Can You Keep a Secret?
By McGruff and Scruff
August 23, 2009
In 1974, a neighborhood crime watch group was organized in South Dade County. Citizens met with their local law enforcement departments to ask what they could do to help the police apprehend a rapist terrorizing their community. From this first informal meeting, communities and law enforcement began to work together to keep neighborhoods safe and free from crime. An organization was formed, and Citizens’ Crime Watch of Miami-Dade County, Inc. (CCW) was registered as a 501(c) (3) non profit organization. Today, over 1,600 neighborhoods participate in the crime watch concept.
In 1979, the crime watch concept was introduced into the public school system at one school. Because it succeeded in curbing school crime, the Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) requested we, CCW, expand its student crime watch program from one school to include all public schools in the county. Since that time, Youth Crime Watch of Miami-Dade (YCW) has functioned as an allied program of the public schools.
Methodology The public school system contracts with YCW to educate and train students in violence and crime prevention strategies. Children also learn that good citizenship and personal responsibility include watching out for family, friends, schools and community. YCW maintains a presence in all M-DCPS.
The foundation of the YCW program is built upon a “school safety survey” which is administered at the school during the first few months of the school year. It asks respondents to rank their particular safety concerns – those issues which they believe have the potential to cause harm to themselves or their schoolmates. YCW students, student advisors, and our staff are then enlisted in the effort to resolve those issues impeding the safety, health, and education of young people. The results of the survey are prioritized and comprise the core content of the YCW program.
The YCW program is structured to teach leadership skills to students who volunteer to learn about school safety. While they learn how to keep themselves safe, they also learn public speaking, critical thinking, leadership, and other skills that will serve them into their adult lives. This, in turn, reinforces their self-esteem and promotes positive involvement, again curbing misbehavior, crime and violence in the school.
I’m McGruff the Crime Dog – world famous for my advice on how to stop crime before it happens, and for my great sense of humor. But seriously, my job is to help people, especially kids, learn how to be safe and make their neighborhood safer. Something else you should know about me is that I go all over the country to talk to people about how they can take a bite out of crime. So if you see me in your town, come on up and say hi. You can recognize me by my tan trench coat – I never go anywhere without it.
This here is my nephew Scruff. He helps me show kids how they can stay safe. Scruff’s a good pup but sometimes gets himself into a bit of trouble. Lucky for him he’s got a good memory – eventually he remembers the right thing to do to get out of trouble. Want to know more about me and Scruff?
You can read more about yours truly in the story How McGruff Became the Crime Dog, and you can read some of Scruff’s adventures in these comic books. Today’s Tip: Help others in the Community.
You and your friends can help out in your neighborhood by taking some few simple steps each day:
Ask your teacher if you could help by erasing the blackboard, or if he or she needs help carrying supplies.
- Bake some goodies for the elderly people in your community.
- Offer to rake the lawns of those in your neighborhood who are not able to.
- Ask your parents if they need help around the house. For example, offer to fold the laundry while you watch the television…that way you both win!
- Collect donations for a local shelter or Red Cross office. These are just a few ideas that you can do to help out around your community.
- By helping out, you are saying thanks to all those who make your neighborhood great!
Today we will talk about: Can You Keep a Secret?
Should you keep it?
Most of the time, it’s okay to keep secrets. Secrets can be fun and make people happy. But sometimes secrets can hurt people. You should never keep secrets like these. Instead, tell the secret to an adult you trust.
Do you know the difference between a good and a bad secret?
A good secret won’t hurt you! And it won’t hurt anyone or anything else.
A bad secret might hurt you, or someone or something else. It might make you, your brother, your sister, or a friend feel sad, scared, uncomfortable, or angry. It might be something that you know is wrong, and you think someone will get in trouble if you break it.
Sometimes it can be hard to tell which secrets are good and which are bad. McGruff has a few examples to help you decide!
Good Secrets to Keep:
- Your mom is planning a surprise party for your dad.
- Your IM password (but you should tell your parents!)
- When you’re staying home alone.
- Your name, address, phone number, and school name – when you’re online.
Bad secrets to keep:
- Your brother tells you he’s thinking of joining a gang.
- An adult does something that makes you feel uncomfortable and asks you not to tell.
- Your sister tells you that a boy she met online wants to meet her in person.
- Your friend starts hanging out with older kids who paint graffiti on buildings.
If you’re not sure if a secret is good or bad, ask an adult what they think!
Source: McGruff
Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com
Soldier of the Week – First Lieutenant Travis L. Manion
August 30, 2009 by Dan
Filed under Soldier of the Week
By Dan Samaria
Publisher/GCC
August 29, 2009
Editor’s Note:
Hometown: Doylestown, PA
Awarded: Silver Star
Many believe that leadership is an innate quality rather than something learned. If this is a valid belief then First Lieutenant Travis L. Manion was certainly born a leader. Manion began his military career early as a student at the prestigious U.S. Naval Academy where he excelled academically.
Upon graduating from the academy in 2004, Manion chose to become a Marine Corps officer. Demonstrating his intellect and leadership abilities, this servicemember was commissioned and assigned to the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force Camp in Pendleton, CA. Shortly thereafter, he was deployed to Iraq for his first tour of duty in 2005.
Manion and his unit were part of many critical events including support of the election, discovery of weapons caches throughout the region and numerous other Iraqi transition missions.
In September 2006, he was selected as an experienced Iraq veteran and was pulled from 1st Recon to become a part of a military transition team that would train with 10 other Marines that would be attached to an Iraqi Army Battalion in Fallujah.
Staying true to his commitment to public service, Manion geared up on December 26, 2006, for his second tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He served as the company advisor for the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 1st Iraqi Army Division Military Transition Team, Regimental Combat Team 6, II Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward).
Manion and his fellow Marines labored diligently to change the outcome in Fallujah, building a brotherhood with the Iraqi Army units and setting the example with strong leadership.
He and his fellow Marines aggressively took the battle to the enemy on multiple missions while mentoring their Iraqi counterparts. On March 19, 2007, his vehicle was attacked by an improvised explosive device. Though disoriented from the attack, Manion checked for secondary devices, and then led the pursuit to the triggerman. Once identified, he personally apprehended the suspect. On March 27, 2007, he exposed himself to enemy small arms fire on multiple occasions in order to physically position and direct the return fires of his Iraqi soldiers during a complex enemy attack. On March 28, he immediately responded to a suicide vehicle-borne IED attack on the Iraqi Barracks at the Fallujah Government Center. Despite ongoing enemy small arms fire, indirect fire, two suicide vest attacks, a second suicide-vehicle-borne IED, and the heavy presence of chlorine gas, he repeatedly endangered himself by entering the damage barracks to remove casualties, and then by positioning and directing the fires of Iraqi soldiers on the rooftop of the Government Center.
Manion and his fellow Marines fought courageously to change the tide in this critical battle ground. As a result of their efforts, Al Anbar Province is now recognized as one of the more significant successes of the surge in Iraq.
On April 29, 2007 during his final patrol mission, Manion made the ultimate sacrifice.
His patrol was concluding a search of a suspected insurgent house when it came under precision small arms fire attack. With the corpsman seriously wounded by enemy fire and the attack developing in to a full-scale ambush, Manion and a fellow Marine exposed themselves to increasing fire to pull the corpsman out of the kill zone.
After recovering the corpsman and administering first aid, Manion led his patrol in a counter attack personally eliminating an enemy position. As he continued to direct the patrol, another Marine was wounded. He again moved across the kill zone, under fire by five insurgents, to recover the wounded Marine. Iraqi Army reinforcements were halted by an IED and were unable to advance on the flank of the insurgents, leaving Manion and his patrol to take fire from three sides.
While fearlessly exposing himself to gain a more advantageous firing position and drawing enemy fire away from the wounded Marines, Manion was fatally wounded by an enemy sniper.
His courageous and deliberate actions inspired the eventual counter attack and ultimately saved the lives of every member of his patrol, according to his medal citation.
“He wouldn’t put anyone in a situation he would not be in himself first,” said David Borek, his brother-in-law and close friend.
Manion was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star with Valor and the Silver Star for his heroic actions in Iraq.
As a true testament to how much Manion was admired, the Iraqis named their new headquarters Combat Outpost Manion in honor of him.
Keeping the spirit of his selfless nature alive, The Travis Manion Foundation was created and continues his mission to assist the families of Fallen Heroes and wounded veterans, according to Janet Manion, his mother and executive director of the foundation.
“He was a kid with a big heart, never had a bad word for anyone,” said Tom Manion, his father. “He was all heart; that is who he was.”
Editor’s Note: Excerpts from articles by Gary Weckselblatt, Bucks County Courier Times, Nov. 29, 2008; by Kenneth Harbaugh with MissionContinues.org; and The North Shore Journal.
- Hometown: Doylestown, PA
- Awarded: The Silver Star
We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com
Source: Our Military
Wish of the Week – Aaron
August 30, 2009 by Dan
Filed under Wish of the week
By MWF
August 27, 2009
Four-year old Aaron wanted more than anything to be a cowboy. Aaron’s wish was a special occasion for him and his family, and it marked a special milestone for the Make-A-Wish Foundation – its 50,000th wish.
Like many little boys his age, Aaron loves horses and wanted to be a cowboy. Aaron’s wish was granted by the Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation® in California. Aaron spent a week as a cowboy on a working ranch near Dillon, Mont.
On the night of his arrival, Aaron was the honored guest at a welcoming barbeque. The next day he was outfitted in a complete new set of “cowboy clothes,” just in time to be introduced to his own ranch horse. He then spent the next few days getting the feel of the saddle, eating cowboy grub around the campfire, attending the Beaverhead County Fair, riding in Dillon’s Labor Day parade, and just enjoying cowboy life under Montana’s famous Big Sky.
When he sees someone wearing a cowboy outfit, he says “They must be from Montana, Mommy.”
Source: Make A Wish Foundation
Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com
5 Tips for Cooking with Children
August 30, 2009 by Dan
Filed under Kids in the Kitchen
By Eversave Families
August 29, 2009
Cooking with your child can be fun but just make sure to be safe while doing it.
1. Make sure your children have a stable work surface.
2. Let them wear an apron so that they really feel like a cook and to keep them from getting their clothes dirty.
3. Teach them about safety issues like not using the same cutting board for meats as you would for vegetables.
4. Let your children work together to make a dinner salad.
5. Based on your child’s age determine which equipment he or she can and cannot use.
Editor’s Note: Can you think of a tip we missed?
Click Here
to share your ideas and be featured in one of our next newsletters.
We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.cim
Source: Eversave
Spicy Macaroni and Cheese
August 30, 2009 by Dan
Filed under Kids in the Kitchen
by Kate Sonders
August 29, 2009
Macaroni and cheese is dolled up in a creamy sauce with a touch of spice and a crisp, crunchy topping
2 cups raw elbow pasta, cooked until almost al dente
16 ounces Cheddar cheese, 1/2 cubed, 1/2 shredded
8 ounces Monterey pepper-jack cheese, cubed
2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
4 tablespoons sour cream
1 large egg, beaten
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup half-and-half
4 slices bread
1 tablespoon butter
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, toss together pasta with the cheese cubes and pour into a 2-quart baking dish.
2. In a large bowl mix together the flour, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, dry mustard, nutmeg, sour cream, egg, heavy cream, and half-and-half. Pour over the pasta and cover with shredded Cheddar.
3. Bake uncovered until top is just beginning to brown, about 35 minutes. Meanwhile, cut the bread into crouton-size squares. In a skillet over medium heat, melt butter, add cubes and toast until golden. Sprinkle the bread cubes on top of the macaroni and cheese and bake until golden brown, about 10 minutes more.
Yield: Makes 6 to 8 servings.
Source: Grandparents
Editor’s Note: From our feature Sunny Anderson’s Secret Ingredient
We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com
My Memory of Senator Ted Kennedy
August 30, 2009 by Dan
Filed under Young Voices, Features
Alexandra Conway
August 30, 2009
Kennedy wanted a legacy of hard work for children’s rights, he told this Kid Reporter.
Back in 2004, when I was an 11-year-old Scholastic Kid Reporter, I covered the Democratic National Convention, attending numerous state delegation meetings and caucuses. I had many great experiences, but my most memorable one was my encounter with Senator Ted Kennedy.
I attended a delegation breakfast where he and then-Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack spoke. Kennedy spoke passionately about his interest in education. Following his speech, I weaved and tried to politely push my way through the crowd to get close enough to get his attention. I was eager to ask this notable and influential senator a question or two.
A large group of reporters trotted after the Senator as he left the event. I was with Scholastic Editors and two other Kid Reporters, including my little sister, Elizabeth. We were trying to stay ahead of the pack, when a man with a large camera on his shoulder swung around to get a shot of the Senator walking. I was so close to both of them that the camera hit me right on the head!
With a big throbbing egg on my forehead, I managed to pull myself together and keep running. Within moments, Senator Kennedy had stopped and was looking right at me. Wow!
Lots of other reporters had gathered around and were shouting out questions. Bright lights from the TV cameras were practically blinding me. Despite the glare, I looked Senator Kennedy right in the eyes and asked him how he would like to be remembered. He thought about it a moment before answering. Despite the chaos around him, he gave a measured and sincere answer.
“I want to be remembered as someone who helped children, someone who cares for children,” he said. “Children need good schools to go to, a place to live, good food to eat. The most important thing for children is to have a good education.”
I paid close attention to every word he said as cameras clicked and other reporters shoved. From then on I remembered Senator Kennedy as the most important political figure I ever had the opportunity to interview.
When I woke up this morning, I was devastated to hear that Senator Kennedy died last night. He died in his home in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, at the age of 77.
My first thoughts went back to my experience in 2004 and the question I had asked him. I know for sure that Senator Kennedy will be remembered as an outstanding public servant and so much more. His brother President John Kennedy once described him as “the best politician in the family.”
Senator Kennedy, who was known as the “last lion” of the senate, had a remarkable congressional career of 47 years. Only two other senators in history have served as long as he did.
His time in the senate was filled with many accomplishments. He was known—and often called—the most effective and hardworking legislator in Congress. He will forever be remembered as a great legacy from a family dynasty of legacies. President Obama said it all when he called Kennedy, “the greatest US Senator of our time.”
Editor’s Note: PHOTO: Scholastic Kid Reporter Alexandra Conway interviews Senator Edward Kennedy at a delegation breakfast during the Democratic National Convention in Boston, Massachusetts, July 29, 2004. Photo by Suzanne Freeman
We would like to know what you think? dan@gooldcoastchronicle.com
Source: Scholastic News Online
Playing After-School sports
by Alexander
August 28, 2009
Dear Alexander,
(Q) My friends are playing after-school sports. I’d like to play with them, but how can I stay safe when there will be so many different people around me?
(A) You need to be prepared and to tell everyone about your food allergies. Talk about your situation with the coach. Your parents will want to talk to your doctor to get advice, so they can pass this advice and their knowledge on to the coach. The coach should know whether or not it is possible for you to play safely.
Once you’re playing, you’ll always want to have epinephrine on the sidelines, and you should make sure that there is an adult present who can use it at all times. Bring your own snacks and water. Luckily, in sports, snacks are usually eaten only at the end of the game.
Good luck!
Your friend
Alexander Elephant
Editor’s Note: The information above is not designed to take the place of a doctor’s instructions. Patients are urged to contact a doctor for specific information regarding guidelines for care.
We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com
Source: Food Allergy
Kids Can play Sports with Asthma
August 28, 2009 by Dan
Filed under Encouragement, Sports
By Nicole Lukosius
August 28, 2009
Nearly 6.7 million children under the age of 18 suffer from asthma, but it doesn’t have to be something that hinders a youth football player’s experience.
Heading into the 11th season of his career, St. Louis Rams middle linebacker Chris Draft has faced many formidable opponents on the field. But when he’s not lining up against some of the NFL’s best offensive playmakers, Draft battles another opponent off the field every day of his life.
Draft suffers from asthma, an inflammatory disease that affects the lungs, and has had to manage his health ever since his playing days at Stanford. Although asthma can usually be controlled once diagnosed, it may be more common than one might think. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 22.9 million people living in the United States have asthma – with 6.7 million suffers under the age of 18.
Dr. David Callahan, Captain in the U.S. Public Health Service, said when it comes to youth athletes, parents and coaches need to educate themselves on how to handle the situation when an asthma attack strikes.
“If I had to pick two things for a coach to know, know which of your kids have asthma, and know what to do in an asthma emergency,” Dr. Callahan said. “Make sure that the kids with asthma have an asthma action plan from their physician.
“Parents of youth athletes should be working with their family physician to make sure that their asthma is well controlled and that they have both the appropriate controller medication and the appropriate rescue medication.”
Asthma causes repeated episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and nighttime or early morning coughing. Asthma is not curable, but attacks should only occur when a “trigger” bothers the lungs.
“Exercise itself can do it because of the increased rate of breathing, cold weather, cold air can be a trigger,” Dr. Callahan said. “Pollen also is a very common one and is at its peaks in the spring for trees and in the fall for ragweed. Something else to look for is air pollution.”
Because this disease affects nearly 9 percent of all children, the Minnesota Department of Health Asthma Program (MDH) and the Utah Department of Health Asthma Program (UDOH) collaborated together to educate others on the disease through “Winning with Asthma.” A private-public partnership created by the National Lt. Governor’s Association and funded by the CDC, the “Winning with Asthma” campaign features a Coach’s Asthma Clipboard Program, which Draft has signed on with as the National Spokesman.
This issue has always been something Draft said is near and dear to him, and he hopes his example will encourage others to not let asthma interfere with following their dreams.
“It is controllable,” Draft said. “With the right attention and understanding of what asthma is, you can play and enjoy playing football. You can’t ignore it – it’s like football in a way.
“If a player is struggling on the field, you don’t ignore your stumbling block. You face it. You study it. You take it on. The “Winning with Asthma” program helps people get to that point.”
The Coach’s Asthma Clipboard Program is designed to help coaches learn about asthma, how it affects an athlete’s ability to compete and how coaches can help their athletes manage their symptoms while performing at their very best.
Dr. Callahan recommends these steps to follow when an asthma attack occurs:
“First of all, the athlete should tell the coach immediately, stop the activity that he’s doing, and immediately be given a rescue medication – usually Albuterol – with an inhaler or a nebulizer.”
And in the event that the asthma attack appears to be severe, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
“If it’s a severe attack – if the athlete’s lips or nails are blue, or has difficulty talking, walking or drinking liquids – that’s an indication to call 9-1-1 right away,” Dr. Callahan said. “The other very good reason to call 9-1-1 is if the coach or child is simply unsure what to do. It’s never wrong to call, and minutes do count when things get severe.”
Dr. Callahan said one precaution those with asthma should take this fall involves a new vaccine. The 2009 H1N1influenza vaccine is in production and early testing now and should be available in early October.
“We recommend that for seasonal flu, all children with asthma get a flu shot, and this year, all persons with asthma should get a seasonal flu shot and also the H1N1 flu vaccine,” he said. “This is a new virus meaning it has not circulated before in the population, so because of that, there is very little immunity to it.”
He also encourages youth football coaches to look at the “Winning with Asthma” program online to learn more about how to help improve the experience for youth athletes.
“Our expectation for asthma is that youth athletes should be able to take part in activities without feeling restricted,” Dr. Callahan said. “They should be as much a member – and as good a member – of the team as children without asthma.”
Source: USA Football
Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com
What are They Learning
August 28, 2009 by Dan
Filed under One Person's View
by Gary Drevitch
August 28, 2009
Editor’s Note: We will joining with Grandparents.com and Scholastic News Online to do this weekly series on what experts are saying grandchildren should learn in school, from grades K through 8
We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com
This week it is: Kindergearten
So, what are you doing in school this year?
It’s the opening line in many conversations between grandparents and grandchildren. Unfortunately, as many grandparents learn, children are not always so forthcoming with the details of what they’re doing in, say, third-grade math or sixth-grade science. Now Grandparents.com has asked some experts to help fill you in — a team of teachers and writers who produce textbooks, magazines, and other products for the nation’s classrooms. They helped us compile a clear and concise guide to what your grandchildren should be learning, from kindergarten through grade 8, in the subject areas of English, math, science, and social studies.
Each article summarizes what grandchildren will learn during the school year; introduces controversial issues that students and teachers may face as they study together; recommends books and websites that will expand your grandchildren’s knowledge; and suggests activities you and your grandchildren can do together to reinforce and extend their classroom lessons. Now you’ll be prepared not only to talk with the kids about what they’re learning in the classroom, but to help them excel there as well.
In kindergarten, it’s all about learning how to make friends, how to last through an entire day (or half-day) of school, and, yes, learning how to learn. In most programs, children learn how to interact with classmates, and to resolve conflicts, during unstructured imaginative play. Kids also begin to internalize the routines of the school day, as they shift between lessons in English, math, social studies, and science:
English. Reading and writing go hand-in-hand in kindergarten, as children learn their letters and begin to put them into words. Beginning readers start with the ABCs: Teachers typically dedicate one week to each letter of the alphabet, helping students equate written letters, both upper- and lower-case, with their respective sounds and the words that start with them. Kindergartners also start to recognize common words by sight, such as you, see, and up. As the year progresses, successful sight-readers will be able to read some simple stories independently. At the same time, children begin to craft their own tales using the storytelling skills they acquire from listening to a variety of books read aloud in the classroom. Teachers encourage kids to draw detailed pictures of their stories, and then to write words to accompany those images, as best they can. Children are encouraged to use “invented spelling” to write words, based on their sounds.
• Math. The focus is on number, shape, and pattern recognition. Children will learn to write numbers, practice counting by 1s, 2s, 5s, and 10s, and read a calendar. By the end of the year, they may learn basic addition facts with the help of “manipulatives,” a fancy word for hands-on materials such as blocks.
• Social Studies. The goal here is for children to envision a world beyond their neighborhood, and to understand their place in it. Many classes begin the year with an “all about me” unit in which kids share facts about themselves with classmates. Later lessons will focus on families and their traditions, and “community helpers,” like police officers and mail carriers.
• Science. The best kindergarten teachers make science part of the daily routine, inviting children to observe the weather each morning and use “weather words” to describe the day’s conditions. Other topics might include the five senses, habitats, ocean life, the four seasons, or the lifecycles of plants and animals.
The New First Grade? As recently as 20 years ago, most children learned to read in first grade. Now, some schools assess students’ reading skills as they enter kindergarten, and reevaluate them several times during the year. Why the rush? Schools are being pressured to meet the standards dictated by state-mandated standardized tests, which require that students be “proficient” readers by third grade. So even as more school districts shift from partial-day to full-day kindergarten classes, education researchers have found that the extra hours of the school day are not being dedicated to finger-painting or creative play, but to increased literacy instruction. A child’s work, it appears, is no longer play.
• Many kindergarten teachers will dedicate weeks or months to favorite children’s authors such as Jan Brett, Eric Carle, Kevin Henkes, Jane Yolen, Leo Lionni, and Robert Munsch. Before your grandchildren visit, find out which writers they are reading in school, then head to the library to load up on their works so you’ll be ready for reading time.
• There are dozens of great ABC books on the market, but you can never tell which will be the one that helps your grandchild break through and start recognizing letters. Still, at least one of the books on this list compiled by Scholastic.com should do the trick.
• To learn more about the increasing academic demands of kindergarten, read Susan Ohanian’s What Happened to Recess and Why are our Children Struggling in Kindergarten? (McGraw-Hill, 2002), or these articles from Newsweek and The Washington Post
Hobby Time. Kindergartners love to do grown-up things, so let them take part in your hobbies. It’s a great way to help them learn. If you’re a sports fan, let them help you add up a team’s runs as you look at baseball box scores in the newspaper. If you’re a gardener, spend an afternoon teaching them about what plants need to grow, and let them get their hands dirty by digging and planting with you. If you’re more crafty, art projects are a terrific way for young children to hone their fine-motor skills.
Science Stroll. Take grandchildren on a nature walk around your neighborhood, and help them identify the flowers, trees, insects, and animals you see. While you’re at it, keep your eyes open for opportunities to clean up; kindergartners love to pick up everything in sight, and they love to be helpful. Let them pitch in.
Find Lessons in Aisle Three. A trip to the supermarket provides many learning opportunities for kindergartners. Quiz kids on the colors and shapes of vegetables. Challenge them to find certain words throughout the store. If the cashier gives you change, hand the coins to the children and ask them to identify each one. But don’t be surprised if the kids are reluctant to give the money back
Next Week: Grade 1 English
Source: Grandparents Scholastic News Online
The Whale Said “Thank You”
By Janet Angel
August 28, 2009
If you read a recent front page story of the SF Chronicle, you would have read about a female humpback whale who had become entangled in a spider web of crab traps and lines. She was weighted down by hundreds of pounds of traps that caused her to struggle to stay afloat. She also had hundreds of yards of line rope wrapped around her body, her tail, her torso, a line tugging in her mouth. A fisherman spotted her just east of the Farallon Islands(outside the Golden Gate) and radioed an environmental group for help.
Within a few hours, the rescue team arrived and determined that she was so bad off, the only way to save her was to dive in and untangle her. They worked for hours with curved knives and eventually freed her. When she was free, the divers say she swam in what seemed like joyous circles.
She then came back to each and ev ery diver, one at a time, and nudged them, pushed them gently around ~she was thanking them. Some said it was the most incredibly beautiful experience of their lives. The guy who cut the rope out of her mouth said her eyes were following him the whole time, and he will never be the same.
May you, and all those you love, be so blessed and fortunate to be surrounded by people who will help you get untangled from the things that are binding you. And , may you always know the joy of giving and receiving gratitude. I pass this on to you, my friends, in the same spirit.
Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com