Weekly Reader, Edition 4 (including Science Spin) articles from January 2006

Weekly Reader, Edition 4 (including Science Spin) archives from January 2006

Kilauea's fiery show: part of Hawaii's coastline collapses, pouring lava into the Pacific Ocean.(NEWS SHORTS)
January 27, 2006... Crash... splash... sizzle. Tourists watched in awe as a huge chunk of Hawaii's coastline broke off and fell into the ocean. More than 44 acres of coastline collapsed and sent a glowing swirl of red-hot lava bursting from a cliff. Lava is...

Hello Kitty coins.(Brief Article)
January 27, 2006... Hello Kitty is having the time of her life in Paris. Four thousand special gold and silver euro coins feature the famous feline in the French capital. The euro is the currency of 12 countries in Europe. One euro is equal to about $1.18. ...

Top Super Bowl cities.(Brief Article)
January 27, 2006... The countdown to Super Bowl XL has begun! (XL is the Roman numeral for 40.) On February 5, millions of football fans will tune in to the Super Bowl, which will be played in Detroit, Michigan. Check out the cities that have been home to the...

Titanic find: new evidence suggests the famous ship sank faster than previously thought.
January 27, 2006... A new discovery has surfaced surrounding the world's most famous shipwreck. The Titanic's plunge to the ocean floor might have been faster than previously thought, say researchers. Scientists once believed that the luxury liner broke into...

Olympic dreams: the countdown to Turin begins. Who are the athletes to watch?(Cover Story)
January 27, 2006... U.S. skater Michelle Kwan brought home an Olympic silver medal in 1998 and an Olympic bronze medal in 2002. Will she strike gold this year? The 25-year-old sure hopes so. Kwan isn't the only U.S. athlete with her eye on the prize....

Year of the dog.(Chinese New Year)(Brief Article)
January 27, 2006... Chinese New Year kicks off on January 29. The date marks the beginning of the year in the Chinese calendar. People in China and in Chinese communities around the world will celebrate the holiday with fireworks, dancers in dragon costumes,...

From study hall to city hall.(Michael Sessions' election)(Brief Article)
January 27, 2006... Weeks before Election Day, Michigan teen Michael Sessions would race home from school, finish his homework, and hit the streets to persuade people to vote for him. His mom tried to make him wear his coat out in the cold, but he didn't listen...

You decide!
January 27, 2006... We're having an Olympics Week in school. Our gym teacher has divided us into teams. We're going to run relay races, climb a rock wall, and jump rope. I don't want to participate because I'm worried that I'm going to let my team down: What...

WR kid reporter tackles Super Bowl.(QUICK TAKES)
January 27, 2006... Weekly Reader kid reporter Adam Obaid is gearing up for the Super Bowl. The 11-year-old from Salinas Middle School in Dearborn, Michigan, will report live from Super Bowl XL. Adam will interview players from both football teams before the...

Cardboard box joins Toy Hall of Fame.(QUICK TAKES)
January 27, 2006... Museum officials didn't have to think outside the box when making selections for the National Toy Hall of Fame. They thought of the box itself! The cardboard box was recently added to the list of all-time top toys. Candy Land and the...

Mystery state contest clue 17.(QUICK TAKES)
January 27, 2006... Christa McAuliffe was a teacher from this state. She was also the first private citizen in space. McAuliffe and the six-member Challenger crew died when the space shuttle exploded seconds after launch on January 28, 1986, 20 years ago. A...

Time line trivia.
January 27, 2006... The time line highlights some key modern Olympic firsts. Fill in the circle in front of the best answer to each question. 1. In which year was the Olympic flame first lit? (A) 1912 (B) 1924 (C) 2004 2. Which happened in 1920? ...

Word wise.
January 27, 2006... Fill in the circle for the best definition of each word. The page number shows where the word appears. 1. departed (page 3) (A) arrived (B) sailed (C) left 2. persuade (page 6) (A) discourage (B) tell (C) convince 3....

Know the news.(BRAIN BUILDERS)
January 27, 2006... Fill in the circle in front of the best answer to each question. 1. What is the main idea of "Olympic Dreams"? (A) The Olympic medals have a new look this year. (B) The Winter Olympics will take place in Turin, Italy. (C)...

Recycling our way to the moon.
January 27, 2006... ONE SMALL STRETCH FOR EXPLORATION Recycling--you probably think of paper or bottles, not rocket engines and space vehicles. But the Vision for Space Exploration, a program that will return humans to the moon by 2020, and then perhaps...

Kids question the Cosmos.
January 27, 2006... Sheldon is a 7th grade student in a science magnet program in Pompano Beach, Florida. He is 12 years old and interested in a career in car designing. Sheldon's science fair project has to do with air foils on toy cars. He has been using a...

Zargos hunt.
January 27, 2006... Your search for the Scientist takes you first to the Laboratory, then to Zargos itself. You have a map, prepared by the Scientist, who is also a mathematician. Can you find your way to where the aliens are holding the scientist? * Start...

Zargos word search.
January 27, 2006... Take the letters left over after you have found all the words, then read them all (in order, but you have to put in the spaces), and you will get a secret message. Armstrong The first person to walk (and bounce!) on our moon. ...

The Olympics: a venn diagram.
January 27, 2006... There are similarities and differences between the ancient Olympics held in Greece and the modern Olympics, which are held in countries around the world. After reading the cover story, compare and contrast the ancient Olympics and the modern...

S.O.S.!
January 27, 2006... In this issue, you read about the Titanic. The chart below contains facts about 10 of the deadliest shipwrecks of the past 150 years. Study the chart; then answer each question by fitting in the circle next to the correct answer. 1....

New hot language--Chinese.
January 13, 2006... Fourth graders at McCormick Elementary School in Chicago, Illinois, have been learning Chinese since kindergarten. Visitors to their classroom maybe be greeted with "ni hao" (pronounced NEE HOW). The fourth graders are studying Mandarin--the...

A big catch: the world's largest aquarium opens in Atlanta.(Georgia Aquarium)
January 13, 2006... Five beluga whales are quickly becoming buddies. The belugas call an 800,000-gallon tank home at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. These social animals are among the 100,000 sea creatures at the country's largest aquarium, which opened in late...

Space spectacle.(Crab Nebula)
January 13, 2006... Scientists have finally "seen the light." A space telescope snapped a spectacular photo of the Crab Nebula. A nebula is a huge cloud of gas and dust in deep space. A very large star exploded in the universe more than a thousand years ago and...

Honoring king: Americans pay tribute to a leader's legacy.(Martin Luther King Jr.)(Biography)
January 13, 2006... Before You Read Ask: What do you know about Martin Luther King Jr.? Do you know what ideals he stood for? Vocabulary boycott--a refusal to deal with a person, organization, or country civil rights laws--laws that protect the...

Wiping out polio: will polio be declared a disease of the past?(Cover Story)
January 13, 2006... Before You Read Ask students: Have you heard of polio? If so, what is polio? Why is it important to find cures for diseases and other health problems? Vocabulary contagious--capable of being spread by infection eradicate--to...

Grizzlies roar back: more bears are alive and well, but are they ready to come off the endangered species list?
January 13, 2006... Before You Read Ask: What is an endangered species? Why might the government want to make laws to protect endangered animals? Vocabulary habitat--the place where a plant or an animal lives or grows * At one time, the grizzly...

Stamps with character.(QUICK TAKES)
January 13, 2006... Olivia, Wilbur, Curious George, and some other animals are making a leap--from the pages of children's books onto stamps! On January 10, the United States Postal Service began issuing a series of eight colorful stamps. They feature some of...

Mystery state contest clue 16.
January 13, 2006... Does Mount Hood pack a powerful punch? People living near the 11,239-foot sleeping volcano in this state hope not! Its snow-capped peak can be seen from the city of Portland, The volcano last Mew its top just before explorers Lewis and Clark...

You decide!(student discipline)
January 13, 2006... We have a new student from Russia in our class. Sonia had to stand in front of the class and introduce herself. When she started to speak. some of my classmates began making fun of her accent. The teacher didn't hear them. I could tell that...

Study the graph.
January 13, 2006... The graph and map shows the countries in Africa and Asia in which the most polio cases were reported in 2005. Using the graph or map, fill in the circle for the best answer to each question. Countries With the Most Polio Cases in 2005...

Word wise.(brain builder)
January 13, 2006... Fill in the circle for the best definition for each highlighted word. The page number indicates where the word appears in the issue. 1. social (page 2) (A) quiet (B) friendly (C) dangerous 2. engaging (page 2) (A)...

Know the news.
January 13, 2006... Fill in the circle in front of the best answer to each question. 1. What is the main idea of "Wiping Out Polio"? (A) Polio can strike people of any age but mainly affects children. (B) Kids' pinkies are painted to show that they...

Democracy around the world!
January 13, 2006... YOU LIVE IN A DEMOCRACY Pizza or nachos? Sneakers or shoes? CDs or MP3? Call or text message? In your life, you have choices. Having choices is one of the benefits of living in a democracy like the United States. In fact, the United...

Inside Ukraine.
January 13, 2006... Eleonora, a high school exchange student from Ukraine, was invited by the State Department to study in the United States for one year. She writes the following about elections in her country. Hello! My name is Eleonora and I am from...

"I have a dream".(Martin Luther King Jr. )
January 13, 2006... On August 28, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his most memorable speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Part of his speech appears below. Read the selection and then answer the questions. 1. What is Martin...

Great grizzlies!
January 13, 2006... Every sentence has two parts--a subject and a predicate. The subject tells what or whom the sentence is about. The predicate tells something about the subject and contains the main verb of the sentence. Read each sentence below. Circle the...

Who was Ben Franklin?(Benjamin Franklin )
January 13, 2006... Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) once said, "Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today." And he followed his own advice! Ben was a busy man with many interests. He was a scientist, an inventor, a printer, a musician, a postmaster, an...

U.S. Department of state: democracy around the world.
January 13, 2006... Bubunur Country: Kyrgyzstan Host State: Utah Every year that passes, I grow closer to the day when I am able to vote and to make decisions that will affect the lives of my people. The right leader can make the right decisions...

Letter to parents and guardians.(students health)
January 13, 2006... Helping you make important school-home connections, the letter to parents and guardians informs them about the importance of instilling healthy habits in children at this young age. It also discusses the nutritional benefits of eating fresh...

Food: fueling your body.
January 13, 2006... This activity explores the notion of food as fuel for the body, and introduces students to the six essential nutrients we get from food: carbohydrates, fats, protein, vitamins, minerals and water. By completing sentences using words provided,...

What's missing?(food and health)
January 13, 2006... This activity explains that in order to give your body all the nutrients it needs, you have to eat a variety of foods every day. It focuses on the five main food groups (grains, dairy, protein, fruits and vegetables). Students are directed to...

Fruit juicy good.(ACTIVITY THREE)
January 13, 2006... Centering on the benefits of fruit, like Florida citrus, and the vitamins and minerals they provide, this activity leads students through a creative writing exercise in which they pretend to be a grapefruit, tangerine or orange. They are...

An activity a day ...(physical activity )
January 13, 2006... Using a sequencing, logic and problem solving exercise, this activity emphasizes the importance of physical activity as part of a healthy routine. Discuss with students their favorite ways to be active. Ask how many students do something...

A healthy habits puzzler.(ACTIVITY FIVE)
January 13, 2006... This activity explains that in addition to eating healthy foods and being active, there are other important habits that keep us healthy (like getting enough sleep, washing hands, taking baths and brushing teeth). Review proper hygiene...

Dear parents and guardians.
January 13, 2006... Fostering healthy habits in young children is a jump start to a lifetime of practicing positive behaviors. Following a healthy routine--including eating nutritious foods, being physically active, getting enough sleep and practicing good...

Grapefruit salsa.
January 13, 2006... * 2 Tbsp. lime juice * 1 Tbsp. olive oil * 1 tsp. jalapeno, minced (optional) * 1/2 red bell pepper, minced * 2 Tbsp. red onion, minced * 1 large Florida grapefruit, peeled, membrane removed, sectioned, chopped ...

Dear educators.(Super Citrus: Get a Grapefruit Boost! )
January 13, 2006... Fostering healthy habits in young children is a head start to a lifetime of practicing positive behaviors. The Florida Department of Citrus and Weekly Reader are pleased to provide you with this free educational unit, Super Citrus: Get a...

Grow into healthy habits.
January 13, 2006... 1 Grapefruit has potassium, which helps make your muscles move and keep your heartbeat regular. Florida produces the most grapefruit in the world! About how many pounds of grapefruit grow on each tree in a season? 2 Walking feels good...

Sleep smarts: a new study shows that the amount of time you sleep affects how well you do in school.(NEWS SHORTS)(Brief Article)
January 6, 2006... Do you think your teacher can't tell when you stay up late? Think again. During a recent sleep study, teachers noticed that kids had more difficulty learning when they stayed up an hour or two past their bedtime. "Getting [to sleep] on...

Safe sleeping.(sleep hours for animals)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
January 6, 2006... Like people, animals need sleep to rest their bodies and boost their brainpower. Large animals generally require less sleep than smaller ones do. The graph shows the amount of sleep that some animals need in a day. Hours of sleep...

A real stinker.(SNAPSHOT)(stinky plant, titan arum)(Brief Article)
January 6, 2006... Thousands of people flocked to see a rare plant on display in Washington, D.C., but many visitors kept their noses plugged. The stinky plant, called titan arum, was in bloom for the first time in 14 years at the U.S. Botanic Garden. Its bloom...

Can Venice be saved? Experts scramble to keep this world-famous city from sinking.(SCIENCE NEWS)
January 6, 2006... Before You Read Ask students: In which country is the city of Venice? Have students find Venice on a map. Vocabulary canal--a human-made waterway for boats lagoon--an area of shallow water near or connected to a larger body...

Ben Franklin: an American leader: honor the 300th birthday of one of our country's greatest thinkers, inventors, and statesmen with our classroom play.(Cover Story)(Biography)
January 6, 2006... Happy 300th Birthday, Ben! Our classroom play celebrates Philadelphia's hometown hero. Discover how his hard work helped to improve the lives of all Americans. Each morning, Benjamin Franklin asked himself, "What good shall I do...

Pet radio.(QUICK TAKES)
January 6, 2006... Does your puppy groove to the song "Who Let the Dogs Out?" Does your cat purr when you pump up the volume? Does your bunny thump to the hip-hop beat? Thanks to DogCatRadio.com, pets can rock out to a new online radio station devoted just to...

Back to class.(QUICK TAKES)(Benjamin Franklin Elementary School)(Brief Article)
January 6, 2006... Brothers Kenneth Galeano, 12, and Branden Galeano, 7, were the first students to walk through the doors at Benjamin Franklin Elementary School. They were greeted with welcome signs and big smiles. Ben Franklin is the first public school in...

Mystery state contest clue 15.(Gateway Arch)
January 6, 2006... Welcome to "the Gateway to the West." In 1804, explorers Lewis and Clark started their journey to the Pacific from St. Louis in this state. In the mid-1960s, the Gateway Arch was built here to honor the spirit of Western pioneers. Towering...

You decide!(QUICK TAKES)
January 6, 2006... Diego and I are partners for our science fair project. We can't agree on a topic. I want to do a project on the solar system. He wants to do one on volcanoes. We have been arguing about the project. How can we make a decision? Share your...

Time line trivia.(BRAIN BUILDERS)
January 6, 2006... The time line highlights some key events in Benjamin Franklin's life. Fill in the circle in front of the best answer to each question. 1. In what year did Ben Franklin open a printing shop? (A) 1718 (B) 1728 (C) 1732 ...

Word wise.(BRAIN BUILDERS)
January 6, 2006... Fill in the circle in front of the word that means about the same as each highlighted word. The page number indicates where the word was used. 1. expand (page 3) (A) grow (B) sink (C) pull 2. nominate (page 6) (A)...

Know the news.(BRAIN BUILDERS)
January 6, 2006... How much did you learn from this issue? Fill in the circle for the best answer to each question. 1. Which statement is true about Ben Franklin? (A) He invented the first printing press in the 13 Colonies. (B) He was an American...

Frankly speaking.(Skill: Understanding Words in Context)
January 6, 2006... Ben Franklin had a way with words. He often slipped wise and witty advice into his writing. Many of his words of wisdom focused on building strong character and good habits. Ten of his sayings are listed below. For questions 1 through 8,...

Be an inventor: the sky's the limit!(Skill: Critical Thinking)
January 6, 2006... Inventions help make our lives better. Benjamin Franklin was a great inventor. When he was only 10 years old, he invented swim fins so he could swim faster. Some of his other famous inventions include a wood stove called the Franklin stove,...

Get ready with Freddie!(emergency preparedness, Home Safety Council program)
January 6, 2006... Message to Parents and Guardians When Hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit the Gulf Coast, many people did not know what to do. The Home Safety Council (HSC) wants every family to be ready in case something like this happens where they live....