Kidsville News - February 2010

COFFEE/MOORE COUNTY'S FUN FAMILY NEWSPAPER

FEBRUARY 2010

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Dear Kids, Roses are red, Violets are blue.

Dragons are special, And so are you!

Happy Valentine’s Day! February is an awesome month. Valentine’s Day is a fun holiday when we can let the special people we love know that we love them! Sometimes grown-ups do this with gifts like jewelry, so I thought it would be neat to talk to a gemologist about her job. Alison Neumann is also responsible for helping museums put together wonderful exhibits about gems and jewelry. What a job!

And of course, February has other special holidays, like Presidents’ Day, Groundhog Day and National African-American History Month. There’s a lot of history in February. Keep reading this edition to learn more!

For fun and games all month, visit the Kidsville News! Web site at www.KidsvilleNews.com. Have a fabulous

February!

Your friend,

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Kidsville News!

©

Black History Month 2010

Kidsville News!

February has been proclaimed National African-American History Month, also known as Black History Month. This month is set aside to recognize the achievements and contributions by African Americans. The observance of this special period dates from February 1926, when it was established as Negro History Week by Dr. Carter G. Woodson, a noted African-American author and scholar. Dr. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of African-American Life and History (ASALH) in 1915.

He established the week during the period of February, which contains the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. In 1976, the month of February was established as Black History Month.

Frederick Douglass was one of the leaders of the abolitionist movement, which sought to end slavery in the United States decades before the Civil War. During the Civil War, Douglass served as an adviser to President Abraham Lincoln. He fought for the adoption of constitutional amendments that would guarantee voting rights and other civil liberties for African Americans.

Throughout Black History Month, the country remembers and celebrates the accomplishments of notable black figures throughout history. This year, the celebration is more poignant for many due to the historical first year of President Barack Obama — inaugurated last January as the nation’s first African-American United States president.

There are many African-Americans who have made significant contributions to our country. One of the lesser known is Mae Jemison.

Born in Decatur, Alabama, on October 17, 1956, Dr. Mae Jemison made history shortly before her 36th birthday when she became the first AfricanAmerican woman to enter space. As a mission specialist aboard the Shuttle Endeavour, Dr. Jemison entered space in September of 1992. This was four years after completing her training as a NASA mission specialist. The trip into space was just one of many stops along the way for Dr. Jemison. Her remarkable career in medicine has taken her to a Cambodian refugee camp, where she worked as a volunteer, and to West Africa, where she worked as a volunteer medical officer with the Peace Corps.

George Washington Carver was born a slave but later earned his college degree and became a chemist. He discovered uses for the peanut, the sweet potato and the soybean.

Charles Richard Drew was an African-American physician, surgeon and professor at Howard University. He developed a way to preserve blood plasma for transfusion. He was the director of the first American Red Cross Blood Bank.

Images: www.metrocreativeconnection.com.

For only the third time since 1900, the Chinese New Year will fall on the same day as Valentine’s Day. The Full Moon in February (Feb. 28) is also called the Snow Moon or the Hunger Moon.

Native American tribes in New England and the Great Lakes called it this because there is heavy snowfall

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Does Presidents’ Day Exist?

Each February, schools, banks and offices close for a holiday that technically doesn’t exist. Though the third Monday of every February is widely known as Presidents’ Day, the official name of the holiday is Washington’s Birthday. It was named after the first president of the United States, George Washington, whose birthday fell on February 22. It was first celebrated as a holiday in 1796, which was the last year of Washington’s presidency.

Many states began referring to the holiday as President’s Day to honor another great president with a February birthday, Abraham Lincoln. In 1865, the year after President Abraham Lincoln (the 16th President) was assassinated, a holiday was observed to commemorate his birthday (February 12). Because states are allowed to follow their own holidays, many chose to honor Lincoln over Washington. However, some states still celebrate the day as “Washington’s Birthday.”

In 1968, Congress considered legally changing the holiday’s name to Presidents’ Day. While those efforts did not succeed, Congress did decide to move the holiday to fall between both Washington and Lincoln’s birthdays. In order to simplify the calendar of holidays and give employees three-day weekends, the observance of George Washington’s Birthday was moved to the third Monday in February. Although the holiday has come to be known as Presidents’ Day and to include Abraham Lincoln and all other presidents, the holiday that we celebrate is still officially known as George Washington’s Birthday.

this time of year, and hunting is difficult.

February is the only month that can pass without a full moon because it has only 28 days (usually!).

One in every four years is a Leap Year! This means that the year has one more day than the 365 days that a common year has. The extra day is February 29. The next leap year is in 2012.

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What’s the Difference?

There are five things different between picture A and picture B. Can you find them all?

Heart Word Find

February is American Heart Month! See how many heartrelated words you can find in this word search.

ARTERY ATTACK BEAT BLOOD

K B L T Z H H Z I U B U X C L

C C E C E T M X P F E O C Q Y

K U C A W L V V D W O H D F U

CHOLESTEROL DIET EXERCISE HEALTH

R T H R T A F V W S E O T P V

E I O M L E D Q X A E P L H W

A X L F J H N L R P C Z T F E

M U E O L I T T P L N Z R A B

M H S R E Q U Y U N M H S W L

A U T V C Y A P L V Y U B W T

X S E Y V I K J S C N Q O O O

H N R I H C S E E X K S T Y B

HEART PULSE RHYTHM VEIN

C E O Y A R V E P V O P K G C

Y Z L T D U M F E K T X G E G

A R T E R Y H N U G I L F K Z

C A S D I E T R G U D O O L B

Heart Scramble

Unscramble the words to complete the sentences.

1. R C C A A I D: relating to the heart.

2. The heart has two S V E E L N T C I R. 3. L C H O L R O T S E E clogs blood vessels.

4. Avoid T A F T Y foods for heart health.

Source: www.metrocreativeconnection.com

Source: www.metrocreativegraphics.com

Answers: 1. cardiac 2. ventricles 3. cholesterol 4. fatty

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Is Spring Around the Corner? The Groundhog May Tell Since the eighteenth century, the tradition of Groundhog Day has been observed. However, it hasn’t always centered around a groundhog or been called by that name.

Groundhog Day actually has origins as “Candelmas Day” and began in Germany. When German settlers came to America and primarily took up residence in Pennsylvania and beyond, they brought the traditions of Candelmas Day with them. Candelmas Day falls midpoint between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. Superstition was that if the weather on Candelmas Day was stormy, the second half of winter would be fair. If it was fair and sunny on Candelmas Day, winter would stretch on with more cold weather.

As the German saying goes (and variations from other European countries): For as the sun shines on Candlemas Day, So far will the snow swirl until May. For as the snow blows on Candlemas Day, So far will the sun shine before May. Early European Christians would also celebrate Candelmas Day, when clergy would distribute candles during the dark of winter.

In Germany, a badger or even a bear was used for prognosticating the upcoming weather. In Pennsylvania, another hibernating mammal was relied upon — the woodchuck or groundhog. Perhaps that was also because native Delaware

Indians who settled around Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, regarded the groundhog as an honorable ancestor of “Mother Earth.” Punxsutawney comes from the Indian name “ponksad-uteney,” which means “the town of the sandflies.”

Pennsylvania’s first official celebration of Groundhog Day took place on February 2, 1886. The groundhog used in the festivities was given the name “Punxsutawney Phil, Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators, and Weather Prophet Extraordinary.” He has since been called simply Punxsutawney What is a Groundhog?

Phil.

A groundhog is also Phil’s first known as a woodchuck, prediction was an whistle-pig or land-beaver in early spring. Since some areas. It is a rodent of then, he has been right the scientific class, Marmota about 40 percent of the monax. The groundhog is time, according to closely related to another statistics. Groundhog Day rodent, the squirrel. Groundfestivities now take place at hogs do spend a lot of time Gobbler’s Knob, a wooded foraging for plant life on the hill with a beautiful view. ground. However, they can Phil rests in a heated burrow also climb trees and swim. beneath a fake tree stump In the winter, groundhogs before making his predichibernate in a burrow where tion each February 2 at 7:25 a.m.

Source: www.metrocreativecontheir body temperature and nection.com metabolism drop.

Valentine’s Day: A Lovely Tradition!

Chaucer spoke about how birds start choosing their mates Valentine’s Day is celebrated on February 14. It is a day on February 14, just like many people find romance on when people exchange cards, candy, gifts, flowers, stuffed February 14. Another idea is the exchanging of cards, which animals, jewelry and other items with loved ones, friends and came from the Frenchman, Charles, the Duke of Orleans. family. In many schools, teachers allow students to make Charles wrote a love letter to his wife on February 14 from their own Valentine’s Day cards using decorations like lace; his jail cell, where he was imprisoned after the Battle of Agred, pink and white construction paper; macaroni noodles; incourt in 1415. From there, Valentine’s Day began in Engribbon; beads and glitter. When finished, the students often land as a day when people traded romantic and loving words exchange cards with friends or family. And, you can always between one another. start your own tradition. Here’s an idea: Make up a new Some people think that Valentine’s Day came from poem for your mom each Valentine’s Day. Then, when you are grown up, she’ll have a collection of all the sweet poetry saints in the early Christian church who died for their love of Christianity. Still others claim that Valentine’s Day comes that you have given her! from spring being the season of romance.

A common figure representing Valentine’s Day is Cupid.

Regardless of its origin, Valentine’s Day is a Cupid was the god of love in Roman mytholholiday that is celebrated worldwide on ogy. (Mythology is a collection of stories February 14. In Great Britain, children sing that are believed to be true by a certain Valentine’s Day songs and exchange gifts group of people.) Prior to the mid-300 like fruit, money or candy. People from A.D., Cupid was seen as a strong, handRoses are red.

Italy have a special Valentine’s Day meal. some, young man. After the 350s, howThroughout history, Valentine’s Day has ever, Cupid was depicted as a plump, Violets are blue. been seen as holiday where love and warm naked baby with wings and a bow and Sugar is sweet. thoughts are exchanged among friends and arrows in his hands. If someone was struck And so are you. family. That tradition continues to this day. with one of Cupid’s golden arrows, then that -Anonymous Written by Ashley Young, contributing writer. person would instantly fall in love.

A lot of debate exists over what actually started Sources: The World Book Encyclopedia, Valentine’s Day. In the 1300s, English poet Geoffrey Britannica Encyclopedia Online.

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COME OUT AND PLAY! Join the Great Backyard Bird Count It’s not exactly a sport, but bird watching is a great hobby and a good way to get outside and explore nature. This month, bird watchers coast to coast are invited to take part in the 13th annual Great Backyard Bird Count, Friday, February 12, through Monday, February 15, 2010. Participants in the free event will join tens of thousands of volunteers counting birds in their own backyards, local parks or wildlife refuges.

Each checklist submitted by these “citizen scientists” helps researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society learn more about how the birds are doing — and how to protect them. Last year, participants turned in more than 93,600 checklists online, creating the continent’s largest instantaneous snapshot of bird populations ever recorded.

“Taking part in the Great Backyard Bird Count is a great way to get outside with family and friends, have fun and help birds — all at the same time,” said Audubon Education Vice President, Judy Braus. “Even if you can only identify a few species, you can provide important This picture of the red-bellied information that enables scientists to learn Woodpecker was taken by Linda more about how the environment is changPizer, a participant in the 2009 ing and how that affects our conservation Great Backyard Bird Count. priorities.”

Why count birds? Scientists and bird enthusiasts can learn a lot by knowing where the birds are. Bird populations are dynamic; they are constantly in flux. No single scientist or team of scientists could hope to document the complex distribution and movements of so many species in such a short time.

Anyone can take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count, from novice bird watchers to experts. Participants count birds for as little as 15 minutes (or as long as they wish) on one or more days of the event and report their sightings online at www.birdcount.org.

Birding Tips The following tips from the National Audubon Society will help you get started with this fun activity.

• Pick a time of day for your walk when birds are most plentiful — usually early morning or late afternoon works best.

• Start nearby. Walk through your yard or neighborhood or a local park.

As you become more interested in birding, you can explore wilder places.

• Making a simple bird feeder for your backyard will attract some new feathered friends to your yard.

• Bring along a field guide to help identify the species you are spotting.

Information from The Great Backyard Bird Count, www.birdsource.org/ gbbc and Audubon, www.audubon.org. The Great Backyard Bird Count is led by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, with sponsorship from Wild Birds Unlimited.

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS...

HAITI?

It’s time to get out your globe! You need to know about the imaginary lines on globes and maps. These lines are called lines of latitude and longitude, and they tell a pilot or ship’s captain exactly where in the world a certain place is located.

Basically, latitude lines (also called parallels) are the horizontal lines on your map. Lines of longitude (also called meridians) are the vertical lines that run from the North Pole to the South Pole. This mapping system is written in degrees and uses the symbol °. Get ready to travel the world!

Find longitude 72º W and latitude 19º N, and you will find Haiti. It is located in the Caribbean on the western one-third of the island of Hispaniola.

The Dominican Republic takes up the eastern two-thirds of the island. The island is located between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean.

Although the country is very small — even smaller than the U.S. state of Maryland — over nine million people live there. Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. The official languages in Haiti are French and Creole.

The island was explored and claimed by Christopher Columbus on his first voyage in 1492 and became a very important base for the Spanish as they began to conquer the Caribbean and the American Mainland.

In the 1500s, the French inhabited the western end of the island, and in 1804, it became the Republic of Haiti. The Haitians conquered the whole island in 1822 and held it until 1844, when the Dominican Republic was established on the eastern part of the island.

The climate is tropical, and the temperatures do not change much based on time of year. Seasons are defined more by the amount of rainfall than the temperature. The rainy season runs from May through November and the dry season from November through April. The terrain of Haiti is mostly mountainous. The country lies in the middle of the hurricane belt, and severe storms are common between June and October.

On January 12, the country was devastated by an earthquake. Tens of thousands of people died and thousands of buildings collapsed. Loving and generous people from all over the world are coming to the aid of Haiti. Donations for the relief effort can be made to the American Red Cross by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-435-7669) or visiting www.redcross.org.

Sources: The World Factbook prepared by the Central Intelligence Agency; Richard A. Haggerty, ed., Dominican Republic: A Country Study; Washington: GPO for the Library of Congress, 1989.

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At the Movies Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief (In theaters Feb. 12) Chris Columbus (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone) directs this mythic fantasy story based on Rich Riordan’s novel for children. Percy Jackson (played by Logan Lerman) is the 12-year-old son of the Greek God Poseidon, and as such is half-human and half-god. Percy can do amazing things, like stay underwater for seven minutes at a time. Still, Percy will discover many more things he’s capable of doing while on a mission to retrieve a lightning rod stolen from the Greek God Zeus.

Worse yet, some Gods think it was Percy who took the lightning rod in the first place. Pierce Brosnan plays the Greek God Chiron, Uma Thurman plays Medusa and Rosario Dawson plays Persephone in this action spectacle fantasy movie for lovers of mythology. (20th Century Fox) No MPAA rating at press time.

Alice in Wonderland (In Disney Digital 3DTM) (In theaters March 5) Based on the timeless fantasy novel

by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (also known as Lewis Carroll), filmmaker Tim Burton (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) takes us into a magical land full of mystery, danger and beauty.

Johnny Depp plays the Mad Hatter, and 19-year-old Mia Wasilkowska plays Alice. Alice shrinks down very tiny and goes on a mission of weird events, personal discovery and wild dreams.

Along the way, Alice meets Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the Dormouse, the Caterpillar, the Cheshire Cat and the famous White Rabbit who has an obsession with time and appointments. Anne

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Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, Crispin Glover, Timothy Spall and Christopher Lee all play roles in this kooky ride down the rabbit hole, where all sorts of fantastic creatures await. Look for Tim Burton’s version of Alice in Wonderland to become an instant classic of children’s fantasy movies. Johnny Depp is amazing as the strangely dressed Mad Hatter. (Walt Disney Pictures) No MPAA rating at press time.

Movies on DVD Disney’s Little Einsteins: Animal Expedition (Feb. 9) Visit the natural world through the curious eyes of the Little Einsteins. Our gang of happy world explorers go from the Great Lakes to the Great Barrier Reef and on to the far reaches of India to play at an elephant festival. Disney’s Little Einstein movies are designed to promote learning through a mix of animation and real-life action.

Little ones can share the kids’-eye spectacle that the filmmakers create.

Lighthearted and full of respect for all that Mother Nature has to offer, Disney’s Little Einsteins: Animal Expedition is like a mini travel vacation for kids. Not Rated (Disney) Ice Castles (Feb. 9) Director Donald Wrye remakes his own 1978 Oscar-nominated romantic drama Ice Castles. Here, real-life championship figure skater Taylor Firth plays Alexis, a 16-year-old professional skater with big dreams and lots of talent. But Alexis falls and suffers a tragic injury that threatens to ruin her ice skating career forever. Alexis’s boyfriend and father come to her aid to help her start all over again to become a top-ranked ice skater. February is a perfectly cold month to watch a movie about professional ice skating with your family and friends.

Rated PG (Sony Pictures) Cole Smithey, also known as “the smartest film critic in the world,” has been a film critic for 11 years and writes for over 50 publications, in print and on-line. Truman loves to watch movies and has the highest appreciation for great popcorn.

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TM

A SECTION ESPECIALLY FOR PARENTS

BOOKSHELF The Secret Life of a Snowflake: An Up-Close Look at the Art and Science of Snowflakes

leaving eleven-year-old Sally in charge of nine-year-old Abe, the children have to face the hardships of the frontier alone.

In a novel full of the power of adventure and the poignancy of family love — and in time for the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth — Mazer gives voice to a girl who helped shape the life of one of this country’s greatest presidents.

Author/Illustrator: Kenneth Libbrecht, Vanessa Sorenson Publisher: MBI Publishing Company

Age Range: 8 to 12 Dr. Kenneth Libbrecht is a professor of physics at Caltech, where he studies how crystals grow. And, he has an unusual hobby: He looks at snowflakes under a microscope and takes photographs of what he sees. The results are amazing photos revealing beautiful snow crystals that look like flowers, ferns and stars. But this unique book is more than pretty pictures — it also explains the science behind snowflakes. Why do snowflakes form such different shapes? Why are no two alike? From the birth and growth of a snow flake to the right way to make a paper snowflake, Dr. Libbrecht provides clear, interesting information.

With its beautiful photography, readers of all ages will love this book. —JK

My Brother Abe: Sally Lincoln’s Story Author/Illustrator: Harry Mazer Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing

Age Range: 8 to 12 From the Publisher: What was it like to be the sister of the boy who would grow up to become president of the United States?

Sally Lincoln’s voice has never before been heard. Now she tells her own story of an unsettling time for the Lincoln family, which changed and influenced both children forever.

Forced to leave their home in Kentucky, the family begins anew in Indiana territory, only later to be devastated by the death of Nancy Hanks, Sally and Abe’s adored mother. When their demanding father journeys back to Kentucky to find a new wife,

America’s Black Founders: Revolutionary Heroes & Early Leaders Author: Nancy I. Sanders Publisher: Chicago Review Press, Inc. Age Range: 9 to 12 From the Publisher: History books are replete with heroic stories of Washington, Jefferson and Adams, but what of Allen, Russwurm and Hawley? America’s Black Founders celebrates the lesser known but significant lives and contributions of our nation’s early African-American leaders. Many know that the Revolutionary War’s first martyr, Crispus Attucks, a dockworker of African descent, was killed at the Boston Massacre. But far fewer know that the final conflict of the war, the Battle of Yorktown, was hastened to a conclusion by James Armistead Lafayette, a slave and spy who reported the battle plans of General Cornwallis to George Washington. Author Nancy Sanders weaves the histories of dozens of men and women — soldiers, sailors, ministers, poets, merchants, doctors, and other community leaders — who have earned proper recognition among the founders of the United States of America. To get a better sense of what these individuals accomplished and the times in which they lived, readers will celebrate Constitution Day, cook colonial foods, publish a newspaper, petition their government and more. This valuable resource also includes a time line of significant events, a list of historic sites to visit or explore online and Web resources for further study.

P ARENTOWN

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