GO GREEN KIDS AND PARENTS MAGAZINE

GO GREEN

kids & parents MAGAZINE

Editors Note C A harlene lvarez

Giving Thanks for Thanksgiving

GOGREEN SUMMER 2012

Thanksgiving is and has always been a favorite holiday of mine since I was a kid, for two reasons: Eating and presents, I am one of those turkey birthday kids, so not only did I get a feast, but also received cake and presents too! Now in the second half of my winter season of life, I find that the holiday holds more of a great humbleness for the day of “Thanksgiving” and not so much of the number of birthdays passed. Today I greet the holiday with youth in my mind and age creeping at my body, but I have noticed that in the past decade that our two most important holidays are now spoken with caution in our schools and work places. Thanksgiving is recognized as our first settlers not only coming together for a feast,

WINTER 2012

but giving thanks to God for their blessings. Christmas has been reduced to “Holiday Party”, greeting and Christmas Caroling went out a long time ago with prayers in public. I realize that not all Americans recognize that giving thanks is related to a spiritual belief of Thanksgiving, but I believe that each of us could benefit by adopting a bit of spirituality in our hearts and daily thoughts for each other and the bounty we do have, rather then the unbelief of a higher power other then ourselves.

Consider this historical saying when giving thanks at “your” family Thanksgiving dinner. It was written and spoken by one of the most memorable and famous men that ever lived.

and also those who are at sea, and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and prayer…”

Abraham Lincoln, quote from the 1863.

My thoughts this Thanksgiving Day: Consider a walk into the great outdoors and take a moment to consider a few quiet words and pause for a moment of thanksgiving. If not out of spirituality, do it for the gratitude of living in a country that is free and full of bountiful thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving & Merry Christmas to ALL....

Happy Holidays

“I invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States,

Happy GREEN Living,

Make a difference in someone else's world

TODAY 22

Migrant Educational Mural Colorado

Below you will have the opportunity to walk into the students creativity, the younger ones and the older ones all pitched in and dedicated their time and talents in a united effort to become modern day artists. One may say, “All children participate in art projects in their home schools” but this very special program is “Migrant Education Studies in Fort Lupton, Colorado” their summer school program is very unique in a sense that every child learns there is no language barrier when it comes to teamwork. Art is an often visited course in this very important program. The instructors find it is an expression of their students inner soul and creativity serves as a universal language. As in nature, we find these attributes go hand in hand, and our planet is a playground for every child to create and unite.

“Go Green Kids” wanted our readers to take a walk through the happiness and teamwork these children did in making their project a success. We recognize that “Green” grows in every heart, every language, and will eventually bring forth a harvest of “Great Green Stewards of the Earth.” We are proud to have the opportunity to display their works as well as the great job the instructors continue to bring their creative ideas of a different kind of inspiration for these children in the transition into their new homes.

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.”

-Pablo Picasso

Migrant Educational Mural Colorado Fort Lupton Migrant Summer School 2012

Mural Project | Two week project, mural is displayed in the Board Room In the Weld RE‐8 District Office.

PK – 12th grade students participated Students painted a mural based on “Drago” (1947) by Argentine painter Alejandro Xul Solar, 1887‐ 1963. Drago is a landscape in which the principal figure is a curving creature decorated with international the flags, contrasts and bright colors. It undulates gracefully across a sand‐colored background with stars and moons of many colors bouncing around it like beach balls.

Special Thanks to: CBOCES Scott Graham, Grant Director Marcus García, Artist in Residence Teachers: Connie García, Jesús Hierro and Gabby Delgado • Migrant students and families • • • •

Migrant Educational Mural Colorado

“I enjoyed summer school and especially painting the mural. It was very nice to be a part of this project. I liked the colorful flags and that we all created the mural. I also liked going to the museum and visiting the snake exhibit.”

Jovanny, 4th grade “Going to summer school was a lot of fun. I got to spend time with other students and make new friends. Creating the mural was very special and fun! I liked the bright colors and how we all participated in this activity.”

Mirka, 5th grade “There were many things I liked from summer School. One thing I liked was that we had small classes; specially our math class, which is my favorite subject. Another thing I liked was that we got to paint a mural that has lots of flags from all over the world. I really liked that we got to learn how to match colors to make another. The final thing that I really liked was we went on a field trip to two colleges and the Museum of Nature and Science. That was a great experience because I would like to visit more universities!”

Karen, 8th grade

Migrant Educational Mural Colorado

“Me gustó el programa de verano porque las clases no estuvieron aburridas y la que más me gustó fue la de arte. Fue muy divertida porque pintamos una tabla grande y me gustó porque dibujamos primero en papel. Me gustaron mucho los colores con los que pintamos el mural; quedó muy bonito y con colores brillantes.”

Ricardo, 8th grade “Summer school was fun. I liked painting the mural very much because I like to color and I like Art.” Giselle, 1st grade

For More Information Nancy Wendirad, Migrant Education Graduation Advocate 530 Reynolds Street Fort Lupton CO 80621 (303) 857‐7155 nwendirad@ftlupton.k12.co.us

Ways to Eat Healthy on Thanksgiving

By Ashley Farley

When most people think of Thanksgiving, they think of family and buffet-style meals. Eating anywhere between two and five servings seems to be typical at Thanksgiving, but there are ways to eat healthier without packing a separate Thanksgiving meal or nibbling at dinner.

PLAN AHEAD Eat when you are hungry during the day of your Thanksgiving meal. Don't skip other meals in order to gorge during Thanksgiving lunch or dinner. If you are hungry and your stomach is growling, it is likely you will overeat and pack on the holiday pounds. If you are hosting Thanksgiving dinner, you can substitute high-fat items with healthier versions. Try using egg whites, fat-free ingredients and frozen yogurt in desserts. If you are heading to a Thanksgiving dinner where everyone brings a dish, offer to bring a healthy dessert. Instead of the typical pumpkin and pecan pies, opt for a fruit dish. You can decorate angel food cake with sliced fruit and fat-free whipped topping. Not only is this dessert be healthy, it's also delicious.

BUILD A HEALTHY MEAL Load your plate with vegetables first. Be wary of casserole dishes though; they are still high in fat and calories. Get a piece of lean meat that is about the size of a deck of cards and remove the skin. You will now have lean protein without excess fat and cholesterol . Use about a quarter of your plate for the yummy items you enjoy. Try a bite of two of each item to keep your plate filled with a variety of food. What you drink can make or break your healthy Thanksgiving. If you find yourself drinking and socializing you may end up having several cocktails or sodas, which can add hundreds of additional calories to your day. Drink a tall glass of water first. This will fill your stomach and keep your body hydrated. If you do decide to have a cocktail or a soda, limit yourself to only one drink. When you eat your meal be sure to eat slowly. Chew each bite thoroughly and take your time. If you eat too fast you will still feel hungry and be tempted to make another plate. Stop eating when you no longer feel hungry. Do not eat until the point of discomfort and being overly full. Eat the items on your plate in the order or healthiest item to least healthy. If you consume all of your vegetables followed be turkey, you may not even need to eat the sweet potatoes or green bean casserole you chose.

LEFTOVERS You may have eaten healthily during the main Thanksgiving meal, but the night is coming to a close and you are tempted with leftovers. As the host, you offer the high fat items and most of the leftovers to your guests to take home with them. If you are taking leftovers home from a friend or relative's house, build another healthy plate. Start by adding turkey and vegetables. If you take home high-fat items or desserts, be sure to take small portions. Split up the leftovers between several plastic containers. Make each into a meal with bite-size side dishes, plentiful vegetables and turkey breast without the skin.

Legends and Short Stories to Share for Thanksgiving

early four hundred years ago, a great many of the people in England were very unhappy because their king would not let them pray to God as they liked. The king said they must use the same prayers that he did; and if they would not do this, they were often thrown into prison, or perhaps driven away from home.

"Let us go away from this country," said the unhappy Englishmen to each other; and so they left their homes, and went far off to a country called Holland. It was about this time that they began to call themselves "Pilgrims." Pilgrims, you know, are people who are always traveling to find something they love, or to find a land where they can be happier; and these English men and women were journeying, they said, "from place to place, toward heaven, their dearest country."

In Holland, the Pilgrims were quiet and happy for a while, but they were very poor; and when the children began to grow up, they were not like English children, but talked Dutch, like the little ones of Holland, and some grew naughty and did not want to go to church any more.

"This will never do," said the Pilgrim fathers and mothers; so after much talking and thinking and writing they made up their minds to come here to America. They hired two vessels, called the Mayflower and the Speedwell, to take them across the sea; but the Speedwell was not a strong ship, and the captain had to take her home again before she had gone very far.

The Mayflower went back, too. Part of the Speedwell's passengers were given to her, and then she started alone across the great ocean.

There were one hundred people on board - mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters and little children. They were very crowded; it was cold and uncomfortable; the sea was rough, and pitched

the Mayflower about, and they were two months sailing over the water.

The children cried many times on the journey, and wished they had never come on the tiresome ship that rocked them so hard, and would not let them keep still a minute.

But they had one pretty plaything to amuse them, for in the middle of the great ocean a Pilgrim baby was born, and they called him "Oceanus," for his birthplace. When the children grew so tired that they were cross and fretful, Oceanus' mother let them come and play with him, and that always brought smiles and happy faces back again.

At last the Mayflower came in sight of land; but if the children had been thinking of grass and flowers and birds, they must have been very much disappointed, for the month was cold November, and there was nothing to be seen but rocks and sand and hard bare ground.

Some of the Pilgrim fathers, with brave Captain Myles Standish at their head, went on shore to see if they could find any houses or white people. But they only saw some Indians, who ran away from them, and found some Indian huts and some corn buried in holes in the ground. They went to and fro from the ship three times, till by and by they found a pretty place to live, where there were "fields and little running brooks."

Then at last all the tired Pilgrims landed from the ship on a spot now called Plymouth Rock, and the first house was begun on Christmas Day. But when I tell you how sick they were and how much they suffered that first winter, you will be very sad and sorry for them. The weather was cold, the snow fell fast and thick, the wind was icy, and the Pilgrim fathers had no one to help them cut down the trees and build their church and their houses.

The Pilgrim mothers helped all they could; but they were tired with the long journey, and cold, and hungry too, for no one had the right kind of food to eat, nor even enough of it.

So first one was taken sick, and then another, till half of them were in bed at the same time, Brave Myles Standish and the other soldiers nursed them as well as they knew how; but before spring came half of the people died and had gone at last to "heaven, their dearest country."

But by and by the sun shone more brightly, the snow melted, the leaves began to grow, and sweet spring had come again.

Some friendly Indians had visited the Pilgrims during the winter, and Captain Myles Standish, with several of his men, had returned the visit.

One of the kind Indians was called Squanto, and he came to stay with the Pilgrims, and showed them how to plant their corn, and their pease and wheat and barley.

One of the kind Indians was called Squanto, and he came to stay with the Pilgrims, and showed them how to plant their corn, and their pease and wheat and barley.

When the summer came and the days were long and bright, the Pilgrim children were very happy, and they thought Plymouth a lovely place indeed.

All kinds of beautiful wild flowers grew at their doors, there were hundreds of birds and butterflies, and the great pine woods were always cool and shady when the sun was too bright.

When it was autumn the fathers gathered the barley and wheat and corn that they had planted, and found that it had grown so well that they would have quite enough for the long winter that was coming.

"Let us thank God for it all," they said.

"It is He who has made the sun shine and the rain fall and the corn grow." So they thanked God in their homes and in their little church; the fathers and the mothers and the children thanked Him. "Then," said the Pilgrim mothers, "let us have a great Thanksgiving party, and invite the friendly Indians, and all rejoice together."

So they had the first Thanksgiving party, and a grand one it was! Four men went out shooting one whole day, and brought back so many wild ducks and geese and

great wild turkeys that there was enough for almost a week. There was deer meat also, of course, for there were plenty of fine deer in the forest. Then the Pilgrim mothers made the corn and wheat into bread and cakes, and they had fish and clams from the sea besides.

The friendly Indians all came with their chief Massasoit. Every one came that was invited, and more, I dare say, for there were ninety of them altogether.

They brought five deer with them, that they gave to the Pilgrims; and they must have liked the party very much, for they stayed three days.

Kind as the Indians were, you would have been very much frightened if you had seen them; and the baby Oceanus, who was a year old then, began to cry at first whenever they came near him.

They were dressed in deerskins, and some of them had the furry coat of a wild cat hanging on their arms. Their long black hair fell loose on their shoulders, and was trimmed with feathers or fox-tails. They had their faces painted in all kinds of strange ways, some with black stripes as broad as your finger all up and down them. But whatever they wore, it was their very best, and they had put it on for the Thanksgiving party.

Each meal, before they ate anything, the Pilgrims and the Indians thanked God together for all his goodness. The

Indians sang and danced in the evenings, and every day they ran races and played all kinds of games with the children.

Then sometimes the Pilgrims with their guns, and the Indians with their bows and arrows, would see who could shoot farthest and best. So they were glad and merry and thankful for three whole days.

The Pilgrim mothers and fathers had been sick and sad many times since they landed from the Mayflower; they had worked very hard, often had not had enough to eat, and were mournful indeed when their friends died and left them. But now they tried to forget all this, and think only of how good God had been to them; and so they all were happy together at the first Thanksgiving party.

All this happened nearly four hundred years ago, and ever since that time Thanksgiving has been kept in our country.

Every year our fathers and grandfathers and great-grandfathers have "rejoiced together" like the Pilgrims, and have had something to be thankful for each time.

Every year some father has told the story of the brave Pilgrims to his little sons and daughters, and has taught them to be very glad and proud that the Mayflower came sailing to our country so many years ago.

Tips to Stay Fit Through the Holidays!

by Shawn LeBrun Certified Personal Trainer

Life is meant to be enjoyed.

Go to the park, watch the kids play ball.

The holiday season is upon us and although you may be more likely to pack on some pounds during this time of cold weather and bountiful food, with a little planning that does not have to be the case.

My first opinion is for you to not worry about what you eat at all. It is a special occasion which you do not do all the time, so just have fun and eat a little of everything and anything you want.

Life is meant to be enjoyed. Counting each and every calorie during this time is not too enjoyable.

Go outside and be active! Sitting around the house all day watching T.V., smelling the food cooking will keep you salivating and your stomach growling.

Take a pre-dinner walk with the family or the dog.

Go to the park, watch the kids play ball.

The holidays are not a time to feel deprived. They are meant to be happy times, spending time with friends and family.

What You Need To Know About HUG IT FORWARD Zach Balle is a founding director of Hug It Forward, a non-profit organization based in San Diego. Hug It Forward blends intangible change with tangible change globally with one goal: uniting people as one.

Zach Balle, Heenal Rajani & Josh Talmon

What inspired you to begin your mission? /Is your mission based on someone you know, or events in your own life?

Hug It Forward was born out of a feeling of unfulfillment despite well-paid jobs and material wealth. I followed the advice of a friend to go somewhere I'd never been, and arrived in Guatemala, where I noticed a lack of schools. Children studied outside, but weather conditions easily influenced how often kids could attend school.

I realized that in order to build a school, he would need the support and help of locals. After learning that a simple school building would cost nearly $15,000, I discussed the situation with a contact in the Peace Corps. She introduced the method of using bottles and other trash to construct buildings. She was building a school in the Guatamalan community of Granados, where I came to help out along with my friend, Heenal Rajani. Together we helped the community to complete their bottle school. From that moment, having seen how the community came together, cleaned the environment of trash and everybody participated, we knew that we had to make it our mission to empower more communities to build more bottle schools.

Hug It Forward is a grass-roots organization that facilitates education and awareness by empowering communities in Latin America to build “bottle schools”.

Bottle schools are schools built using “eco-bricks”: plastic bottles stuffed with inorganic trash. Entire communities come together to make the dream of educational opportunity a reality, by building their own bottle school.

Our goal is to share the bottle school technology so that communities all over the world can build their own bottle school.

How did you come up with the idea of creating a school out of plastic bottles?

The idea of insulating walls with plastic bottles stuffed with inorganic trash was pioneered in Guatemala by the organization Pura Vida. Hug It Forward heard about the technology after being introduced to Laura Kutner, a Peace Corps volunteer who was working with the community of Granados to construct two classrooms using plastic bottles. The technology has continued to evolve since then into its current form which is very different from the earliest incarnations.

Is there a message in your mission that you want readers to grasp?

The message we would like to pass on is that everyone has the ability to act. Everyone has the opportunity to create change within themselves and within their communities, be it as small as filling a plastic bottle with candy wrappers or putting the final touches on a brand new school building.

The flip side of this is that we all have an effect on our communities, and what we do matters on a larger scale. The volume of trash we create and our views toward consumption affect peoples’ lives around the world.

How much of the school is made out of recycled goods?

Plastic bottles filled with inorganic trash serve as the “ecobricks” that are sandwiched in between chicken wire and covered with cement to form the walls of the school. In this way, all of the insulation and material inside of the wall is created from trash. It takes around 6,200 plastic bottles to build a two-classroom school, stuffed with over two tons of inorganic trash.

Are there instruction manuals to construct a recyclable school?

One of Hug It Forward’s goals is to share bottle school technology in a way that anyone anywhere can create their own bottle school. To facilitate this process, we have developed a “Bottle School Manual”, a free step-by-step

guide to constructing a bottle school. The Manual includes guidance on community preparation, planning, and budgeting – right through to architectural plans and construction instructions with pictures for all stages of the process.

How many schools has your mission provided? and where? current projects?

In the 33 months since Hug It Forward was founded, we have helped build 19 schools, a few of which are in the San Martin Jilotepeque area of Guatemala. Others have been built throughout the country, in different regions. In May 2012 we completed our first bottle school in El Salvador, the first school to be built using the Bottle School Manual. Currently we have three schools in progress in the Guatemalan villages of Guacachipol, Los Cerritos, and Raxruhá.

“ ” At Hug It Forward, we simply believe that everyone has the right to an education. The reality is that not everyone is able access education...

Does the community help build the schools?

Children?

We seek to empower communities rather than fill their needs through our own efforts. The idea is that the entire community can come together to build their school with their hands and their own work. All unskilled labor is donated; all skilled labor is hired from within the community. Elders and children help fill bottles, men and teenagers mix cement, making the finished product something created from and for the whole community.

Is there a message for children/parents you’d like to share?

We dream of a world where everyone has the opportunity to get an education, we dream of a world without trash, and we very much believe these dreams can become realities. Such change starts with ourselves and within our own communities, but we hope that you continually seek ways to engage in your global community as well.

We hope to never stop learning how connected we all are, and to teach our children the value of our neighbors. We desire to live in such a way as to benefit everyone instead of only oneself. Together we really can make a difference.

What motivated you to build a green school?

At Hug It Forward, we simply believe that everyone has the right to an education. The reality is that not everyone is able access education, though, and we aim to change this through the building of schools. We also believe that we will never be healthy if the earth is sick. As global citizens we generate too much waste, creating nonbiodegradable trash that contaminates the earth and our communities.

To tackle these two issues at once, we build schools that provide the potential to empower communities throughout Guatemala by creating new opportunities for education, and we build these schools out of bottles and trash to reduce the amount of waste in the community.

How many hands participate in one project?

Every person in the community participates in building a bottle school! It could be anywhere from 200 to 800 people, depending on the size of the village, and sometimes more.

Hug It Forward a team of 7 – not including the masons we hire on a project-by-project basis, and not including all the volunteers who have helped fundraise, lead projects, and spread the word, and not including the tens of thousands of community members who have participated in building a bottle school.

We have team of volunteers that come and join us one one-week bottle school building trips, working with our partner organization Serve The World Today (www.servetheworldtoday.com). Typically, teams that join us to build bottle schools consist of between 15 and 25 people.

What books have most influenced your life?

More than books, I have been influenced by my parents, teachers, mentors and friends, and by all the lessons that life teaches on a daily basis. Thank you!

If you had to choose, where would you live?

The most beautiful place to live is here and now.

Heenal Rajani www.hugitforward.org www.servetheworldtoday.com Tel: +502 4283 5042 (Guatemala) Skype: heenalr

Indigenous Foods for Thanksgiving ||||||||||||||||||||||||| America takes credit for this holiday, but the world has celebrated end-of-year harvests forever. This Topic focuses on indigenous food produced from countries that prepare harvest festivals.

The harvest season is different for the two hemispheres. The Northern hemisphere's harvest season is around September 18-21 while the Southern hemisphere's harvest is closer to March 20 (when the sun crosses the equator, often referred to as the Autumnal Equinox ). This astrological event marks the beginning of Fall. Crops will then soon be harvested, depending on their proximity to the sun. As a result of the variety of harvest dates, harvest celebrations are celebrated across the world anywhere from September through April.

By George Schlukbier

Moon pies from China, New Zealand's kumara (sweet potatoes) , North American cranberries, maize beans and squash, and indigenous spices from India for curry are just some of the worldwide traditional harvest celebration cornerstones.

The legacy of Native Indians, or First People, continues into various cultural celebrations today.

Streams Show Signs of Degradation at Earliest Stages of Urban Development ScienceDaily (Nov. 15, 2012)

The loss of sensitive species in streams begins to occur at the initial stages of urban development, according to a new study by the USGS. The study found that streams are more sensitive to development than previously understood.

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No single factor was universally important in explaining the effects of urban development on stream ecosystems.

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"We tend not to think of waterways as fragile organisms, and yet that is exactly what the results of this scientific investigation appear to be telling us," said USGS Director Marcia McNutt." Streams are more than water, but rather communities of interdependent aquatic life, the most sensitive of which are easily disrupted by urbanization."

Contaminants, habitat destruction, and increasing streamflow flashiness resulting from urban development can degrade stream ecosystems and cause degradation downstream with adverse effects on biological communities and on economically valuable resources, such as fisheries and tourism.

For example, by the time urban development had approached 20 percent in watersheds in the New England area, the aquatic invertebrate community had undergone a change in species composition of about 25 percent.

The study also found that the health of highly-degraded streams can be improved by implementing management actions that are designed to reduce specific stressors.

"Biological communities were not resistant to even low levels of urban development. In the study sensitive invertebrate species were being lost over the initial stages of development in relatively undisturbed watersheds," said Dr. Gerard McMahon, lead scientist on the study.

"Understanding how stream ecosystems are impacted by urban development can assist in the development of management actions to protect and rehabilitate urban stream ecosystems."

Multiple streams in nine metropolitan areas across the continental U.S. were sampled to assess the effects of urban development on stream ecosystems. Study areas include Atlanta, Ga., Birmingham, Ala., Boston, Mass., Dallas, Texas, Denver, Colo., Milwaukee, Wis., Portland, Ore., Raleigh, N.C., and Salt Lake City, Utah.

The study also found that the effects of urbanization on the biological community vary geographically depending on the predominant land cover and the health of the community prior to urban development. In the study, the greatest loss of sensitive species occurred in Boston, Portland, Salt Lake City, Birmingham, Atlanta, and Raleigh metropolitan areas, where the predominant land cover was forested prior to urban development. The smallest loss of sensitive species occurred in Denver, Dallas, and Milwaukee metropolitan areas where land cover was primarily agriculture before urban development.

"The reason for this difference was not because biological communities in the Denver, Dallas, and Milwaukee areas are more resilient to stressors from urban development, but because the biological communities had already lost sensitive species to stressors from pre-urban agricultural land use activities," said McMahon.

Although urban development creates multiple stressors, such as an increase in concentrations of insecticides, chlorides, and nutrients, that can degrade stream health -- no single factor was universally important in explaining the effects of urban development on stream ecosystems.

The USGS developed an innovative modeling tool to predict how different combinations of urban-related stressors affect stream health. This tool, initially developed for the New England area, can provide insights on how watershed management actions to improve one or more of these stressors may increase the likelihood of obtaining a desired biological condition.

Results of this nationwide study and details about the effects of urbanization on the nine metropolitan areas can be found in a new USGS publication titled, "Effects of urban development on stream ecosystems in nine metropolitan study areas across the United States."

Winter Health Tips COLD & FLU SEASON

During the winter months, parents and pediatricians often focus on colds and the flu when offering health tips to keep kids healthy, such as: • • • •

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Getting a yearly flu shot Teaching good hand washing techniques Encouraging kids to avoid people who are obviously sick with a cold or the flu Teaching your kids 'cough etiquette,' which the American Academy of Pediatrics describes as teaching children to turn their heads and cough or sneeze into a disposable tissue or the inside of their elbow if they don't have a tissue, instead of simply coughing or sneezing onto their hands, which will then spread their germs onto everything they touch Taking a reusable water bottle to school, like a Sigg or CamelBak, instead of using the school water fountain, which may become contaminated with germs, especially during cold and flu season

Unfortunately, washing your hands and getting a flu shot won't help you avoid other health problems that can be triggered by winter weather, such as: •

Asthma - changes in the weather and cold weather often trigger asthma attacks, which makes it important to have refills of your asthma relief medicines (Albuterol, Proventil, Ventolin, Xopenex, etc.) ready during the winter and an asthma management plan in case your child starts coughing or having other symptoms of an asthma attack. If your child's asthma always gets worse during the winter, it might be a good time to start an asthma preventative medicine (Flovent, Qvar, Symbicort, Advair, etc.) too.

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Chronic Coughing- although many kids have a cough during cold and flu season when they get sick, if your child typically develops a chronic cough that lasts most of the winter, then ask your pediatrician if he might have asthma.

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Dry Skin - a lack of humidity from cold, dry air outside and then warm, dry air inside often leads kids to have itchy, dry skin during the winter. This can especially be a problem on a child's hands, which is made worse by frequent hand washing, and around his mouth (perioral dermatitis). Using a mild soap or soap substitute when your child bathes and then quickly applying a moisturizer within a few minutes can help to avoid and treat dry skin. You may have to reapply the moisturizer several times during the day though.

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Eczema- kids with eczema often have red, itchy skin year round, but it can be worse in the winter. Talk to your pediatrician if your usual eczema regimen isn't working during the winter for advice on treating hard to control eczema, especially if using a topical steroid and moisturizers isn't working to control your child's symptoms.

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Nosebleeds - when caused by dry air, nosebleeds can be prevented by moisturizing your child's nose with saline or a nasal gel each day. Keep in mind that kids can also get nosebleeds when they have colds, sinus infections, or allergies.

Winter health myths are common and although some are silly, some can actually be harmful, such as these: •

You can get the flu from a flu shot. - The flu shot is made from a killed virus, so can't cause the flu.

Even the nasal spray flu vaccine, although it is made from a live, attenuated virus, doesn't cause the flu.

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Extra vitamins and minerals will keep your kids from getting sick in the winter. - Although some parents load their kids up with extra orange juice and vitamin C and other vitamins that claim to boost their immunity, they likely won't keep your kids from catching colds and the flu during the winter.

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Kids can catch a cold from playing out in the cold weather, especially if you don't wear a jacket or your child's hair is wet. - Colds and the flu are caused by viruses, not by being outside in the cold. Of course, if your child is playing outside with someone who is sick with a cold, then may very well get sick too. Being underdressed in cold weather still isn't a good idea, though.

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You can't get a sunburn during the winter. - Although the sun's rays might not be as strong in the winter as they are in the summer, they can still cause sunburn, especially when they reflect off snow, so be sure to use sunscreen year-round.

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Kids can play outside as long as they want when it's cold. - Kids are at risk for frostbite and hypothermia, so have them come inside to warm up at regular intervals, especially if they start to feel cold or tired.

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Your kids can stop their allergy medicines during the winter. - Not all kids have seasonal allergies that are only triggered during the spring or fall. Some kids have year-round allergies, even during the winter.

These children, who may be allergic to dust mites, mold, or pet dander, etc., would likely do well to continue taking their allergy medicines during the winter.

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Kids need an antibiotic every time they have a runny nose, especially once the discharge is green or yellow. - This is perhaps one of the more dangerous winter health myths, as it can lead to the overuse of antibiotics, which aren't needed for most runny noses, as they are often caused by colds and other viruses.

Other health tips to keep your kids healthy this winter: •

Keep in mind that while many parents use a cool mist humidifier during the winter to help kids with nosebleeds and dry skin, those higher humidity levels can also increase the levels of dust mites and mold in your home, which can trigger allergies in susceptible people.

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Dress kids appropriately for the cold weather, typically adding one extra layer to whatever an adult would wear to be comfortable. Kids should wear several layers of loose-fitting, light, tightly woven clothing under a heavy jacket to keep them warm, plus mittens or gloves, a hat, scarf, and waterproof boots, especially if they are going to play in the snow.

•

Install a carbon monoxide detector in your home if you use a fireplace or other non-electric heating source.

•

Try to keep your kids physically active during the winter. Although it is often too cold for outdoor sports, unless you live in an area where you can play ice hockey or regularly go snowboarding, many kids stay active in the winter by taking up an indoor sport, such as basketball, indoor soccer, indoor flag football, or volleyball, etc.

Ginger Root Uses for Hair and Body

Joint Pain Ginger is successful in the treatment of joint pain, such as Raynaud’s syndrome. bursitis, and rheumatoid arthritis, because it stimulates blood circulation. Because of ginger’s analgesic nature, it reduces inflammation and muscle pain. Applied as a paste on a muscle sprain, ginger is very effective in decreasing swelling.

Mental Health

Medicinal Use of Ginger According to the American Cancer Society, 1 gram of ginger per day is effective in treating symptoms of nausea and vomiting related to pregnant women. It is also effective for nausea related to chemotherapy, as well as nausea following surgery. Ginger root is effective in preventing severe nausea after surgery if taken at least five days prior to surgery. If taken to close to surgery, the patient can expect increased bleeding since ginger prevents blood platelets from becoming less sticky. Risk of heart attacks decreases for the very same reason, since ginger, prevents blood platelets from sticking together.

Ginger is also good to address depression, anxiety, stress, and exhaustion. Because it is an aphrodisiac, it is effective for premature ejaculation and impotence.

Ginger Root for Health Hair All Natural Hair Loss Treatment for Women, state “Ginger is a circulatory stimulant for the hair follicles and a stimulant for hair growth. It is also high in fatty acids. Fatty acids are recommended for hair loss, stunted growth and thinning of hair.” Ginger is also used to control dandruff.

Digestion

Common Side Effects of Consuming Ginger

Ginger keeps the muscles in the digestive tract tone, easing the way for food to go through the digestive tract. Ginger also protects the stomach from the harmful properties of alcohol and medicines, such as ibuprofen. The positive benefits for the digestive system, helps in the prevention of ulcers.

Ginger’s side effects are few, when consuming limited amounts. Consuming large amounts of the herb may cause queasiness, bloating, postoperative nausea, and gas. Consuming ginger requires caution for those suffering with gallbladder issues, or requires blood thinners, or who will undergo surgery.

Asthma and Allergies Ginger offsets the inflammatory processes of asthma and allergies, in addition to relieving symptoms related to colds, flu, and strep throat.

Reading from the Start The Beginning of Reading

By Mark Hogan

We all know the importance of reading to our children early on in life, but studies confirming that from the beginning of conception it is equally important to begin reading way ahead of their upcoming journey of the school years that are before them. According to Child Care Aware, studies have shown that kids who are read to everyday form an early age have a higher chance of being successful in reading and writing. It has also been stated that reading to your child while in the womb has a calming effect. It is known that a mothers body and walls that separate our unborn children, are the barriers and safe haven for our babies, but it also can be a bonding experience before life begins. By the sixth month in the womb, babies can hear and recognize their mothers voice; upon recognition the baby is calmed by the sound of the mothers voice. Reading with your child is a great way to establish earlier beneficial habits. So, whether you being in the earlier stages of the life within, or after the arrival, the message is still the same. “Teach them to read often, without fail, without hesitation.� The key to their wisdom is in the written words of the book.

10

Healthy Holiday Treat Whether looking for the perfect teachers' gift or the perfect late-night snack for a persnickety Santa, your kids will enjoy preparing this tasty treat for everyone on their list—not to mention themselves.

• 1 (16.5ounce) package refrigerated sugar cookie dough • 1 (8-ounce) package 1/3less fat blockstyle cream cheese • 1/4 cup sugar • Zest of 1 orange • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract • 32 fresh raspberries

Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 11 minutes Yield: Makes 32 tarts (serving size: 1 tart)

Preheat oven to 350°. Coat a mini-muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray. Divide sugar cookie dough into 32 pieces. Coat hands in flour, and roll pieces into balls. Press each ball into tin, forming dough up and around into the shape of a tart. Bake for 11–12 minutes or until golden. Let cool 10 minutes in pan. Remove tarts, and cool completely on a wire rack. Using an electric mixer, combine cream cheese, sugar, orange zest, and vanilla. Spoon cream cheese mixture into each tart. Top each with a fresh raspberry. Chill until ready to serve.

How Educational Trips Can Help Teachers Make An Impact On Children?

Educational trips not only help children learn better when they are away from their classroom environment, but it can certainly help teachers to a great extent in making great impact on children.

Educational trips not only help children learn better when they are away from their classroom environment, but it can certainly help teachers to a great extent in making great impact on children.

Several studies have shown that a simple field trip on a subject can make great impact on children, than several textbooks, demonstrations and pictures in the confinement of a classroom.

That's right, educational trips cater to more than one learning style and it becomes an excellent teaching tool for teachers to make children understand better on a certain subject. Lectures inside the classroom cater to audio learners, who learn best by listening. However, there are visual learners will learn best when they see visuals and this might not exist in a classroom, but is more frequent during an educational trip. Educational trip tap on all kinds of learning, since the teacher can instruct while they are on the trip and cater to students who rely on audio learning, and show visual that make more impact on children who learn with visuals.

Here Are A Few Benefits For Teachers When They Take Their Children For Educational Trips: • Relaxing – children are more relaxed when they go on a field trip, which means that they are likely to learn better when they are relaxed. Since they not pressurized with competitive classroom setting, they are more open to listening and can grasp better with visuals as well as listening. Hence, a teacher can be certain that children will learn better when they are lectured during an educational trip as they can also rely on visuals.

• Non- monotonous - taking students on a field trip breaks the conventional routine and gives them extended time to relax and pay. As teachers, if you find that your children can no longer take in a boring topic as a lecturer inside a classroom, consider taking them on a relevant field trip, and it is guaranteed that they would learn better.

• New learning - sometimes educational trips tend to help children learn more and newer things than what is generally taught inside a classroom. During educational trip children learn facts that are not included in their textbooks, and this knowledge can further initiate interest in their learning process about a particular topic.

• Manners - although children are taught how to behave with conventional etiquettes in school, they can apply the same and be corrected when they are on a field trip. Teachers get more opportunity to observe each student and how they behave and respond in a social gathering.

• Creating interest - on educational trips teachers can create new interest in their children by giving insights into real-life experiences. This however, cannot be done with pictures inside a textbook, since children love to see and learn.

A perfect place which can be associated with a field trip is SEA LIFE aquarium. This can be an extremely fascinating place for children, as this aquarium houses more than 1000 different species over 2 million liters of water. Unlike conventional aquariums, Sea life gives real-time experience to children by helping them interact with fishes like holding them in their hands, touching a starfish and feeding sharks - of course under the supervision of an expert. Sea Life is a must visit place, as they have all that it needs to engage children and give them a lifetime experience that can create an everlasting impact on their memories.

Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition where the child has a weight well above normal for his or her age and height, according to MayoClinic.com. Formally, overweight is defined as having a body mass index or BMI or 25, while obesity is defined as a BMI of 30 or greater. It carries several adverse effects, not least among these the exposure of children to health problems that were once limited to adults, such as depression, diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

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Stewart Wright

| what Stuart Wright wants YOU to know | one on one| outstanding author| knowledge & a little fun |

AUTHOR of MORE INTERESTING THAN YOUR TEACHER

“

TAIGA

”

Most people believe that the Amazon rain forest is the world’s largest forest but it doesn’t even come in at a close second. The Taiga is by far the world’s largest land biome and accounts for nearly 30% of the world’s total forest cover. It goes right around the world in the Northern Hemisphere and stretches across a vast area throughout the high northern latitudes of North America and Eurasia taking in parts of Kazakhstan, Russia, Finland, Scandinavia, Canada, Alaska, Mongolia and even northern Japan. This huge forest is a very cold and inhospitable place but absolutely vital to our own wellbeing, producing more oxygen than all the other forests on our planet combined. The Taiga is a truly massive area of forest and yet it hardly ever gets a mention when compared to the Amazon and that is probably due to the fact that the Amazon’s hot climate and exotic wildlife makes it more appealing. In comparison, the Taiga forest is predominantly conifers and covered in snow most of the time but the range of wildlife is still considerable. There are various species of bears, moose, reindeer, deer, beaver, and wolves. Then there are the impressive birds of prey including eagles, buzzards and owls, not to mention the estimated 32,000 species of insects and numerous species of fish.

The Taiga - a forest that goes right around the world!

What July 26, 1775 Means to You? By: Layla Lindsay

Their services outreach spans continents to deliver personal and business mail and packages all over the world. It was formed on July 26, 1775. In existence for more than 237 years without the assistance of taxpayers dollars, with the minor exception of subsidies cost associated with the disabled, The United States Postal Service is responsible for providing service in the USA. Mail & packaging services have sprung up in every city, offering the same services as the postal service, but not at the same cost. Being that I have family who live out of state, and friends that live out of the country, I personally find the $7.00 delivery charge difference for a small box is truly NOT a “GREEN” thing I can live with. When a mail & pack it service tells me I’ll have to pay a $70.00 charge for a canvas painting in a mail tube to Paris, France, this is when I remember the 237 years of experience the postal service offers, and an added bonus of an $8.00 delivery charge for 1st class service for the same location, that’s when I say send it USPS. Today’s technology and design of competitive business are constantly changing and coming into the consumers view, but then there are the others that are just affordable and enduring. It is our commitment to our families and ourselves to search the world and within ourselves to present what’s coming and what needs to remain apart of the system. In my opinion, a letter to Santa or Uncle Jim may be a little delayed along with maybe a long line to get it moving, but somehow, someway, the 237 years tells me, “It’s been working this long for a reason.” Hold on.... It’s in the mail!

Meet Author Jill Dunn is a lover of children’s books, a teacher, an author and mother to Tyler, her adorable and inspirational son and Lucy, her precious, bright-eyed baby girl. Her first book, I Want to Go Green! But What Does That Mean? was released in 2011 and her latest book The ABCs of Going Green is due out in March of 2013.

She resides on the Connecticut coast with her family where they are committed to living and "as green as I can be" lifestyle. She knows they can't do it all but the little things add up and can make a big difference. When she's not peeling dried breakfast cereal from every visible surface of their home, writing books or playing in mud puddles with Tyler, she enjoys her job as a private tutor, going for walks and reading a good book.

To learn more about Jill Dunn and “Going Green” please visit her website at www.JillDunn.net.

J.D

J.D

Outside after the Ice-Cream

BY TONY JONES

Childhood obesity is getting much worse and it is a problem that needs dealing with. The problem goes back to diet and exercise and the children are not just to blame. To solves this problem there are only a few steps that need to be taken to help your child lose weight and generally become healthier.

A recent survey has suggested that 25% of boys and 33% of girls between the ages of 2 and 19 are classed as overweight or obese. This is extremely worrying as over quarter of children are classed as obese. This then transfers to that for every 4 children you see 1 one of them will be obese and this is a serious health problem. Something that is even more worrying is that parents are not even noticing that their children are obese.

Some parents consider their children to be underweight as well even though their children are actually the perfect weight.

This problem has to be tackled and to help get this started the diets of children needs changing. Children drink to many fizzy drinks and these contains fats, sugars and E numbers all of which are bad for your children and just by having a bottle normal bottle of coca cola it is likely that your child will of exceeded their daily allowance of sugar per day. This extra sugar is stored in the body. Another problem is with the fast food restaurants that are everywhere now. These enable you to get any food anytime, anywhere and the saturated fats from these foods get stored in the bod and are extremely hard to burn off.

This goes with the fact that for snacks children are always eating sweets, chocolate and crisps and these are loaded with all the bad stuff not matter how good they may taste.

Over 80% of children do not get the required 5 fruit and veggies per day leaving them without vital vitamins and minerals that they need to grow and be healthy. To make things worse 1 in 14 children do not get any fruit or veggies and this can give your children serious health problems.

Obesity is linked with health issues like heart disease, life threatening cancers and kidney disease. To help cope with this you need to make sure your children eat healthy. This is

down to you so that you can get rid of the unhealthy stuff and put healthy stuff in its place. So instead of letting your child eat crisps and chocolate replace the foods with fruit bars and just fruit in general as these are much healthier.

Then when it comes to meals what they eat is extremely important. Ready meals and frozen foods contain more fats than what you would think so if you fancy a pizza why not try making your own pizza with fresh ingredients as these can taste better and be healthier. This is the same with all frozen food as if you make it on your own it will be healthier. If a child is obese they are extremely likely to carry these health problems into adult and remain obese for the rest of their lives. This can significantly reduce the life expectancy of them due to the possible health problems they will come across unless they change.

As well as eating healthy it is important to exercise regularly. With many children the just sit around doing no exercise and this is not healthy at all. By sitting around playing computer games and watching TV children can develop bad habits that they will carry on into childhood. It is recommended that you do 30 minutes of exercise 5 times a week. That isn't much at all and it can definitely be worth it for your children. By exercising your children can improve their cardio-vascular system which can help you live longer.

As well as this it makes your organs stronger. This is because they have to work harder when you exercise and by doing this they become used to it and better at coping with exercise. This reduces the chance of people having a heart attack so it is definitely worth it. By being healthier your children are more likely to work better as having a better stamina can help them do their day-to-day jobs more effectively which obviously gives them a better future.

Just by doing the above a child can become healthy quick and this can be better for everyone. Obesity costs the the country two Billion a year and this could be significantly reduced if you get your children into good habits of food and exercise while they are young. What they do now they are likely to do when they grow up, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all up to you.

Thank You

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to teach your kids about being thankful. Here are some ideas to teach your children how to appreciate the blessings in their lives.

Giving Thanks Placemats The goal of this craft is to create a collage filled with drawings and pictures of all the things your children are thankful for. Cut photos from magazines, or print some photos from your computer. Older children can write captions under the photos or draw their own. Be sure to put the child’s name and the year on it.

If you make this collage from two standard letter size pieces of construction paper taped side-by-side, you can take the completed collage to a copy shop when you’re done and have it laminated. It then becomes a placemat that you can use every Thanksgiving for years to come.

Thankful Paper Chain Another way to remind your children of their blessings is to create a paper chain. This is similar to a regular paper chain – where you cut strips of paper and connect them together as loops, but there’s one difference. You write on the strips of paper before you connect them. Write the things you are thankful for with your children. For instance, “Grandma plays games with me” or “My teacher is nice.” The fun part of this activity is to make the chain as long as possible – showing all your blessings. If you’d like to keep this up during Christmas, just use green and white paper.

Thanksgiving Tree This is another take on the idea above and works really well if you have several kids in the family. Get each child to trace their hand on yellow, red, or brown construction paper. Cut out the hand shapes and write (or have the child write) what they are thankful for on the hand shape. Cut a tree trunk shape out of brown construction paper. Glue it on a large piece of poster board. Let the kids add their hand shapes as leaves above the tree trunk, turning it into a beautiful fall colored tree.

Thankful Book This idea is similar to the others, except it’s more of a keepsake. Purchase a photo album or scrapbook kit and make a “blessings” theme. Add photos of loved ones, including stories about why they are special to you. Also, include pages of your favorite foods, favorite stories, favorite movies and all the other things that make you happy. Any time your kids feel down, you can open your blessing book to see all the reasons you have to be happy – and thankful for the blessings in your life.