Weekly Reader, Senior Edition (including Science Spin) articles from September 2005

Weekly Reader, Senior Edition (including Science Spin) archives from September 2005

Beyond the shuttle: what will replace the aging spacecraft?(Cover Story)
September 30, 2005... Just before dawn on August 9, the space shuttle Discovery fired its engines over the Indian Ocean and began its dangerous journey home. As the craft streaked across the Pacific Ocean at a blistering speed of 16,000 miles an hour, the eyes of...

WR test yourself! Weekly Reader literacy skills assessment.
September 30, 2005... Reading Comprehension 1 Read the passage. Then fill in the circle for the best answer. The ancient roadways were 165 feet wide, large enough to accommodate today's rush hour traffic. Bridges spanned expertly dug canals that teemed...

Healing paws.(dog trainer Cree Hayuga)(Brief Article)
September 30, 2005... Cree Hayuga is at an age when most kids like to play video games or hang out with their friends. Instead, this fifth grader from Santa Fe, N.M., spends three hours each Wednesday afternoon training dogs. She volunteers at Assistance Dogs...

History Buffy.(Green Mountain Boy)
September 30, 2005... "Look, Fala, he's not green at all," Buffy says as she and the presidential pooch stare at the statue of this Green Mountain Boy. The statue stands at the National Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol. Born in Litchfield, Conn., in 1738,...

Mystery photo.
September 30, 2005... You can strike the right chord with this mystery photo. What is it? piano [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

News quiz.
September 30, 2005... How well do you remember your Weekly Reader news? The questions below relate to stories in Weekly Reader Senior Edition issues 1 to 4. Circle the letter in front of each correct answer. 1. To which religious group do the majority of...

Model plus: the flower.(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB47331-00 $59.95 This large, colorful teaching model was designed to introduce students to the structure of the flower. It illustrates the major organs of reproduction with removable components that make lessons both challenging and...

Root-Vue Farm[TM].(plants)(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB45266-00 Complete kit $27.95 FB45266-01 Replacement kit $17.95 An acrylic viewing window allows students to study carrots, radishes, and other plants below the surface of the soil. With the Replacement Kit they can repeat an...

Parts of a plant giant chalkboard manipulative.(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB66065-00 $29.95 Giant die-cut chalkboard manipulative with labels for root, stem, leaves, flower and fruit. Helps young students learn and demonstrate knowledge of the basic parts of a green flowering plant. Developed by elementary...

Seeds and plants classroom kit.(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB65046-01 24 Students/12 Groups $59.95 This kit helps you grow your students' math and literacy skills as well as their understanding of the life cycle of flowering plants. Students will be humming the Seed Song as they sort, measure,...

Tree cross section.(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB27612-00 $4.95 Provide every student in your class with their own slice of time. Each cross section measures 3 1/2" to 4 1/2" in diameter and features clearly delineated rings.

Bird beak adaptations junior kit.(SK Exclusive)(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB68139-00 30 Students $37.50 Students learn how adaptations, like different beak types, effect where birds live and what they eat. By modeling birds with different beaks, students observe that different types of body parts help living...

Animal x-rays.(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB47835-01 Set of 13 $17.99 Real animal x-rays. Study the differences and similarities between mammals, reptiles, fish, amphibians and birds. Use on a light table to examine minute detail. Includes: Set of 13 - 8" x 10" (20 cm x 25...

Animal tracks stamps.(Animals)(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB47586-00 $16.75 Lead students into lessons on animal tracks and what tracks can tell us about the creatures who made them. Includes 18 stamps (everything from frog to gorilla) and 2 ink pads.

Kid K'Nex activity kit.(SK Exclusive)(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB60621-05 Kit $75.00 FB68232-00 The Very Hungry $9.99 Caterpillar Book Combines The Very Hungry Caterpillar book with cross-curricular hands-on activities developed by K'NEX. Students enjoy the...

Animals junior kit.(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB65046-00 24 Students $39.95 Students learn what animals are, how they are classified, the differences between vertebrates and invertebrates, and more. Materials help students understand how animals adapt to their environments. They...

Anatomy Apron.(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB47197-00 $22.95 This "what's inside" body awareness kit was designed to be used with preschool through primary-grade children. Students take colorful labeled fabric organs and attach them to their correct location on the Anatomy Apron,...

Glo Germ.(cleanliness)(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB46498-01 Powder, 4 oz $16.95 FB46265-00 UV Lamp $29.95 Glo-Germ is used worldwide to safely and dramatically illustrate proper handwashing and cleaning techniques. The powder contains minute pieces of plastic that glow under UV...

Giant teeth with giant brush model.(Health & Safety)(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB46923-00 $31.00 Take a bite out of poor dental hygiene habits with this model. The accompanying manual explains teeth structure, the process of dental decay, why we should brush, and how to floss properly.

Feely bag texture materials.(learning sense of touch)(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB21912-90 Kit $4.95 FB20328-00 Blindfold $0.95 Students explore their sense of touch and what it tells them with this drawstring cloth bag containing various pebbles, steel wool, cloth, sponge cube, cardboard, sandpaper, assorted...

Germs make me sick!(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB47289-08 Book $4.99 Germs are all around us and although they are too small to see, they can make us sick! Students read this book to find out what germs are, how they can make us sick, and what are bodies do to help keep us healthy.

SK Reading Buddies: Rain Forest.(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB18055-00 Rain Forest Kit $52.95 FB63653-01 Nature's Food Chain Game $17.95 FB18035-03 One Day in the Tropical Rain Forest Book $3.95 FB18055-03 The Great Kapok Tree...

Owl pellet kit.(food habits)(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB69831-01 30 Students $49.95 FB69831-03 6 students $19.95 FB69831-04 Bone Sorting Chart/22 cm x 28 cm pk/15 $6.55 FB69831-02 Replacement...

SK Reading Buddies: food chains.(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB18070-00 Food Chains Kit $79.95 FB18042-01 Food Chain Frenzy $4.50 FB18031-05 Who Eat's What? $4.50 Students construct food chains and food webs using the large, magnetic manipulatives...

DigiScope.(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... * Motic DigiScope 150 & 300 * CMOS digital camera * Motic Play Software * Capture still images & videos, measure, edit, and save your work * PC & Mac compatible * Real microscope with all glass optics--Eyepiece included...

Butterfly larvae kit.(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB67062-00 Complete Kit/30 Students $45.95 FB67007-00 Replacement Set $24.50 This delightful kit allows students to watch as lowly caterpillars form chrysalides then become lovely butterflies. Sure to enhance any lesson concerning...

Water cycle game.(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB46808-00 Set/4 $39.85 From Robin Ann Ingram comes this new and exciting game. With a roll of the die and a spin of the wheel students flow through the various components of the water cycle on their way back to the ocean. Helps students...

Planet frog.(metamorphosis)(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB47441-00 $29.95 Students witness the magical transformation of live tadpoles into lively adults--and it all happens on Planet Frog! The habitat is a break resistant, escape proof rainforest environment complete with a pond, plastic...

What is a Cycle?(Brief Article)(Children's Review)(Book Review)
September 23, 2005... FB69393-12 Big Book $24.95 FB18094-01 Student Books $27.00 Pkg/6 This huge poster sized book with its accompanying 16-page teacher's guide encourage students to explore the science of cycles:...

Lunar cycle banner.(Cycles)(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB73961-01 52" x 12" $22.50 Banner displays photographic images of the changing face of the moon over a 28-day period. An excellent visual aid. The names of the eight phases are provided. Sized for front of class teaching. Made of...

Constellations learning cards.(SK Exclusive)(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB47341-01 $8.95 Add a whole new level of interest to your astronomy lessons with this mix of science, history and literature. Each card features one of 17 constellations of the Northern Hemisphere accompanied by the Greek myths associated...

Solar scope.(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB69666-00 Standard Version $59.95 FB69678-00 Education Version $99.95 Solarscope makes it easy for individuals or groups to view images of the sun in complete safety. The Solarscope is user friendly, simple to align, and robust....

Scaled solar system.(Solar System & Outer Space)(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB47942-00 $79.95 Trying to visualize the size of our solar system is difficult for just about anyone, but is especially so for young students. This stunning, full color chart provides a whole new perspective on the solar system and...

Exploring the Solar System lab material.(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB46816-02 $137.95 Manual includes twenty complete lessons and hands-on activities that utilize the Solar System Simulator and the Microslide Viewer and lesson sets to investigate the solar system. The Simulator gives students a chance...

The Sky is Full of Stars.(Brief Article)(Children's Review)(Book Review)
September 23, 2005... FB47289-19 $4.99 And soon your students' eyes will be filled with wonder! With this book students read and find out that not all stars are the same, that some have colors, that all are very far away, and that some even seem to form...

Weather station.(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB63603-00 $9.95 Inexpensive, plastic instrument that shows wind direction, wind velocity (0 to 60 mph), temperature (-40[degrees] to 120[degrees]F), and long-term rainfall. The unit can be mounted on a post or other support outside.

Weather wall hanging map.(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB48002-00 28" x 44" $35.25 Use this king-sized national wall map to spark your students interest in weather science. The large board measures 28" x 44" and is easily seen anywhere in the room. It works with dry erase markers allowing...

Cloud model plus.(Weather)(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB64590-00 $22.50 Teaching model made of durable soft foam designed to introduce students to the forms and functions of clouds. Illustrates the major cloud families and the atmospheric conditions that help create them. Also covers the...

Tornado tube.(Weather)(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB64989-00 $2.95 A couple of 16 oz. 1 or 2 liter plastic bottles, some water and this ingenious device are all your students need to create their own tornado in a bottle.

Demonstration ribbon thermometer.(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB17125-01 16"x 4" $6.95 An inexpensive and effective aid in teaching students how to read a thermometer. A combination Fahrenheit and Celsius scale reverses to an expanded Celsius scale on the back. -40 [degrees]F to 212 [degrees]F or...

Forces, energy & motion kit.(Force & Motion)(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB46230-00 $125.00 * 790 K'NEX parts and a 64-page Educator Guide with 8 extensive lesson plans. * 4 spring motors, plus instructions to build any one of these 4 models simultaneously: rubber band roller, rubber band racer, spring...

Pulleys in motion.(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB47282-08 $135.95 This versatile teaching kit contains enough materials for the whole classroom to learn about and experiment with a variety of pulley configurations. Because these activities are hands-on, students get a real feel for...

Great American Balloon Car Race.(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB47656-00 $24.95 The Great American Balloon Car Race is a high-interest hands-on project where students build and race a light-weight balloon powered vehicle. An extremely open-ended activity, students are given the materials they need...

Critter cars.(motion)(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB68638-00 25 Students $26.95 Using materials like foam bowls and rubber bands, students work in teams to create their very own wind-up "critter cars" and learn about potential energy, kinetic energy and friction. Includes: foam...

Friction surfaces and blocks.(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB47123-00 $10.95 The surface board is designed to study the effects of different types of friction on the force that is required to move a stationary object. The board features four surfaces: cardboard, sandpaper, rubber, and cork....

Day/Night Teacher[R] classroom set with Mini Day/Night Teacher[R] Geared Clocks.(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB17008-04 $44.50 Classroom Set includes the Day/Night Teacher[R] Demonstration Clock (FB17008-00), twenty-four Mini Day/Night Teacher[TM] Geared Clocks (FB17008-01), and an 8 pg Activity Guide. All in a convenient storage/ carrying case.

Paper bills.(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB17011-02 1 Dollar Bill, Pkg/100 $1.95 FB17011-03 5 Dollar Bill, Pkg/100 $1.95 FB17011-04 10 Dollar Bill, Pkg/100 $1.95 FB17011-05 20 Dollar Bill, Pkg/100 $1.95 FB17012-00 50 Dollar Bill,...

Plastic coins.(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB17009-04 Penny, Pkg/100 $1.50 FB17009-05 Nickel, Pkg/100 $1.50 FB17010-00 Dime, Pkg/100 $1.50 FB17010-01 Quarter, Pkg/100 ...

Elapsed time.(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB17079-00 Complete Kit $44.95 How long does it take to get ready for school in the morning? What time will it be when this math lesson is over? These are just some of the problems presented in this kit, designed to help students...

Do all coin spinners.(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB17172-03 Set/3 $3.50 These spinners are great for coin recognition, value exercises, games, reinforcement and much more! The spinner is segmented into six sections with each one depicting a U.S. coin: nickel, quarter, or half-dollar....

Telling Time Play Mat.(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB17122-05 $19.99 The Telling Time Play Mat provides a real hands-on time-telling learning experience. Mat is made of vinyl and wipes off easily. Measures 3.5 feet by 4.5 feet. Comes with 8-page activity guide.

Graphing.(kits)(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB17164-00 Complete Kit $45.95 Students collect data and create different types of graphs to represent that data. They create a line graph to show the value of rolls of dice; create a bar graph to show the number of each color stacking...

Mini felt erasers.(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB17054-05 $0.76 More convenient and less expensive than boxes of tissue. 1 1/4" x 2" hardwood with felt bottoms.

Safe-T markers[TM].(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... Made for dry-erase boards but great for the overhead too. Nontoxic, low-odor ink, and vented safety caps to prevent choking makes these markers safer for the classroom. Availablein packs of five in five different colors and a pack of assorted...

Venn Diagram.(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB17060-03 $19.95 The Venn Diagram is made up of two or more overlapping circles. It is often used in mathematics to show relationships between sets. This set contains 23 pockets and a resource guide. The overall measurement is 54" x...

Grouping circles.(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB17124-05 Set of 3 $7.55 Three 50 cm in diameter circles in three colors (red, yellow, blue) designed for a wide range of counting and sorting activities. Helps children learn to classify by color, shape, and size. Circles collapse for...

9" x 12" double-sided dry-erase boards.(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... Plain FB17055-00 Each $3.75 Centimeter Grid FB17055-01 Each $3.75 Coordinate Grid (X-Y Axis) FB17055-02 Each $3.75 These double-sided marker boards come in three styles: plain, centimeter or x-, y- coordinate grids each with...

Weigh-too[R] bears.(Graphing & Counting)(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB17057-01 Pack/100, 4 color $9.45 Weigh Too[R] Little Bear FB17001-02 Pack/102, 6 color $9.45 Weigh Too[R] Little Bear These cute bears can be used as weights, counting, and...

Write-on, wipe-off Replogle Globe.(Our World)(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB66586-00 $49.95 A write-on, wipe-off 12" diameter globe with silver painted metal semi-meridian and base provides interactive classroom learning. Shows all oceans and land masses but none are labeled. Challenge students to write the...

Stepping into standards: Map Skills.(Brief Article)(Children's Review)(Book Review)
September 23, 2005... FB46316-22 Book $11.99 Map Skills uses innovative activities that help students develop their map skills. Students learn what a legend or key represents, how to read various types of maps, work with a compass, identify the continents and...

Clever Catch.(to learn World Geography)(Brief Article)
September 23, 2005... FB67309-49 $10.95 World Geography FB67309-59 $10.95 States & Capitals These Clever Catches provide a fun way for students and teachers to learn about the countries and continents of the world, and the states and capitals of the U.S....

Alien invasion.(invasive species)
September 23, 2005... Before You Read Ask students: Do you know what the term invasive species means? Why do some insects and animals from outside the United States become a threat when they arrive in this country? What are some ways those species end up in...

Tyrant on trial: Saddam Hussein to answer for his crimes.(Cover Story)
September 23, 2005... Before You Read Ask students: Who is Saddam Hussein? Where is Iraq? Why did the United States and its allies go to war in Iraq? Vocabulary livelihood--source of income massacre--a slaughter chronicle--to record ...

Writing with the King.(horror story writing with Stephen King)
September 23, 2005... As part of Weekly Reader's What's Your Story? program, you will have the opportunity to help write a short story with the master of horror, Stephen King. King has started the story for you below. Your job is to write an installment on...

History Buffy.(the statue of an African American woman)
September 23, 2005... "Where we going now, boy?" Buffy says to Fala. Fala stops and, with one paw up, points his nose at a statue of an African American woman. The statue was the first monument in the District of Columbia devoted to an African American. It's a...

Brain teaser.
September 23, 2005... Two geese are in front of a goose, two geese are behind a goose, and a goose is between two geese. What is the smallest number of geese that could be flying in this gaggle? Answer Key three

Homework helper.(dancing and energy conversion)
September 23, 2005... When the students at Public School 211 competed in a dance competition, they became examples of the two main types of energy. As they danced, the students had kinetic energy, the energy of objects in motion. When they were resting, the...

Dance fever: New York City's fourth and fifth graders shake up the dance floor.
September 23, 2005... With hands on their partners' shoulders and arms around their waists, fourth and fifth graders from Public School (P.S.) 211 in New York City danced as they had never danced before--and they weren't moving to the remix of "We Belong...

What's the word?
September 23, 2005... Fill in the circle in front of the word or words that mean about the same as each numbered word below. The page number indicates where the word is used in the issue. 1. invasive (page 2) (A) staying the same (B) decreasing ...

Iraq and its neighbors.
September 23, 2005... Read the Map Fill in the circle in front of the correct answer. 1. Which country does not border the Persian Gulf? (A) Turkey (B) Kuwait (C) Saudi Arabia 2. Baghdad lies just--of the Euphrates River. (A) east...

Know the news.(general knowledge)
September 23, 2005... Fill in the circle in front of the correct answer. 1. In which city was a snakehead fish recently spotted? (A) Los Angeles (B) New York (C) Miami 2. From where did Australians import the cane toad? (A) China ...

Unscramble the headlines.
September 23, 2005... The eight headlines below describe events related to the impending trial of Saddam Hussein. The headlines, however, are not listed in the order in which the events happened. Number the headlines from 1 to 8 to show the order in which the...

Creating similes.(WORD USAGE)
September 23, 2005... Do you know what similes are? Maybe not, but you probably use them all the time. If you've ever said something is as sweet as honey or as hard as a rock, you've used a simile. A simile compares two unlike things and includes as or like....

My pyramid: eat right! Be fit! Get balanced!
September 23, 2005... Follow the steps of the new food pyramid and feel your best! Each section of myPyramid adds up to a healthier you. With so many types of vegetables, there's sure to be one you like! Veggies are full of nutrients, such as potassium, fiber,...

Crisis in Africa: can the world's richest nations save the world's poorest continent?
September 16, 2005... Taha, a teenager who lives in the African nation of Sudan, paints pictures about something with which she is familiar: the horrors of war. One painting shows helicopters hovering in the sky and houses ablaze. For more than two years, Taha...

The King of bling: on tour with Tut and his treasures.(Howard Carter's discovery)(Cover Story)
September 16, 2005... Howard Carter feverishly chipped away at the ancient door. With sweat dripping from his brow, Carter chiseled a hole in the rock, hoping to create a space big enough to peer through. Bit by bit, tiny fragments of stone and dust fell to...

Great Wall, great jump.(Danny Way uses his skateboard to leap over the Great Wall of China)
September 16, 2005... Daredevil skateboarder Danny Way knows how to jump into the record books. When Way rode his skateboard over a 70-foot-wide section of the Great Wall of China, he became the first human to leap over the 2,000-year-old wall. Several people have...

History buffy.(Father of the Constitution)
September 16, 2005... "Did you know that the Constitution had a father?" Buffy asks Fala as the pair visits the National Archives where many of our nation's documents are housed. Both want to took at the original Constitution. Before this patriot became a U.S....

Cool cats.
September 16, 2005... These guys are the cat's meow. They're cute, furry, spunky, and downright cuddly. And when they get older, they'll run faster than any other animal on the planet. Five cheetah cubs were born this summer at the National Zoo in Washington,...

Treasured tresses.(donating hair for those who donot have them)(Brief Article)
September 16, 2005... Last year, Olivia Till, a student at Courtland Elementary in Virginia, cut off a foot of her brown hair. She donated her ponytail to Locks of Love (right). The Florida-based organization provides wigs to children who have lost their hair...

Mystery photo.
September 16, 2005... You can't darn a sock with these needles. What is this a photo of? Answer: porcupine needles

Read the graph.(Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome disease)
September 16, 2005... Fill in the circle in front of the correct answer. 1. According to the graph, how many people lived with HIV/AIDS in 1992? (A) 5 million (B) 10 million (C) 25 million 2. Approximately how many fewer people suffered from HIV/AIDS...

Know the news.(Africa, king Tut and Great Wall of China)
September 16, 2005... Fill in the circle in front of the correct answer. 1. Which country is not part of the Group of 8? (A) Canada (B) Uganda (C) United States 2. About how many Africans died of malaria last year? (A) 20,000 (B) 1 million (C) 2...

BIC Mathtoons.(geometry through figures)(Cartoon)
September 16, 2005... STARRING: Will A student on a class trip to the art museum Captain Cosine The head of the Geo-mystery Unit Defective Perspective A detective who helps collect evidence in the case Sergeant Symmetry The sergeant assigned to...