Scholastic Choices articles from February 2009

Scholastic Choices archives from February 2009

Emma gets involved.(Emma Roberts, the presidential elections, and personal responsibility)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Emma Roberts, star of the film Hotel for Dogs, would have voted in last November's presidential election, if she could have. But she was about three months shy of being old enough to vote. "I just missed it," she...

Words of wisdom.(The Success Principles for Teens: How to Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be)(Brief article)(Book review)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] You want to play on the softball team, but you're probably not good enough. You didn't snag that part-time job because you don't have the right connections. Do you regularly make these types of excuses? If so,...

NEAT stuff.(nonexercise activity thermogenesis)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] We'd like to introduce you to a "neat" concept: nonexercise activity thermogenesis, or NEAT. NEAT refers to activities people do that they may not think of as exercise. Examples of NEAT activities are chores like...

Drain on the brain.(alcohol abuse)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Adults are constantly telling teens not to drink alcohol, and that's good advice since alcohol abuse can lead to lots of trouble for young people. But the next time your parents tell you not to drink, remind them to...

Job search.(www.thefunworks.org)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] You may dream of being a rock star or a Hall of Fame basketball player when you're an adult, but the truth is that most people don't grow up to be famous. That doesn't mean they don't have fun jobs and fulfilling...

What's in a name?(CutoutDissection.com and animal dissection in schools)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] You won't be surprised to find out that cutoutdissection.com is a Web site, but believe it or not, it's also the name of a 19-year-old woman. The person formerly known as Jennifer Thornburg recently legally changed...

Pound for pound: when this teen learned he was overweight, he embraced the challenge of living a healthy lifestyle.(health)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dylan Baker, 15, of St. Louis, Missouri, didn't feel very good about himself when he was younger. He didn't like that he wasn't physically fit. He would get winded easily when running. He also didn't have a lot of...

Playing to win: whether running in a race or trying to ace a test, everybody wants to do their best. Find out what brings out the competitor in you.(personal responsibility)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ryan Howland, a senior at the Lyndon Institute in Burlington, Vermont, remembers the day his team won the regional level of the Vermont Drama Council One-Act Play Festival. "It felt really great," he tells Choices....

Bad trip: an herb called salvia may be the next dangerous drug to hit schools. Beware of this drug, which is surprisingly still legal in some states.(substance abuse)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It smells gross. It looks disgusting. It tastes terrible. But none of that stopped Katelyn Murphy *, a 17-year-old Michigan teen, from smoking salvia. She'd never heard of the dry, leafy herb until a friend...

"My family lost its home": the economic meltdown in the United States forced McKaylee Bertrand's family out of their home in California. The 13-year-old tells choices how her family is coping.(family)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] My dad was laid off from his job in March 2007. That means he lost his job. He works in Internet marketing, creating and selling Web sites. My room works as a campus supervisor at a grade school. Dad got another job...

Portion power: when it comes to eating healthy, how much you eat is almost as important as what you eat.(nutrition)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A lot of people try to be healthier by eating and drinking foods that are good for their bodies. And that's smart. For instance an apple is better for you than a candy oar. Or a g ass of water is healthier than a can...

Baked ziti: heat up your kitchen with this hearty pasta recipe!(recipe 101)(Recipe)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Baked ziti HEAT UP YOUR KITCHEN WITH THIS HEARTY PASTA RECIPE! ingredients Sauce: 3 tablespoons olive oil 3 sprigs fresh oregano OR 1 tablespoon dried oregano 1 tablespoon...

Stimulant addiction: stimulants, such as cocaine, present serious health risks--they can damage your brain and your body.(HEADS UP: REAL NEWS ABOUT DRUGS AND YOUR BODY)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jeremy had always been popular in school. But when he was 13 years old, he began to change. Jeremy started worrying more about whether he was "cool" and if people liked him. "I became shy and introverted," says...

Getting your ZZZs: it's hard for teens to get enough sleep, but getting the proper amount of shut-eye is important to your health.(your body & mind)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The alarm rings at 6:15 a.m. The buzzing jars you awake, but you're determined not to give in. You roll over, trying to sleep for just five more minutes. After all, you went to bed only six hours earlier. But your...

Taking stock: the stock market has been in the news for many months. Here's an explanation why.(your money)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For many months, the stock market has been in the news because of the economic crisis that has gripped the United States and many other countries in the world. You may have seen reports on TV about the stock market...

Picture perfect: meet a teen who is focusing in on her future by taking professional photographs now.(Bianca Bennett)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This is the fifth in a series of articles on teenagers who are getting a head start on possible careers by working in cool jobs now. In this issue, Choices interviewed Bianca Bennett, 18, of Philadelphia,...

Have a heart: whether you're crazy in love or love drives you crazy, these tips will help you make Valentine's Day memorable.(your life)
February 1, 2009... 1. Hurray for Hollywood. Have a movie marathon. From such classics as Breakfast at Tiffany's to modern films like The Notebook, Hollywood has loads of romance movies that will entertain you throughout the day. 2. Worst-Gift Contest. Is...

Teach or heal? Advice from Choices readers.(sticky situation)
February 1, 2009... the problem I WANT TO BECOME A TEACHER WHEN I GROW UP BECAUSE I WANT TO BE AROUND LITTLE KIDS. MY MOM WANTS ME TO STUDY MEDICINE BECAUSE DOCTORS MAKE MORE MONEY THAN TEACHERS. IF I DON'T DO WHAT SHE SAYS. MY MOM WILL BE MAD AT ME. WHAT...

The hunt is on.(word search puzzle)
February 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DIRECTIONS: How closely did you read the five feature articles ("Pound for Pound," "Playing to Win," "Bad Trip," "'My Family Lost Its Home'," and "Portion Power") in this issue of Choices? Find out by filling in the...

Word list.(word search puzzle)
February 1, 2009... crime intense competing overweight financial lose mistake minutes distracting comfortable [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Stimulant addiction.(HEADS UP: REAL NEWS ABOUT DRUGS AND YOUR BODY)
February 1, 2009... Dear Teacher: Despite the positive news of a decline in teen drug use, the use of stimulants, such as cocaine, is still at levels that raise concern. Results from the 2007 "Monitoring the Future" survey showed that 2.0 percent of...

Lesson plan and worksheet.(HEADS UP: REAL NEWS ABOUT DRUGS AND YOUR BODY)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... NATIONAL STANDARDS Science (NSES): Life Science: Regulation and Behavior, Behavior of Organisms; Science in Personal and Social Perspectives: Personal Health, Risks and Benefits, Personal and Community Health KEY CONCEPTS *...

What do you know about stimulants?(STUDENT WORKSHEET)(Brief article)
February 1, 2009... Answer the questions below to find out what you know about stimulants. 1. Stimulants are drugs that can temporarily increase energy and alertness. (A) True (B) False 2. Nicotine and cocaine are both stimulants. (A) True...

Thank you for using Choices in your classroom!
February 1, 2009... WELCOME TO THE FEBRUARY/MARCH 2009 ISSUE OF CHOICES, a magazine that covers family and consumer science, health, and life skills. Our cover story is about the importance of appreciating your body while also taking the proper steps to ensure...