Highlights for Children articles from October 2005

Highlights for Children archives from October 2005

Skeleton Trees.(poetry)(Poem)
October 1, 2005... Skeleton Trees I heard of trees that shed their autumn leaves-- yellow, orange, red-- before winter's snow. But till I saw those bony skeletons without their leafy skins, I never dreamed trees...

Find the pictures.(picture puzzle challenge)(Illustration)
October 1, 2005... Can you find each of these pictures at another place in this book? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Dear readers.(Editorial)
October 1, 2005... I was in grade school when I did my first community-service project. I had heard about U.S. soldiers overseas who needed soap. I arranged for my class to collect bars of soap, and soon we had a big boxful ready for mailing. I still have the...

Make a hairy gourd creature: plant some "hair," and paint a silly face!(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... 1. Select a gourd. Find one with a color and texture that you like. 2. Ask an adult to carefully cut a hole in the gourd. Use a spoon to scoop out the seeds and pulp. 3. Choose "hair" for your gourd. Grasses, ivy, and...

Forgetful red.(story)(Short Story)
October 1, 2005... "No! No! I won't go! I don't want to go! I'm not going!" I was still arguing when Mom hustled me out the door and into the car. I think I left skid marks on the kitchen floor. We had moved to town a few days before, and I didn't know...

Full of color.(Science Corner)(reflection and light)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Hold the shiny side of a CD or a DVD in the sunlight or under a lamp. You'll see different colors on its surface. Where do these colors come from? The colors appear when white light reflects off the grooved surface of the CD or DVD. White...

Which way will they go?(Science Corner)(air current effects)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Use string to hang two apples or balloons at the same height and about one inch apart. Blow through the space between them. What happens? We might expect the apples to move apart, but they move toward each other instead. A current of air...

I wonder ... what happened to the tree?(Science Corner)(beavers)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Only a beaver could have done that. Beavers chew through trees, cut them up into pieces, and carry the logs to their homes to eat the bark, twigs, and leaves during the winter. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Dino days.(dinosaur weight)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... How much did T. rex really weigh? And how do we know? Matthew Chansky, Age 4 Washington T. rex weighed about seven tons, according to the best estimates. To estimate its weight, scientists start with a small model of the...

Sign languages.(road signs)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Some of these road signs are real, and some are made up. Can you guess what they might mean? Signal ahead, Steep hill, Hospital, No sleeping, Worm crossing, Slippery when wet, Bicycles crossing, No standing on your head, Schoolchildren...

Bird Flight.(poetry)(Poem)
October 1, 2005... Bird Flight See how they fly so close together-- like an arrow heading south to sunnier weather. Each fall, they have a way of knowing when winter is coming and where summer is going....

Number magic.(number tricks)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Ask a friend to think of a number less than 10. Be sure your friend doesn't show you the number. Then have your friend multiply it by 3, add 6, divide by 3, and subtract the original number. Now, amaze your friend by guessing the answer: 2. It...

Matching.(picture puzzle)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
October 1, 2005... Matching: Look at each player on the left. Find the matching player on the right. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

On the trail with the dogies.(calves without mothers)
October 1, 2005... As the sun's first rays appear in the sky, the sleepy cook stirs a pot of food on the campfire. Then he picks up a pan and beats on it with a large spoon. "Come and get it before I throw it in the creek!" he shouts. The cowboys jump out of...

Sound FX.(soud effects)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Imagine that you're in charge of sound effects for a school play. How might you make these sounds? bacon frying [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] a train whistle [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] raindrops against a window wind...

Oops!(putting things back)(Illustration)
October 1, 2005... Which would be easiest to put back in its bucket? Which would be hardest? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

A letter to Grandma.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Will picked a red leaf, yellow leaf, and an orange leaf, from his tree. Then he wrote a letter. "Dear Grandma, I hope you like these pretty leaves from my tree. I miss you. Love, Will." Will put the leaves and the letter in an envelope...

Storytime.(Hidden Pictures[R])(identifying things)(finding things)
October 1, 2005... In this big picture, find the comb, crescent moon, pencil, needle, piece of cake, slice of bread, golf club, nail, candle, flag, fishhook, carrot, ice-cream bar, ring, artist's brush, and mallet. Can you find these on page 14? crescent...

Riddles.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... 1. What did Natasha do when she saw her dog eating a dictionary? Connor Rose, Georgia 2. Who sings "Blue Suede Shoes" and delivers packages overnight? Dario Aleman, California 3. How do witches keep their hair in place while...

Sunset Slices.(poetry)(Poem)
October 1, 2005... Sunset Slices I hold my half-moon apple slice Above a pink bowl filled up high With honey, gold as sunset skies. I hope I'll like this. Time to try! I dip my slice. Some sticks; some drips. I lick this...

Scaredy Rabbit: an East Indian folktale.(story)(Short Story)
October 1, 2005... Once there was a little rabbit called Scaredy Rabbit because everything frightened him. One day, when he was hiding behind a bush, he heard a loud thump. Now this was just a coconut falling from a tree onto the damp ground, but Scaredy...

Benny Benson and the flag contest: thirteen-year-old Benny Benson reached for the stars to create his flag.(designing the Alaskan flag)
October 1, 2005... In Alaska in January, darkness comes early. By the time Benny Benson left school, the stars were already beginning to come out in the night sky. All the way home Benny thought about the contest. His teacher had announced to Benny's...

Thinking.(imagining a street fair)
October 1, 2005... There's a lot to do at a street fair. * What could you hear? * What could you smell? * What could you taste? * What takes special skill to do? * Why do people enjoy street fairs?

Jokes.(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Larry: "I have a car that has no engine and no wheels. All it has is a horn." Harry: "How does it go?" Larry: "Beep! Beep!" Taylor Jones, Michigan A man walked up to a parking meter and put in a quarter. "Where's my gum?"...

Particular pencils.
October 1, 2005... Find the pencil that wrote each word. "Find"--pencil 2, "the"--pencil 1, "pencil"--pencil 6, "that"--pencil 7, "wrote"--pencil 3, "each"--pencil 4, "word"--pencil 5. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Mix it up!(word games)
October 1, 2005... Rearrange the letters in each word below to make at least one other word. post least east lame pale team rates rats diet Here are some words we found: stop, slate, eats, male, peal, meat, stare,...

Fox and his halloween tail.(story)(Short Story)
October 1, 2005... Fox giggled to himself as he got ready for the Halloween party. "Bear won't know me in this pumpkin costume," he said. He peeked out the eyes of the pumpkin as he walked to Bear's house. "Trick or treat!" he said, disguising his voice. ...

Create a silly spider.(Halloween Creatures)(styrofoam creatures)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... 1. Paint two Styrofoam balls (one bigger than the other) black. To join the balls, put glue on each end of a craft stick. Insert one end into each ball. 2. For legs, insert three black chenille sticks into each side of the body. Glue a...

Meet a springy pumpkin.(Halloween Creatures)(styrofoam critters)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... 1. Paint a Styrofoam ball orange. For the stem, fold a short green chenille stick, and insert it into the ball. Glue on felt leaves and facial features. 2. For legs, coil two chenille sticks, and insert them into the body. Cut two feet...

"Button" your bracelet.(Crafts You Can Make)(jewelery)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... 1. Leaving an inch open on each end, thread buttons onto a chenille stick. 2. Twist each end of the chenille stick into a loop. 3. Thread a piece of ribbon through the two loops. 4. Slip the bracelet onto ribbon in a bow to close...

A festive lantern for Ramadan.(Crafts You Can Make)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... By the Abouleish family During the month of Ramadan, Muslims do not eat or drink while the Sun is up. For this reason, social gatherings occur at night, and lanterns are associated with the month. 1. Decorate a piece of colored paper...

Put them in a hamper shirt!(Crafts You Can Make)(linen hamper)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... 1. Find a large old T-shirt. Lay the shirt flat, and tie the bottom closed tightly with yarn. Tie a bow so that you can open it again later. 2. Hang the shirt on a hanger, and put the hanger on a doorknob in your bedroom. 3. Slip dirty...

Make and play "stick dice".(Crafts You Can Make)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... 1. Take six craft sticks, and paint each of them on one side. 2. Let the paint dry. To Play: Stand and hold all of the sticks in one hand. Drop the sticks. You get one point for each stick that lands painted-side up, and two points for...

Craft challenge!(Crafts You Can Make)(chimes)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Make chimes with a plactic cup, string, and items from your junk drawer.

What's hiding.(creative creature drawings)(Illustration)
October 1, 2005... In our April issue; we showed you part of a creature hiding in a bush. We asked you to draw the rest of it. Thanks to all of you who shared your great drawings! We wish we could have printed them all. Here are just a few of them. Katie...

Time crystals.(Science Letters)(quartz watches)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... How does quartz make watches run? Yishui Chen, Age 12 Florida A quartz crystal has some special properties, and it provides the basis for timekeeping in most modern clocks and watches. A very small electric current can be used...

Shrinking clothes.(Science Letters)(fabrics that shrink)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Why do clothes sometimes shrink in the wash? Leah Johnson, Age 8 Minnesota Cloth is made by weaving threads together. The threads are made out of stuff that has long fibers. And anything that has fibers is made out of long skinny...

How we walk.(Science Letters)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... How do you move when you walk? Rainier Foley-DeFiore, Age 4 Pennsylvania The muscles do the work, and the brain gives the orders. All of our muscles are attached to our bones at certain places. If you pull on one of these...

The Timbertoes[R].(Cartoon)
October 1, 2005... Ma wanted to make a pie. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Please go pick a pumpkin." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Tommy marched to the garden. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] He saw lots of pumpkins-- [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] big,...

Amber and the giant pumpkin.(growing pumpkins)
October 1, 2005... What's orange, round, and weighs 948 pounds? One person who knows the punch line is ten-year-old Amber Fry of California. To Amber and her family, growing giant pumpkins is no joke. Amber won a competition by producing a championship...

Calculate your words[R].(word fun)(a different use for your calculator)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... You can make letters on a calculator by turning it upside down. Start by entering each number below on a calculator. Then turn it upside down to translate the numbers into words. See how many other words you can make. 14 38079 ...

Goofus and Gallant.(behavior)(Illustration)
October 1, 2005... "If you won't play kickball, then I'm leaving." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gallant takes turns choosing what to play next. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Goofus takes as much candy as he can hold. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Thanks....

Alexandra Holderman: there's some of Goofus and Gallant in us all. When the Gallant shines through, we show our best self.(Gallant Kids)(Baby Bundles program)(Biography)
October 1, 2005... When Alexandra Holderman of Indiana was five years old, she saw a baby dressed in only a T-shirt, diaper, and blanket in the middle of winter. Alexandra could tell that the baby was very cold. "He had red, chapped skin and a runny nose," she...

Albert's emergency earthquake plan.(Short Story)
October 1, 2005... Albert Shaw was prepared. His backpack was full of emergency supplies--first-aid kit, compass, python repellent. He wore a hard hat (to protect against falling satellites) and hiking boots (to protect against scorpions). His...

Brain play.(think it through)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Start at the beginning and see how far you can go, thinking of good answers from your own head. START Name something you like about morning. Are all your fingernails the same shape? Can you feel your heart beating? Which...

Meet Algol.(star)
October 1, 2005... Nearly everyone enjoys looking at the stars. For most of us, the brightest ones get all the attention. Rigel blazes on cold winter evenings. On hazy summer nights, Vega sparkles like a diamond. But a star doesn't have to be bright to be...

Two best friends.(Your Own Pages)(art work)(Illustration)
October 1, 2005... Two Best Friends Maleah Willis, Age 7 Oklahoma [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The Hat.(Your Own Pages)(poetry)(Poem)
October 1, 2005... The Hat The things I used to crawl to, I now run to. The things I yelled for as a baby, I now do for myself. Each and every day as I change and grow, I will wear many hats. The hat of a student, a son,...

Me and pony.(Your Own Pages)(art work)(Illustration)
October 1, 2005... Me and Pony Nataleah Small, Age 9 Colorado [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Beethoven.(Your Own Pages)(poetry)(Poem)
October 1, 2005... Beethoven Robbed of his hearing, Deaf to his genius, In the silence He heard symphonies. Thought mad by some But a master by others, Overcame frustration To do what he loved. Ear-hearing lost...

Chick with a worm in a nest.(Your Own Pages)(art work)(Illustration)
October 1, 2005... Chick with a Worm in a Nest Joseph Tumidajski, Age 5 Rhode Island

Rainy Day.(Your Own Pages)(poetry)(Poem)
October 1, 2005... Rainy Day Oh, what a rainy day, with umbrellas of all colors on the street. The sparkling rain is falling onto the hood of my raincoat, splashing and dropping into the puddles I am hopping in. ...

Cleared for takeoff.(Your Own Pages)(art work)(Illustration)
October 1, 2005... "Cleared for Takeoff!" Ozzy Hattermann, Age 7 Illinois [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Home Run.(Your Own Pages)(poetry)(Poem)
October 1, 2005... Home Run A baseball player standing at the plate at Yankee Stadium at the bottom of the ninth with two outs, because it is a tied game and he wants to hit a home run to win the game! Tyler...

Night Poem.(Your Own Pages)(poetry)(Poem)
October 1, 2005... Night Poem The moon tonight is full and bright. The stars are shining high. A falling star flies before my eyes. I make a wish as it goes by. The darkness creeps, but it's time to sleep. I say good...

King and queen outside their castle.(Your Own Pages)(art work)(Illustration)
October 1, 2005... King and Queen Outside Their Castle Isabella Atkins, Age 4 England [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Family of dogs.(Your Own Pages)(art work)(Illustration)
October 1, 2005... Family of Dogs Hannah Foster, Age 8 Florida [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

The hearts were blue.(Your Own Pages)(poetry)(Poem)
October 1, 2005... The hearts were blue, and the water was golden, and the Sun was like a cherry. Evy Cicoletti, Age 5 California

Giraffe paradise.(Your Own Pages)(art work)(Illustration)
October 1, 2005... Giraffe Paradise Brooklynn Rozier, Age 6 Maryland [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

My family makes me laugh.(Your Own Pages)(poetry)(Poem)
October 1, 2005... My family makes me laugh. My mom and dad-- they are very funny. Sometimes they get upset. We all like to talk. We do things together. We will love each other. We will be together forever. We like each...

Hermit Crabs.(Your Own Pages)(poetry)(Poem)
October 1, 2005... Hermit Crabs Why do the little hermit crabs duck into their shells? Is it 'cause they're shy or they're not feeling well? Why do they first slowly peek out? Why don't they just come right out and about? But...

My dad the mailman.(Your Own Pages)(art work)(Illustration)
October 1, 2005... My Dad, the Mailman Mitchell Moe, Age 8 Minnesota [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Sea Turtles.(Your Own Pages)(poetry)(Poem)
October 1, 2005... Sea Turtles The water's tide is slow, unmoving. And so is the sea turtle, his bed of algae nestling his tummy. He sleeps silently. But he will not be in dreamland for long. When the first drops of light...

A sea of color.(Your Own Pages)(art work)(Illustration)
October 1, 2005... A Sea of Color Mary Mysnyk, Age 12 Iowa [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

To Be a Poet.(Your Own Pages)(poetry)(Poem)
October 1, 2005... To Be a Poet You need cheetahs running through your imagination. You need sunfish swimming through your mind. You need a lion roaring in your spirit. You need a bee buzzing in ...

My hamster.(Your Own Pages)(art work)(Illustration)
October 1, 2005... My Hamster Andrew Hacklrisch, Age 9 Texas [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Two Friends, Three Friends.(poetry)(Poem)
October 1, 2005... Two Friends, Three Friends 2 on a seesaw, Jack and me. 2 on a seesaw, can't be 3. Jack's my best friend. I'm his, too. 2 in the sandbox. 2 at the zoo. Jack throws the ball, I toss it...

Bullied at school.(Dear Highlights)(advice)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... There is a bully at my school, and he is mean. What should I do? Selena, California This must be a stressful situation for you. Do not try to confront a bully by yourself. If someone threatens to hurt you, tell your parents or guardian...

Feeling jealous.(Dear Highlights)(advice)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... Sometimes I feel jealous when I go to birthday parties and my friend gets a lot of presents and I don't get any. Do you have any advice? Chase K., Massachusetts It's normal to feel a bit jealous sometimes, but try not to focus on...

Room gets dirty.(Dear Highlights)(keeping your room clean)(Brief Article)
October 1, 2005... When my sister and I clean our room, it gets dirty in the same day. Can you help? Brittany G., New York Are you and your sister in the habit of making a big mess before it's time to pick up? If so, you might find it helpful to change...

Find the photo-gaffes.(visual challenge)
October 1, 2005... This team made a copy of the photo on the computer--then decided to have some fun by making changes to the file. Can you find all twenty--five differences between the photos? We found these differences: Band-Aid on knee, "Coach" on...

Exercises thinking and concentrations.(AMAZING MAZES)
October 1, 2005... Plotting the correct route from start to finish without hitting a dead-end is fun but takes a real concentration. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Sharpen visual skills.(WHAT'S WRONG!)(Illustration)
October 1, 2005... Spotting all the things that are different in these delightful puzzles is an entertaining way for youngsters to sharpen visual discrimination. How many you can find? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]