Highlights for Children articles from June 2005

Highlights for Children archives from June 2005

Jump Rope.(Poem)
June 1, 2005... Jump Rope Jump rope! Jump rope! Spin it, girl! Make it twirl! Take out the flap! Take out the slap! Spin it, girl! Make it tap! One, two, three! One, two, three! Now see me!...

Find the pictures.(Cartoon)
June 1, 2005... Can you find each of these pictures at another place in this book? [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

Dear readers.(Boomerangs)(Editorial)
June 1, 2005... The first time I threw a boomerang, I did it with oomph! It sailed out of my hand, turning slightly to hover over a lake I was standing near. Then suddenly it dropped out of the sky. Kersplash! As I stood on the shore and watched, my boomerang...

Bad hair days.(Ask Arizona)
June 1, 2005... Dear Arizona, I went to get a trim, and the lady cut off almost all my hair. She said it was the "newest style," but now I look like a porcupine. What am I supposed to do when people make fun of my weird-looking hair? --Porcupine Head...

Bindi!(Hindu body ornamentation)
June 1, 2005... "Why don't you have a jewel carved in your forehead?" The little girl who asked me that was hardly six, and she knew I was from India. I was six, too, beginning first grade, and it was years before trendy tattoos became popular. I stared...

Bats and bats.(words and meanings)
June 1, 2005... How many of these words can mean two or more different things? Check the dictionary to see if each word has more than one meaning. watch mouse jellybean sand rain plate foot green athlete chair

Sort it out.
June 1, 2005... In each group, which item does not belong? Why? [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

Matching.(picture puzzle)
June 1, 2005... Look at each chicken on the left. Find one like it on the right. [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

They'll be back! Alan Scott Craig throws his artwork around all day, but it just keeps coming back. That's because Craig is a boomerang artist!
June 1, 2005... At age 12, Alan Scott Craig saw an exhibit of boomerangs at San Francisco's Exploratorium--a hands-on museum of science, art, and human perception. "They appeared magical," he recalls. "They seemed to defy the laws of physics." Rushing home, he...

Your perfect day.(responses)
June 1, 2005... Last December, we asked you to tell us what your perfect day would be like. Thanks for your great responses! We wish we had room to print them all. Here are just a few. On my perfect day, I would have pancakes for breakfast, go to a Giants...

Best homemade gifts.
June 1, 2005... Often, the best gifts are those made by hand. What's the best homemade gift you've ever given or received? We want to know! Tell us about it in fewer than one hundred words, and mail your response to Best Homemade Gifts HIGHLIGHTS FOR...

City run.(Hidden Pictures[R])
June 1, 2005... In this big picture, find the wishbone, magic wand, mushroom, golf club, carrot, sock, pencil, eyeglasses, fishbook, paintbrush, nail, and spatula. fishhook wishbone spatula eyeglasses nail carrot mushroom ...

Riddles.
June 1, 2005... +1. "Railroad crossing--watch out for cars." Can you spell that without any r's? Cassandra Gonzalez, Kentucky 2. What did the zero say to the eight? Carie Porker, Missouri 3. What did the football coach say to the bank teller?...

Naming.(Poem)
June 1, 2005... Naming Someone named the warthog Someone named the shrew. Someone named the bandicoot, the nuthatch, and the gnu. Someone named the toadfish, the yak, the jigger flea-- someone who I'm glad was not ...

The white squirrels of Marionville: have you ever seen a white squirrel.
June 1, 2005... There are only a few towns in the United States that have a white, or albino, squirrel population. One of these towns is Marionville, Missouri. If you visited this small community, you would probably see some white squirrels scampering around...

Which is easier ...
June 1, 2005... * to get a shirt dirty or to clean it? * to admire a drawing or to create one? * to grow ears of corn or to husk them? * to pour a glass of orange juice or to drink it? * to share or to have someone share with you?

What's the sense? Which senses might each of these speakers be using?
June 1, 2005... "Dad must be cooking salmon for dinner." "These mittens are very soft." "Maria! Please turn down your CD player." "I like your new perfume, Mom." "The sky is very clear tonight." "The water is still too cold for swimming."...

Check ... and double check.(picture puzzle)
June 1, 2005... There are at least fifteen differences in these two pictures. How many can find? [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

The chase.
June 1, 2005... [] Tim and [] Dad went to the [] beach. They spread out a [] blanket and opened a big [] umbrella. "I can't wait to play with my new [] ball," [] Tim said. Suddenly the [] wind blew the [] ball across the [] beach. [] Tim chased it....

Growing bones.(Science Letters)
June 1, 2005... At what age do a person's bones stop growing? Boris Busbaher, Age 8 Kentucky There is no set age for the bones to stop growing. One study of growth among kids in England gave some ideas about when this happens. Most girls reached...

Making marshmallows.(Science Letters)
June 1, 2005... How are marshmallows made? Charles Hasler, Age 14 Oregon I asked Barry Swanson, Ph.D. He's a candy scientist with the Institute of Food Technologists. Marshmallows contain gelatin, sugar, and a few other ingredients. Gelatin...

Heads up?(Science Letters)(earthworms)
June 1, 2005... Which end of a worm is its head? Olivia Benice, Age 7 California The earthworm doesn't have much to show which end is which. The head end is darker and a little more pointy. It is so streamlined that it has no eyes or ears....

Thinking.(Cartoon)
June 1, 2005... Lots of dads are in town today. * Who might be a dad here? * Who is working? * Who is playing? * Who is taking care of children? * What else do dads do?

Fox and bear and the old sayings.(Short Story)
June 1, 2005... Fox hurried over to Bear's house one morning. Bear was in his yard with some boards and tools. "What are you making?" asked Fox. "I'll help. I'm good at making things with wood." Bear measured a board. "A flower box for my window,"...

Not for sale.(word usage)(concrete and abstract nouns)
June 1, 2005... Which of these can't be bought with money? Which of them can be bought? candy friends kindness sunshine milk happiness toys health love books Name some other things that can't be bought....

Goofus and Gallant[R].(Cartoon)
June 1, 2005... Goofus cuts into the line. "Thanks, but I'll catch up with you inside." "I was in the middle of a game." Gallant shows up on time. [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED]

Brittany and Robbie Bergquist: there's some of Goofus and Gallant in us all. When the Gallant shines through, we show our best self.(Gallant Kids)(Cell Phones for Soldiers project)
June 1, 2005... Brittany and Robbie Bergquist are a sister and brother from Massachusetts. When they learned that a soldier from their area received a cellphone bill for $7,624 while serving in Iraq, they were shocked. And they were inspired to take action....

Jump, Frog, Jump!(Our Own Pages)
June 1, 2005... Jump, Frog, Jump! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Alexander Ruxer, Age 5 Connecticut

Joy.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
June 1, 2005... Joy Where does joy lie? On the beach? By the bay? That is what some say. But true joy lies in the heart. If there is joy in your heart, You and joy will never be apart. Hannah Howard, Age 11 ...

Pepper.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
June 1, 2005... Pepper Hot and spicy Sneezing black, sphere-shaped white Spicy chicken, bitter burgers Red hot. Harry Johnson, Age 9 Rhode Island

A Flower Waiting to Be.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
June 1, 2005... A Flower Waiting to Be Deep within the ground I lie, Crushed, pressed down on every side, Hoping, waiting for the time to come To share this gift that can come Only from me. I wait for the rain to fall And...

You're Wrong.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
June 1, 2005... You're Wrong You're wrong. You think you can just look at me and label me like that. You think you can talk about me behind my back. You're wrong. I'm not any better or worse than you. Just remember--I'm...

Still Life.(Our Own Pages)
June 1, 2005... Still Life [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Addie Bradford, Age 9 Utah

The Best Birthday Present.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
June 1, 2005... The Best Birthday Present When my seventh birthday was on its way, I wondered what my gift would be on that special day. I was thinking of ideas--what will I enjoy? Games, puzzles, arts and crafts,...

The moon is shining.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
June 1, 2005... The moon is shining. The moon is shining. The stars are doing a bow. They danced and danced All around the world. Anne McCroskey Hrehov, Age 4 Indiana

The Life of Baseball.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
June 1, 2005... The Life of Baseball Crack! Shlish! Safe! Baseball is the game where dreams and wonders come true. People come and go, records break and break again. You hear heroes whispering in the...

My Dad's Work.(Our Own Pages)
June 1, 2005... My Dad's Work [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Jacob Twombly, Age 6 Massachusetts

When I First Came to This Land.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
June 1, 2005... When I First Came to This Land When I first came to this land, I tried to fight with the piano notes, but I couldn't. So I played very lightly. The land was peaceful, so I was peaceful, too. Michael Li, Age 7 ...

My Eagle.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
June 1, 2005... My Eagle I was strolling in the wood and far from where I stood there flew a powerful eagle, looking serene and regal-- ruler of all birds, and kingly beyond words. It made a spectacular dive, and soared...

Training My Best Friend, Amy.(Our Own Pages)
June 1, 2005... Training My Best Friend, Amy [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Marissa Hamilton, Age 9 Alabama

In the Kitchen.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
June 1, 2005... In the Kitchen I hear the bacon sizzling, and the toast is golden brown. This is what the kitchen's like all year round. Mom is pouring orange juice, and Dad is buttering the toast. The kitchen is the room in...

My Sister.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
June 1, 2005... My Sister Funny, nice--who is it? It's my sister! There's no one like her. It's my sister! She's fun to play with. It's my sister! Erin McCain, Age 7 Wisconsin

Picking Corn.(Our Own Pages)
June 1, 2005... Picking Corn [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Arlin Hochstetler, Age 10 Michigan

Spring.(Our Own Pages)(Poem)
June 1, 2005... Spring Flowers blooming in the sun, the trees with green leaves, birds in the blue sky, kids playing outdoors, birds singing a mysterious tune, children laughing with friends, parents calling their kids. ...

Lemon squeeze.(Short Story)
June 1, 2005... "Look." Mom waves a flyer in front of the television. "Summer field trips for sixth-graders. Nature. Exercise. Fresh air." "No, thanks," I say, still working the remote. "You'll love hiking, Jimmy," she says. "Besides, couch potatoes...

The Timbertoes[R].(Cartoon)
June 1, 2005... Ma was sweeping. Feel that breeze! Sweeping could wait. Pa was sawing. Feel that sun! Sawing could wait. Tommy and Mabel were drawing. Listen to those birds! Drawing could wait. No one could stay...

Turn sounds around.(Try This!)(hearing experiment)
June 1, 2005... When my dog barks, I know whether she's at the back door or at the front door. I don't have to be looking at her. I can tell which direction the sound is coming from without seeing her at all. Many people have had the same experience. How...

Jokes.
June 1, 2005... Knock, knock. Who's there? Arizona. Arizona who? Arizona room for one of us in here! Melissa Cheng, California Catcher: "You seem to be lacking confidence today." Pitcher: "Whenever I play against the Giants, I...

Give a noteworthy gift to Dad.(Felt Fun)
June 1, 2005... 1. Glue a single strip of felt over the front and back of a small spiral notebook. 2. Cut pictures your dad would like from felt. If desired, add other handy materials. Glue them to the front of the notebook.

This guard dog will protect your glasses.(Felt Fun)
June 1, 2005... 1. Cut two 3-inch-by-8-inch pieces of felt. Cut the corners from one end of each rectangle to make a curved end. Glue the pieces together around three sides, leaving the curved end open. 2. Cut a head, a tail, two ears, a nose, and four...

Make a wish whenever you wish.(Crafts You Can Make)(wishing well)
June 1, 2005... 1. For the well, cut a 5-inch piece from a cardboard tube. Cut a window out of each side. Draw a stone pattern on the well. 2. Insert a thin stick through the well above the windows. Tie a string to the stick, then tie a tiny basket to the...

Be the neatest gardener in town.(Crafts You Can Make)
June 1, 2005... 1. For a nail cleaner, cut a 3 1/2-inch strip from a plastic milk jug. Round the corners and punch a hole in one end. Trim the other end to a rounded point. 2. Place a bar of soap in a mesh produce bag. Knot the end of the bag. 3. Put...

Brighten a room with butter-box bugs.(Crafts You Can Make)
June 1, 2005... 1. Take apart a butter box and turn it inside out. Re-glue it on all sides. 2. Paint the box and decorate it with shapes cut from fabric scraps. 3. Add wiggle eyes, a pompom nose, and felt features (including antennae and hands) to...

Craft challenge!(Crafts You Can Make)
June 1, 2005... Make a sign for your bedroom door with cardboard, seeds, dry beans, and dry pasta.

Raining outside? Play baseball indoors!(Crafts You Can Make)
June 1, 2005... 1. Draw a baseball diamond on poster board. 2. For two teams, take 18 baseball cards and give 9 cards to each team. 3. Write Ball, Foul Ball, Hit, and Strike on slips of paper, and place them in a baseball hat. 4. Write Single,...

One egg for lunch: how could one egg feed lots of hungry people?(Short Story)
June 1, 2005... "You have lots of visitors at your farm today, Mrs. Plazek," said Kimi. She watched her mother, father, and two brothers climb into a big wagon hitched to a tractor. She counted eight other people in the wagon. "We like visitors," said...

Alike aquariums.
June 1, 2005... Which two aquariums are the same? [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] ANSWERS: Aquariums 2 and 5 are alike.

Why do cliff swallows live together?(SCIENCE IN ACTION)
June 1, 2005... Most of the birds we see build their nests in lonely, hard-to-find places. Most birdsongs are really bird language that says: "Stay away. This place is mine." So there's a surprise in thinking about cliff swallows because they nest close...

Brain play.(think it through)
June 1, 2005... Start at the beginning and see how far you can go, thinking of good answers from your own head. START Which is bigger, your hand or your foot? Why do cars need headlights? Why don't we use a hairbrush on our teeth? In...

I wonder ... why leaves are green.(Science Corner)
June 1, 2005... Every plant has its own way of making leaves. So leaves come in many shapes and sizes. But inside every leaf there is the same green machinery. It uses sunlight to make food for the plant.

Making a bright spot.(Science Corner)(light reflection)(experiment)
June 1, 2005... At night, hang up three sheets of construction paper--one white, one green, and one black. Turn out the lights, then shine a flashlight onto the papers. Which looks brightest? Making a Bright Spot--The white paper looks brightest because it...

Which will swing faster?(Science Corner)(pendulum puzzle)
June 1, 2005... The boy and girl have the same size, weight, and strength. Which of their swings will go back and forth faster--the boy's or the girl's? Which Will Swing Faster?--The girl's swing will go back and forth faster. Each of the two swings is a...

Dinosaur days.(Science Corner)
June 1, 2005... What made you want to study dinosaurs? Dana Jacobs, Age 9 California I first became interested at age five, when I saw a T. rex skeleton in a museum. Its huge size made my jaw drop. I fell in love with dinosaurs all over again as...

Going for the big one.(Short Story)
June 1, 2005... Dillon plunged his tiny hands into the bucket. T.C. watched as he tried to grab a minnow. Dillon flicked his tongue through the space where his front tooth was missing. Out and in. Out and in. Like a little frog, thought T.C. Finally, Dillon...

Chore challenge.(Dear Highlights)
June 1, 2005... I do a lot of daily chores. Could you help me think of ways to make them more fun? Kate P., California Try listening to music while you work. It helps time fly by and keeps you entertained while you're doing chores. Singing is fun....

Really shy.(Dear Highlights)
June 1, 2005... I have to go to a new church and leave my friends. I'm really shy. How do I make new friends? Jordan P., Georgia When you are in a new place, it helps to smile and greet others with a friendly "hello." That is often all it takes to get...

No one to play with.(Dear Highlights)
June 1, 2005... Sometimes my sister is not here in the summertime, and no one else wants to play with me. Courtney J., Pennsylvania A lot of kids get bored during the summer when there is no one to play with. Look at this as a chance to discover...

Fights with brother.(Dear Highlights)
June 1, 2005... I am always fighting with my brother. Can you help? Sam G., California Try talking to your brother about this. You might find that he would like to get along better, too. One idea is to step away and count to ten when you think you...

Are you size-wise?
June 1, 2005... How many of these questions can you answer correctly? Each answer contains the word big or little, or may contain both words. 1. What is the capital of Arkansas? 2. What is the main tent in a circus often called? 3. Louisa May...