Highlights for Children articles from January 2009

Highlights for Children archives from January 2009

A maze of a mess.(Fun This Month)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Conor is cleaning his room because January is "Get Organized" Month. Help him find the way from the doorway to the closet. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A Maze of a Mess

Fifty years of Alaska.(Fun This Month)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Alaska became the 49th state in the U.S. on January 3, 1959. It's the biggest state in the country and home to lots of wildlife, including this grizzly bear. Try to find out more about Alaska this month. What other animals live there? ...

Robot.(Fun This Month)
January 1, 2009... The word robot was first used in a play on January 25, 1921.

Money, money, money.(Fun This Month)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... It's been ten years since the euro was introduced as the currency, or form of money, for many countries in Europe. Match the following countries to the name of their currency: 1. Austria A. Peso 2. Argentina ...

Inventive kids.(Fun This Month)(Kid Inventors' Day)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Do you have great ideas? It's never too early to turn them into inventions. January 17 is Kid Inventors' Day and the birthday of Benjamin Franklin, who invented swim fins when he was eleven years old. Other...

Five ideas for a fresh point of view.(Fun This Month)
January 1, 2009... 1. Look into a metal bowl, and draw what you see. 2. Lie on your back; imagine the ceiling is the floor. 3. Eat dinner food For breakfast. 4. Redecorate your bedroom. 5. Ask three different people the same set of questions. [ILLUSTRATION...

Find the pictures.(Fun This Month)
January 1, 2009... Can you find each of these 10 pictures at another place in this magazine? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

It's showtime!(Dear Readers)
January 1, 2009... When I was 12, I was a member of a school club that put on puppet shows for younger children. We called ourselves the Tom Kitty Puppeteers, and we had a trunkful of puppets and a stage with sparkling curtains. I think we had as much fun as the...

Martin Luther King Jr.(Poem)
January 1, 2009... Martin Luther King Jr. He had a dream. He understood the sturdy grace of brotherhood. He had a dream-- that simple joy would gently bless each girl and boy. He shared his dream. His wise...

Penguin hill.(Short story)
January 1, 2009... My little sister was lying in the snow again. "What are you doing?" I asked. "Making snow angels," Kate said. She moved her arms and legs back and forth. "Try it, Pete." I shook my head. I had better things to do than lie in the snow....

Goofus and Gallant[R].(Cartoon)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "I can do it, I don't need your help," says Goofus. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Thank you for showing me how to balance," says Gallant. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "No one will miss it if I bring it back,"...

Make letters from lines.(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] On a separate sheet of paper, copy the two half circles and two lines at the right. Cut them out, and move them around to create letters. We've done two letters as an example. How many more can you create?

Camaria Lehman: there's some of Goofus and Gallant in us all. When the Gallant shines through, we show our best self.(Gallant Kids)
January 1, 2009... "Five, six, seven, eight!" Music pulses as fifty-four dancers show off their moves. Camaria Lehman laughs and sways in rhythm. Around confide her, everyone dances freely. It's the end of a long day, but dancers at the Dance Because You...

Blind ambition: this skier's outlook is always upbeat.(Ben Vercellone )
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ben Vercellone zigzags gracefully down the snowy slope. Other skiers watch him with wide-eyed amazement. "Never seen anything like it," whispers one woman. It isn't daring stunts and high speed that draw...

Animal hee-haws.(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Gorilla keeper: My gorilla is sick. Do you know a good animal doctor? Zookeeper: No, I'm afraid all the doctors I know are people. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] One day a bat left to get food and returned with a huge bump on his head....

Gray fox.(Nature Watch)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... From the Roger Tory Peterson Institute Did You Know? Gray foxes can climb trees to escape from their enemies. Sometimes they climb up to find food. Almost no other member of the dog family can climb trees. But gray foxes don't usually...

Matching.
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Look at each polar bear on the left. Find one like it on the right.

Attic dress-up.(Hidden Pictures[R])(puzzle)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In this big picture, find the coat hanger, clock, fish, screwdriver, slice of pie, ring, butterfly, umbrella, needle, yo-yo, carrot, and bird. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] coat hanger [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Jokes.(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Jeremy: What did one ocean say to the other? Jason: I don't know. What? Jeremy: Nothing--it just waved. Jason Romancito, New Mexico Jamie: I've been working on a magic trick. Greg: What kind? Jamie: You throw a pumpkin up...

The Perfect Cure.(Poem)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Perfect Cure I got the hiccups yesterday. I tried to make them go away. I held my breath and spun around. I drank some water upside down. My dad yelled, "Boo!" The hiccups quit! ...

PLOrk: the orchestra of the future.(Princeton Laptop Orchestra)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The houselights dim; the audience quiets. You wait for the musicians to arrive--men in tuxedos, women in long black dresses. You picture them filing in, instruments at their sides--the warm glow of the violin wood,...

Meatballs, hairdos, and other New Year's fun.(Ask Arizona)(New Year's resolutions)(Column)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dear Arizona, I want to come up with the perfect New Year's resolution. Do you have any suggestions? --Ready to Resolve in Reno [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Dear Ready to Resolve, To be honest, this...

Science letters.(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Can you yo-yo in space? KeDenn Pommells, Age 7 California [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Yes, you can. Astronauts did it. On Earth, if we loop the string over a finger and let the yo-yo drop, gravity pulls the toy downward. That...

Check ... and double check.
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] There are at least twelve differences in these two pictures. How many can you find?

The Timbertoes[R].(Cartoon)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Let's make some music," said Pa. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Tommy made chimes. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Mabel made a drum. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ma made a flute. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

The lost sock.(Play)
January 1, 2009... You can read this to yourself or gather friends and family to perform friends and family to perform this as a puppet show! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Narrator: Once upon a time, there were three little socks. Blue Sock: Don't you mean...

Cleopatra finds her voice: how a future queen connected with her people.
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Eleven-year-old Princess Cleopatra sailed the Nile River on the royal barge. Her father, the king of Egypt, played his flute. They were sailing from their palace in Alexandria to cities along the Nile. The king...

Tony Gonzales.(Your Own Pages)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Spencer Ward, Age 11 Kansas

Geckos.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
January 1, 2009... Geckos Geckos run. Geckos scurry. I think that one is in a hurry. Geckos sleep. Geckos sit. That one just went down the pit. Oh, geckos, don't go away. I'll just follow you all the day. Geckos lie. Geckos...

My happy place.(Your Own Pages)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Danielle Boham, Age 10 Oregon

I Don't Like My Hair Curly!(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
January 1, 2009... I Don't Like My Hair Curly! I don't like my hair curly. I don't want it to be so swirly. I don't want to have a mohawk either. Long hair? Short hair? Give me neither. I want my hair bald like my dad's, so my hair...

The Monkey Vision.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
January 1, 2009... The Monkey Vision Monkeys climb trees and swing on vines. Eating bananas, they have a great time. Nathan Hoon, Age S California

The Pencil in My Hand.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
January 1, 2009... The Pencil in My Hand The pencil in my hand-- it dances around my paper. As I draw pictures of kings and castles, the pencil is like a magic wand. Every shape, every smile is like magic in my hand for a...

Mr. Crab.(Your Own Pages)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Terry Vandiver, Age 5 Nevada

Turtle, Turtle.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
January 1, 2009... Turtle, Turtle, I wonder why others go fast and pass you by. They go fast and you go slow, but still you get where you need to go. Bria Bishop, Age 10 Georgia

My Winter Night.(Your Own Pages)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Odette Guerra, Age 11 Arizona

So colorless.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
January 1, 2009... So colorless, snow. How does it lie there all alone? Christopher Jacobus, Age 6 Idaho

Edmonton.(Your Own Pages)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Irene Zhang, Age 5 Alberta, Canada

A Butterfly.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
January 1, 2009... A Butterfly A butterfly flying in the air on one afternoon a beautiful pumpkin-orange butterfly passed by and landed on my coffee-brown nose. Jaelynn Crook, Age...

I love Felix.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I love Felix. He is my cat. Whenever I am around. my lap is where he's at. Abby Elliott, Age 6 Iowa

Home, Sweet Home.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
January 1, 2009... Home, Sweet Home The fire is flaming, the crickets ate chirping, the clock is ticking, and we all get sleepy. Drew McDaniel, Age 8 Texas

My Snow.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
January 1, 2009... My Snow Down it came in the night, just for me. new and white. Still it comes as I play, my best friend for today. Make three balls, build them high-- then I stop to thank the...

Football.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
January 1, 2009... Football Football is my game. I even play in the rain. Football is fun. I laugh and I run. I kick, I score. and I always go back for more. Nicholas Ferris, Age 8 Maine

Sunny island.(Your Own Pages)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Zaylon Cunningham, Age 10 Florida

My gymnasium.(Your Own Pages)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Darya Yacoubian, Age 8 California

Sad.(Your Own Pages)(Poem)
January 1, 2009... Sad Kicking rocks Head down Looking at your feet Rain dripping from your eyes Crack in your heart Emily Marck, Age 7 Michigan

Summer at Grandma Smith's house.(Your Own Pages)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sydney Smith, Age 8 Missouri

Juicy and sweet, good to eat!(Short story)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Miguel and Tyrone worked on opposite sides of the street in a bustling city. Every day Miguel waved and said, "Hello, Tyrone." And Tyrone waved and said, "Hello, Miguel." Every night Miguel waved and...

Fill them up.(Science Corner)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Line up several kitchen objects of different sizes and shapes a mug, a tall glass, a soup bowl. a pie pan, and so on. Guess which will hold the most water and which will hold the least. Then measure how much each one...

Who lives here?(Science Corner)(animals)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Which kind of animal made this pile of reeds, cattails. and mud in a swamp? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] See Answer Box on page 38. Science Corner Who Lives Here?--The pile of plants and mud is a muskrat lodge. The entrance is...

I wonder ... why the stars are so bright in winter.(Science Corner)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The stars shine all year round. But dust in the air can make them look dim by blocking their light. In winter, a lot of dust is stuck in the wet or frozen ground. Then the stars look bright because more starlight...

Dino days.(coelophysis)(Brief article)(Column)
January 1, 2009... Zack Herrick, Age 5 North Carolina We used to think Coelophysis (SEE-luff-EYE-sis) ate its own young, but now we don't. When scientists studied a large group of Coelophysis fossils from New Mexico, they found small bones in the...

Lost and found.(Short story)
January 1, 2009... Kaiti jumped out of bed. "OUCH!" she cried. Zoe yawned. "What's wrong, sis?" "This mess! I can't even see our rug." Puzzle pieces, blocks, marbles, and stuffed animals covered the floor. "You're right," said Zoe. "Let's get busy!" "I found all...

Abstract art.(Crafts)(patternmaking)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... 1. To make a pattern, fold paper in half and draw along the fold. Cut out the pattern, but do not cut at the fold. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 2. Open the pattern, and place it on paper. 3. Color along the edges of the pattern. Move it...

Quilt cards.(Crafts)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1. Fold heavy paper to make a card. 2. Glue shapes cut from wrapping paper in a pattern on the front of the card. 3. Write a note inside, and give the card to a friend or family member.

Bocce in a box.(Crafts)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... 1. Paint an empty tissue box. 2. With a marker, write the numbers 0 to 6 on each side of the box's opening. Label one side "heads" and the other "tails." Attach a paper clip to each side for scorekeeping. 3. Store eight nickels (the...

Car-shaped toy box.(Crafts)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... 1. Paint a large cardboard box. Let it dry. 2. From paper, foil, and paper plates, create car parts such as headlights, taillights, wheels, and a license plate. Glue them on. 3. Store toys in the car toy box. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Penguin pal.(Crafts)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1. Stuff the toe of a sock with a paper napkin. 2. Slide the sock over the bottom of a paper cup. Tuck the rest of the sock inside the cup. 3. Glue on felt or cut-paper details and wiggle eyes, as shown.

Chinese dragon puppet.(Crafts)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... In China, the dragon is a symbol of strength, goodness, and good luck. It is a popular symbol during Chinese New Year parades. 1. Cut a 12-inch-by-18-inch piece of wrapping paper. Fold the paper in thirds to make a 4-inch-by-18-inch...

Thinking: there are many ways to get around in the city.(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * What forms of public transportation do you see here? * Why might people choose to walk? Ride a bike? Take a bus? * What do you think is the safest way to travel? Why? * Which mode of travel would you...

One penny's time to shine.(Try This!)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] What You'll Need * three dull pennies * two paper cups * vinegar * liquid soap [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] What to Do * Try to guess which liquid will make a penny shine. * Set one...

The colors of space.
January 1, 2009... Space has beautiful clouds. Like the clouds in Earth's sky, space clouds often have beautiful shapes. But space clouds have something more: beautiful colors. Clouds in the sky are made mostly of water or ice. But clouds in space are mostly...

Your best self.(Cartoon)
January 1, 2009... We started a book club. Do you want to join? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] That sounds like fun. Thanks!

[Cartoon].(Cartoon)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "I hate it when I start the day on the wrong foot."

Riddles?(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... (1) What is the best time to eat a banana? Rachel Azzinaro, Virginia (2) Where does a polar bear keep its money? Jordan Phillips, New Jersey (3) What do lazy dogs do? Zoe Seemes, Missouri (4) What kind of cheese do...

Brain play.(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Start at the beginning and see how far you can go, thinking of good answers from your own head. START [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Which letter comes before D in the alphabet? Who wears the smallest shoes in your family? Who wears...

The mixed-up fish dance.
January 1, 2009... I don't want to be a fish this year," I grumbled, cinching a pair of fishing pants with a cord that Laura had just handed to me. "I hope this works, then," said Laura. She pulled a straw fishing hat from a box of old clothes. "The brim's a...

Dear Highlights.(Column)
January 1, 2009... How do you know what to put in the next month's issue of Highlights? Jacob (by e-mail) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Every three months, Highlights editors look through the inventory of stories, articles, and activities that we have...

Picture puzzler.(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Sound out each puzzle below to find the beginning of a well-known saying. Then complete each saying. EXAMPLE: [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ANSWER: Actions speak louder than words. [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Picture Puzzler 1....