Kv oct13

Hi, Kid s!

Wha t is 277 mi les lon g , ab ou t 6,000 fee t dee p an d 4 mi les wide at its na rro we st po int ? Th e Gr an d Ca ny on ! It is on e of Am eri ca’s mo st we llkn ow n lan dm ar ks . Sc ien tis ts say it too k ab ou t 2 bil lio n ye ars for th e wa ters of th e Co lor ad o Ri ver to ca r ve Th e Gr an d Ca ny on . Did yo u kn ow th at th e Gr an d Ca ny on is als o a na tio na l pa rk? Re ad mo re ab ou t th is im pre ssi ve wo rk of na tur e in “Co nn ect ion s.”

I th ink th at Th e Gr an d Ca ny on is re all y intere sti ng , I ta lke d wi th Vin cen t L. Sa nt ucc i in “W ha t’s It Lik e to Be ...” He is a Se nio r Ge olo gis t/Pale on tol og ist wi th th e Na tio na l Pa rk Se r vic e’s Ge olo gic al Re sou rce s Di vis ion . Ch eck ou t my inter vie w wi th him an d le ar n mo re ab ou t wh at a geo log ist do es!

I love le ar nin g ab ou t th e wo rld an d ho w it wo rk s.

Th ere are so ma ny e xci tin g th ing s to e xp lore. Wha t is yo ur favo rite pla ce to e xp lore?

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Fun Fast Facts About the Grand Canyon •

The Grand Canyon is found in the U.S. state of Arizona.

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Many people consider it to be one of the seven wonders of the natural world.

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The Grand Canyon is 277 miles in length.

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At its widest point, the Grand Canyon stretches 18 miles.

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At its narrowest point, it stretches 4 miles across.

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The Grand Canyon is around 6,000 feet deep.

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The Colorado River runs through the Grand Canyon. It has been eroding the steep sides for millions of years.

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The different types of rock visible in the Grand Canyon make it an important site for geological research.

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The rock found at the bottom of the Grand Canyon (schist) is around 2 billion years old.

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The rock found on the upper rim (limestone) is around 230 million years old.

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American Indians have been living in and around the canyon for thousands of years.

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John Wesley Powell led the first expedition down the Grand Canyon in 1869.

He was the first to use the name Grand Canyon. It had been known as the Big or Great Canyon.

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The Grand Canyon became a national park in 1919.

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It was the 17th national park established in the United States.

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The Grand Canyon is not the widest, longest or deepest canyon in the world.

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The Grand Canyon draws more than 5 million visitors per year.

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People enjoy hiking, sightseeing and rafting in the canyon, but if you want to camp, you have to get a permit from the Backcountry Office.

The Grand Canyon The Grand Canyon is one of the most prominent and well-known landmarks in the United States. It stretches more than 277 miles from end to end, and its rocky walls go more than a mile deep to the canyon’s floor, where the Colorado River runs through its heart. With its craggy walls and breathtaking views, the canyon is beautiful in a wild and rugged way.

The Grand Canyon is managed by the U.S. Park Service as it is one of our nation’s national parks. Two American-Indian tribes, the Hualapai Tribal Nation and the Havasupai Tribe also help oversee the operations of the park. Both tribes call the canyon home.

The various rock formations that make up the canyon walls tell the story of the canyon over billions of years. More than 2 billion years of the Earth’s geologic history can be found running through the various layers of rock that make up the canyon’s sides. Recent geologic studies argue that the Colorado River established its course through the canyon more than 17 million years ago. With each passing year, the river continued to erode the canyon to its current status. (Now you know why your parents tell you not leave the water running!)

Over the years, many American tribes have called the canyon home. The Pueblo people in particular considered the canyon to be a holy site and made pilgrimages (religious journeys) to the canyon to perform sacred rites and ceremonies.

In 1540, Garcia Lopez de Cardenas, and explorer from Spain, became the first European to see the canyon. Led by Hopi Indian guides, the explorer’s team traveled to the South Rim of canyon between Desert View and Moran Point.

Three of de Cardenas’ men descended one-third of a way down the canyon, but returned due to a lack of water. For more than 200 years, no other Europeans came to the canyon.

In 1869, the first expedition down the canyon was led by Maj. John Wesley Powell. Powell, along with nine men and four boats, began the treacherous journey through the canyon in May and made it into the Grand Canyon on Aug. 13. In 1871, Powell first used the term Grand Canyon to reference what had been called the Big Canyon.

Thirty-seven years later, the Grand Canyon became an official national monument in 1908, and 11 years later, it was named a national park. To learn more about the canyon, visit www.nps.gov/grca.

Did You Know

Fast Facts taken from www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts

That the largest cave in the world was discovered in 2011 in Vietnam? The cave, which is located in the remote Vietnamese jungle, is called Son Doong. It is 262 by 262 feet in most places and has been documented to be more than 2.8 miles long.

Researchers believe that the cave is much longer, but seasonal flood waters keep them from exploring futher. In contrast, Deer Cave, which was the previous record holder is 300 by 300 feet, but is only about a mile long. The Son Doong cave is also more than 460 feet high in some places. The cave was found by a Vietnamese farmer.

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OCTOBER 2013

The New River Gorge Bridge is the second-highest bridge in the United States.

Located in West Virginia, the bridge is 265 meters high.

On a regular day, cars use the bridge to cross over the gorge (which is a type of canyon) that spans the New River. But one day out of the year, the bridge is closed to vehicles, and pedestrians get the opportunity to take in the beautiful views from the bridge. Some of them take it as an opportunity to Base Jump from the bridge. On the third Saturday of every October, more than 450 people gather to participate in this extreme sport, which is watched by more than 200,000 spectators. The base is the platform from which the BASE jumper jumps. In this case, the jumpers have just 8 seconds of free fall before they have to open their parachutes. The view is awesome, but the landings can prove tricky. The jumpers may land in the rapids of the New River, or they may land on the shore, which is surrounded by trees. For more information, visit www.officialbridgeday.com.

MEXICAN LONGNOSED BAT

When people see flying alia Kingdom: Anim animals, their ata Phylum: Chord first thought alia Class: Mamm ra usually is that Order: Chiropte e stomida it is a bird, Family: Phyllo e na cei na but that is not Subfamily: Eru s eri vct ton always the Genus: Lep babuenae yer L. s: cie Spe case. The bat is a flying mammal. The term mammal means that the animal feeds its young with milk and has hair. The bat is also the only flying mammal in the world. Many different species of bats exist all across the world. Each one is unique in what it eats, where it lives and how it looks, but there are a few things that most bats have in common.

All bats fly. They have long thin bones that stretch out and are covered in a thin layer of skin. In other mammals, these bones would be arms, but in bats they are wings. At the end of their wings, they have little claw-like fingers on the end of a hand. Most bats are also nocturnal, which means that they sleep during the day and hunt or feed during the night.

The Mexican long-nosed bat is a unique species of

If you happen to be in Albequerque, New Mexico, during the first week of October, you need to keep your eyes on the skies. For more than 42 years, hot-air balloon lovers have made the trek to New Mexico to be a part of The Albuquerque International Balloon Festival.

The festival draws visitors from all over the world to watch the colorful balloons float across the sky. Why October? During October, the climate in New Mexico leads to a weather phenomenon called the “Albuquerque Box.” This is a combination of weather patterns and geographic landscape, which allows balloonists to control and even retrace their flights.

One special event is called the Mass Ascension, when literally hundreds of balloons take to the sky at once, with a balloon flying the American flag in the lead. For more information, visit www. balloonfiesta.com.

If you want to see really cool rocks and minerals, you can always go to a museum, but if you live in Louisiana, on Oct. 11-13, you can visit the Annual New Orleans Gem, Mineral, Fossil and Jewelry Show. For 43 years, lovers of rocks and minerals have flocked to the show, where they have the opportunity to see rare fossils, minerals, gemstones and even jewelry made from the rocks.

While many people go to buy or sell their goods, others go just to learn more about the common and uncommon stones. This year, visitors will have the opportunity to see a dinosaur bone and cast exhibit, as well as learn about geode cracking and fluorescent minerals. Organizers say the show is more than interesting; it’s educational. For more information, visit the Gem and Mineral Society of New Orleans website.

bat. Just as the name suggests, this bat can be found in region in the spring when it is time to have pups. Each Mexico. That is not the only place it lives, however. mother has only one pup a year, but usually thousands The long-nosed bat can also be found in the parts of of baby bats are found together because large numbers the United States that are close to Mexico, like Texas. of mother bats will gather together in the same caves They usually roost, or spend the night, in caves. These to have babies. This gathering creates a nursery for caves can be natural or man made, like mines. the babies so the mothers can leave at night and feed, The most noticeable feature on but the babies are not left alone. these bats is their nose. Unlike Usually a few of the mothers many other bat noses, it is very will stay in the cave at night and long and usually has a tip that take care of the babies while the looks like a leaf. This species of others are gone. bat also has no tail and is usually a The Mexican long-nosed bat is pale brown or a gray color. They currently on the US endangered are not very big, growing to be species list. They are endangered about only 2.5 or 3 inches long, because their habitats are with a wingspan of 14 inches. destroyed or tampered with. Bats They generally live about 20 in general are one of the most years. threatened land animals in all of The Mexican long-nosed bat North America.

Photo courtesy of http://jenandeats fruits and nectars of the cacti They are important to the taxonomy.blogspot.com that bloom at night in their natural environment because the bats habitat. Like a butterfly or a that eat nectar pollinate the hummingbird, the bat has a long tongue that it uses to plants from which they feed, and this pollination get the nectar from the flowers of the cactus. helps the plant populations to grow. The bats that eat These bats are one of the only in the world that bugs keep but populations in control and help to get migrate, and they always go to the Sonoran Desert rid of pests.

For more information on the Mexican long-nosed bat, visit the following websites: www.desertmuseum.org/kids/bats/Mexican%20long-nosed%20bat.php www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/species/mexlongnose/http://whozoo.org/AnlifeSS2001/samdelag/SDLG_LongnosedBat.htm.

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KIDSVILLE NEWS - PAGE 5

Where in the World Is …

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!

On your globe, locate longitude 18ºW and latitude 65ºN, and you’ll find the Northern European country of Iceland, an island located between the North Atlantic Ocean and the Greenland Sea and to the northwest of the United Kingdom.

Iceland is the westernmost European country, and its capital, Reykjavik, is the world’s northernmost national capital. During the 9th and

10th centuries A.D., Irish, Scottish and Norwegian immigrants settled in Iceland, which was independent for more than 300 years before rule

by Norway and Denmark. In 1944, Iceland received independence from Denmark.

Iceland is a little smaller than our state of Kentucky, and its terrain, mostly plateau, includes ice fields, glaciers, hot springs and mountain peaks (volcanoes). Once heavily forested, the landscape has very few trees due to extensive cutting for firewood and timber, and soil erosion is a serious problem. Iceland’s climate is temperate, thanks to the warm Gulf Stream current, with mild and windy winters and cool, damp summers. Because it is so close to the Arctic Circle, Iceland is home to the phenomena of the midnight sun (the sun never “sets” during the summer) and the Northern Lights.

Iceland is a very interesting land of fire and ice, with glaciers,

geysers and volcanoes. The coastline of Iceland has many bays and fjords, deep, narrow inlets carved by glaciers of the past. In fact, the highest point in Iceland, Hvannadalshnukur, at more than 6,900 feet, is at the Vatnajokull glacier, and the country has more land covered by glaciers than on the entire European continent. Geologically, Iceland sits on a mantle plume or “hot spot” as part of the Earth’s Mid-Atlantic Ridge, an opening along the ocean floor that spreads to form new crust. Iceland, like Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean half a globe away, was created by volcanoes and is subject to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. In 1875, when the Askja volcano erupted, its fallout (ash and volcanic debris) caused a great famine, and many people emigrated (moved away) to Canada and the U.S. The Eyjafjallajokull volcano erupted in 2010, and volcanic ash high in the atmosphere severely interrupted air traf-

fic in Europe. Scientists are keeping an eye on Katla, which may erupt very soon. Iceland’s most active volcanoes are Grimsvoetn and Hekla, but others that have been active include Askja, Bardarbunga, Brennisteinsfjoll, Esjufjoll, Hengill, Krafla, Krisuvik, Kverkfjoll, Oraefajokull, Reykjanes, Torfajokull, and Vestmannaeyjar. As a result of this geographic and geologic mix of fire and ice, one can snowmobile on a glacier, or spend a relaxing time in a natural hot spring.

Sources: About Iceland, www. planiceland.com/about-iceland/?g clid=CJrhrNDvwLkCFShp7AodGl 8AJg; “Iceland,” The World Factbook, Central Intelligence Agency, www.cia.gov/library/publications/ the-world-factbook/geos/ic.html and “Iceland,” Wikipedia, https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iceland.

Photos courtesy of andrewperez15.wordpress.com

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OCTOBER 2013

What’s It Like to Be ...A Geologist?

I love to be outdoors and enjoy nature. Ever since I was a tiny dragon, I have been fascinated with fossils and rocks, and I’ve got quite a rock collection! Geology is the science that deals with the history of the earth and its life, especially as recorded in rocks. This month I was fortunate to have the chance to talk with Vincent L. Santucci. He is a Senior Geologist / Paleontologist with the National Park Service Geological Resources Division. This department works to preserve, protect, enhance and understand geologic features of the National Parks. Did you know that scientifically important fossil deposits are found in 230 parks, 81 parks contain 3,600 known caves and 38 parks have volcanoes as a major feature? Keep reading to learn more about Mr. Santucci’s pretty cool job as a geologist!

Truman: What does it take to become a geologist?

Santucci: Anyone interested in geology can be an “amateur” geologist. The only requirement is the interest in learning about geology. It is a real plus to like the outdoors and enjoy exploring nature.

In order to become a “professional” geologist, a strong background in science is important. Most geology jobs require a college education and a major focus in geology, sometimes referred to as Earth Science.

Geology students frequently participate in field geology trips. You can only learn so much from geology books, it is very important to get out and see rocks and rock sequences in the field. It is very rewarding to be able to read the story contained in the layers of rock — it is like reading pages in a book of earth’s history.

Truman: When, and why, did you first become interested in geology?

Santucci: I was lucky to grow up in a family who liked to travel and visit national parks. One summer we drove from Pennsylvania to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. I discovered my first fossil in the beautiful Badlands of South Dakota, panned for gold and explored a cave in the Black Hills and photographed many of the geysers and other geologic features in Yellowstone. I fell in love with geology and paleontology during my first trip to Yellowstone.

Truman: When I think of a national park, I think of a beautiful place to visit to experience nature.

What does geology have to do with that?

Santucci: Many national parks such as Arches, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Yosemite are recognized for their beautiful and interesting geological features and landscapes. The National Park System preserves a wide variety of geologic resources, including: volcanoes, glaciers, arches, canyons, sand dunes, seashores, hot springs, caves, fossils and many types of rocks and minerals. Some parks contain the best examples of geologic features in the country and sometimes in the world. Many of these parks attract geologists to study and conduct research related to the park’s geology.

Visitors also come to the parks to experience and learn about the geology of the national parks, as they make for some of the best outdoor classrooms.

OCTOBER 2013

Truman: What do you do every day as part of your job as a geologist with the National Park Service? Describe a typical day on the job.

Santucci: One of the most common activities that I do in my job is to work on geology issues in the parks. The National Park System includes 401 park areas around the country. There are often many important geologic issues with which the park staff needs assistance. This includes conducting research, mapping geologic units, evaluating geological hazards such as landslides and rockfalls, monitoring erosion or protecting a new fossil locality.

The job includes both office work and field work.

Since there are many geologic issues throughout the National Park Service, we develop partnerships with many geologists from universities, state geological surveys and the U.S. Geological Survey. These partnerships allow us to work with some of the world’s top experts on specific geologic issues. Part of my job is to help match the geologic needs of the parks with geologists who may be able to assist.

Truman: What’s the hardest part of your position?

Santucci: The hardest part of my job is learning about incidents where park geologic features are stolen or vandalized. Cave formations, fossils and other geologic features are non-renewable resources.

The National Park Service protects these features to enable scientific study and public education. Once stolen, damaged or destroyed, these amazing geologic resources are not available for other families and children to experience and geologists to study.

Truman: What’s the best part of your position?

Santucci: The best part of my job is talking with children, families and others about park geology, especially fossils.

Truman: What is one accomplishment in your career of which you are most proud?

Santucci: One of the most rewarding accomplishments in my career has been establishing “National Fossil Day.” National Fossil Day was created in 2010 as a partnership to promote the scientific and educational values of fossils and paleontology.

This partnership has grown rapidly, with more than 270 National Fossil Day partners across the country.

Partners host educational activities for the public on National Fossil Day, resulting in a wonderful nationwide celebration each October. National Fossil Day website: http://nature.nps.gov/geology/nationalfossilday/

other information about geology. There are great books available about volcanoes, glaciers, fossils, caves and rocks and minerals. Local libraries should have a variety of children’s book on geology. You can also find good information on the Internet.

National Geographic and other production companies have produced some excellent documentary films on geology. These documentaries are aired regularly on television and may be available on video or DVD at your local library.

When opportunities arise in school to write a book report, choose a topic in geology that can be the subject of your book report.

Most state geological surveys have information on geology from that state available to the public. Write to your state’s geological survey and request any educational information about your state’s geology.

Another fun activity is to start a rock and mineral collection. Start a collection of rocks or minerals from near your home or when traveling on vacation. Use a rock and mineral field guide to try to identify the type of rock or mineral you found. This will be an easy way to begin to learn geology.

If you would like information about geology of our national parks, feel free to write or email me, and I will be happy to share some information. You can reach me at National Park Service, Geological Resources Division, 1201 Eye Street, Washington, D.C. 20005 or vincent_santucci@nps.gov.

Truman: Thanks so much! I can’t wait to visit a National Park like the Grand Canyon in Arizona, Yellowstone National Park in Montana or the Dinosaur National Monument in Colorado!

Readers, be sure to check out the National Park Service website just for kids to learn all about the national parks: www.nps.gov/webrangers.

Truman: What is your favorite hobby or thing to do when you are not working?

Santucci: Traveling and visiting national parks with my family to explore and learn about nature and history.

Truman: What advice would you give to kids who are interested in pursuing a career in geology?

Santucci: Start young and begin to read books and

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Photos courtesy of www.sedgwickmuseum.org

KIDSVILLE NEWS - PAGE 7

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OCTOBER 2013

Come Out and Play... Spelunking Caves are very different from all of the other environments and land formations, like mountains and valleys, which exist above ground. Some caves are so strange that explorers have described exploring them as stepping into a completely new world. They often have strange animals that can be found only in caves, or even just in a single cave. Most caves are as dark as night, so the animals that live in them can be blind and albino — completely white. Sometimes even the architecture — the shapes of the rocks and the walls — is as odd as the animals. Every cave is unique. It is because the caves are so amazing that people of all ages love to explore them, which is called spelunking or caving.

Caves and mines that people can visit are located all over the world. Some have had walkways, stairs, lights and trails put in to make it easy to explore. They offer a great way for people to learn about cave ecosystems, how animals interact and cave geology, or the study of the rocks in caves. However, this type of exploring is not spelunking. The important thing about spelunking is that it is exploring a cave in its natural state.

Caving is used for scientific research and

just for fun. Many different scientists explore caves. Biologists, scientists who study animals, explore caves to find and study the new and interesting animals that can be found there.

Geologists, scientists who study rocks, look in caves to learn more about how the rocks in the caves form and of what they are made. Scientists who study fossils, paleontologists, can look deep underground in caves to find new and interesting fossils. Some caves may contain fossils and remains from the lives of early humans, like old cave paintings, leftover bones from their meals or even bodies. Anthropologists, scientists who study humans, would explore caves to study these kinds of findings.

Caving offers many levels of difficulty. The easiest caves to explore are the ones that have large, wide-open areas. Anyone can explore these caves as long as he or she has the proper equipment, like a flashlight and a helmet. These caves are still beautiful and provide a habitat for incredible animals and are perfect for beginning cavers. The more difficult caves to explore require more equipment and more skills. Some of the things that would make it hard for explorers in caves would be long drops or tight and

cramped spaces. When long drops in a cave are encountered, an explorer needs to rappel down the ledge, like a rock climber. Often times water beccomes an obstacles in cave exploration.

People of any age can enjoy the wonder and mystery that caves provide. Caves all over the country offer guided tours and open access for spelunking. This exploration is a fun adventure that can provide exercise for the body as well as the mind. Walking and climbing in the caves are great for exercise and learning about the strange rocks and animals in the cave is great for the mind.

For more information, visit the following websites: www.caves.org www.adventure.howstuffworks.com/outdoor-activities/climbing/spelunking.html | www.cavingintro.net

OCTOBER 2013

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Photo courtesy of www.nightjartravel.com

KIDSVILLE NEWS - PAGE 9

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Math-A-Muse Look for Math-A-Muse Answers on the Puzzleville Answers page.

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         

  

              



 

11 – 6

15 – 9 10 – 6

3 1

7 – 6

8 – 4

4 3

6 – 5 11 – 9

 

 

69––34

7 – 2

8 – 7

9 – 5

10 8 –– 6 6

By Evelyn B. Christensen, Ed.D.

7 – 6



 

3 2 2 2

5

1 1

6 6 8 9

6

25 24

 

   

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When the kids arrived for their “Cool Kind Kid” class, they were all excited about going back to school. Ms. Gilmour greeted each and asked why they were so happy.

Tanner was first to say, “I saw some kids who were bullying other kids last year, being kinder.” Everyone cheered.

Rudy added, “I was finding it easier to not be so rude anymore.” Everyone high-fived Rudy.

Nicole and Carmen both said, “We saw girls at our school not gossiping or saying mean things about others.” Everyone applauded.

Stephen added, “When we started our fall sports, I saw fewer kids being poor sports.”

Truman the Dragon then stood up and said, “The coolest thing I saw was kids sticking up for other kids who were being bullied. That’s easy for me to do because I’m so big. But it’s great to see younger and smaller kids helping others.”

Ms. Gilmour looked around at each of the kids.

“That’s great news. I bet you have had something to do with these changes. You have been challenging your friends to be kind and cool. Am I right?” Ms. Gilmour added, “You can be very proud of what you

Bullying I s n ’t “ C o o l ”

have achieved.” All the kids congratulated each other.

Rudy jumped in with, “But we’re not done yet.

There are still a lot of kids who don’t know what is cool and what is uncool.”

Tanner added, “Bullying is still happening. Teasing and staring, too.”

Nicole said, “And what about behavior on the bus?”

Everyone agreed that was a big problem.

“I have an idea, “said Ms. Gilmour. “October is National Bullying Awareness Month. Let’s put together a list of cool and uncool behaviors, and then you can create posters for your schools.”

Truman shared, “That’s a good idea. I think if kids see uncool things listed, then they might not want to be caught doing them.” Rudy agreed.

“How do you want to create the list?” asked Ms. Gilmour.

Nicole said, “Let’s make a column for ‘Cool’ behaviors.”

Carmen added, “Let’s make one for ‘Uncool’ behaviors. Then we have to fill in the lists.”

“Next we need a title for this list,” said Ms. Gilmour.

Stephen laughed and said, “What to do, and not do!”

No one liked that one.

Truman said, “Since we are challenging kids, let’s

Barbara Gilmour, Tanner’s grandmother, is the creator and developer of the “Cool Kind Kid” Social Skills, Character Values and Anti-Bullying educational materials and the award-winning “Cool Kind Kid” Audio CD. She also writes the Children’s Manners Blog, offering tips for teaching your children manners and social skills. www.CoolKindKid.com.

use the ‘Cool Kind Kid’ Challenge title.”

Everyone agreed that was a better idea.

“You are challenging kids to be tough enough and cool enough to be kind,” said Ms. Gilmour.

Tanner added, “It’s easy to decide if something we want to do is cool or not by looking at the list.”

Carmen shared, “I’m going to take this to my art teacher. We’re going to make the coolest poster.”

Ms. Gilmour added, “To kids reading this, do this in your schools as well.”

COOL Kind

UNCOOL Rude

Caring Respectful Polite Courteous Helpful Fair Friendly Loving Sharing

Mean Bully Impolite Gossiping Teasing Staring Ignoring Excluding Spoiling other’s fun

Responsible

Equal

By Katie Collins-Garrett and Kate Franklin

You use water every day — to drink, shower, wash dishes and sometimes in which to play! Water is an important part of our daily lives. It is necessary for our health and for the continued growth of the plants that produce both food and oxygen. We also rely on water for many other reasons, such as travel, shipping goods around the world and generating energy to power homes and businesses. Have you ever wondered where water comes from, or if it will run out?

Almost all the water that we see on earth now is the same water that was here when the earth formed. The water you swim in or wash your hands with is some of the same water that the dinosaurs drank and upon which the Titanic sailed. The amount of water on earth does not change, but water itself is always moving and changing. Water can be in any of three forms: solid, liquid or an invisible gas called water vapor. It changes between the three forms and moves all over the world

in an endless cycle called the water cycle. You probably see parts of the water cycle every day — every time you see fog, a cloud, dew on the grass in the morning or the water droplets on the outside of a cold glass.

Energy from the sun powers the water cycle. The Sun’s energy causes water to warm or change from a liquid to a gas — a process called evaporation. All water evaporates — ocean water, pool water, even the water in your kitchen. Once it evaporates, it becomes part of the air around us. Another way that water gets into the air is called transpiration. Transpiration occurs when the moisture that was absorbed by the roots of plants is released into the air through small pores on the underside of leaves .

When air rises in the atmosphere, it becomes cooler, and the water vapor in the air can turn back into tiny

droplets of liquid water — a process called condensation.

Condensation is also how clouds form. The tiny droplets can collide to form bigger and bigger droplets until they are too heavy and fall from the cloud. Water that falls from the sky is called precipitation. Rain, snow, hail and sleet are all forms of precipitation.

Should precipitation fall in colder climates, it will take on the solid form of snow or ice.

Water can spend many years frozen in a glacier or, in the case of a late spring snow, it may melt quickly as the temperature warms. As the ice melts, the water returns to its liquid state, and with the Sun’s continued energy, it may even evaporate, turning once again into water vapor. Water is always changing and moving as part of the water cycle, which is never-ending.

Katie Collins-Garrett is a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. Kate Franklin is a student intern studying journalism at the University of Chester.

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KIDSVILLE NEWS - PAGE 11

Cultural Connections: Cave Painting In nations all across the globe caves hold the oldest stories in the world. These caves were the homes of ancient humans, some more than 40,000 years old.

These stories were not written on paper or carved into stone because ancient humans could not write.

Instead these stories are told through paintings that have survived for thousands of years in caves.

Many different theories exist as to why ancient humans may have made cave paintings. Some people believe that these paintings were just decorations in the caves in which ancient humans lived. This does not make sense for some of the caves, however, because a lot of the paintings are in hard-to-reach areas of caves where people would not have easily lived. It is possible that these paintings were left as markers or as ways to communicate with other humans since they did not have any way to write. Some people also think that these paintings might have been made for religious reasons or for ceremonies. They could be offerings to the gods ancient humans believed in, or a way to speak to them. No one is really sure. Also, all of the cave paintings may not have been used for the same reasons. Paintings from all over the world and from many different years are in existence. These people had no way to speak with each other, so it is not

likely that they all had the same idea and reasons for drawing on the walls.

Ancient people made these cave drawings in several ways. One very simple and common way was the use of charcoal to draw on the cave walls. These drawings are a simple black color, but are not always simple drawings. Some cave paintings are colorful.

The most common colors for cave paintings are red and yellow. These colors were made from minerals and stones that ancient humans found around their homes such as ochre, manganese oxide and hematite.

Despite how far away some cave paintings may be from each other, many have similarities. One of the biggest similarities is the subject matter of the paintings.

The most common paintings are of the larger local animals like horses, bison and deer. Usually these paintings try to be as accurate as possible; the artists try to make the animals look very real. Strangely, there

are no pictures of humans. There may be outlines of human hands, but it is rare to find a cave painting of a person. Often there might be shapes and designs in a painting that don’t really represent anything; these are called finger flutings.

While these paintings are very beautiful, we still have much to discover about cave paintings and ancient humans, such as who the people were who made these paintings and why they made them.

Caves full of paintings are found even today. These caves have taught us much about our ancestors, but we still have a great deal more to learn.

Image courtesy of forsbergfilm.wordpress.com

For more information on cave painting, visit the following sites: news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/06/120614-neanderthal-cave-paintings-spain-science-pike/ www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/18/oldest-cave-paintings-in-america-found-6000-years_n_3460292.html: www.bradshawfoundation.com/france/

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Coming Soon to Theaters

Children’s DVDs Thomas & Friends: King of the Railway — The Movie Available: October 1

Free Birds — In Theaters: November 1

With not a single kids’ movie opening in the month of October, families will have to wait until Nov. 1 — when a gaggle of goofy cartoon turkeys hit the big screen like birds of a feather will do. Reggie (voiced by Owen Wilson) is one lucky bird. He receives a Presidential Pardon that spares his little turkey life on Thanksgiving. But just when Reggie thinks he has it made, he meets a big turkey named Jake (voiced by Woody Harrelson). Jake has a plan for Reggie and him to travel back in time so they can “get turkey off the holiday menu — for good.” Travelling back to 1621 sets the stage for one kooky adventure from the filmmaker that made Horton Hears a Who.

Thomas, the little steam-engine-that-could, joins up with some new locomotive pals on the island of Sodor where Sir Robert Norramby, a very special British visitor, has lots of plans and a big surprise in store. Things get tricky when their latest train-pal Stephen — an ancient locomotive from years gone by — goes missing. The trains have to work together to rescue their new buddy. What is Sir Robert Norramby’s surprise?

It might have something to do with the island’s legendary history of castles and knights. Thomas & Friends: King of the Railway is an animated entertainment for children ages 2 through 5.

Not Rated. 62 mins. (HIT Entertainment)

Rated PG. 90 mins. (Relativity Media)

Children’s DVDs continued The Croods — Available: October 1

Welcome to the Stone Age, where teenaged Eep (voiced by Emma Stone) lives with her very protective dad Grug (voiced by Nicolas Cage) and her mom Ugga (voiced by Catherine Keener).

Eep also has a brother, a sister and her Granny.

Grug warns that the only reason his family has survived as well as they have is because they are “never not afraid.” Eep has other ideas on her mind. Eep isn’t afraid of much. When she sees a light outside of the family cave in the middle of the night, she follows it and meets a caveboy named Guy (voiced by Ryan Reynolds). Together, Eep and Guy lead Eep’s family on a great adventure to discover the wild and wooly world around them. The Croods is an animated kids’ movie for children eight and up.

Rated PG for some scary action. 98 mins. (20th Century Fox)

Drawing with Mark — Available October 8

Ages 5 and up will have fun learning to draw from a true master illustrator. Mark Marderosian shares secrets about how to draw things like dinosaurs and astronauts in this DVD that contains two episodes of his popular television series for kids. Mark is a professional artist famous for drawing such Disney characters as Mulan, the Little Mermaid and Jimmy Neutron.

Each half-hour episode teaches kids the fundamentals of drawing, based on sketching simple shapes. The episodes include reading lists and helpful animated puppets — called “angels in the attic” — that help Mark get his lessons across to young art students. If you’ve ever wanted to draw, Drawing with Mark is a good place to start.

Cole Smithey, also known as “the smartest film critic in the world.” has been a film critic for 11 years and writes for more than 50 publications, in print and online. Truman loves to watch movies and has the highest appreciation for great popcorn.

Rated G. 83 mins. (Walt Disney Home Video)

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931-212-6738 KIDSVILLE NEWS - PAGE 17

Chapter Two

The Thimblerigger Our story so far: Tommy and Jake McMahon are living in Denver, where their father works in a lumberyard. He came home from work one day with samples of silver ore from Leadville, but warned the boys that nobody gets rich quick.

“All you need to be a winner is to find the pea!” the man said, as he lifted the domed shell in the middle and revealed the small ball underneath. The crowd pushed forward to look, and he covered it up again and began moving the three shells around the small board on the tripod. “Did you see where it went? Do you know where it is? Place a bet and win!”

Tommy and Jake were at the far edge of the crowd, trying to see past the adults who grouped around the man on the sidewalk. “This guy is going to win,” Jake predicted.

The young man at the front of the crowd put a silver dollar on the board and pointed to the shell on the left. Sure enough, when the man lifted the shell, there was the pea. “And you’ve done it!” he said, adding one of his own dollars to the one on the table and pushing them both towards the young man.

“Now, don’t you wish you’d bet five?”

The young man just took the money and walked away, and another man pushed up to play next. The shells began to move around the board, and Tommy leaned over to Jake. “What about this guy?”

“He’ll lose, but not much,” Jake said confidently.

“He’s not the one they’re after. The guy who just won is a ‘shill.’ That means he works with them, and they let him win to get other people to try. But this guy isn’t anybody. I can’t see who they’re after.”

“Watch the derby,” said a quiet voice with a German accent. Tommy turned to see a girl behind them, a bit younger than him but older than Jake, with two long, auburn braids tied with gingham cloth.

“See?” she said, “He’s working that big one, the railroad man. Railroaders got paid today.”

The boys turned back to scan the crowd. Sure enough, near the front of the crowd, a short man in a derby hat was talking to a large man in overalls with a bandana around his neck, pointing to the game and saying something.

“She’s right,” Jake said. “He’s the ‘outside man.’

He’ll make friends with that guy, and then he’ll win a whole lot of money himself and get the railroader to bet all his pay. And, of course, he’ll lose it all.”

“Unless he happens to guess right,” Tommy said, but Jake just laughed.

“There’s no guessing in this game,” he replied. “It won’t be under the shell, whichever one he picks.”

They watched another man try to win, and then another, and each time, the man with the derby and the railroad man inched closer to the board. As Jake predicted, the man with the derby began to bet and to win, and, each time, he’d turn to the railroad man and laugh and say something about how easy it was.

“Uh-oh,” the girl with the accent said. “They made a mistake. He’s not alone.”

The boys turned and she nodded toward a hotel across the street, where four or five men in overalls had been sitting on the porch. Now they were standing up and beginning to watch the game, and two of them stepped down from the porch and began to cross the street.

“Cheese it!” the girl said. “There’s going to be trouble!” She turned and began to walk quickly away, and Tommy and Jake followed.

“What’s going on?” Tommy asked.

“When they see he’s been cheated, they’ll start a fight,” Jake said. “But they think it’s just one guy, the thimblerigger. They don’t know there’s a whole gang spread out in the crowd.”

The three kids went down an alley beside a hardware store, and then Jake caught up with the red-haired girl and tugged at the sleeve of her dress.

“What kind of farm girl says ‘Cheese it?’” he asked her. “And how did you know to spot the outside man?”

“Same as you, I’ll bet,” she said. “I hear your New York accent. Did you boys come out on the train?”

“No, we came out with his family,” Jake said, nodding at Tommy. “With our family, I mean. You came on the train?”

“Two years ago,” she said. “My name’s Anna.”

“I’m Jake; this is Tommy,” Jake said.

“We came on the train, too,” Tommy said, but Jake shook his head.

“She means the Orphan Trains,” he explained.

“When the Children’s Aid sends kids out West so they can get adopted.”

“They’re supposed to adopt you,” Anna said.

“Sometimes, it doesn’t work out so well. Some of them just want a free servant. But my family is very nice.”

“His family adopted me before we came west,” Jake said. “So, where are you from?”

“East Side,” she said. “Cherry Street. Then over a little, Thirty-Eighth. Then the shelter, and then I was on the train. Where did you live?”

“Everywhere,” Jake said. “Mostly the Battery, Publisher’s Row, down by the Wall Street ferry.

Then I partnered up with Tommy to sell papers and moved in with his family on Hester Street.” He nodded back towards the street. “So what were you watching that for? Thinking about setting up a shell game out here?”

Anna frowned and shook her head. “No, but I have to find a way to take some money from a very bad man.”

Text c. 2010, Mike Peterson Illustrations c. 2010, Christopher Baldwin

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OCTOBER 2013

Lemonade

OCTOBER 2013

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KIDSVILLE NEWS - PAGE 19

Hurricane Season on Titan

Deeee-

licious!

Fun, Healthy Lunchbox Ideas The daily routine of packing foods for lunchtime may seem boring, but the food inside those lunchboxes doesn’t have to be. Consider your students’ personality when planning school lunches.

Whether the cafeteria-bound container features Hello Kitty or Justin Bieber, the foods inside should be customized to fit age, activity level and personal style. So how do you get beyond the usual carrots and celery sticks?

Fix finger foods for young eaters Overwhelmed little students may do best with tiny bites of finger foods. So, if you have a shy first grader, send him or her with string cheese sticks, wholegrain crackers, baby carrots and cut-up fruit.

Cucumber wheels, red or orange bell pepper strips and sugar snap peas are also colorful and nutritious finger foods. Add low-fat ranch dressing or individual packs of fiber- and protein-rich hummus for dipping. The oil in these dips actually helps kids absorb more of the veggie’s fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin A. Up the nutrition for those not focused on lunch What about the teens and tweens focused on anything but the lunch at lunchtime? Older kids focused on friends might prefer a sandwich and a bunch of grapes.

The girls at that table checking out the new guy don’t want to be seen wolfing down large portions. A dainty sandwich cut into quarters or half of a wholewheat pita sandwich might be a better fit. Choose lean proteins such as sliced turkey, roast beef or deli ham to maximize nutrition and minimize calories.

For something sweet, they may prefer to dip grapes, strawberries or pineapple chunks in protein-packed Greek yogurt.

Pack plenty of food for hungry athletes Hungry athletes need larger servings of healthy foods for lunch, such as an extra slice of turkey on a sandwich and whole-grain tortilla chips with an individual pack of salsa. These energy-burning kids may also need two cartons of cold milk for hydration and nutrition.

For after school, pack a snack to keep your sports stars energized. They can refuel before sports practice with fresh fruit or the extra protein in a granola bar with peanuts or other nuts.

No matter what’s on the menu for your students, follow the USDA MyPlate nutrition icon. This visual for good nutrition indicates half of a healthy plate be filled with fruit and vegetables, with the two other quarters occupied by a lean protein and a whole-grain starch. To complete the meal, add a cup of fat-free or low-fat milk. Look for food safety tips and after-school snack ideas at www.

BestFoodFacts.org.

Alex H. Kasprak National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Travel 890 million miles through our solar system, and you’ll arrive at Saturn’s moon Titan. You might feel strangely at home. It has large lakes, flowing rivers and sandy dunes just like Earth. It has an atmosphere, clouds and it even rains from time to time. Instead of water, the lakes, rivers and clouds are made from chemicals called hydrocarbons. Even the sand in the dunes are hydrocarbons!

But one major thing has been absent — wind. Scientists have been able to take a close look at Titan since 2004. That’s when NASA’s Cassini spacecraft began orbiting Saturn. In all that time, they have never seen even a ripple in any of Titan’s lakes. Scientists don’t know what to make of this. They know that there has to be wind — how could the dunes have gotten there without it?

One possible answer: It just hasn’t been the right season for wind yet. Seasons last for a long time on Titan — it takes seven whole Earth years to change seasons! Scientists think they have been looking at Titan during a quiet period. They think that the changing seasons could bring the wind they have been looking for.

And not just any wind, but maybe even hurricanes! On Earth, summertime heating of the ocean fuels hurricanes. Air and water vapor rising from the Sun-warmed ocean warms the air and causes it to rise.

The rising air sucks more warmed air in. This new air swirls in to replace the rising air. The storm picks up speed, and a hurricane is born.

On Earth, ocean heating changes with the season. Hurricanes come only during the warm months. Scientists think that the hydrocarbons in Titan’s lakes might do the same thing as the water in the oceans here on Earth. It just needs to be the right season. As the seasons slowly change on Titan, the Sun will begin to heat up the hydrocarbon lakes in its northern hemisphere. With that warmth could come wind and maybe even hurricanes.

Forecasting weather on Earth is hard enough. You can imagine how hard it is to predict weather somewhere else in our solar system! Still, if scientists are right, it could be an exciting summer on Titan.

Read “Planet X-treme Weather” on NASA’s Space Place to learn about the exciting weather elsewhere in our solar system. http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/planet-weather

Ligeia Mare—the second largest hydrocarbon lake on Saturn’s moon Titan. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASI/Cornell.

Photo courtesy of NOAA Learn more about Saturn, it’s moons, and our solar system at http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/saturnkids.

Photo courtesy of Metrocreativeconnections.com

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Simple Ways to Improve Personal Finances interest rates. Making it a priority to pay down these debts first will save you more money in the long run.

As more Americans make strides toward responsible spending and debt management, there are still ways to improve the control of family finances.

According to a survey recently conducted by Bank of America, less than half of cardholders pay their entire credit card balance each month. With more than half of individuals carrying credit card debt, Jason Gaughan, card products executive for Bank of America, said to think about personal spending before taking on a credit card.

“Credit cards provide consumers an efficient and protected way to make purchases,” said Gaughan. “They are more convenient than cash, and they are incredibly useful in an emergency. The key to successfully managing your credit card account is to understand your budget and stick to a plan that works for you when borrowing. You want a card with a rewards program that fits your lifestyle and how you manage your finances. If you typically carry a balance, look for a card that has low interest and reinforces good-payment practices.”

Along with these practices, there are other ways to promote good spending and personal finance habits: Limit the Number of Credit Cards Limiting the number of cards you own can help limit your spending and increase the likelihood you can pay above the minimum balance. Before you start cutting up your plastic, remember that having more than one credit card can have merits. One idea is to have three cards: one in a safe place at home for emergencies and two with you at all times.

Reap the Rewards Use the rewards programs available to credit card holders to cash in on things your family really needs. Some cards offer cash rewards credit cards that let you earn more cash back where you spend the most money, like gas stations and grocery stores. The cards help customers responsibly manage their credit card balance. Whatever rewards you are seeking, there is likely to be a card suitable for you.

Evaluate All Debts Many carry debts beyond credit cards, including student loans, car payments and mortgages. Evaluate your debts and decide which ones have the highest

Create a Budget It’s never too soon to put yourself in control of your money and stop letting it control you. A budget will give you financial peace of mind, and it can help you stretch the income you have.

Calculate your income and expenses and set your monthly budget. Though you may not be on-point every month, the simple act of tracking your spending will be a huge step forward in your quest toward responsible spending.

Modos sencillos de mejorar las finanzas personales A medida que más estadounidenses recorren el camino de los gastos responsables y el manejo de las deudas, hay más formas de mejorar el control de las finanzas familiares.

Según una encuesta reciente del Bank of America que les preguntaba a los encuestados acerca de su uso de las tarjetas de crédito, los resúmenes de cuenta y los beneficios, menos de la mitad de los usuarios de tarjetas de crédito pagan la totalidad del resumen.

Con más de la mitad de los individuos con deuda en sus tarjetas de crédito, Jason Gaughan, ejecutivo de productos de tarjetas del Bank of America, recomienda pensar en los gastos personales antes de aceptar una tarjeta de crédito.

“Las tarjetas de crédito ofrecen a los consumidores un modo eficiente y seguro de hacer compras”, destaca Gaughan.

“Son más prácticas que el efectivo e increíblemente útiles en casos de emergencia”. La clave para manejar con éxito sus cuentas de tarjetas de crédito es entender su presupuesto y seguir un plan que funcione cuando pide préstamos. Le conviene una tarjeta de crédito con un programa de beneficios que se adapte a su estilo de vida y al modo en que maneja las finanzas. Si suele dejar impago parte del resumen, busque una tarjeta con una tasa de interés baja y que refuerce buenas prácticas de pago”.

Además de estas prácticas, hay otras maneras de promover compras responsables y buenos hábitos financieros personales, por ejemplo: Limite la cantidad de tarjetas de crédito Según la encuesta, 3 encuestados de cada 10 poseían cuatro tarjetas de crédito o más. Limitar la cantidad de tarjetas puede ayudarlo a reducir gastos y a incrementar las posibilidades de

que llegue a superar el pago mínimo.

Antes de deshacerse de sus tarjetas, recuerde que tener más de una tarjeta tiene sus ventajas. Si necesita dinero en una emergencia, el poder de compra inmediato de una tarjeta de crédito puede salvarle la vida. Pruebe con una tarjeta que no tenga una tarifa anual y que tenga una línea de crédito generosa para cubrir gastos inesperados. Una idea es tener tres tarjetas: una guardada en un lugar seguro de la casa para usar solo en emergencias, y dos para llevar consigo en todo momento.

Aproveche los beneficios Con tantos programas de beneficios para los titulares de tarjetas de crédito, es importante que canjee los puntos por objetos necesarios para la familia.

Mientras que algunas tarjetas le ofrecerán beneficios en sus hoteles y aerolíneas preferidas, otras le darán descuentos especiales para las compras frecuentes. El programa más popular es el que le devuelve dinero por gastar.

Algunas tarjetas, como la tarjeta de crédito BankAmericard Cash Rewards, le permiten ganar más dinero en reintegros en aquellos puntos de venta donde suele gastar más: estaciones de servicio y supermercados. La tarjeta de crédito BankAmericard Better Balance Rewards ayuda a los clientes a manejar el resumen de su tarjeta de crédito de forma responsable. Cualesquiera que sean los beneficios que busca, hay una tarjeta apropiada para usted.

años y aquellos a largo plazo. Luego, recoja toda la información de compra para su hogar y clasifíquela en categorías según el tipo de gasto. Divida sus gastos en fijos (aquellos que se mantienen mes a mes, como el pago de la hipoteca o la factura del cable) y variables (aquellos que cambian, como los gastos de combustible o entretenimiento).

Asegúrese de reservar algo de dinero para gastos personales y para un fondo de emergencia. Una vez que haya calculado sus ingresos y sus gastos un mes por adelantado, podrá enfocarse en la parte más importante: seguir el plan.

Encuentre modos de reducir sus gastos.

Adopte un método de reducción de gastos por semana y verá cómo disminuyen rápidamente los gastos fijos. A pesar de que probablemente no siempre dé en la tecla cada mes, el sencillo acto de llevar un registro y comunicar las finanzas familiares será un gran paso hacia adelante en su búsqueda por lograr el consumo responsable.

Evalúe todas las deudas Muchas personas tienen deudas que superan las tarjetas de crédito, entre ellas, préstamos estudiantiles, cuotas para el pago de automóviles e hipotecas.

Mientras que algunos considerarían necesarias este tipo de deudas, es importante llevar un registro del total adeudado para cada una así como de la tasa de interés correspondiente. Según la encuesta, cuando los encuestados respondieron a la pregunta sobre qué harían con $1.000, alrededor de la mitad (44%) admitió que pagaría sus deudas.

Evalúe las deudas y vea cuáles tienen las tasas de interés más altas. Darle prioridad a estas deudas le ayudará a ahorrar dinero eventualmente.

Cree un presupuesto Nunca es demasiado pronto para tomar el control de su dinero y erradicar el control que el dinero tiene sobre usted.

Un presupuesto le dará tranquilidad mental y puede ayudarle a hacer rendir mejor sus ingresos. Primero, escriba los objetivos financieros para los próximos

For more information, visit www.bankofamerica.com/creditcard.

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Photos courtesy of Getty Images Fotografías cortesía de Getty Images

OCTOBER 2013

P arenTown’s K id s haPe

Get Kids Active with Fun Adventures The great outdoors are full of wonderful adventures for kids. If you want to encourage your children to get active, try to make sure they have positive experiences. It’s always easier to get them engaged when past adventures are full of wonderful memories.

Photo courtesy of Thinkstock Great experiences are safe ones. Here are a few tips to

keep your kids healthy and happy during their adventure: Bring a friend: Whether they are playing at the park or just exploring the neighborhood, kids should always bring along a friend. Remind them that even their favorite television characters often travel in pairs, such as Dora the Explorer and her best friend, Boots. It’s not only safer playing together outside, but it’s also much more fun. Learn more at www.fisher-price.com.

Be careful where you explore: Make sure your children familiarize themselves with their surroundings so they are comfortable biking, skating or exploring.

Never let them play in the street — even if a pet or toy goes into the road.

Wear protective gear: Some adventures, like biking, skateboarding and roller skating, require special gear in order to enjoy it safely. Make sure your child wears a helmet, kneepads, elbow pads and wrist guards when skating and biking.

Be prepared: Bring a backpack with essentials, such as water, healthy snacks and sunscreen.

Warm up: Before your children leave for a long bike ride or skate in the park, have them take the time for a few simple stretches. Athletes know this is the best way to avoid an injury or future aches and pains.

Keep it clean: After a fun time discovering new adventures, make sure children wash their hands to get rid of any germs. Parents, be on the lookout for any bumps, bruises, mosquito bites, ticks or sunburns, as kids tend to get wrapped up in the fun.

The best way to get your children to step away from the television and kickstart an adventure is by setting a good example. For younger kids, toys like the Spin & Skate Dora & Boots doll help promote everyday adventures with interactive roller-skating moves. With matching helmet and kneepads, they also remind children to always bring the proper adventure gear along. Get out there with them to enjoy hiking, biking, roller-skating and kayaking. They will quickly learn that exercising and exploring are great ways to stay healthy and happy.

OCTOBER 2013

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COIN CAPER ANSWERS QQDDD, HDDNN ADDITION SQUARE ANSWERS 4, 9, 1, 3, 5, 7, 11

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