May- 2012 - KV

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MAY 2012

Dear Kids, Wow! There are so many wonderful things about May. Flowers are in full bloom, and the birds are chirping as the outdoors wakes up from winter. We celebrate Mother’s Day and Teacher Appreciation Day to show those extraordinary people we care, along Memorial Day to remember those who gave their lives to protect our country. Other celebrations in May include Get Caught Reading Month, National Bike Month, National Fitness and Sports Month, National Family Week and National Barbeque Month. There are so many exciting things to celebrate!

In this issue, we talk to a veterinarian who is about to embark on a really exciting adventure. Take an adventure of your own and enjoy the beautiful outdoors with your family.

Enjoy the fresh air and get caught reading lots this month!

Have a marvelous May! Your friend,

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Kidsville News!

Don’t Forget Mother’s Day! Alert! Alert! Important holiday alert! On May 13, there is an important holiday that every kid needs to remember — Mother’s Day! Mother’s Day is a special day set aside for you to tell your mom just how much you love her. It’s always a good idea to make her a card, and plan to spend some time doing something fun together on Mother’s Day. Have you ever wondered just how Mother’s Day came to be?

The earliest Mother’s Day celebrations were held in ancient Greece in honor of Rhea, the mother of the Gods.

Today, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May each year. During the 1600s in England, Mothering Sunday was held on the 4th Sunday of Lent (the 40-day period leading up to Easter). Back then, many people in England worked as servants for wealthy people. Most of their jobs were far away from their homes, and they didn’t have good transportation then, so the servants lived at the houses of the employers. On Mothering Sunday, the servants would have the day off and were able to spend the day with their own families and their mothers. Sometimes they made a special cake, called the mothering cake, to celebrate the occasion.

Memorial Day is often celebrated in the United States with cookouts and picnics. Stores have big sales, and many pools and summertime activities open for the season. But what is Memorial Day really all about?

It is about remembering the men and women who have died while serving in our military: soldiers, airmen, marines and sailors who have given their lives for our country, so that we have the freedom to enjoy our holidays however we wish.

Memorial Day started shortly after the Civil War in the United States.

It was previously known as Decoration Day. Back in the 1800s, people wanted to find a way to honor those who had given their lives in battle, so they decorated the graves of those lost in the Civil War. Today, this is still a tradition of Memorial Day. Volunteers and family members visit cemeteries and place American flags on the graves of military veterans. Memorial Day was declared a Federal Holiday in 1971 by President Richard Nixon. The

It’s time to say “Thank You” to the people at your school! Teacher Appreciation Week begins Monday, May 7, 2012, and ends Friday, May 11, 2012. Teacher Appreciation Day is May 8. But don’t save your thank yous just for teachers. May 1 is School Principals’ Day, and May 9 is School Nurses Day and National Re-

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In the United States, Mother’s Day was first suggested by Julia Ward Howe in 1872. Ms. Howe wrote the words to the “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” She wanted the day to be dedicated to peace and organized Mother’s Day meetings in Boston, Mass., every year.

Later, in 1907, Ana Jarvis campaigned to establish a national Mother’s Day. She persuaded her mother’s church in Grafton, W.Va., to celebrate Mother’s Day on the second anniversary of her mother’s death, the second Sunday of May. The following year, Mother’s Day was also celebrated in Ms. Jarvis’s home city of Philadelphia. She and her supporters wrote to ministers, businessmen and politicians. This campaign was successful, and by 1911, Mother’s Day was celebrated in almost every state of the United States.

In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson made the official announcement proclaiming Mother’s Day as a national holiday to be held each year on the second Sunday of May. The countries of Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Italy and Turkey also celebrate Mother’s Day on this day.

traditional Memorial Day holiday is May 30; however, it is observed on the last Monday of May. It will be observed on May 28 this year.

There are many different ways to observe Memorial Day. A national moment of remembrance takes place at 3 p.m., and the president visits Arlington National Cemetery. Flags around the country are also flown at half-mast from dawn until noon as an honor to lost heroes of our country. Some towns hold parades, while other cities might have a Memorial Day musical concert.

Although Memorial Day is a solemn holiday and can be especially difficult for families and communities who have lost loved ones in the military, it is also a day to be enjoyed with family and friends. Just remember that the freedom and the day off that you are celebrating were earned for you by a military member’s sacrifice.

ceptionists Day. For some ideas on how to say thanks, visit www.pta.org/teacher_appreciation.asp.

Also, spring is in full swing, and the temperature is going up, up, up. Did you know that Gabriel Daniel Fahrenheit is the person that came up with the Fahrenheit temper ature scale? He was born on May 14, 1686. He was a German physicist and also invented the alcohol thermometer.

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MAY 2012

AR

Mexico

UND THE W

You’ve probably heard of the holiday Cinco de Mayo, or 5th of May. This is a national holiday in Mexico recognizing May 5, 1862. This was the day that the Mexican Army, which was outnumbered three to one, defeated invading French forces at the city of Puebla. To celebrate this day, Mexicans (mostly in the state of Puebla) have parades and festivals with dancing, music and food. In the United States, the holiday is a day to celebrate Mexican heritage.

Turkey

In Turkey, May 19 is Youth and Sports Day. This day commemorates Mustafa Kemal’s landing at Samsun, the beginning of Turkey’s War of Independence, in 1919.

On this day, children sing the national anthem, have parades and participate in sporting events. In a run that takes about 10 days, young athletes carry the national flag from Samsun to the capitol of Ankara. They remember Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the first president of Turkey, who led the fight for independence and democracy.

RLD

U.S.A

The entire month of May is celebrated as Get Caught Reading Month! It’s a nationwide campaign to remind people of all ages of how fun it is to read. Get Caught Reading is supported by the Association of American Publishers (AAP).

It was launched in 1999 and was the brainchild of former Congresswoman and AAP CEO Pat Schroeder. She saw the opportunity to spread the word about the joys of reading through an industry-supported literacy campaign. Kidsville News! is proud to be part of your reading habit and encourages you to “Get Caught Reading!”

Mexican Walking Fish

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Amphibibia Order: Caudata Family: Ambystomatidae Genus: Melinae Species: A. mexicanum

The “Mexican walking fish” is actually an axolotl, an aquatic salamander native to Mexico. It’s not a fish at all, but an amphibian. The axolotl is related to the Tiger Salamander. And it’s actually a critically endangered species.

Why are they known as the “walking fish”?

Like other amphibians, the eggs are laid in water, and the hatched larvae are aquatic, with gills and a tail. Other amphibians like frogs and salamanders undergo metamorphosis, where they grow legs, lungs instead of gills, and some, like frogs, lose their tail. The axolotl doesn’t undergo metamorphosis like other salamanders, so the adults stay aquatic with gills. They do grow legs, but they are not well developed. The axolotl ranges in size from 6 to 18 inches long. They are usually black or shades of brown in color.

The axolotl is carnivorous, which means it eats meat. It eats worms, insects and small fish. It locates food by smell and then sucks it up like a vacuum.

The axolotl is only native to Lake Xochimilco and Lake Chalco in central Mexico. Unfortunately, Lake Chalco no longer exists as it was drained to avoid periodic flooding. Wild axolotl are almost extinct due to the growth of Mexico City and polluted waters in Lake Xochimilco. Non-native fish have also been introduced to the lake and eat the young axolotl and their food source.

Axolotls are also used in scientific research. They have the ability to regenerate limbs, which makes them very interesting to scientists! They have a remarkable ability to heal themselves. They can repair a damaged leg but also grow a new one, ending up with an extra!

Ss Tt Uu Ss Tt Uu MAY 2012

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WHERE IN THE WORLD IS...

MEXICO?

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!

If you take out your globe and locate longitude 102° W, latitude 23º N, you will find the country of Mexico, one of the neighbors of the United States. Mexico is in North America, bordering the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico and the North Pacific Ocean. Its border countries are the United States to the north and Belize and Guatemala to the south. Mexico is the 14th-largest country in the world and is about three times the size of our state of Texas.

The climate varies from tropical to desert. Mexico is a beautiful country with many different types of terrain. There are high, ruggged mountains, and low coastal plains with beautiful beaches. There are high plateaus and desert areas. Mexico is also home to several volcanoes in the central-southern part of the country. The most active volcano is Colima. Mexico also experiences earthquakes, hurricanes and tsunamis along the Pacific coast.

Mexico City is the capital of Mexico. There are 31 states and one federal district. The national language is Spanish, and the country celebrates its Independence Day on September 16. However, many Americans are familiar with the May holiday, Cinco de Mayo. This day, the 5th of May, is a celebration of Mexican heritage in the United States, but it is not the Mexican Independence Day as some believe. In Mexico, it is celebrated primarily in the state of Puebla. The holiday commemorates the Mexican army's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5,1862.

It is believed that corn originated in Mexico, and it remains one of the country's top agricultural products. Other agriculture crops produced in Mexico are wheat, soybeans, rice, beans, cotton, coffee, fruit and tomatoes. Mexico is one the top 10 producers of oil in the world. Mexico is also one of the world's largest producers of illegal drugs. There is a great deal of violence in Mexico, due to feuds between the organizations that handle illegal drugs.

The average income in Mexico is about one-third of that of the United States. You may hear on the news that many Mexican people try to cross the U.S. borders illegally to find better-paying jobs in the U.S. While this is true, Mexico also struggles with its own immigrant problems — many poor Guatemalans and other Central Americans cross the southern border looking for work in Mexico.

Sources: “Mexico,” CIA – The World Factbook, www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mx.html.

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Dancers have a traditional celebration in Mexico City, Mexico.

MAY 2012

A VETERINARIAN? I really love animals. I think that when I grow up, I might even want to work with animals in some way — maybe at the zoo, or become a veterinarian. Did you know that the military even has veterinarians? This month I talked with Rachel Hathorn. She’s a veterinarian at the Animal Hospital of Fayetteville. But, she’s also a member of the U.S. Army Reserves and will deploy soon to help take care of the working military dogs. Originally from Nashville, Tenn., she attended vet school at Auburn University in Alabama. She really enjoys her work with animals and was excited to tell us all about it.

TRUMAN: When, and why, did you first become interested in becoming a veterinarian?

HATHORN: I grew up in Nashville and volunteered for a wildlife rehabilitation organization there from the age of 11. I would raise the orphaned wildlife, like opossums, racoons, squirrels and birds, and release them into the wild when they were ready. My family also had dogs and a cat, and my mom bred miniature poodles on occasion, so I got the experience of having lots of animals in my home. My mom was the one who got me into the wildlife raising, and she and my dad were very tolerant of my hobby. Mom worked as an RN in the NICU taking care of preemies, and she would bring home expired formula and other medical supplies from the hospital for me to use for my “babies.” I got my first horse Above: Veterinarian Rachel in college after my parents Hathorn with a tiny kitten at the moved to a farm in Kentucky, Animal Hospital of Fayetteville. and when he got sick, we had Right: Hathorn is also in the the vet come out to the farm to Army Reserves and works with take care of him. That is when military working dogs.

I really became interested in becoming a vet.

TRUMAN: What does it take to become a veterinarian?

HATHORN: It takes a love of animals and a lot of education. I went to Eastern Kentucky University when I changed my major to animal science and got a job at a mixed animal practice nearby where I really got hooked on the career. I got into vet school at Auburn University, so that was another four years of education for a total of eight years of college.

TRUMAN: What do you do? Describe a typical day on the job.

HATHORN: I currently work at the Animal Hospital of Fayetteville, which is a lot of fun for me because we are nearly always busy and do a lot of surgery. Today I did an emergency surgery on a dog that got kicked hard in the belly. His liver was fractured in several places, and he was losing a lot of blood. We got him stablized, thanks to some wonderful clotting aids used by the military for soldiers hurt in battle, and we gave the dog a blood transfusion to replace some of the lost blood. Never a dull moment!

TRUMAN: What’s the best part of your job?

HATHORN: A lot of it is fun, like seeing the cute puppies and kittens, but you also see a lot of sick and injured animals, too.

TRUMAN: What’s the hardest part of your job?

HATHORN: The hardest part is that you can’t fix some things and have to be with them at the end. We have moved yearly since 2008, courtesy of

MAY 2012

my husband’s job in the Army. Last year, I worked at the Humane Society in Kansas City as a spay/neuter vet, which was a lot of fun but also very sad due to seeing just how many homeless animals there are out there.

TRUMAN: In addition to your civilian job, you are also in the U.S. Army Reserves. How does that work? What do you do for the military?

HATHORN: I decided to join the reserves in 2009 when my youngest son (of three boys) was only two years old. I knew he would likely be four or five before I would get deployed, and our deployments are only six months at the most, which was a little easier to imagine. I went in as a Captain, went through officer basic training and since then, have worked at post vet facilities as a small animal vet instead of doing the weekend training. I went on the Pacific Partnership last year with the Navy, and I got to practice on animals in Papau, New Guinea.

That was a really exciting trip because I got to fly halfway around the world to Australia, swim in the South Pacific and go to sea on a Navy ship! The only bad thing is being gone from my family. Next year, I’ll be deployed for five months seeing to the health of the military working dogs, as well as ensuring a safe food supply for our military.

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

HATHORN: In my spare time, I read a lot of books, garden and paint. I also ride a Harley to work sometimes, which my techs usually get a kick out of.

TRUMAN: What was your favorite subject in school?

HATHORN: My favorite classes in school were actually English classes because I love to read.

TRUMAN: What is your favorite kind of animal? Do you have pets?

HATHORN: My favorite animals are dogs. For pets, I have two labrador retreivers, two cats, a tank of fish, and I am currently bottle feeding three kittens, but I’ll find them homes in a couple of weeks.

TRUMAN: What advice would you give to kids who are interested in this profession?

HATHORN: My advice for others out there who want to become vets is work hard in school especially in science and math, and volunteer at a vet clinic when you are old enough so that you can see if you would really want to work there all the time.

TRUMAN: Thank you so much for telling us about your career as a veterinarian. I think I would love to have your job!

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KIDSVILLE NEWS - PAGE 7

What’s the Difference?

There are four things different between Picture A and Picture B. Can you find them all?

MAY Maze

Make your way through the maze to help the teacher find a thankyou apple for Teacher Appreciation Day

Thank you!

Source: www.metrocreativeconnection.com

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MAY 2012

Coloring Corner May is Get Caught Reading month. Color in this picture of books and decide all the wonderful adventures you will have through reading.

Image: www.metrocreativegraphics.com

Truman’s Tricky Picture Find these items! Be sure to find Truman’s hat! Look for more fun and games at www.kidsvillenews.com.

MAY 2012

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KIDSVILLE NEWS - PAGE 9

Story Time with Truman Quetzalcoatl (Ketz-al-co-ah-Tel)

Ron tried to keep Toby from getting a good lick on the ball, but Toby was patient. Usually he hit the ball deep into left or center trying for a home run. But today, he wanted revenge. Toby hit the ball as hard as he had ever hit a ball in his life. But he didn’t hit the ball on the ground as he had planned. He was too used to hitting the ball out of the infield and got under the ball a bit too much.

He hit a screaming line drive that looked like a bullet that was going to take Garrett’s head off.

But Garrett’s left hand popped up, and he picked the ball out of the air and fired a throw to first base all in one motion. He caught Louie heading to second for a double play. Garrett hopped over to third and got his crutch, then made his way behind the plate with his teammates.

DAVY: Ron began to organize everyone in their batting order.

Garrett saw Ronda standing by herself with a big smile on her face. Garrett walked over to where Ronda was standing.

RONDA STEENECK: Wow, you’re good!

GARRETT: Thanks.

DAVY: Suddenly Garrett experienced the greatest pain of his entire life.

TOBY: Oh! Garrett! I am so sorry Garrett I didn’t see you there! I was just warming up.

DAVY: While Garrett was writhing on the ground

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Chapter Eight

holding his crippled leg, Toby stood nearby with the bat still in his hands trying to appear sorry.

TOBY: Really, I didn’t see him.

DAVY: Ronda Steeneck glared at Toby as the crowd gathered around Garrett.

RONDA STEENECK: Since when do you warmup with a bat to go into the outfield? Miss Sternhammer! Miss Sternhammer!

MRS. STERNHAMMER: Where does it hurt?

GARRETT: My leg.

MRS. STERNHAMMER: Let me see.

GARRETT: No. MRS. STERNHAMMER: Garrett, we must have a look at your leg if we’re to know how to help you.

GARRETT: Why? There’s nothing you can do for me anyway!

MRS. STERNHAMMER: Louie, Todd, Toby, Fred, come and hold Garrett.

GARRETT: No! No! Stop it!

Stop it!

MRS. STERNHAMMER: Garrett, we have to see your leg.

Roll up his pant leg; boys.

GARRETT: No! No! Stop it!

Let me go! Let me go!

MRS. STERNHAMMER: I am just trying to do what’s best for you. Now if you had been in the classroom with me as I told you this would never have happened. Oh my! I better get Mr. Worlton.

GARRETT: Let me go!

TOBY: Oh no! Mrs. Sternhammer wants us to keep an eye on you.

DAVY: The children nearly fell all over each other fighting for the chance to see Garrett’s crippled leg. A huge, ugly purple bruise had formed and was getting darker with each passing minute.

GARRETT: Let me go!

Let me go!

TODD SMITH: What are you gonna do? Run away?

GARRETT: Let me go! Let me go!

MR. WORLTON: You kids!

Back to your classrooms! Now! Go on! Have you no sense of decency? Get out of here! Now! Run! Go on now! You boys get out of here, too! How does it feel? Do you think the bone is broken?

GARRETT: No. I don’t think so. It just hurts.

MR. WORLTON: No, I don’t think it’s broken either. But you’re going to be sore, and you’ll have a terrible bruise for awhile. I got hit like this when I was a boy.

Here now, let’s get you back on your feet.

CATHERINE: What happened to you?

GARRETT: I’m ok.

CATHERINE: Where have you been all afternoon?

GARRETT: The beach.

DAVY: Well; guess what?

GARRETT: What?

JAMES: Davy didn’t find us a buyer for yer treasure.He found eight buyers.

DAVY: They fought over yer stuff like sharks for a wounded fish.

JAMES: We got enough to pay off nearly half of the boat, get all

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the repairs we need, buy new lobster traps and put some money away for a rainy day.

CATHERINE: You’re a fine, generous lad, Garrett. I know how much you have dreamed of finding real pirate treasure and how hard it was for you to part with those things.

GARRETT: That’s great.

I’m glad.

DAVY: We were all baffled. We could sense that Garrett was not happy. But we had no idea why.

CATHERINE: Are you ready to eat? You must be starving.

GARRETT: Is it ok if I just go to bed? I’m kinda tired.

JAMES: Are you ok, son? It’s not like you to miss a meal.

GARRETT: I’m ok. Good night.

To listen and read-along with the rest of this month’s episode of QUETZALCOATL, go to www.talesofdavyjones. com or www.kidsvillenews.com .A Teacher’s Guide to accompany this 12-chapter story is available at www.

KidsvilleNews.com. An audio version CD set and workbook are also available online. Copyright 2011 by Carl F. Gundestrup. All rights reserved. Now Available: Get the “Digital Download” audio adventure for $1.99 for Kidsville News kids, teachers and parents at www.talesofdavyjones.com. Use the code word DAVY JONES.

MAY 2012

First Impressions Matter

By Barbara Gilmour Tanner, Rudy, Nicole, Stephen, Carmen and Truman the dragon are here for our “Cool Kind Kid” class.

“We’ve been talking a lot about friends. Who remembers some of the things we said about being a friend and having friends?”

Rudy was first “Don’t be mean and rude.”

Tanner added, “Be kind to everyone, even if they aren’t just like you.”

“Listen to a friend with a problem, but don’t share it with anyone,” Nicole shared.

Truman shouted, “Live The Golden Rule!”

“Who knows what a first impression is?”

“Is that what people think of you when they first meet you?” asked Stephen. Everyone thought that was right.

“How long does it take for a first impression? Or, how long does it take for someone to decide if he or she likes you or not, when they first meet you?”

No one was sure. Some said five minutes; others said five days.

“Well, it takes only five seconds for someone to form a first impression about you.” The kids were all surprised and said that was unfair.

“How can anyone know anything about me in five seconds?” asked Carmen.

Stephen laughed and added, “They won’t know how great I am on the soccer field.” Everyone laughed with him.

Truman looked sad as he said, “It’s a shame that some kids won’t like other kids just by what they see at first.”

Tanner had been quiet for a while.“It’s too bad that those five seconds can start a friendship, or not.”

“We all agree that five seconds is too short a time for someone to decide if she or he likes you. But, that is what happens. There are some things that you can do to make sure you make the best impression possible.”

“What’s the first thing people see when they meet you?” Nicole’s hand went up.

“How you look?” “That’s right. And, what does that include?”

Stephen added, “How you’re dressed.”

Carmen was waving her hand. “I bet we will make a good impression when our clothes are clean and neat.”

Rudy jumped in with, “We should be clean, too.”

Tanner added, “That’s good hygiene. Grooming is important, too.” The kids all said looking messy, dirty and smelly would make a bad impression.

“What else is important about how you look?”

Truman thought and then said, “We should look happy, not grouchy. No one wants to be friends with a grouch. It’s okay to be sad sometimes, but when meeting someone new, try to show your happy face.”

How we act is just as important as how we look.”

Tanner said, “My mom always tells me to stand up straight, speak clearly and not do any annoying things.”

“Your mom is right; those things show others that you are confident.

Having a good attitude does the same. ‘Cool Kind Kids’ care about the first impression they make because a good one helps them have more friends”.

Barbara Gilmour, Tanner’s grandmom, is the creator and developer of the Tanner’s Manners: Be a “Cool Kind Kid” Social Skills, Character Values and Anti-Bullying educational materials and the award-winning “Cool Kind Kid” Audio CD. © Cool Kind Kid. 866-KID-KIND. www.CoolKindKid.com.

MAY 2012

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Get Crafty This Mother’s Day This year, make something special that your mom will love for Mother’s Day. Make stained glass with a special message or flower design just for her.

For the faux stained glass, you will create a design with crayon shavings, paper, etc., and encase the design between pieces of wax paper. Then you will have an adult help you iron the wax paper; which will melt the crayon shavings into a gorgeous stained-glass effect. Your mother will be proud to hang your masterpiece in the window for everyone to enjoy.

Here’s how to get started: What You Will Need: wax paper crayons crayon/pencil sharpener scissors an iron Optional: stickers, tissue paper, glitter, photos, magazine pictures Step 1: Cut 2 pieces of wax paper as big as you want your stained glass to be.

You can cut the wax paper into any shape you want, like a heart or a circle. However, be sure the two pieces are the same shape and size before going forward.

Step 2: Arrange the stickers, pictures and paper you want to use and make a design on top of one of the pieces of wax paper.

Step 3: Reuse old crayons by shaving them in a pencil sharpener and place the crayon shavings to fill in the design of your stained glass. If you would like to make a traditional-looking stained glass, you can just use the crayon shavings to make your design.

Step 4: Have an adult put newspaper down on the ironing board. Then place your wax paper artwork on top of it. Put the second piece of wax paper on top of the artwork, having the pieces of wax paper line up. Carefully, put a few layers of newspapers on top of the whole thing. Now, iron on top of the newspaper, checking it frequently. When the wax paper layers are stuck together and the crayon shavings are melted, stop ironing and allow the artwork to cool.

Step 5: Once it’s cooled, trim the edges to make it pretty, punch a hole near the top and tie ribbon from the hole to hang it and you’re done.

Your mother will love your stained-glass masterpiece because you made it!

Art Gallery George Inness: American Landscape Painter George traveled to the West Coast for the first time in 1891. Two years George Inness was an American landscape painter. later, he exhibited 14 beautiful landscape paintings of San Diego, Los Angeles, He painted pictures of mountains, fields and other Yosemite; and San Francisco at the Chicago natural scenery.

World’s Fair. In 1894, George set out for his last George Inness was born on May trip to Europe. He died in Scotland on August 1, 1825, in Newburgh, New York.

3, 1894. A large public funeral was held at the He always loved art, even as a young National Academy of Design and a memorial child. By the time he was 14, he was art exhibit of his work was held at the Fine Arts taking drawing lessons with a local artist in New York. A few years later, Building in New York City after his death.

George Inness was influenced by both the he began studying with a French traditional American landscape painting style landscape painter. He used his artistic skills to work as a map engraver in and the French Barbizon style of landscape painting. The traditional American landscape New York City in his late teens. By the painting style was very realistic and formal. mid-1840s, George was taking classes Inness painted landscapes of mountains and The French Barbizon style was interested in at the National Academy of Design. everyday beauty from the 1840s to the 1890s mood and emotion. These painters used color to He held his first art show in 1844 at create shadows and show feelings in their pictures. George took from both the National Academy. By 1850, the young painter was these styles to help define a new art movement in the 1880s. The movement already receiving attention from both art collectors and art critics. was called Tonalism. Tonalist artists wanted to show mood and emotion in George’s early work was very formal and traditional. He painted landscapes their paintings. They used soft, natural colors to show peacefulness, loneliness, joy or other emotions in their work. the way the European masters did. But, as his career took off, he developed Sources: “George Inness (1825-1894),” QuestRoyal Fine Art, LLC, www.quehis own style. He took his first trip to Europe in 1851, where he studied stroyalfineart.com/artist/george-inness; “George Inness” on Wikipedia, http:// landscape paintings in Italy and France. After that, he spent a lot of time in en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Inness. different places in the United States and Europe. He painted the natural landWritten by Tamar Burris, a former elementary school teacher who now scapes that he saw all around him. His fame grew, and he sold paintings almost works as a freelance writer and curriculum developer for PBS, the Discovery as fast as he completed them. In 1890, he even had to finish a painting with his Channel and other education-related companies. left hand after breaking his right arm!

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Conservation o r n e r Make Old Crayons New Again

With so many holidays and celebrations in the month of May, crayons and other art supplies will be used a lot. When crayons break or are used so much that they become hard to hold, people are tempted to throw them away. However, remember the three Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. This month we will focus on finding ways to reuse those old crayons. Here are some ways to give crayons new life: Make Crayon Cookies: Unwrap broken pieces of crayons and O drop them into an old muffin tin and pop it into the oven at 250 F, just until the colors run together. Once the tins cool, you can pop out the multi-colored cookies and enjoy coloring with cool new homemade crayons.

Make Ornaments: Place metal cookie cutters on a rimmed cookie sheet lined with foil. Put unwrapped pieces of crayon in each O cookie cutter mold. Then bake at 150 F for about 15 minutes or until the crayons pieces are melted. Take the sheet out of the oven and let it cool. Remove the melted crayons from the cutter and tie a ribbon around the ornament so it can be added to the tree at Christmas.

Make Paperweights: Find a smooth rock from outside, clean it O and warm the rock in the oven on 225 F for about 15 minutes. Your parent can remove the rock from the oven with mitts, and then you can take broken crayons and press them against the warm stone to make a design. Let the stone cool, and you’ve got a fun paperweight.

A paperweight would make a great Father’s Day present for Dad next month.

Always remember to ask an adult for help when using the oven.

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The Secret World of Arietty – Available May 22

AT THE MOVIES First Position — In Theaters May 4 Ever wonder what it takes to be a professional ballet dancer? Six kids who spend every waking hour, from the time they’re fiveyears-old, working on their ballet skills get a chance to compete at the Youth America Grand Prix in this wonderful documentary.

The opportunity to compete for scholarships and contracts makes for strong motivation. You’ll be amazed at what these gifted young dancers can do with their bodies, and even more impressed at how hard they work to be able to dance at such an advanced level. Each child dancer gets just five minutes alone on stage to prove why he or she deserves a career in dance. If you’ve ever been curious about ballet, this movie will open your eyes to a world of dance that has been around since the fifteenth century.

Not Rated. 90 mins. (IFC Films)

Movies on DVD Scooby-Doo: 13 Spooky Tales Around the World — Available May 15 That big lovable Great Dane who’s always ready to do anything for a “Scooby-snack” is back. This DVD contains some favorite episodes from the popular television cartoon show. Scooby and his human pals Fred, Daphne, Velma and Shaggy go on mystery-solving adventures all over the world. “To Switch a Witch” takes place in Salem, Massachusetts.

“Lock the Door, It’s a Minotaur” happens in Spain, and “A Menace in Venice” occurs in Venice. You can get a fun geography lesson looking at a globe to pinpoint exactly where each adventure takes our group of not-so-brave teen investigators. You’ll be singing the show’s bubblegum pop song (“Scooby dooby Doo, where are you?”) in no time.

Not Rated. 286 mins. (Warner Home Video)

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Meshing Japanese animation styles with Mary Morton’s beloved 1952 children’s novel “The Borrowers,” animator-turned-director Hiromasa Yonebayashi and co-director Gary Rydstrom create a delightful adaptation. The movie comes from Tokyo’s famed animation production house Studio Ghibli (“Spirited Away”).

This is a fairytale about a tiny family of three “borrowers” living beneath the floorboards of a suburban Tokyo home. 13-year-old Arrietty loves the miniature world she shares with her stoic father Pod (voiced by Will Arnett) and worrywart mother (voiced by Amy Poehler).

The historic family home sits in a secluded setting teeming with foliage, birds and insects. A cantankerous plump cat roams the grounds with a particular curiosity about the borrowers he instinctually senses are lurking about. Unbeknownst to the small family, a young human boy named Shawn (David Henry) arrives to stay at his grandmother’s house in preparation for an operation. Prepare to be charmed.

Rated G. 94 mins. (Buena Vista) Yellow Submarine — Available May 29 “We all live in a yellow submarine.” So goes the famous Beatles’ song that provides the inspiration for this classic 1968 musical fantasy movie that features the Fab Four as cartoon characters with a lot on their minds. Paul, Ringo, John and George travel across the sea of time. Inventive animated sequences tell the story, as songs like “Eleanor Rigby,” “All You Need Is Love,” and “When I’m Sixty-Four” play. The well-loved family movie has been restored to highlight the expressive hand-drawn animation on display. “Yellow Submarine” is a timeless animated movie filled with weird creatures, great music and a quick-witted sense of humor. “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” comes to life as an unusual woman riding a horse across a yellow sky. Peace, love and hope are the ideas that make up the fantastic tale of time travel in a strange universe.

Rated G. 87 mins. (Capitol) 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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KIDSVILLE KITCHEN

Together Time — Ask an adult for help with projects!

Make Your Mom Smile with a Delicious Breakfast!

Make something for Mother’s Day that the whole family can enjoy! It’s important to start the day with a healthy breakfast. This French toast recipe will be a great jumpstart for your family and a special treat for your mother because you will help make it.

Healthy French Toast 4 servings.

2 large egg whites 1 large egg 3/4 cup low-fat (1%) milk 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract Salt 2 teaspoons margarine or butter 8 slices firm whole wheat bread Maple syrup (optional) Fresh strawberries (optional) Directions o Preheat oven to 200 F. In pie plate, with whisk, beat egg whites, egg, milk, vanilla and 1/2 teaspoon salt until blended.

In 12-inch nonstick skillet, melt 1 teaspoon margarine on medium.

Dip bread slices, 1 at a time, in egg mixture, pressing bread lightly to coat both sides well. Place 3 or 4 slices in skillet, and cook 6 to 8 minutes or until lightly browned on both sides.

Transfer French toast to cookie sheet; keep warm in oven. Repeat with remaining margarine, bread slices and egg mixture. Serve French toast with maple syrup and berries if you like.

For more healthy recipes, visit Good Housekeeping at www.goodhouse-

keeping.com/.

Pick of the Month:

Strawberries

Strawberries contain fiber and potassium, which help your body stay in good working order. Also, strawberries contain a high level of Vitamin C, almost as much as an orange. Vitamin C helps your immune system to keep away those dreaded summer colds.

Comet Quest With their bright “hairy” heads and long, wispy tails, the sight of a comet in the night sky used to scare people. Now we know that comets are part of our solar system family. They are icy objects made of materials left over after our solar system formed.

Scientists want to find out all about comets to help us understand how the solar system formed.

Most comets come from the Kuiper Belt, a region beyond the orbit of Neptune. Sometimes the gravitational pull of a planet flings one of these comets headlong toward the Sun. Comets have another hangout, the Oort Cloud, a farfar-distant cloud of comets that surrounds the solar system.

Sometimes the gravitational pull of a passing star stirs up comets in the Oort Cloud, sending some of them flying toward the inner solar system.

Wherever the comet came from, as it approaches the Sun, the Sun’s gravity shapes the comet’s path into a lopsided orbit.

The comet swings around the Sun, then heads out again far into the solar system. When the comet is in the inner solar system where Earth is, that’s when we may see it in our skies.

We can see a comet because it grows a big fuzzy cloud around its nucleus (the solid part) as the Sun heats it up. Some of the ice on the surface starts to boil off, and trapped gases may escape in jets. The solar wind pushes this misty cloud of gas and dust into a long tail. (The solar wind is the windy blast of particles from the Sun.) NASA has sent several spacecrafts to visit comets, and we have already learned a lot about them. A new mission called Rosetta is now on its way to a comet with the long The new mission Rosetta is on its way to orbit name of Comet the comet’s nucleus and drop a lander on it.

Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Rosetta is a European Space Agency mission with help from NASA. When Rosetta arrives at the comet in 2014, it will orbit the comet’s nucleus and drop a lander on it. Neither of these feats has ever been done before!

You can be a part of the Rosetta mission! Get “Comet Quest,” the brand new iPhone and iPad action game. Check it out at http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/comet-quest. It’s free!

This article was written by Diane K. Fisher and provided courtesy of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Delicious and Nutritious

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P ARENTOWN’S Financial Mistakes Young Families Should Avoid

Young families want to start out on the right foot, and for many, that means addressing finances and developing a plan so their finances help instead of hinder them in the years to come. Addressing finances often means tackling debts and eradicating or significantly reducing debt is essential for young families.

But being beholden to debt isn’t the only mistake young families make. The following are a few common mistakes that young families focused on their future should avoid. * Getting by without a budget. It’s possible to live without a budget, but that doesn’t mean it’s prudent. Living without a budget makes it hard to corral spending or to know just how much you’re spending each month.

When sitting down to establish a monthly budget, the task can seem daunting, especially if you have never before lived on a budget. The first step toward establishing a budget is to determine the monthly costs of necessities (i.e., mortgage payments, car payments, groceries, etc.) and then make a list of those things you spend money on each month that aren’t entirely necessary (i.e., cable television bills, dining out, and so on). This can help you trim some of those extra costs that can make it difficult to save for your future. The first couple of months living on a budget might be rocky, and you might need to make a few adjustments along the way. But establishing a budget will make it much easier for you to meet your long-term financial goals. * Failing to save money. Some young families feel their savings account is their home, the value of which they expect to appreciate considerably by the time they’re finished paying off their mortgage. Unfortunately, the housing market of the last several years suggests that homes might not be as great an investment as they once were. In fact, many homeowners are currently underwater with their mortgages, meaning they have more debt on the property than the property is worth.

Though the prevalence of underwater mortgages doesn’t mean families should avoid buying a home, it does shed light on the importance families must place on saving money and avoiding the assumption that their home will finance their retirement down the road. There’s no telling if the value of your home will keep pace with inflation over the next several decades, so it’s important to save money and keep saving as the years go by. * Saving for college as opposed to retirement. Parents, of course, want their children to go to college, and many would prefer that their kids don’t end up buried in debt to afford tuition. However, it’s not a good idea to make the kids’ college tuition a higher priority than your own retirement. Kids can earn scholarships to college, but no such scholarships exist to finance your retirement. If your child’s college savings plan is getting more of your money than your own retirement savings, reverse this plan immediately. You can still contribute to your child’s college fund, but don’t do so at the expense of your own retirement. * Living above their means. Young families in which Mom and Dad both have strong credit scores and histories will find they’re attractive to prospective lenders.

As a result, it can be easy for young families to fall into the trap of living above their means, whether it be buying a home that stretches their budget or a car that might be flashy but is ultimately unaffordable. Though it might be tempting, don’t live above your means.

Today’s families face a financial future that’s as uncertain as any in recent memory.

That reality only emphasizes the importance families must place on making sound financial decisions that don’t put their futures in jeopardy.

K ID S MART Errores Financieros Que Las Familias Jóvenes Deben Evitar Las familias jóvenes quieren empezar con el pie derecho y para la mayoría esto quiere decir enfrentar sus finanzas y desarrollar un plan para que en los próximos años sus finanzas les ayuden en lugar de perjudicarles. Enfrentar las finanzas a menudo significa afrontar las deudas, y erradicar o reducir significativamente la deuda es esencial para las familias jóvenes.

Pero estar endeudados no es el único error que las familias jóvenes cometen.

A continuación hablaremos de algunos de los errores más comunes que las familias jóvenes enfocadas en su futuro deben de evitar.

• Vivir sin un presupuesto. Es posible vivir sin un presupuesto, pero eso no quiere decir que es prudente. Vivir sin un presupuesto hace difícil acorralar los gastos o saber cuánto se gasta cada mes. Cuando se sienten a planear un presupuesto mensual, el trabajo puede parecer desalentador, especialmente si nunca han vivido con presupuesto. El primer paso para establecer un presupuesto es determinar el costo mensual de las necesidades (como la hipoteca, pago del carro, despensa etc.) y después hacer una lista de las cosas en las que se gasta cada mes que no son del todo necesarias (como Cable televisión, comer en restaurantes entre otros).

Esto le puede ayudar a recortar costos extras que pueden dificultar el ahorrar para el futuro. Vivir con un presupuesto es difícil los primeros meses, y puede que tenga que hacer ajustes en el camino. Pero establecer un presupuesto puede facilitar el alcanzar las metas financieras de largo plazo.

• No ahorrar dinero. Algunas familias jóvenes piensan que su cuenta de ahorros es su casa, esperan que el valor aumente considerablemente para cuando la terminen de pagar. Desafortunadamente el mercado de la vivienda de los últimos años sugiere que las casas no son una buena inversión como lo fueron antes. De hecho, muchos propietarios de vivienda están con el agua hasta el cuello, ósea que deben más de lo que vale la propiedad.

• Aunque las hipotecas tienen a la gente con el agua hasta el cuello, esto no quiere decir que deben de evitar el comparar una casa, pero si derrocha un poco de luz sobre la importancia que las familias deben de poner en ahorrar dinero y no deben de dar por hecho que su casa financiara su retiro en el futuro. No se sabe si el valor de su casa va a seguir el ritmo de la inflación en las próximas décadas así que es importante ahorrar dinero y seguir ahorrando al paso de los años.

• Ahorrar para la universidad contra ahorrar para su retiro. Los padres, por supuesto, quieren que sus hijos asistan a la universidad, y muchos prefieren que sus hijos no queden enterrados en deudas para poder pagar la colegiatura. Mas sin embargo, no es una buena idea que la colegiatura de sus hijos sea su primera prioridad en lugar de su retiro. Los niños pueden obtener becas para la universidad, pero no existe una beca para financiar su retiro. Si el plan de ahorros de sus hijos recibe más dinero que su cuenta de retiro, cambie el plan de inmediato. Todavía puede contribuir a la cuenta del colegio de sus hijos, pero no lo haga al costo de su retiro.

• Viviendo por encima de sus medios. Las familias jóvenes, en las cuales mamá y papá tienen un historial de crédito fuerte, se verán muy atractivos para los posibles prestamistas. Como resultado, puede ser fácil que dichas familias caigan en la trampa de vivir por encima de sus medios, ya sea comprar una casa que estreche su presupuesto o un carro que luzca bien, pero que esta fuera de su alcance. Estar en esta situación es potencialmente peligroso, ya que al primer gasto inesperado tendrán un efecto dómino devastador en sus finanzas. Aunque sea tentador, no viva por encima de sus medios.

Las familias de hoy en día enfrentan un futuro financiero que es tan inseguro como cualquier otro en la memoria reciente. Esa realidad solo insiste en la importancia que las familias deben de poner en hacer decisiones financieras concretas que no arriesguen su futuro.

Content and photo provided by Metrocreativeconnection.com.

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P ARENTOWN’S K ID S HAPE Tips for Parents: Prepare Your Child for Camp Children spend the whole school year counting down the days till summer when they’ll be free from homework and able to meet new friends – sometimes at summer camp.

“The camp experience can be one of the most profound experiences a child can have for a variety of reasons,” said Pat McNally, Kansas State University Research and Extension 4-H youth development department head. “It’s a viable way of letting children become who they want to be.”

According to a recent study by the American Camp Association, children who attend camp become more willing to try new things, grow more independent, develop social skills, become more confident and gain a sense of self-worth.

While most children are excited about going to camp, some can be nervous or scared, especially if it is their first experience with being away from home for some time, McNally said. Young children may benefit from attending a day camp before they’re ready to spend the night away from home.

“If a child is nervous about spending a few nights away from home, parents also can help ease his or her worries by taking a weekend road trip to tour the camp,” McNally said. “This allows them to become familiar with the territory and can give them a chance to see how much other kids are enjoying it.”

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It’s important to let the child know that “missing home” is normal. To ease the separation, McNally suggested making plans to keep in touch.

Before camp, it can be beneficial to practice short stays away from home, such as spending the night with a friend or a weekend with grandparents, she said.

To prepare a child for camp, parents can include him or her in the decision process of choosing a camp and share their own childhood camp experiences, McNally said. Tell the child about the fun activities he or she will get to participate in and about the new friends they’ll make, also.

After choosing a camp, parents should ask if the camp has a checklist of items that campers need to bring and whether campers will need to bring money for snacks or souvenirs, said Beth Hecht, K-State Research and Extension 4-H youth development agent in Leavenworth County. Parents should help their child pack to make sure nothing is forgotten. Hecht also suggested placing money in an envelope with the child’s name and camp group on it. Parents can ask the group’s counselor to hold onto the money until their child needs it.

Candy is often a popular item for kids to bring and share with their friends at camp, she said. But, valuable items such as CDs, CD players or jewelry should be left at home so they’re not stolen or broken.

“The camp experience provides a package of learning opportunities, including learning how to live with others, share space and cooperate,” Hecht said. “Children develop more independence and learn new skills, but in a safe environment with a responsible counselor. It’s like a small-scale college life.”

Source: Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, http://www.ksre.ksu.edu/news/sty/2006/prepare_camp051006.htm.

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