Know Your World Extra articles from September 2003

Know Your World Extra archives from September 2003

Songs of the heart; a young poet sees the bright side of a tough life.(teen tracks)
September 5, 2003... Mattie Stepanek has a way with words. Like many teens, he thinks about life a lot. Mattie turns his thoughts into poems. He calls those poems his heartsongs. At age 13, Mattie has already written five books of poetry. His latest book is...

Is King James a slam-dunk?(Sports)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... LeBron James has had the kind of summer most guys dream about. First, the 18-year-old from Akron, Ohio, was named national high-school basketball player of the year. Then he signed a shoe deal with Nike for a cool $90 million. To top...

To Mars!(Space)(Brief Article)
September 5, 2003... "Three, two, one... blast off!" This summer, NASA launched two Mars Exploration Rovers. Their names are Spirit and Opportunity. Spirit lifted off from Cape Canaveral in Florida on June 10. Opportunity began its journey on July 7. The two...

Bush goes to Africa.(Snapshot)
September 5, 2003... President George W. Bush and his daughter Barbara met some elephants during a visit to Africa in July. Bush also met with African leaders. They talked about how to solve some of Africa's problems, such as the high rate of AIDS.

A joyful noise.(Monies)(Movie Review)
September 5, 2003... Darrin Fox has a problem. Before he can inherit his aunt's money, he must carry out her dying wish. He has to lead a local church's gospel choir to win a national championship. Fox needs to find good singers for the gospel choir--fast! But...

Mystery blob.(Science)
September 5, 2003... Question: What's gray and rubbery and looks like a squashed elephant? Answer: A giant blob of flesh washed up on a beach in South America this summer. It looked like a 13-ton lump of gray, rubbery Jell-O. Some scientists thought...

Fat and fed up; Americans are getting too heavy. Are fast-food companies to blame?(debate it!)
September 5, 2003... "Would you like fries with that?" If that is a question you hear at every meal, you might want to rethink your diet. You might think about getting a lawyer, too. Last year, Caesar Barber decided to sue McDonald's, Wendy's, Kentucky...

Starstruck: what's cooler than being friends with a movie star?(extra play)
September 5, 2003... Characters Narrators 1 and 2: people who tell the story Zac Perez: a 14-year-old boy Keisha, Marla, and Ty: Zac's classmates Mr. Davis: a teacher * Scene One * Narrator 1: It's the first day of school. Zac Perez is...

A super guy; NFL star Derrick Brooks takes teens under his wing. Then he shows them the world.(news feature)
September 5, 2003... Derrick Brooks owns a shiny Super Bowl ring. He also has a nice trophy. He won it last year for being the best player on defense in the National Football League (NFL). Brooks makes lots of money. After all, he is a star linebacker for the...

Suds or duds? Don't let your dirty clothes pile up. Learn how to do the wash!(reality check)
September 5, 2003... Have you ever had one of those days? You know, when you wake up and can't find a thing to wear for school? You hunt through the closet. You search your dresser drawers. In a panic, you head for the dirty clothes in the corner of your room....

Brainteaser.(just for fun)
September 5, 2003... Someone borrowed Jason's CD and scratched it. Jason suspects that it was one of his four friends. Brett says, "I didn't do it!" Ryan says, "It was Martin." Martin says, "It was Brett." Andrew says, "It wasn't Brett." Only one boy is telling...

What is it?(just for fun)
September 5, 2003... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CAPTION: Look closely. Can you tell what everyday object is pictured here? Answer Key STUDENT EDITION: * What is it? (page 16): pencil shaving.

Just the right word.
September 5, 2003... Look through the News Feature "A Super Guy." The writer chooses certain words to tell the story. In each sentence below, circle the letter of the word or words with the same or almost the same meaning as the word or words in boldface. 1....

Starstruck.
September 5, 2003... How well do you remember the play Starstruck? Answer the questions to find out. Circle the correct answers. 1. In which state does the play take place? a. Ohio b. New York c. California 2. Which character wears sunglasses and a gold...

Planning calendar.
September 5, 2003... Note: In order to bring your students the most timely and compelling stories, the editors of Know Your World Extra will choose many of this year's story topics as the year progresses. ISSUE/CONTENTS * NCTE/IRA READING SKILLS ...

Scavenger Hunt!(Interacting With Text)
September 5, 2003... Name -- Date -- Try this scavenger hunt! Find the answers to the following questions. Use sources such as your school library, your local newspaper, a dictionary, an encyclopedia, a phone book, or a computer. 1. Which phone number...

Likes and dislikes.(Interacting With Text)
September 5, 2003... Name -- Date -- What kinds of things do you like? What kinds of things don't you like? Here is a chance to write down your favorite and least favorite things. Write them in the spaces below. I really like ...

Respect yourself.(Interacting With Text)
September 5, 2003... Name -- Date -- Do you respect yourself? Reach each statement below. Put an X on the line in the YES column if you agree. Put an X in the NO column if you do not agree. YES NO ...

What's the story?(Reading Headlines, Sequencing)
September 5, 2003... Name -- Date -- These made-up newspaper headlines might appear between September and the end of December 2003. Read each headline. Use the list of important dates below to help put the headlines in the right order. The first headline is...

This and that.(Making Analogies, Understanding Words in Context)
September 5, 2003... Name -- Date -- The like relationship between one set of words and a second set of words is called an analogy. For example, meow is to cat as bark is to dog. Read each sentence below. Choose the word that best completes the analogy. ...

On the run.(Using Context Clues, Building Vocabulary)
September 5, 2003... Name -- Date -- When you read, you are thinking about how the words are used in the sentences. Some words have many meanings. One such word is run. Read each sentence below, then look at the list of definitions for the word run. Write the...

Is that a fact?(Identifying Fact and Opinion)
September 5, 2003... Name -- Date -- A fact is something that is known to be true. (For example: An apple is a fruit.) A fact can be proved. On the other hand, an opinion is a belief or judgment that someone has. (For example: Apples are delicious.) Can you...

Are you my mummy?(Listening, Monitoring Understanding)
September 5, 2003... Part I: Guesswork Divide the class into two teams. Read aloud each statement below about Queen Nefertiti of Egypt. Alternating between two teams, have students guess whether each statement is true or false. If a team is correct, award it...

Filling out a survey.(Interacting With Text)
September 5, 2003... Name -- Date -- A survey is a list of questions that is used to find out what is on a person's mind. This survey gives you a chance to tell the editors of Know Your World Extra what you like and don't like to read about. The first part of...

What does it mean?(Building Vocabulary, Understanding Words in Context)
September 5, 2003... Name -- Date -- Some words have more than one meaning. The word fall, for instance, has at least two meanings. It can be used in this sentence: "Football starts in the fall." It can also be used in this sentence: "Tom took a...

Who killed King Tut'?(Reading for Comprehension, Identifying the Main Idea)
September 5, 2003... The main idea is what a paragraph is about. Read the story below. After each paragraph, circle the letter of the sentence that best describes the main idea of that paragraph. 1. About 3,300 years ago, Egypt was a strong, rich nation. It was...

What's missing?(Solving Word Problems, Organizing Information, Thinking Critically)
September 5, 2003... Name -- Date -- The word puzzles on this page can't be answered because some information is missing from each one. Read the puzzles. Circle a or b for the phrase that names the information needed to solve the problem. 1. Rita scored 9...

Who's responsible?(Thinking Critically, Interacting With Text)
September 5, 2003... Name -- Date -- The situations below require you to make a choice. Read each question. Circle YES or NO. Then write a short sentence explaining your answer. 1. You find a wallet with $100 in it. You find out that the wallet belongs to...

Which is witch?(Building Vocabulary, Understanding Words in Context)
September 5, 2003... Name -- Date -- Some words sound alike, but they are spelled differently and have different meanings. Below are some sets of sound-alike words and each word's meaning. Read each sentence that follows. The sound-alike words are in bold...

Get real!(Building Vocabulary, Understanding Compound Words)
September 5, 2003... Name -- Date -- A compound word is a word made up of two or more smaller words. For instance, headache is a compound word made up of the words head and ache. Now let's have some fun with compound words. The first column lists made-up...

The planet next door.(Organizing Information, Comparing and Contrasting)
September 5, 2003... Name -- Date -- Earth and Mars are neighbors in the solar system. In some ways, the two planets are alike. In other ways, the planets are not alike. Read the list of planet facts below. If a fact is true for only Earth, write its letter in...

Found in space.(Reading a Chart)
September 5, 2003... Name -- Date -- The chart at right contains facts about the nine planets in the solar system. Study the chart. Then read each question below. Based on the chart, choose the correct answer. 1. Mars is how many miles away from the sun?...

Tornado warning!(Reading for Comprehension)
September 5, 2003... Name -- Date -- Tornadoes can strike in many parts of the United States. There is little warning. The safety tips below tell you what to do during a tornado. Read the tips and the questions that follow. Circle the letter next to the best...

Rhyme time.(Using Context Clues)
September 5, 2003... Name -- Date -- Each phrase below is really a riddle. Answer each riddle with a two-word rhyme. Both words in the answer have the same number of syllables. The first rhyme is done for you. 1. plump tiger = fat cat 2. best police...

Do the math.(Solving Word Problems, Organizing Information)
September 5, 2003... Name -- Date -- The word puzzles below give you too much information. Below each word puzzle are two sentences. One sentence has information that you don't need to solve the puzzle. Circle the letter of the sentence that has the...

Shark bait.(Listening, Monitoring Understanding)
September 5, 2003... Name -- Date -- To the teacher: This page is a teacher-directed listening activity. Part I: Guesswork Divide the class into two teams. Read aloud each statement below about sharks. Alternating between two teams, have students guess...

Feel the beat.(Understanding Syllables, Gaining Fluency)
September 5, 2003... Name -- Date -- Like rap and other kinds of music, words have beats. Each beat, or syllable, has a different sound. Breaking words into syllables helps you pronounce the word. Try it on the state names of the United States. For instance,...

It is what it is.(Using Apostrophes)
September 5, 2003... Name -- Date -- The sentences below include the word its. In some cases, the word is correct as printed. In other cases, it needs an apostrophe. Add an apostrophe where one is needed to show that two words were shortened. Then, in the...

Help wanted.(Building Vocabulary, Sequencing, Thinking Critically)
September 5, 2003... Name -- Date -- Like to drive? Make money delivering Zorba's famous pizza. Apply in person, or call Must have clean driving record. Also hiring cashier for night shift and pizza chef for weekends. Good salary A. Complete the...

Warning sign.(Reading Signs and Symbols)
September 5, 2003... Name -- Date -- There are several types of road signs. One type of road sign is called a warning sign. Warning signs are mostly yellow with black symbols. The signs warn drivers what to be aware of ahead in the road. Many road-warning...

Let the games begin.(Listening, Monitoring Understanding)
September 5, 2003... Name -- Date -- To the teacher: This page is a teacher-directed listening activity. Part I: Guesswork Divide the class into two teams. Read each statement below aloud. Alternating between two teams, have students guess whether each...

Welcome to Greece.(Reading a Map)
September 5, 2003... Name -- Date -- In August, the best athletes from around the world will gather in Greece for the 2004 Summer Olympic Games. To the right is a map of Greece, including some of its more than 2,000 islands. Study the map. Then choose the...

A day of summer fun.(Using Context Clues, Doing Word Puzzles)
September 5, 2003... Name -- Date -- What's more fun than a summer day at an amusement park? This crossword puzzle will get you in the summer mood. Read each statement below. Figure out the missing word from the Word Bank. Place the missing word in the...

Going for gold.(Doing Word Puzzles)
September 5, 2003... Name -- Date -- The Summer Olympics will take place in August 2004 in Athens, Greece. In the block of letters below, find and circle the Olympic sports from the Word Bank at right. Each hidden word reads from left to right or from top to...

Sounds of silence:.(teen tracks)
September 26, 2003... Music touches this girl's life in a different way. Music is a big part of Nicole Hurt's world. Like many teens, she watches MTV. She also loves to dance. Her favorite singer is Shakira. Nicole is also a member of her school choir. ...

Truck at sea.(Snapshot)(Brief Article)
September 26, 2003... The U.S. Coast Guard often stops boats between Cuba and the United States. In July, the Coast Guard stopped this floating 1951 truck! The 12 Cubans onboard were trying to flee their country. They had turned the truck into a raft. The U.S....

Wake-up call!(Science)(Brief Article)
September 26, 2003... Imagine waking up to a rock crashing into your bedroom! That is what happened to 14-year-old Robert Garza of Illinois. The rock that crashed through the roof of his house earlier this year was part of a meteorite. A meteorite is a rock that...

Diving diva?(Music)(Brief Article)
September 26, 2003... Once upon a time, Britney Spears was pop music's top diva. She was on the radio. She was in movies. She was in TV ads. Lately, though, Britney has been pretty much out of sight. The singer has not put out a new CD since 2001. She says she...

Total recall.(Politics)(Brief Article)
September 26, 2003... Could a movie-star action hero be the next governor of California? Arnold Schwarzenegger, best known for his role as the Terminator, hopes so. On October 7, state voters will have a recall election. They will decide whether Governor Gray...

Yankee gets a hit.(Sports)(Brief Article)
September 26, 2003... If he ever gets tired of playing baseball, Bernie Williams has a music career to fall back on. In July, the New York Yankees outfielder released a CD titled The Journey Within. On the CD, Williams plays a smooth guitar. He blends salsa, jazz,...

When music is a steal: why buy the CD when you can get the music for free.(debate it!)
September 26, 2003... Many teens think getting music from the Internet is great. It's fast. It's fun. It's free. In most cases, however, it's also against the law. To copy someone's work and then to share that work is called piracy. There are laws that...

Simon says: who will win a chance to try out for American Idol?(extra play)
September 26, 2003... Characters Narrators 1 and 2: people who tell the story Tina Ramos: a 16-year-old girl Mrs. Ramos: Tina's mother Oscar: Tina's friend Shantell Cole: Tina's classmate Jill, Kim, and Joey: Shantell's friends Randy...

Why music matters: program helps students learn to tune in to life.(news feature)
September 26, 2003... A few years ago, Kevin Davis almost gave up on school. He hated math. He just didn't get it. Nothing else made much sense either. Then Kevin found the power of music. Kevin joined a program at his school called MusicAlive. The program...

Music to your ear$: groove to the tunes, but watch your money, honey!(reality check)
September 26, 2003... You have the radio tuned to your favorite station. A song ends. The disc jockey comes on. He rambles on about the weather and other stuff. All you want to hear is more music. Then your ears perk up. "Jammin' 101.9 presents Nelly in...

Mind games.(just for fun)
September 26, 2003... Look at each word puzzle below. There is a well-known phrase hidden in each puzzle. Can you figure out each one? 1. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 2. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Answer Key STUDENT EDITION Mind Games (page 16): 1....

What is it?(just for fun)
September 26, 2003... Look closely. Can tell what item is pictured here? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Answer Key STUDENT EDITION * What Is It? (page 16): a harmonica

Lighten up.
September 26, 2003... "I'M NOT SAYING MY BOYFRIEND IS A NERD, BUT WHEN I TOLD HIM I LIKE HIP-HOP, HE BOUGHT ME A FROG." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Play it again.(Brief Article)
September 26, 2003... Musical instruments are divided into four groups. Each group, or section, is described below. Read the descriptions and the directions that follow. a. Percussions--These instruments make sounds when they are struck. Keyboard instruments...