SuperScience articles from November 2008

SuperScience archives from November 2008

Boogie bird.(LIFE SCIENCE)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A cockatoo named Snowball has a real feel for music. He bobs his head and stomps his feet to the beat when his owners play his favorite song: the Backstreet Boys' "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)." Until now,...

Baby talk.(baby crocodiles)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Before they even hatch, baby crocodiles are real blabbermouths. A recent study showed that baby crocodiles still in their shells call out to each other and their mother to say that it's time to hatch. Scientists...

Energy police.(PHYSICAL SCIENCE)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Teachers know that turning off the lights saves electricity, but sometimes they need a reminder. That's why third-grader Mikey Smith patrols the hallways of Hollydale Elementary in Gresham, Oregon, with his "Watt Watchers" team. ...

Incredible shrinking planet.(EARTH SCIENCE)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A recent mission to Mercury indicates that the smallest planet in the solar system is getting even smaller. In January, a spacecraft called MESSENGER took pictures of Mercury. The images showed large curved...

The case of the secret code: this month, learn about sound waves.
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Characters NARRATOR 1 NARRATOR 2 NARRATOR 3 JAKE TOMMY MR. MALLOY CLASS PRINCIPAL JONES Read the play below aloud. Then, use the materials listed at the end to solve the...

Orangutan rescue!
November 1, 2008... One Saturday evening, scientist Willie Smits was walking through an outdoor market in the Southeast Asian island of Borneo. Suddenly, he heard a strange noise coming from underneath a vendor's table. When Smits took a peek, he couldn't believe...

Sprouting seeds: do all plants grow at the same rate?(hands-on)
November 1, 2008... THINK: Have you grown taller at the same rate as your classmates? PREDICT: Which of the following seeds will start growing first: radish seed, corn seed, pinto bean, sunflower seed, or zinnia seed? You'll Need * 5 paper towels *...

Cool science jobs.(cave scientist)(Interview)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Who: Hazer Barton Job: Cave Scientist What is a cave scientist? Cave scientists study caves--everything from how they are formed to the organisms that inhabit them. I study the microbes that live in...

Science under the big top: find out what's behind all those jaw-dropping circus stunts.(physical science)
November 1, 2008... Enter the big top and see a world of heart-stopping stunts and incredible feats. Clowns peddle bicycles along shoestring-thin wires. A man blasts out of a cannon and flies across the circus ring. Acrobats soar and twist through the air. These...

Marshmallow toss: how does the angle of a cannonball launcher affect the cannonball's flight?(hands-on)
November 1, 2008... THINK: Which launches a skateboarder higher into the air: jumping off a steep ramp, or a ramp with a more gradual slope? PREDICT: Will a marshmallow cannonball fly farther if it is shot from a launcher at a steep angle or a less-inclined...

Mystery photo.(the Back Page)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHAT'S PICTURED IN THE MAGNIFYING LENS? TO FIND OUT, USE THESE HINTS (PLUS A DICTIONARY OR THE INTERNET). 1. Its scientific name is Actinidia chinensis. 2. It is also called Chinese gooseberry. 3. It is...

You asked.(the Back Page)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Q: Why do we close our eyes when we sneeze? A: Scientists think that you close your eyes when you sneeze to protect them. Sneezing is a reflex, or automatic response, that happens when an unwanted chemical or...

SuperScience readers love a good "whodunnit".
November 1, 2008... Read-aloud plays are all the rage these days, and for good reason: They provide you with a way to get all of your students involved in a lesson; help you to see which students are struggling with reading; and make sure your students are all on...

Changing landscape.(D)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Orangutans are losing much of their rain forest habitat. People are cutting down rain forests so they can plant oil palms. These plants produce palm oil, which is used in foods, cosmetics, and fuels. Demand for palm oil has grown around the...

No-sweat bubble test.(READING COMPREHENSION)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... Directions: Read each question below, and then use the article "Science Under the Big Top" (pp. 12-14) to determine the best answer. Fill in the correct bubble completely. 1. What is the force that pulls circus performers to the ground? ...