LEGO Light Bulb

By NG Kids
August 7, 2009

August is National Inventors Month. To celebrate, the National Museum of American History built a giant light bulb model out of LEGO bricks on August 3. Museum visitors worked with LEGO Master Builders to assemble the multicolored model. The light bulb is 8 feet (2.4 meters) tall and contains over 300,000 bricks!

Get LEGO tips from a LEGO Master Builder on National Geographic Kids.

Visit the Smithsonian Institution’s Lemelson Center Invention at Play website.

Source: National Geographic

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Secretary of Education

By Madison Hartke-Weber
Scholastic Kids Press
National News
August 7, 2009

Interviewing Secretary of Education Arne Duncan may be my biggest assignment yet as a Scholastic Kid Reporter. Secretary Duncan is head of the U.S. Department of Education. He is part of President Obama’s cabinet and I was really excited to meet him.

I joined the video crew from Scholastic in the library of the Department of Education building in Washington, D.C. on Monday afternoon. The library is in the basement of the building.

The producer and cameraman set up an area to film the interview while I spent the time going over the questions I had prepared. In about 25 minutes, Secretary Duncan arrived. We started by filming the two of us greeting each other.

Then we sat down for to talk. Secretary Duncan was very friendly and answered all of the questions in ways that kids could easily understand. First, he answered some of the more serious questions, about the future of the No Child Left Behind Act  and the country’s rising high school drop-out rate. I  also asked him some fun questions—about former teachers and favorite books. You’ll have to wait for the full story to be published to find out what he said!

Reading is very important to Secretary Duncan and his entire family. He told me that he encourages all kids—including his own two—to read for fun, whether it’s fiction, non-fiction, poetry, or even comic books.

Currently he is reading the Harry Potter books to his kids, which are their favorites. They are on book five! When he was a kid, he told me, he enjoyed reading the Lord of the Rings series by JRR Tolkien.

Secretary Duncan also told me that he sometimes plays basketball with President Obama, including a game this last weekend. Even if you didn’t know anything about Secretary Duncan, you might guess that he’s a basketball player. He is really tall!

I asked him if he ever beats the President. They usually play team basketball, he explained, rather than one-on-one.

“Luckily we usually win when we’re on the same team,” he said. I guess what works on the basketball court can also work in politics!

Editor’s Note:  PHOTO: Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Scholastic Kid Reporter Madison Hartke-Weber in the library of the Department of Education, Washington, D.C. on Monday, August 3, 2009. Photo by SKPC

We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Source:Scholastic

Kids Ready to Fly

By Our Military/PIO
August 6, 2009
Children wait their turn to board the Navy flight simulator during a Salinas Navy Week event at the YMCA of Monterey County. Salinas Navy Week is one of 21 Navy Weeks planned across America in 2009. Navy Weeks are designed to show Americans the investment they have made in their Navy and increase awareness in cities that do not have a significant Navy presence.

Source: Our Military

Editor’s Note: U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Steve Carlson.

 

We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Soldiers, Families Stay Connected

By Our Military

3d Sustainment Command Expeditionary

Public Affairs

August 1, 2009

CAMP LIBERTY “That is good,” said the fish. “He’s gone away, yes. But your mother will come. She will find this big mess,” goes the timeless story of the Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss. Children of all ages and generations have been captivated by the words of Dr. Seuss and other authors, taking them to places of fantasy and wonder.

In reality, a reading program allows Soldiers in Iraq an opportunity to reach across the miles and be part of their children’s wonder and imagination.

United Through Reading is a program sponsored by the United Service Organizations, in partnership with the 260th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion from Hunter Army Airfield, Ga. The program allows Soldiers to share an opportunity of reading with their children back home.

The 260th CSSB set up a room in the Chaplain’s office, where Soldiers will go to read books and record onto a CD-DVD, while sending a video message back home to their children.

This program allows families to watch the videos and share the joy of reading, while remaining close by using technology.

“This is a very good tool that we use to communicate with our families back at Hunter,” said Chaplain Sean Facchinello, a native of Richmond Hill, Ga., and the battalion’s Chaplain.

Facchinello, along with the his assistant Pfc. Christopher Perry, a Virgin Islands native, get logistic support from the USO program coordinators with a decorated room with books, a video camera and disks.

Soldiers can pick from a selection of donated books to read to their children while being recorded. During recording, Soldiers are encouraged to be animated and excited, like they were back home reading to their children. When Soldiers are done, Perry ensures that the disk cannot be written on, packages the materials and sends them home to the Soldier’s family.

The 260th CSSB hopes to grow the program and influence other units to participate in such a worthy cause. The unit is working with publishing companies, local Savannah merchants and working with the Family Readiness Group to sponsor book drives.

With help from the USO, the 260th hopes to continue to receive small donations of books for different reading and age levels, allowing everyone a chance to reach out and share in the joy of reading.

“Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him,” a quote from Maya Angelou, rings true and the United through Reading gives Soldiers simple tools necessary to touch their children’s hearts and minds back home.

Source: Our Military

Editor’s Note: Sgt. Teresa Wilt, a native of Temple, Texas, and personnel actions noncommissioned officer, reads a book during recording for her family using the United through Reading program, a partnership between the 260th CSSB and the United Service Organization at Camp Liberty, Iraq. Pvt. 1st Class Christopher Perry.

We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Fiddlin’ In West Virginia—Literally!

By Ana Deluca-Mayne
Scholastic Press Corps
July 31, 2009

 

Editor’s Note: This is from Ana Deluca-Mayne while she is on vacation, but she is still working. ( PHOTO: Ana Deluca-Mayne on her fiddle. Photo courtesy Ana Deluca-Mayne)

We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

 

Summer fun from fish camp to music camp to a giant observatory.

I am learning how to play the fiddle, so each summer I go to a camp in West Virginia called Allegheny Echoes. The camp’s goal is to teach old time music to the next generation. This was year was my fourth year at Allegheny Echoes and my third year playing the fiddle there.

I recognized some familiar faces at the camp and knew my teacher from the year before. The first day we played a song I had learned before called “Boil Them Cabbage Down.”

After the lesson (which seemed to go by quickly), my aunt and I had lunch and then went swimming. In the afternoon we went to the Masters’ Jam, which is where a bunch of old time music geniuses play. Then my grandmother came and we went back up the twisting road to fish camp. Every day we drove from the fish camp to the music camp on this winding road. (It would have made my friend sick to ride on that road.)

Thursday night was concert time. Yikes! I was so nervous. We played an awesome song called “Liberty.”

The next day was Friday and I was sad that it was the last day of Echoes. I made some really cool friends and I was going to miss them. I learned a lot at Allegheny Echoes and I can’t wait to come back next year.

Although I was sad Allegheny Echoes had to end so soon, I had a really fun time at the rest of my stay in West Virginia. My cousins from North Carolina came and so I had a fantastic time swimming in rivers, playing in creeks, and watching fireworks with them.

Then, we visited the National Radio Astrology Observatory, which is operated by the National Science Foundation. It operates three large telescopes that explore the universe. Researchers also detect and study radio waves emitted by astrological objects. At this very moment, researchers there are picking up signals from space that are billions of years old.

The observatory has made many important discoveries, including blackholes and double stars. Surrounding the observatory is something called a quite zone. People who live in the quite zone can only have certain electronic items that won’t interfere with the radio signals being sent and received from space.

All in all, I had a great time in West Virginia swimming, hanging out with my cousins, visiting the observatory, and most importantly of all listening and playing fiddle music.

Source: Scholastic News Online

Jackson Tribute Helps LAPD project

By AP
July 31, 2009

The people who staged Michael Jackson’s memorial service have donated $90,000 to build a tribute to fallen Los Angeles police officers.

Anschutz Entertainment Group, which owns Staples Center in Los Angeles, donated money received from the sale of 18 luxury suites to guests at the July 7 Jackson memorial.

The company says the decision to donate the money was made before a dispute developed over city funds spent to provide security and other services during the memorial.

Karen Wagener, president of the Los Angeles Police Foundation, says AEG hand-delivered a check for $90,000 to the nonprofit group on Thursday.

Wagener says it will be used to help fund a $620,000 memorial – a brass wall expected to be unveiled in September at the site of a new downtown police headquarters.

 

Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed 

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Boy Scouts Support Our Soldiers

By Brittnye Tranberg
The Leaf Chronicle
July 24, 2009

The Downtown Market and Boy Scouts of America are continuing their support of The Fisher House this coming Saturday.

Boy Scouts of America will be joining us again to collect donations for the organization, where families of wounded service members can stay while loved ones undergo prolonged treatment and recovery.

Donations in the form of canned goods, boxed food and monetary donations will be accepted. This is an excellent way to show your patriotism and appreciation for our soldiers and their families even after Independence Day.

Just like weekends past, the Downtown Market will offer a variety of locally produced items. Nursery stock, fresh produce, homemade crafts and baked goods are just a few items available at the market this weekend. The market continues growing, and we would like to thank the Clarksville community for making it such a success.

Source: Fisher House

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

Father Need Reconnect with Kids

by Jim Burns, MD
July 24, 2009

 

Fathers, adolescence is a critical time for your children’s development.  Studies indicate that when fathers are connected to their kids, they fare substantially better as they make the transition from childhood to adulthood.  Though they may not seem to act like it much of the time, dads, your kids need you to be involved in their lives!  It all boils down to you intentionally investing in building relationships with your kids.  Here are five ideas for reconnecting with your kids – which you can begin implementing today!

1)  Communicate with your kids.  Sure, you don’t always want to talk and neither do your kids.  Yet, you cannot have a solid, growing relationship (with anyone!) without communicating.  Find a time when distractions can be held to a minimum and have a conversation with your teenager.  Don’t just talk about what your interested in.  Talk about anything and everything.  Ask your kids about their interests, opinions and feelings.  Ask open-ended questions that can’t be answered yes or no.  (Note: if you have not had a history of talking with your kids, getting started may seem a bit awkward to both you and your kids.  Don’t let this get in your way.  Share with your kids what you are trying to do (build stronger relationships / reconnect) and start slowly with reasonable expectations.  Just keep at it!)

2) Listen.  Listening is the language of love.  Through listening, you demonstrate that you value your kids.  Many parents find it difficult to actively listen. Yet, when you take the time to really pay attention, show empathy and listen – you are taking a key step in reconnecting with your kids.  When kids know that their fathers will really listen (instead of immediately “correcting”) they will be more willing to talk.  As noted above, good communication results in stronger relationships.

3) Display affection.  Even though teenagers are in the process of becoming adults and separating from their parents, they still need the affection of their fathers.  In fact, sexual promiscuity in teenage girls can often be traced back to a desire for (and lack of) affection from their fathers. Dads, be sure to offer your kids genuine affection through loving words, affirmation, encouragement, small gifts and appropriate touch.  (For ideas on physical affection, check out our free tip sheet, “Keeping in Touch with Your Kids”.)

4) Play.  Play is necessary for a close-knit family. There is nothing like play to bring about family togetherness and communication. Play builds family memories, reduces family stress and produces support and affirmation.  Dads, understand that play doesn’t have to be complicated.  It can be as simple as taking your child out to get an ice cream cone or throwing a Frisbee around in the yard.

5) Be there for your kids.  Fathers, one of the most valuable contributions you can make today in effort to reconnect with your kids is to simply “be there;” involved in their lives.  Your presence is a powerful affirmation and sign of caring towards your kids. Your presence provides kids with a greater sense of security than almost any other quality parents can offer.  Sometimes, this means being willing to make some tough choices; like choosing to be a your daughter’s volleyball match instead of being at another business meeting.  But, the value of being involved in your kids’ lives is more valuable than a bigger paycheck

Source: Home Word

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

US Military Kids Hit Home Run

By Sharon Foster
American Forces Press Service
July 24, 2009 

 

WASHINGTON, Military children and their families were honored here yesterday by a troop-support group and others when the Washington Nationals took on the New York Mets.

The Nationals beat the Mets 4-0, but the kids were the winners, as well, at the Nationals’ annual Tribute to Our Troops event. Our Military Kids, a Virginia-based troop-support group, along with WTOP Radio and Careerbuilder.com’s Mission Get Hired participated in the event, which included 1,500 free tickets distributed to Washington, D.C.-area military families through the Our Military Kids office, Walter Reed Army Medical Center and WJLA, a local television station.

“We are thrilled that Careerbuilder.com selected Our Military Kids as their charity of choice, said Gail C. Kruzel, co-founder of Our Military Kids. We are always looking for ways to create awareness about our program.”

This was the first time Our Military Kids participated in the event, in which 10,000 fans received free T-shirts, courtesy of Mission Get Hired.

“Our mission is to be a great resource for U.S. veterans to find employers and educators that value their military background,” said Inga Salavage, of Careerbuilder.com. “Our Web site provides pertinent information and tools for veterans to be successful in their new career search.”

A series of promotional Mission Get Hired ads ran in the Washington area leading up to yesterday’s game.

During the pre-game festivities, WJLA meteorologist Doug Hill and WTOP’s Jeffery Wolinsky presented a $5,000 check to Our Military Kids on behalf of the sponsors and Mission Get Hired.

“This money will be used by Our Military Kids to provide grants that cover sports, fine arts and tutoring programs for the children of our deployed reserve and National Guard forces and to the children of our severely injured military members,” Kruzel said.

At the start of the game, 14-year-old Riley Anderson of Ashburn, Va., an Our Military Kids grant recipient, threw out the game’s ceremonial first pitch. Anderson, whose father is deployed, received a grant to cover fees to participate on his local baseball team this summer.

“I am excited to be here,” Riley said. “I am also excited about my grant award. I think events like this help kids enjoy family time.”

 Editor’s Note: Photo Left to right, Riley Anderson, his sister, Olivia, and his brother, Adrian, participate in Tribute to Our Troops, July 21, 2009. Major League Baseball’s Washington Nationals, Careerbuilder.com’s “Mission Get Hired” program and troop-support group Our Military Kids joined together for the event at Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.

As part of this event, 1,500 tickets were given to military families to enjoy an evening of baseball. Riley Anderson threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the Nationals’ game with the New York Mets. DoD Photo by Sharon Foster.

We would like to know what you think? dan@youndchronicle.com

Source: Our Military

Sesame Workshop Help Military Children

By Samantha L. Quigley
American Forces Press Service
July 19, 2009 

Sesame Street” usually conjures visions of Muppets teaching young children their letters and numbers, but they also teach life lessons to help military children cope with deployments, injuries, and now, loss.

The newest phase of Sesame Workshop’s “Talk, Listen, Connect” initiative is aimed at helping children cope with the death of a loved one.

“Sesame Workshop is committed to providing our military families with the resources they deserve,” said Gary E. Knell, president and CEO of Sesame Workshop. “We hope that ‘Talk, Listen, Connect,’ which reaches out to all families with young children, will continue to help families discover ways they can be resilient despite experiencing difficult transitions in their lives.”

“Talk, Listen, Connect: Helping Families With Children Cope With the Death of a Loved One” will consist of bilingual, English and Spanish, multimedia materials for young children and adults starring the Sesame Street Muppets.

Sesame Workshop will produce and distribute materials at no cost through organizations that provide services to military families and the general public, including grief centers, social services, and other programs specifically addressing the needs of children and families coping with the death of an immediate family member. The kit materials also will be available online at www.sesamestreet.org/tlc.

The workshop also unveiled the Sesame Street Family Connections Web site and announced the creation of 35 “Sesame Rooms” during a news conference today at the Military Child Education Coalition’s National Conference in Philadelphia.

 

The Sesame Street Family Connections Web site is a child-centered, online space that will keep military families connected across the globe.

With the help of their favorite Sesame Street friends, family members can compose encouraging messages to each other, share artwork and videos, upload photos, and get answers to some questions they may have but didn’t know how to ask.

“This rewarding opportunity to collaborate in launching such a creative Web site provides a vital tool in the recovery, resilience and reintegration toolbox that our military families need and deserve,” said Army Brig. Gen. (Dr.) Loree K. Sutton, the director of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury, who helped make today’s announcement.

“Families and warriors will be able to stay connected and share in a safe and nurturing place, joined by their special Sesame Street friends,” he said.

Additionally, Sesame Workshop, with the support of New York designer Jonathan Adler and several generous partners, will provide a rich and engaging set of materials to brighten up spaces it’s calling “Sesame Rooms.”

These rooms provide a much-needed, child-friendly place for military children to play.

Sesame Street will send a “room-in-a-box” to 35 locations across the United States, including military hospitals, libraries, child care centers and family support centers

“The Military Child Education Coalition is delighted to partner once again with Sesame Workshop on its initiatives that have been uniquely beneficial to military children and their families,” said Patty Shinseki, a member of the MCEC Board of Directors, during the event.

“Elmo and his friends, Sesame’s beloved characters with whom children connect so well, serve as conduits for dealing with the difficult issues in nurturing and sensitive ways,” she said. “These valuable tools and resources for fostering resilience help children to thrive during the good times and challenging ones.”

The Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury and several other organizations, including Military OneSource and the USO, have provided support for the “Talk, Listen, Connect” initiative.

Source: Our Military

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think? dan@youngchronicle.com

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