Scholastic Choices articles from November 2008

Scholastic Choices archives from November 2008

Natalie opens up.(Natalie Portman )(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Natalie Portman has never forgotten who helped her become a famous, wealthy, and Academy Award-nominated actress: her friends and family. She recently spoke to Choices. CHOICES: Why is it important for kids and teenagers to have valuable...

A Rockin' read.(Rock 'N' Roll Camp for Girls )(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Book review)
November 1, 2008... ROCK 'N' ROLL CAMP FOR GIRLS. Chronicle Books, 2008 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sure there are video games that let you pretend to play the guitar, but if you're inspired to jam for real, read Rock 'N' Roll Camp for Girls...

Coffee talk.(nutrition)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] The number of teenage coffee drinkers is on the rise. In the last seven years, the percent of trips taken to coffee and tea shops by caffeine drinkers under the age of 18 has increased from 10 percent to 13 percent....

Hip again.(Hula-Hoop)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Hugely popular as a toy in the 1960s, the Hula-Hoop is making a comeback as an exercise tool. It is starting to pop up in fitness centers and exercise CDs. And in a sure sign that the plastic ring you move around your body by swiveling your...

The right tone.(Tone Teen)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] If you're looking to get into shape, www.toneteen.com can help. This great site is dedicated to showing teenagers healthy ways to eat and exercise and also how to eat properly to help the teen body grow. Tone...

Dating don't.(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] If you're in a relationship and your significant other is pressuring you to have sex, or you think that you're ready to have sex, beware: The younger a person is when he or she becomes sexually active, the more...

Soda shock: soda may taste great, but drink too much of it and your body pays an unhealthy price.
November 1, 2008... Watch a soda commercial and chances are good that you'll see smiling, attractive, and healthy young people enjoying themselves. The message is simple: Drinking soda is a cool and fun thing to do--and it'll make you cool and fun too. No wonder...

Dealing with divorce: Taryn Wilson's life was shaken up when her parents split up. Find out what she did to stay connected with her parents and come to terms with the divorce.(family)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When 15-year-old Taryn Wilson envisions herself as an adult, she sees the following: She's working as a music teacher, she's living in a comfortable house, she's in a healthy and committed marriage, she's a mom and...

Should you work? If you're thinking of finding a part-time job, take this quiz to determine if working fits into your life right now.(personal responsibility)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] You can't take your eyes off that shirt in the window of Abercrombie & Fitch. Your parents grumble that the gas tank is always empty after you borrow the car. The holidays are approaching and you have people to buy...

Chemical chaos: many people have only a basic idea of why tobacco smoke is unhealthy. Read on to find out even more reasons not to light up.(substance abuse)
November 1, 2008... David Brown *, a high-school senior in Connecticut, is a smoker. He says he started smoking because "it looked cool." David isn't stupid. Like many teens, he knows that smoking endangers his health, putting him at risk of getting ill with...

Fun on the move: you don't have to be a star athlete to benefit from exercising. Find out how the average teen can have fun while breaking a sweat.(health)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Four years ago, Erick Cassidy quit playing team sports. He was tired of going to required practices and taking orders from coaches. But the end of that part of his life didn't turn the now 17-year-old from Weymouth,...

"Stacy & Lee" potatoes: our resident chef provides a great dish for the upcoming holidays!(Recipe)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ingredients 5 to 6 medium-size sweet potatoes 1 1/2 pounds (approximately 5 to 7) apples (Note: Macintosh apples are recommended) 2/3 cup brown sugar 6 tablespoons butter 1/2 cup...

Teen science-investigators: three teens' remarkable research projects help reveal the science behind drug abuse and addiction.(HEADS UP REAL NEWS ABOUT DRUGS AND YOUR BODY)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Volunteering in a hospital in Texas, 17-year-old Kapil Ramachandran saw a patient admitted for an overdose of narcotics and alcohol. "What would possibly drive someone to inflict so much pain on themselves and their...

Fighting the sniffles: it's cold season. Here's how to prevent getting the chills.
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] You're eating lunch with a friend when he sneezes, making no attempt to cover his nose and mouth. After you give him a look of disgust for spreading his germs all over your food, he shrugs and says, "What's the big...

Certificates of deposit: this type of CD has nothing to do with music, but it can help your money grow.
November 1, 2008... What is a certificate of deposit (CD)? A CD is an account set up to save money and earn interest. It is similar to a savings account, but differs in the following ways: * A CD offers a greater amount of interest--money your bank pays...

Teen coroner: meet a teen who works as a certified death investigator.(your future)(Interview)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This is the third in a series of articles on teens who are getting a head start on possible careers by working in cool jobs now. In this issue, Choices interviewed Amanda Barnett, 19, of Indianapolis, Indiana. Amanda...

Making the grade: taking tests is a regular part of school. Here's how to make sure you're prepared for every quiz or test that lands on your desk.
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * Study beforehand This is an obvious tip, but it needs to be stated. The more time you give yourself to be familiar with the material on a test, the better you'll do on it. So don't wait until the night before...

Address mess: advice from choices readers.(sticky situation)(Column)
November 1, 2008... the problem MY FRIEND'S HOUSE IS TOTALLY TRASHED. I SPENT THE NIGHT THERE ONCE. MY MOM SAYS SHE DOESN'T WANT ME TO STAY THERE AGAIN. I DON'T WANT THIS FRIENDSHIP TO END BECAUSE OF MY MOM'S OPINION. WHAT SHOULD I DO? --MESSY FRIEND ...

The hunt is on.(word search puzzle)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... DIRECTIONS: How closely did you read the five feature articles ("Soda Shock," "Dealing With Divorce," "Should You Work?" "Chemical Chaos," and "Fun on the Move") in this issue of Choices? Find out by filling in the blanks in each sentence...

Teen science-investigators.(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Dear Teacher: Every day around the world, scientists are working hard to find answers to unsolved questions. Their discoveries and research provide inspiring examples of the power of science to change the world. But when the scientists...

Trends in teen drug use.(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [GRAPHIC OMITTED] Collecting, graphing, and analyzing data are key parts of scientific research and reporting. Study the line graph below to analyze national trends in teen drug use from 1996 to 2007. Then answer the questions that follow....

Thank you for using choices in your classroom!
November 1, 2008... WELCOME TO THE NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2008 ISSUE OF CHOICES, a magazine that covers family and consumer science, health, and life skills. Our cover story is about a product that teens love to drink: soda. Did you know that the average teenager...