online education is the personalization available.

“We can personalize instruction so easily in a digital platform. We can make accommodations for students right from home,” she says. So too. Her tips for successa need for preferential ful online learning are for seating or extra time on students and their family assignments is easier to members to remember accommodate, she says. the camera and watch The logistics are more their surroundings. She manageable online, too, says kids are now used Voltaire says. She notes to having a camera pointImage: shutterstock.com that online school is ed at them, but others “perfect for so many students in the house sometimes because they really, truly learn at different rates, forget! and we’re able to provide that so easily online.”

She advises stuAccording to Voltaire, “Young kids have adaptdents and parents to ed extremely well” to online school, but she adds “give yourself a learning that careful attention to social-emotional learning curve. Allow yourself Digital Elementary Principal is key. She says this may involve students playtime to get comfortable Allison Voltaire ing together virtually, having a cooking lesson or and explore…and learn a pet show, or going outside to look for rocks or the platform” that your school uses. clouds for a science lesson.

“One thing we knew…we did not want them online for seven hours a day,” says Kids ages 5 According to the 2020 Common Sense CenVoltaire. So educators to 8 who have sus, which looked at media use by kids 8 and DEVISED ways to have their own tablet younger, in pre-pandemic times kiddos were in students get up, get or phone: front of screens about two and a half hours a moving or go outside. day. Children between 5 and 8 averaged just “We call it Sun Devil 67 percent over three hours of screen time per day. Most Learning Time and that *The Common kids spent that time watching TV or videos (73 is their independent work Sense Census percent).

Gaming accounted for 16 percent of time,” she explains.

2020 young kids screen usage, and reading on an electronVoltaire says that it is ic device took just 3 percent of the time. important for kids, parents or The Common Sense Census gathered its data up caregivers to have patience—with until mid-March 2020. So while it found that kids under themselves, with each other and with teachers,

Kids Are Connected

Image: shutterstock.com

M

ost kids were online quite a bit before the pandemic. You may have watched a viral video, laughed at a meme or gif that your friend texted to you, played games online, or video chatted with out-of-state grandparents or cousins. A lot of kids are connected, but the last year and a half changed things in a big way. Being online went from being a convenience to becoming a necessity for kids and families.

The number of older kids who said they were almost constantly online jumped from 24 percent in 2015 to 45 percent in 2018—and that was before the pandemic! According to the Pew Research Center, another 44 percent of the kids ages 13–17 surveyed in 2018 said they went online several times day—that means that roughly 90 percent of teens were constantly or regularly online!

According to that Pew Report, a third of teens reported that it was easier to connect with a friend online than to attempt to see them in person—again, before Covid! And nine in 10 teens reported using their phones to pass time.

The most popular social media platforms for teens are YouTube, Instagram and Snapchat, according to Pew Research. In a Statista report from March 2020, the most popular social media platforms for kids under 11 are TikTok and Snapchat, with kids ages 9 to 11 most likely to use these platforms.

Teens who say they are almost constantly online: 45 percent

Stay Safe Online!

Visit these helpful sites

www.netsmartzkids.org www.webwisekids.org www.commonsensemedia.org

8 spent only 1 percent of their screen time on homework or video chatting, those activities definitely ratcheted up during the past year. The pandemic changed not just the quantity, but the quality of screen time for kids, says Kimberlee Swisher, clinical assistant professor with the ASU School of Arts, Media and Engineering.

“One thing that came out of the pandemic that’s really good about kids’ screen time is that people put out all of these amazing free resources,” says Swisher. She notes artistic content like Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems, author/illustrator of the Elephant and Piggie books, and Don’t Let the Pigeon… books.

Swisher says that Adobe and AutoCAD also made creative tools more accessible for students, often through their schools.

them. You can make these image collages and draw 46 percent, of kids ages 2 to 4 have their own tablet or phone. Over two-thirds, 67 percent, of those 5 to on them and really craft these really visual messag8 have their own device. es,” notes Swisher.

Swisher says being connected to the Swisher says digital tools can give kids new internet and having so much content ways to be creative and REFUTE the false on demand is a game changer message she believes society too often tells for kids and parents. “That kids—that they are either artists or not.

Average time kind of ‘always on, any time, She feels that time spent creating content always available’ makes it or viewing along with a parent can be kids 5 to 8 spend much harder for parents to valuable, as opposed to time a kid on screen each restrict,” she says. spends alone watching videos. day: 3 hours and According to Swisher, The Common Sense Census noted 5 minutes when kids learn to make that watching online videos on sites their own media, like building like YouTube increased dramatically for *The Common a meme, it’s a way to “easily, young kids between 2017 and 2020, from Sense Census quickly and cheaply” deliver a 19 to 39 minutes a day. And that doesn’t 2020 message “into this pixel format or count time on streaming services or on gif format that can say a lot of things demand. More than a third of kids 8 and younger without words, and it’s fun, like cartoons.” watch online videos every day. Nearly half,

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly—Cyberbullying Do kids find their online experiences to be mostly good or DETRIMENTAL? Pew Research reports that 45 percent of teens say their social media use does not have a positive or negative effect on them—31 percent claim it is mostly positive and only 24 percent say it is mostly negative.

To keep things positive, kids and parents should take steps to prevent cyberbullying. This form of harassment can include hurtful texts or emails, or posts of embarassing images or unkind comments.

To find tips to combat cyberbullying, and to read other internet safety advice,

Does Making Media Make Kids Savvy?

Does using digital tools and being comfortable online make kids more media savvy? “I think students now have a much higher level of visual literacy than perhaps before, because they see these things all the time,” says Swisher. She says kids who make their own media can get a better perspective—it makes them producers of media rather than consumers of media.

“Even if you think about something that seems kind of mundane like Instagram stories, they now have these image editing capabilities built right into

visit: www.stopbullying.gov Image: shutterstock.com

September 2021 • Bear Essential News • 13

Boomer’s Boredom-Busting Activity Page

All Aboard!

Hop On Boomer's Field Trip Fun Bus Clues DOWN: 1) What paleontologists really dig!

2) Go in 3) Operate a bus 4) Home of art & artifacts 5) Feathered friend 7) The ‘S’ in STEM 11) Useful items 13) Fine ____ 15) Opposite of warm 17) Spanish for one 19) Plural pronoun 20) Not out!

Boomer’s Field Trip

Manners Quiz Circle the actions in the list below that you think are not appropriate during a class a field trip.

stand quietly in line

leave some litter behind

say “this is boring” during the trip thank the tour guide talk loudly to other students 14 • Bear Essential News • September 2021

2

E

L

3

D

4

5

7

6

8

T

R

I

P S 10

9

11

12

13

15

17

16

19

21

20

22

Visit Boomer’s Most Favorite Field Trip! an Ancient (Use your imagination and fill in the blanks to complete Boomer’s story.)

Giant! Last fall, Ms. Lopez took us on a field trip to ____________________

ask questions about what you see

have a fun time

I

START

make fun of a classmate

bring a packed lunch or snack

F

ACROSS: 1) Given 6) Parts of a school course 14 8) Given 9) Use your eyes 10) What __?

12) Ocean study: _____ biology 14) Place to learn 18 16) Not false 18) Coyote’s cry 20) What __ it?

21) Something learned 22) Seagoing vessel

jump off the bus

take notes during the field trip

1

Make You Way Through the Saguaro Maze!

FINISH

and I asked if I could help her with the __________________ .

We all got on the bus at ________________ and headed out for a fun ________________ . Ms. Lopez asked us what we were most excited to see, and I said _____________________ !

We got to the ______________ and Mr. Jones was there to ___________________ and then we entered the ___________ _____________ .

There were all sorts of _______ to see, and the time went by fast.

It was a ____________ day, and I will always ___________ about going back next year!

I told Ms. Lopez ___________, and that it was my favorite field trip ever!

Write for Bear!

Volume 42 • Issue 12

Start Things Off Right with Bear Essential News

Students in grades 3 through 8 can become Young Reporters, and their teachers can get involved as Advisers, helping them come up with interesting story ideas and submitting their stories.

Young Reporters write for Bear’s Get the Scoop! pages and have interviewed all sorts of fascinating people. porter

Get Writing as a Young Reporter!

The Young Reporters Program is FREE and your stories could appear in Bear Essential News, Arizona’s leading newspaper for young people, and many are permanently posted on Bear’s website.

Go to BearEssentialNews.com and print out the sign-up form. Fill it out, and have a parent sign the bottom, and mail it in.

Your Re Kit!!!

Students who sign up receive a free YR kit to get started!

• YR Stylebook • YR Flip Pad for interviews and writing down facts • Official Bear Essential Press Pass and lanyard Questions? Call 1-866 NEWS KID • 1-866-639-7543

Editor & Publisher

Sales Director & Publisher

Stephen B Gin

Nancy Holmes

City Editor

YR Coordinator

Copy Editor

Art Director

Mike Loghry

Gary Shepard

Renee Griffith

Julie Madden

Bear Essential News for Kids®

is published monthly by Kids’ View Communications Corp. to educate, enrich and entertain children and their families. Content of this newspaper is designed to promote reading and writing skills as well as creativity.

Classroom educators are welcome to reproduce any portion of this newspaper for their students.

Call or fax Kids’ View Communications for any additional information on stories.

Please Call (520)

792-9930 for any editorial or advertising inquiries.

©2021 Kids’ View Communications Corp.—all rights reserved • 2525 E. Broadway #102 • Tucson, AZ 85716 Fax# (520) 792-2580 • Bear Essential News is distributed free each month.

Printed with recycled newsprint.

www.bearessentialnews.com

ENDORSED BY THE

Arizona Education Association

September 2021 • Bear Essential News • 15

16 • Bear Essential News • September 2021

&

Field Trips Family Outings Field trips are a fantastic way to build excitement and school spirit. A good field trip will spark students’ curiosity and promote learning in innovative ways—that’s why field trips are at the top of students’ back-to-school lists.

Learning outside the classroom is a key component of a great education that gives excited students the chance to jump into new experiences and to do hands-on activities. It also gives kids the opportunity to ask professionals questions about their work—maybe in science, technology, performing arts, nature or maybe in some other career field. They also can ask what kind of education and background is helpful for landing such a job.

Wondering what fun and exciting field trips are available nearby or a short driving distance away? Boomer Bear has done the research for you, beginning on this page. The guide lists places that are fun, entertaining and educational for classrooms and for families with homeschoolers.

As an article by the National Education Association about these findings notes, “educational trips had a positive, lasting impact on (the students’) education and career because the trips made them more engaged, intellectually curious and interested in and out of school.”

For many kids, one of their most exciting school experiences this year will be field trip day! When you know that your class is going on an excursion, you can hardly wait to get out the door in the morning and get to school. A field trip

offers students an amazing adventure, where education and pure fun collide!

A field trip can stimulate all kinds of questions and can give students a new perspective on things that have been covered in class. A field trip can be a good learning tool for kids who absorb things better through hands-on exploration. But a field trip can be great for kids of any learning style.

Kids can see and experience subjects in a way that isn’t always possible inside a classroom.

Learning isn’t limited to the classroom, and it’s not just for teachers and students! The next time you go on a family excursion, turn it into an educational outing. Find out if the museum, zoo or historical site you’re visiting offers tours or behind-the-scenes opportunities. Some places have docents who are there just to answer your questions. Bring a small notebook and take notes on your visit.

Parents, if your child talks non-stop about his or her favorite subject or is full of countless questions that you can’t always answer, find the places and the people to share and celebrate your kid’s enthusiasm! Plan a trip to a place that relates to your child’s special interests. While there, read the signs together and ask your child relevant questions. Check ahead of time and find out if there are days with special events or activities.

Teachers, parents and explorers! Here is Boomer Bear’s Field Trips & Family Destinations Guide—it lists places and classroom resources that can spark inspiration, imagination and learning!

The guide is available year round on our website: BearEssentialNews.com.

Images: shutterstock.com

For unforgettable fun and learning, few things are as fabulous as a field trip! Here is Bear Essential’s 2021–22 Guide for Field Trips and Family Destinations!

Field Trips & Family Destinations 2021–2022

Fun Classroom and Family Outings Throughout Arizona—All Year Long!

2022 ARIZONA SCITECH FESTIVAL

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS BALLPARK TOURS

The Arizona SciTech Festival is a multiweek, colorful showcase of more than 1,000 science, engineering, technology (STEM) and innovation events in over 50 Arizona cities featuring exhibits, hands-on activities, colorful shows, tours and discussions.

Dates coming soon!

The Arizona Diamondbacks are the Major League Baseball team in Arizona. Since its inception as an expansion franchise in 1998, the team has won a world championship (2001) and made six postseason appearances. The club has played in front of 32 million fans at Chase Field, which features a signature swimming pool, retractable roof

(602) 343-8324 info@scitechinstitute.org scitechinstitute.org

Chase Field 401 E. Jefferson St. • Phoenix 602-514-8400 Dbacks.com

and a kids play area called the Phoenix Children’s Hospital Sandlot. For more information about the D-backs, or to purchase game tickets, visit dbacks.com

ASU EARTH & SPACE EXPLORATION DAY

781 E. Terrace Rd. ASU Tempe Campus ISTB 4 Building Field Trips/Family Destinations Cost: Free www.sese.asu.edu/community-engagement/ events

Earth and Space Exploration Day is a free

Check out ALL our listings online!

annual event hosted by the School of Earth and Space Exploration.

This event includes science related activities for students age five and up, families, educators, and anyone interested in Earth and space. The event includes talks with scientists, interactive exhibits, 3D planetarium shows, and student science exhibits. Check our website in Fall 2021 for event details.

MORE FIELD TRIPS, next page ➧

September 2021 • Bear Essential News • 17

Have a Super Recess

approved

by TUSD

with a

Fabulously Fun Field Trips continued from page 17

FIELD TRIP!

BEAR ESSENTIAL NEWS & YOUNG REPORTER PROGRAM

at

2525 E. Broadway, Suite 102. • Tucson, 85716 792-9930 Grades: 3–8 From Bear Essential Educational Services info@bearessentialnews.com www.bearessentialnews.com Common Core Worksheets: Fresh standards-based fun sheets for classrooms to use in conjunction with the current issue of Bear Essential News.

Free Young Reporters Program: Students in grades 3–8 develop as young writers by writing news stories for Bear Essential News.

Young Reporters can attend monthly Zoom meetings and interview important people from our community.

Free Presentations: Five dynamic topics are available from a Bear editor.

Enjoy 3 Hours of UNLIMITED

Miniature Golf & Laser Tag Plus choose two ride tickets for: Bumper Boats or Go-Karts

16

25

$

Kids!

Color the Castle

Plus Tax per person*

*Available Monday thru Friday, any 3 hour block of time before 5 p.m.

3-1 6-4

10+5

4+1

3+3

30 person minimum & reservations required

COLOR by Numbers!

7+8

(add and subtract to discover the right colors)

11+4

7+3

4+6 10+5

Yellow= 5 Orange= 10 Red= 2 Blue= 6

Purple= 11 Green= 15 Brown= 12

18 • Bear Essential News • September 2021

Expires 10/10/21

6503 E. TANQUE VERDE RD. • 885-3569

Project:Educate. Educators receive a 20% discount on all purchases. To receive your Project: Educate card, you need to sign up online at www.bookmans.com. You will receive a confirmation email, which you need to bring to your nearest Bookmans location, along with a valid ID and proof of educator status.

Kids Club: From birth to age 12 kids receive a 10% discount and a $10 gift certificate on their birthday.

1317: Kids 13-17 receive a 15% discount and a $15 gift certificate on their birthday.

Visit Bookmans.com and click on the JOIN tab to sign up.

2250 E. Broadway • Tucson 520-750-0385 Mon.–Fri. (Year-round) • 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Catalinacouncil.org

6503 E. Tanque Verde Rd. • Tucson, AZ Call (520) 296-2366 ext. 3 for reservations! (with the purchase of another at the regular price) 36 Holes of the World’s Finest Miniature Golf • Arcade • Skee-ball Wet n’ Wild Bumper Boats • Cool Go Karts • Batting Cages • Laser Tag • Group Rates

East • 6230 E. Speedway • 748-9555 Northwest • 3733 W. Ina Rd. • 579-0303 Midtown • 3330 E. Speedway • 325-5767 bookmans.com

BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA

www.golfnstuff.com

FREE Golf Pass!!

623-869-2135 www.CentralArizonaProject.com CAP offers an Arizona-specific water education program including free downloadable lesson plans for K–3, 4–6, middle and high school students that are standards-based. Lesson plans supported by mixed media tools like videos, posters and activity books! Visit www.cap-az.com/ education or call 623-869-2135 for more information.

BOOKMANS ENTERTAINMENT EXCHANGE

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WOW (Retail Value $150.00+)

5+6

6+6

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Register now! The Grand Canyon Council provides youth with programs and activities that allow them to try new things, provide service to others, build self-confidence and reinforce ethical standards.

The Scouting experience is divided into programs according to age and activities.

Cub Scouts: Grades: K–5 Scouts, BSA: Grades:6–12 Venturing: 14–20 years old Sea Scouting: 14–20 years old

CENTRAL ARIZONA PROJECT

Classroom Speakers Educational Sponsorships Free Teacher Resource/Curriculum Available

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM TUCSON

200 S. 6th Ave. • Tucson 520-792-9985 press option 5 Field Trips/Family Destinations education@childrensmuseumtucson.org childrensmuseumtucson.org A visit to Children’s Museum Tucson inspires discovery, creativity and learning. Our Museum exhibits and programs are content rich, aligned with Arizona Academic Standards and ignite imagination and curiosity! And the best part - Adventure Learning Field Trips are simple to plan, economical and fun! $6 per child.

Grades: K-6. See our ad on page 19.

CRAYOLA EXPERIENCE

3111 W. Chandler Blvd. • Chandler Field Trips/Family Destination 602-581-5370 chandlerexperience@crayolaexperience.com www.crayolaexperience.com

Discover the magic of color at Crayola Experience! Crayola Experience Chandler is bursting with 18 hands-on activities, perfect for a full day of creative fun. Name your own crayon, star in a coloring page, bring your digital art to life AND MORE! Field trips start at $9.99 per person. PLUS - teachers get a free annual pass with valid ID (see site for details).

FLANDRAU SCIENCE CENTER AND PLANETARIUM 1601 E. University • Tucson Field Trips/Family Destinations 520-621-4516

flandrau@email.arizona.edu

flandrau.org

Flandrau gives your class a chance to explore the marvels of our universe—from the depths of the ocean to the farthest reaches of space, and everything in between! Located on the mall of The University of Arizona campus, Flandrau offers hands-on exhibits to ignite your curiosity.

Plus, you’ll have the option to see an amazing full-dome show in the planetarium theater. You’ll feel like you’re flying through space as you launch from the

earth and visit planets, moons, stars and asteroids. On our two exhibit floors, your students will learn more about what lurks in our oceans and what crawls under our feet in our shark and bug exhibits. Flandrau’s shows and experiences are designed to connect with school groups and are geared to Arizona State Science Standards. Visit our website for more info. Cost: $4-$10 child based on program. Grades: PreK-12.

GIRL SCOUTS OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA

4300 E. Broadway • Tucson 520-327-2288 customercare@girlscoutssoaz.org www.girlscoutsaz.org

Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. In Girl Scouts, girls have fun and adventures in an all-girl environment where they earn badges, go camping, explore STEM, become leaders and work on community service projects.

MORE FIELD TRIPS, page 20 ➧

60,000 Square Feet of Lizards, Snakes, Frogs, Tortoises, Alligators & So Much More!

Come to the

Purchase reptiles, cages, supplies, art & jewelry— All at Great Prices!

Tucson Reptile & Amphibian Show and Sale October 2nd & 3rd, 2021 Sat.: 9:30 to 5:00 • Sun.: 10:00 to 4:00

Do NOT bring your ow n animals !

• Displays of exotic and native reptiles • Door prizes every 30 minutes • Meet breeders & reptile enthusiasts from around the world

Adults: $10.00 6–12: $5.00 5 & under: Free

Tucson Expo Center, 3750 E. Irvington (between Palo Verde & Alvernon) Map on Web site

For more information go to www.tucsonreptileshow.com E-mail: Serpensauria@comcast.net

September 2021 • Bear Essential News • 19

Boomer’s

Fabulously Fun Field Trips continued from page 19

GOLDFIELD GHOST TOWN/ SUPERSTITION SCENIC RAILROAD 4650 N. Mammoth Mine Rd. • Apache Junction Field Trip • 480-983-0333 Open daily • 10 a.m.–5 p.m. www.goldfieldghosttown.com

Experience Arizona history! Spend a fun-filled day rich in history. Tour an underground mine, ride the train, view reptiles and insects of the Sonoran Desert, pan for real gold and check out the Mystery Shack attraction. Educational fun!

GOLF N’ STUFF

6503 E. Tanque Verde • Tucson Field Trip • 296-2366 x3 * Sarah Year-round (Mon. - Fri) gnssales@gmail.com www.golfnstuff.com Enjoy our two lush miniature golf courses in the fresh air with sparkling ponds, or make a splash on our bumper boats, and speed through our go kart track. Maybe even win a game of Laser Tag! Now booking for 2021-2022 school year for as little as $8.00 per student. Call today and secure your next trip!

are developed to support objectives in the Arizona Common Core standards. Schools can request free virtual or in-person classroom outreach presentations or apply for funding for field trip admission and transportation. Program details are on the website.

PRESIDIO SAN AGUSTIN DEL TUCSON MUSEUM

196 N. Court Ave. • Tucson 622-0594 info@presidio.com tucsonpresidio.com/education-outreach/ Looking for new field trip ideas? The Presidio Museum has educational field trips that supports Common Core curriculum for grades 3-4, but are open to all ages.

Students will learn the life of a Presidio child and chores they had to complete and games they played. Other activities include tinsmithing, blacksmithing, calligraphy and the life of a Presidio Soldier.

HUMANE SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA 635 W. Roger Rd. • Tucson 327-6088 Ages: 6–11 afaulk@hssaz.org www.hssaz.org/kids The Humane Society of Southern Arizona children’s programs will give your child a new perspective on caring for animals, preventing animal cruelty, understanding animal behavior, and more.

We use a variety of activities that stress an appreciation of our environment and preservation of our natural world; classroom activities, creative and artistic exercises, hands-on animal care, great games, and character building lessons. During the school year we offer in-school education, camps during school breaks, reading to shelter pets, Hand in Paw Kid’s Club events including Humane Heroes, and birthday parties.

MINI TIME MACHINE MUSEUM OF MINIATURES

4455 E. Camp Lowell Dr. • Tucson 520-881-0606 ext. 114 Field Trips/Family Destinations School Tour Rate: $3/student with advanced booking. Grants available. www.theminitimemachine.org/school-tours michaelm@theminitimemachine.org

A visit to The Mini Museum inspires a desire to explore mathematical concepts, leap into literature and art, investigate history and experience life in another time or culture. Tours and outreach presentations

20 • Bear Essential News • September 2021

ROOSTER COGBURN

I-10 at exit #219 • Picacho Peak 17999 E. Peak Lane 520-237-5887 groups@roostercogburn.com www.roostercogburn.com One of a kind school field trips for an open air-hands-on experience! We offer a fun, interactive animal feeding experience! Field trips are AZ State Standards based with STEM curriculum as well as reading and social studies. Materials will be available for teachers to use in their classrooms. We also offer a large picnic area perfect for lunch as well as a FREE Shooting Gallery token with every admission. Come and visit our many animals including: Ostriches, Goats, Donkeys, Rainbow Lorikeets, Deer, Diving Ducks, Parakeets, Bunnies, Chickens, STINGRAYS and more! Contact Julie for pricing and booking information.

ROCK SOLID CLIMBING AND FITNESS 3949 W. Costco Dr. #151 • Tucson 222-6228 info@rocksolidclimbing.com rocksolidclimbing.com

Rock Solid Climbing is about making fitness fun for everyone. Whether you are an expert or scaling your first wall, Rock Solid Climbing is here for you. We have climbs for every ability level and our coaches are eager to help get you started.

TUCSON MUSEUM OF ART

140 N. Main Ave. • Tucson Field Trips • 624-2333 x7121 Tue.–Fri. • Dates throughout school year education@TucsonMuseumofArt.org tucsonmuseumofart.org/k-12-schoolseducators/ The Museum offers a variety of programs for students to learn about art, history and culture. Whether it is a docent-led tour complete with hands-on art project or a self-guided tour of a special exhibition and a selection of the permanent collection, students will have the opportunity to explore one of Tucson’s treasures. Cost: $2–$6.

Grades: K–12.

TUCSON REPTILE & AMPHIBIAN SHOW & SALE

Tucson Expo Center • Tucson 3750 E. Irvington Road Field Trips • 520-405-7020 • Oct. 2–3, 2021 Sat. 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. & Sun 10 a.m.–4 p.m. tucsonreptileshow.com 60,000 square feet of reptiles and amphibians from around the world. Petting zoo with tortoises, alligators, snakes and other reptiles. Captive bred reptiles for sale.

Cost: Adults: $10; Ages 6–12: $5 Ages 5 and under: Free. Masks Required.

TUCSON RODEO PARADE MUSEUM 4823 S. 6th Ave. • Tucson 294-1280 trpc@msn.com tucsonrodeoparade.com

The Tucson Rodeo Parade Museum includes four buildings filled with historic wagons and artifacts. On the site of the first municipal airport in the United States, one can discover where many of the terms used today originated. A large train exhibit represents Tucson of 1880, when the first train arrived in Tucson. See Tucson’s first fire wagon, Tucson’s jail wagon, stage coaches and the famous Maxamillian Coach!

WILDLIFE WORLD ZOO & AQUARIUM

16501 W. Northern Ave. • Litchfield Park Field Trips • 623-935-WILD (9453) Open 365 days a year Field trips Mon.–Fri. www.wildlifeworld.com Your field trip will complement any biology curriculum at any grade level. Students can feed Lory parrots, learn about animal ambassadors and see some display natural behaviors during a Wildlife Encounter Show.

Meet baby animals in our children’s play area and petting zoo! Cost: $8/student, $15/ adult, one adult admission free with every 10 paid students (10 student min.). We accept cash, check or school purchase order. Rates subject to change.

The Darndest Place You’ll Ever Visit.

Rooster Cogburn

Ostrich Ranch I-10 at exit #219, between Phoenix & Tucson

NOrW ing Offe

School

FIELD TRIPS

for an Open Air–Hands On Experience!

• AZ State Standards Based • STEM curriculum • Social Studies and Reading Contact Julie for info on booking groups@roostercogburn.com

520-237-5887

Have A Great F ield Trip!

Feed the Critters!

• Ostriches • Goats • Donkeys • Rainbow Lorikeets

• Deer • Diving Ducks • Stingrays and more

For hours of operation and more info, visit us online

roostercogburn.com 17599 E. Peak Lane, Picacho, AZ

520-466-3658

September 2021 • Bear Essential News • 21

B

Get the Scoop!

Continued from page 7

Heart Disease Hurts Individuals and Their Families

by Reporter Tegan McCarthy Sahuarita Middle School There are so many diseases that can take the ones we love the most—like Covid-19, cancer, whooping cough and malaria, just to name a few. The disease that has affected my family the most has been myocarditis. This is a disease that causes inflammation in your middle heart and weakens it. The symptoms sadly are similar to having the common cold.

Myocarditis is deadly because of how hard it is to diagnose in the early stages. My Aunt Ashley passed from this when she was only 27 years old. My uncle Christopher also passed away when he was only 7 months old from the heart disease meningitis and pneumonia.

Heart diseases are usually pretty rare, averaging less that 200,000 cases a year. It is thought that these kind of deaths are painless, but we will never know.

If you wish to help others with myocarditis or other heart diseases, you can donate to research foundations like The Myocarditis Foundation or The American Heart Association. Donations help scientists research cures and medications. If you don’t have the ability to donate, you can help raise awareness.

Heart diseases are hard on the victims and their families, but they can often be helped if not cured. If you or someone you know has heart disease, I hope you are doing well. Remember, you are not alone.

22 • Bear Essential News • September 2021

September 2021 • Bear Essential News • 23

Build A Better

BREAKFAST! Banana Peanut Butter Yogurt Parfait

Bowl of Cereal & Milk

Fruit and Oat Smoothie

Did you know students who eat breakfast perform bet ter at school ?

www.arizonamilk.org 24 • Bear Essential News • September 2021

What Is Your BreakfastBuilding Style?

Scan the QR codes and get the complete recipes to build your own “Better Breakfast!”

Bacon and Hashbrown Breakfast Pizza