Scholastic Choices articles from April 2009

Scholastic Choices archives from April 2009

Demi goes green.(personal responsibility)(Interview)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Earth Day is in April. Demi Lovato, star of the Disney Channel's Sonny With a Chance and Camp Rock, spoke with Choices about protecting the environment. CHOICES: Do you have any specific environmental concerns?...

Stress relief.(Too Stressed to Think? A Teen Guide to Staying Sane when Life Makes You Crazy)(Brief article)(Book review)
April 1, 2009... TOO STRESSED TO THINK? A TEEN GUIDE TO STAYING SANE WHEN LIFE MAKES YOU CRAZY Free Spirit, 2005 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Do you have stress in your life? Pretty much every teen does. But fret not--there are effective ways to reduce...

Beating the blues.(adolescent depression and physical activity)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... If you're feeling anxious or depressed and can't figure out why, here's a question to consider: Are you getting enough exercise? A Finnish study of more than 7,000 adolescents found that boys who were physically active for less than one hour a...

Fatal ride.(car surfing)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Do you know what car surfing is? It's when someone rides on the outside of a moving vehicle, such as on its roof or hood. Sounds crazy and stupid, right? Believe it or not, 58 people in the United States have died from car surfing since 1990,...

Consumer alert.(pbskids.org/dontbuyit)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Do you get the urge to bite into a fast-food burger when you see a poster showing the food? Do you use fictional TV characters as role models to determine what kind of person you want to be? If so, check out http://...

Teens for hire.(summer youth employment)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Within a few months, the school year will be over and it'll be time for summer? Many teens get jobs once school is out. If you plan to do that, here are questions to answer first: * Are you old enough? Some jobs...

"My mom beat breast cancer": actress Brenda Song put her own fears aside to help her mom recover from a serious illness.(Family)(Cover story)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Fans of actress Brenda Song know her as the bubbly and shallow London Tipton, the character she plays on the Disney Channel show The Suite Life on Deck. On TV, London never seems to have a bad day, as she...

Marijuana mess: six years ago, this teen smoked marijuana for the first time. Before long, he was hooked on the drug and breaking the law to support his habit.(substance abuse)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Michael Wilson * was 12 years old the first time he smoked a marijuana joint. "All of my friends were smoking," Michael, now 18, tells Choices. "The way people were talking about it, they glamorized it. It was...

Selfish vs. selfless: if you're stuck between trying to get what you want & feeling pressure to let others get what they want, it's time to learn the art of compromise!(personal responsibility)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Shortly after he finished the sixth grade, Ben Elliot's family situation changed dramatically. That summer, he and his mother moved from New York City to Pennsylvania with his soon-to-be-stepdad and stepsiblings....

The invisible injury: teen athletes are at risk of suffering concussions, a brain injury that needs to be treated with caution and care.(health)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Playing goalkeeper for her soccer team, Christin Anderson darted out to cut off a pass during a game. As she slid down and smothered the ball, a player on the opposing team took a swipe at it. The player's foot...

The sweet truth: when it comes to sugar and sugar substitutes, it's not just the color of the packet that's different.(nutrition)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Few teens can resist the taste of sweet foods. Soda, caramel macchiatos, and candy bars are practically dietary staples, right? At least they're pretty delicious as an afternoon snack. The problem is, these treats...

Strawberry shortcake: this delicious dessert is fun to bake!(recipe 101)(Recipe)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Strawberry Shortcake THIS DELICIOUS DESSERT IS FUN TO BAKE! ingredients Berries: 3 1-pint strawberries, hulled and sliced 1/4 cup sugar 2 tablespoons thinly sliced fresh mint Biscuits: 1 3/4 cup all-purpose...

The truth about "rehab & drug addiction: the reality is far from glamorous.(drug rehabilitation)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Popular culture is filled with stories about the glitzy lives of celebrities, from the designer clothes they wear to their latest romances. It's easy to assume that everything they do is glamorous --including going...

Foul mouth: it takes more than brushing your teeth to effectively rid yourself of bad breath.(your body & mind)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] You're chatting with friends when you notice that each is giving you a funny look. They're clearly uncomfortable to be around you, but why? Finally, one of them reveals what's going on: "Hey, your breath smells....

Lesson to learn: when it comes to spending and investing money, it's best to be cautious.(your money)(Author abstract)(Report)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The economic crisis gripping the United States has affected millions of people. There's a strong possibility that you've been directly affected by the poor economy. Maybe one of your parents is out of work or maybe...

My magazine: meet a young man who created his own magazine.(Rez(life) Magazine)(Interview)
April 1, 2009... This is the sixth in a series of articles on teenagers and young adults who are getting a head start on possible careers by working in cool jobs now. In this issue, Choices interviewed Marc Andrew Deley, 22, of Buffalo, New York. Marc started...

Fact vs. fiction: it's a myth that you must attend the prom with a date.(your life)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... For many teens, especially those in their senior year of high school, the prom is a huge deal. It's the big year-end event that involves dressing formally, buying corsages, and-- most important of all--finding the perfect date. The prom is...

Time crunch: advice from Choices readers.(time management and procrastination)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] the problem I NEVER SEEM TO HAVE ENOUGH TIME IN MY DAY. I OFTEN DON'T FINISH MY HOMEWORK OR COMPLETE MY CHORES, AND THIS UPSETS MY PARENTS. I PROCRASTINATE ON TASKS. I HAVE NO TIME-MANAGEMENT SKILLS. HOW CAN I...

The hunt is on.(word search puzzle)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... DIRECTIONS: How closely did you read the five feature articles ("'My Mom Beat Breast Cancer,'" "Marijuana Mess," "Selfish vs. Selfless," "The Invisible Injury," and "The Sweet Truth") in this issue of Choices? Find out by filling in the blanks...

Thank you for using Choices in your classroom!(Editorial)
April 1, 2009... WELCOME TO THE APRIL/MAY 2009 ISSUE OF CHOICES, a magazine that covers family and consumer science, health, and life skills. This is the final issue of the 2008-2009 school year. We thank you for subscribing to Choices and using the...

What do you know about "rehab" and drug addiction?(drug rehabilitation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Answer the questions below to find out what you know about treatment for drug addiction. 1. Drug addiction is a short-term illness that is cured with medicine. (A) True (B) False 2. People who are addicted to drugs have a...

The truth about "rehab" and drug addiction.(drug education)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Dear Teacher: "Rehab" is a commonly used term that can refer to a range of drug treatment options. Teens who read about celebrities checking into residential drug treatment centers--places that look a lot like five-star resorts--may have a...

Lesson plan and worksheet.(drug addiction and rehabilitation)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... NATIONAL STANDARDS Science (NSES): Life Science: Regulation and Behavior; Science in Personal and Social Perspectives: Personal and Community Health Language Arts (IRA/NCTE): Evaluation Strategies KEY CONCEPTS * "Rehab" is a...