Scholastic Choices articles from April 2004

Scholastic Choices archives from April 2004

Cutting curfew.(Personal Responsibility)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... A town in Connecticut recently decided not to challenge a court-ruling that banned curfews. For 10 years, kids in Vernon, Connecticut were subject to a town-imposed curfew. But the Connecticut Civil Liberties Union challenged the ruling,...

Ephedra!(Health)(herbal product)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... At the end of 2003, the U.S. government announced that it was banning the sale of products that contained ephedra, a herbal product and dietary supplement. This means that people won't be able to buy products containing ephedra. Why is...

No soda?(Nutrition)(soft drinks in school)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) wants to outlaw selliing soft drinks in schools. The medical association contends that the consumption of soda is contributing to childhood obesity. Nearly 9 million kids between the ages of 6 and...

Easy Dawes it!(Personal Development)(gymnast Dominique Dawes promotes self-esteem)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... At age 20, Dominique Dawes won a gold medal in gymnastics for the United States. She attributes her success to hard work, talent, and a strong belief in herself. Dominique is now 27 and a spokesperson for the uniquely ME! Girl Scout...

Break the Safe.(Family)(cooperative boardgame)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Looking to spice up life in your house? Try Break the Safe, a cool board game, the challenges families to work together to complete a task. The mission: Infiltrate the "Evil Guy Complex" and unlock the safe where the plans for the Evil Guy...

Weight war: growing numbers of teens in the United States are overweight, and the problem keeps getting bigger.(health)
April 1, 2004... CHRISTIANNE GALLUCCI WAS SURE THE jeans would fit her. After all, they were a size 12, her size--or so she had thought. But in the store's dressing room, Christianne struggled to get into the jeans. The pants were too tight and this terrified...

Family fight: you want to do well. Your mom and dad want you to succeed. So why do you and your parents fight about your goals? Here's how to make peace with your family.(family)
April 1, 2004... None of this surprises Adrienne, a ninth-grader in Annville, Pennsylvania, especially the goal of making district band. She's been studying the clarinet for six years and her parents not only bought her the instrument, they also paid for years...

Cool to be cruel? Bullying is a popular activity in schools, but one woman, who was tormented in her youth, is working to change that.(personal responsibility)
April 1, 2004... NEWS FLASH: MOST BULLIES ARE POPULAR AND RESPECTED. That's what a recent study by researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) found out. That's bad news. The good news is that there are kids and adults who are...

Close-up: teen brain: the thrills of a lifetime.(Heads Up Real News About Drugs And Your Body)(related article: Brain Change: Two Very Different Ways)
April 1, 2004... The teen brain is wired for thrills, chills, and adventure. Here's how to make the most of it. "It's really scary," says 16-year-old Que Walker. "You're nervous and shaking. Then afterward, you get that same feeling you get coming off a...

Mighty sight: how much do you know about your eyes? Take this quiz to find out.(nutrition)
April 1, 2004... 1 Under the right conditions, a human eye can detect the light of a candle at a distance of -- miles. a 25 b 14 c 3 2 Your eyes are composed of more than -- working parts. a 100 b 6,500 c 2 million 3 A lack...

Airline pilot: Nicole Lewis flies airplanes for Southwest Airlines. Want a career that soars like hers? Here's what you can do--right now.(career choices)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... 1. LEARN TO COMMUNICATE. The responsibility that comes with flying a plane is huge. The safety of everyone on board is in the pilot's hands. So Nicole needs to make sure that her crew understands her instructions. The quicker you learn how to...

Fabulous frittata: our teen chef's latest creation will have you flipping with hunger.(recipe 101)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Fabulous Frittata INGREDIENTS 2 cups of chopped vegetables. Make the pieces small. Good choices includes green or red bell peppers, onions, or mushrooms 2 tablespoons of oil 2 cloves of garlic, minced 8...

Herbal medicines: Dr. Marjorie Seidenfeld answers your health questions.(your body & mind)
April 1, 2004... DEAR DR. MARJORIE, I'M A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT-ATHLETE. A FRIEND SUGGESTED THAT I TRY SOME HERBAL MEDICINES TO IMPROVE MY BODY. IS THIS A SAFE IDEA? --ANDREW IN MICHIGAN Herbal medicines can be found in many forms including pills,...

Sibling sadness: Marlene Tedeschi answers your tough questions.(the advice corner)
April 1, 2004... Q. My brother is going to college next year and I am going to miss him a lot. He would always play with me when I was little. Do you have any advice on how to handle his going away to college? --YOUNGER BROTHER A. Your brother is...

10 tips breaking a sweat: glued to your couch? These tips will get you up and running.(fitness)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... 1. Climb Stairs. Skip the elevator or escalator and take the stairs instead. Even if it's only one flight of steps, you'll burn calories and tone your muscles. 2. Park The Car. Live close enough to your destination to walk or ride...

Sticky situation: advice from Choices readers.(students helping students)
April 1, 2004... the problem: WHENEVER I TRY TO MAKE MYSELF FEEL BETTER, SOMEBODY INSULTS THE WAY I LOOK OR ACT AND I FEEL LIKE A LOSER. HOW CAN I IMPROVE MY SELF-ESTEEM? --NO SELF-ESTEEM Dear No Self-Esteem, Don't listen to what those people...

Thank you for using Choices in your classroom!
April 1, 2004... Welcome to Choices, a magazine about personal growth through positive decision making. As you've no doubt noticed, Choices has a new logo on its cover. We'd love to hear what you and your students think about our new look. Let us know by...

Fewer teens use drugs.(Heads Up real News About Drugs And Your Body)
April 1, 2004... Teenagers are getting the message that drugs are a dead end. Fewer teens today are fooled into thinking that abusing drugs can help solve problems or is a fun way to spend time. To see the downward trend in teen drug use, look at the bar graph...