Weekly Reader, Edition 4 (including Science Spin) articles from February 2005

Weekly Reader, Edition 4 (including Science Spin) archives from February 2005

Modern marvels: top inventions of last 25 years.(science news)
February 25, 2005... If you are like many kids, you surf the Internet, write e-mails, and use instant messaging to contact your friends. You probably listen to your favorite songs on a portable CD player. You might even take pictures and send them to others--with...

Heimlich to the rescue: a special move saves lives.(Health news)
February 25, 2005... At first, the morning was just like any other. Ten-year-old Emily Hartman from Michigan and her family--had gathered to eat breakfast. Her mother was eating cereal in between morning chores. Suddenly, Emily's mom began choking and could...

Animal instinct: wildlife officials are amazed that few animals died in the tsunami.(Cover Story)
February 25, 2005... Hours before giant waves pounded coastlines in South Asia, many animals started behaving strangely. In Sri Lanka, elephants trumpeted frantically and fled to higher ground. Bats and flamingos deserted low-lying areas. Many other animals...

You decide!(Quick Takes)
February 25, 2005... We had a snowstorm today. I told my grandmother I would shovel snow for her. However, some of my friends have come by to ask if I want to go sledding with them. I would much rather go sledding than shovel snow. What should I do? Tell us...

Mystery state contest.(Quick Takes)
February 25, 2005... Although Olympia is the capital, Seattle is the largest city in this state. Seattle is home to the 605-foot, flying saucer-shaped Space Needle. The Space Needle was built in 1962 for a world's fair. The elevators in the monument travel about...

New museum under way.(Quick Takes)(Brief Article)
February 25, 2005... Plans for an African American history museum in Washington, D.C., have been in the works for more than a year. Recently, several African American leaders were appointed to help manage the project. They include talk-show host Oprah Winfrey and...

Top "wired" countries.(Super Stats)(Brief Article)
February 25, 2005... It's no surprise that the Internet was voted the top technological invention of the last 25 years. The Internet connects millions of computers throughout the world so that people can communicate and share information. Take a look at the top...

The tortoise and the hippo.(Snapshot)
February 25, 2005... Meet a baby hippo and a giant tortoise from Kenya who have developed a close bond. Kenya is a country in Africa. The baby hippo survived after being swept out to sea and back to shore by the December 26 tsunami in the Indian Ocean. Wildlife...

Chart smart.(Brain Builders)(Brief Article)
February 25, 2005... There are two main types of elephants: African and Asian. The two kinds of elephants have different physical features. Study the chart and then answer the questions that follow. 1. About how tall is an average male Asian elephant? ...

Know the news.(Brain Builders)
February 25, 2005... How much did you learn from this issue? Fill in the circle for the best answer to each question. 1. What was chosen as the top innovation of the past 25 years? (A) the cell phone (B) the Internet (C) the personal computer...

Word wise.(Brain Builders)
February 25, 2005... You be the editor! Circle two mistakes in each sentence. 1. Elephants live in africa and asia. 2. An elephant lives too be about 70 years old? 3. elephants use there tusks and trunks to eat grass, leaves, roots, fruit, and bark....

Daily reading and writing activities.(Brief Article)
February 25, 2005... * Use Sensory Words. The cover story focuses on the heightened senses of many types of animals. Sensory words describe how someone or something looks, sounds, smells, feels, or tastes. Provide students sample phrases, such as huge elephant or...

Editor's note.(Editorial)
February 25, 2005... Many kids have inquired about the welfare of animals in the tsunami tragedy. This week, we've featured a story about whether animals can predict danger. We selected an elephant for the cover because those animals not only escaped danger but...

How to use the poster 'Animal Tracks'.(This Month's Poster)
February 25, 2005... Standard: NCSS (Time, continuity, and change) In celebration of the annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race that takes place each March, our February/March poster focuses on animals in history. Your students will learn about the famous husky...

A ton of fun.(Brief Article)
February 25, 2005... Read the word problems about elephants below. After reading each problem, ask yourself, should I multiply or divide? Then solve the problem in the space provided. 1. The heaviest pair of elephant tusks ever recorded weighed nearly 470...

Simile starters.
February 25, 2005... Similes help make writing descriptive and expressive. A simile compares two unlike things using the word like or as. Fill in the blank to complete each simile. We've done the first one for you. 1. The animals bolted for the hills as fast...

Mind your metaphors.
February 25, 2005... Metaphors also help make writing interesting. A metaphor compares two unlike things without using the word like or as. Fill in the blank to complete each metaphor. We've done the first one for you. 1. The soldier's arms were steel beams...

The right fit: should public schools have dress codes?(new debate)(Cover Story)
February 11, 2005... A new fashion trend has hit some public schools across the country. More schools are requiring students to wear uniforms or are enforcing stricter dress codes. Students at Lakeside Elementary School in Cincinnati, Ohio, said goodbye to...

Head of state: Condoleezza Rice becomes the first African American woman secretary of state.(social studies news)
February 11, 2005... After the November election, President Bush nominated Condoleezza Rice to become secretary of state. That is the highest job in the president's Cabinet, or group of close advisers. Rice will make history as the first-ever African American...

Taking the high road.(Quick Takes)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2005... Some people in southern France have been driving through the clouds. They have been traveling across the world's tallest bridge, located in the French city of Millau. The president of France, Jacques Chirac, joined the celebration to...

You decide!(Quick Takes)
February 11, 2005... Our class exchanged Valentine's Day cards. Taylor gave everyone in our class except Tom a card. Tom feels left out. I feel bad for him. What should I do? Tell us what you would do at www.weeklyreader.com/kids/speakout.

Mystery state contest.(Quick Takes)
February 11, 2005... There is no need to stand up for this woman's courage. She would prefer that you sit. In 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a public bus to a white person in this state. Her arrest led to the Montgomery bus boycott. During the...

Top chocolate-eating countries.(Super Stats)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2005... Americans like chocolate candy, but people in the United States don't eat as much as people in other countries do. The table shows the five countries that eat the most chocolate each year. Americans eat an average of about 12 pounds of...

Rare find.(Snapshot)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2005... A team of scientists in northern India discovered new species of monkey in December. The large brown-haired monkey has a short tail and is a member of the macaque (mah-KAK) family. The find surprised scientists because discoveries of new...

Chart smart.(Brain Builders)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2005... Name: -- CHART SMART The chart below shows the l0 worst recorded tsunamis in history based on the number of fatalities. Study the chart, and fill in the circle for the best answer to each question. WORST TSUNAMIS ...

Know the news.(Brain Builders)
February 11, 2005... KNOW THE NEWS How much did you learn from this issue? Fill in the circle in front of the best answer to each question. 1. To which position did President Bush nominate Condoleezza Rice? (A) secretary of state (B) secretary...

Word wise.(Brain Builders)
February 11, 2005... WORD WISE Fill in the circle for the best definition of each boldfaced word from the issue. 1. Tsunamis destroyed the coast. (A) volcanoes (B) hurricanes (C) large waves 2. People fear that the drinking water is...

Editor's note.
February 11, 2005... Your students may still have many questions about the devastating tsunami that struck South Asia more than a month ago. Our cover story answers some of those questions: What is a tsunami? What is being done to help the victims? Does the...

Daily reading and writing activities.
February 11, 2005... * Research Another Country. Have students use the map with the cover story to research a country that was affected by the tsunami. Have them read about that country and write about life there before and after the tsunami. * Write a...

Famous African Americans.(Brief Article)
February 11, 2005... February is Black History Month. Test your knowledge of some famous African Americans who have contributed to the history and the culture of the United States. On the lines below, write the name of the person listed in the box who matches the...

What causes earthquakes?(Brief Article)
February 11, 2005... Read the paragraph below and then answer the questions that follow. Earthquakes are sudden movements in Earth's crust, or outer rocky layer, caused by the release of pressure inside Earth. Large sections of Earth's crust, called tectonic...