Scholastic Choices articles from October 2005

Scholastic Choices archives from October 2005

Thank you for using Choices in your classroom!(Editorial)
October 1, 2005... WELCOME TO THE OCTOBER 2005 ISSUE OF CHOICES, a magazine that covers family and consumer science, health, and life skills. Our cover story is about the new Food Guide Pyramid that the U.S. government released earlier this year. We explain...

Sparking up life.(Web site)(www.thespark.com )(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... WHETHER YOU LOG on to the Internet to work or play, the site www.thespark.com combines the best of both worlds. In addition to possessing what may well be the most unique collection of hilarious personality tests on the Web, SparkLife contains...

Terrific teacher.(Family)(Amber Tamblyn)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... ACTRESS AMBER TAMBLYN, 22, who starred in last spring's The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, is the daughter of an actor. Her father, Russ, was in the classic films Peyton Place and West Side Story. Amber's mom, Bonnie, is a singer and...

Too much TV?(Health)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... STUDIES SHOW THAT AFTER ONLY 30 SECONDS OF watching TV, your brain enters a state similar to the condition you're in when you dream. In this state, your brain's ability to critically interpret information is not at its best. Too much television...

Meth mouth.(Substance Abuse)(methamphetamine)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... IN LAST MONTH'S ISSUE OF CHOICES, WE TOLD YOU ABOUT the dangers of the drug crystal methamphetamine in our profile of a teen crystal meth addict ("Meth-head Confession"). Well, here's another reason to avoid trying the dangerous drug: Crystal...

Pyramid power: the food guide pyramid has a new look. Here's how to use it to help you.(health)
October 1, 2005... SUMMARY: THIS ARTICLE EXPLAINS AND PUTS INTO CONTEXT THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE'S NEW MYPYRAMID, THE REPLACEMENT FOR THE OLD FOOD GUIDE PYRAMID. ALSO INCLUDED IS AN ACTIVITY WHERE STUDENTS EVALUATE OTHER TEENS' DIETS. DISCUSSION...

Home front: as American soldiers serve in Iraq, thousands of kids fight their own battle at home--a long and tough wait for their parents' safe return.(family)
October 1, 2005... SUMMARY: THERE ARE 155,000 AMERICAN KIDS WHO HAVE PARENTS SERVING IN THE MILITARY IN IRAQ OR AFGHANISTAN. THIS ARTICLE DESCRIBES WHAT LIFE IS LIKE WHEN YOUR MOTHER OR FATHER IS STATIONED IN A WAR ZONE. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS * Kathleen...

Helping the homeless: thanks to this enterprising teen, the feet of thousands of homeless people are covered and warm, day and night.(personal responsibility)
October 1, 2005... SUMMARY: WHEN TEENAGER ANITA PENNEWELL, SAW HOMELESS PEOPLE LINED UP AT A SOUP KITCHEN, SHE WAS MOVED TO ACTION. THIS ARTICLE DESCRIBES HOW, IN THE SIX YEARS SINCE THEN, ANITA HAS GIVEN OUT 60,000 PAIRS OF SOCKS TO THE HOMELESS. DISCUSSION...

Life in a bottle: Jordan Young loved to party, until a friend's frightening encounter with alcohol finally sobered her up.(substance abuse)
October 1, 2005... SUMMARY: THIS ARTICLE DESCRIBES A TEENAGE GIRL'S DESCENT INTO ALCOHOL ABUSE AND DECISION TO TURN HER LIFE AROUND AFTER SEEING A FRIEND NEARLY DIE FROM ALCOHOL POISONING. THE ARTICLE IS ACCOMPANIED BY A QUIZ. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS *...

Methamphetamine: toxic. Addictive. Devastating. Get the facts!(HEADS UP REAL NEWS ABOUT DRUGS AND YOUR BODY)
October 1, 2005... Also known as "meth" or "ice," this highly addictive and brain-altering drug is a threatening scourge on individuals, families, and communities. Big Heads Up: Across the United States, methamphetamine is wielding widespread damage in its...

The scoop on cereal: give your body a boost in the morning by filling up on cereal.(nutrition)
October 1, 2005... If you're like most teens, you've been eating cereal your whole life. You know which ones are your favorites and which you dislike. But do you know if these statements about cereal are true or false? Circle "true" or "false" for each statement....

Fruit pizza: hold the pepperoni! Try making our teen chef's fruity dessert pizza.(recipe 101)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Ingredients 1 18-ounce tube of sugar cookie or chocolate-chip-cookie dough 1 8-ounce package of low-fat cream cheese 1/4 cup of sugar 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract 1 cup of strawberries, sliced 1/2 cup of...

Raynaud's phenomenon: Dr. Marjorie Seidenfeld answers your health questions.(your body & mind)
October 1, 2005... I have a question about my hands and nails. My nails sometimes have a purplish tint and sometimes when I'm doing something with my hands, they feel numb. My dad says it might be a circulation problem. Can you tell me what it is? --Katie in...

Prepaid plastic: cash account cards offer teens spending freedom while teaching them how to use credit cards wisely.(your money)
October 1, 2005... Ever wanted a new CD or T-shirt, but lacked the cash to buy the merchandise at the time? Who hasn't? Well, if you have a prepaid cash account card, you can make purchases just like your parents do with their credit cards. What is a prepaid...

Sweet success: this teen has turned her passion for baking into a profitable business that's growing.(your future)(Andrea Dashiell)
October 1, 2005... IT'S 3:30 P.M. SCHOOL HAS JUST ENDED AND ANDREA DASHIELL IS ALREADY AT WORK. SHE'S AT THE GROCERY STORE SHOPPING FOR INGREDIENTS FOR CAKES SHE WILL BAKE LATER TODAY. Andrea is the owner of Honeecakes Bakery, which she runs out of her home. She...

Time tips: is your time slipping away from you? These tips will help you get it back.(your life)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... TEENAGERS ARE BUSY PEOPLE. BETWEEN SCHOOLWORK, EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, AND OBLIGATIONS TO FAMILY AND FRIENDS, IT'S EASY TO FEEL OVERWHELMED. HERE ARE WAYSTO STAY IN CONTROL OF YOUR DAY, ACCORDING TO TIME MANAGEMENT EXPERTS. KEEP A...

Shy girl: advice from choice readers.(sticky situation)
October 1, 2005... the problem I HAVE A PROBLEM. WHEN I AM AROUND ADULTS, I GET REALLY SHY. HOW CAN I OVERCOME MY FEAR? --NO ADULTS DEAR NO ADULTS, Practice talking to adults in front of a mirror. Act like you're talking to an adult. After a...