Letter From Truman Archives

Letter From Truman | January 2018

Hi, Kids! People have been using gold for thousands of years. This issue talks about gold in America – where to find it and how it changed our country. You can read about it in the “Connections” section. Charles Christian Nahl was born in Germany, but he spent a lot of his adult life in America. He was an artist who became known for paintings that captured the spirit of the west and the lives of goldminers. Check out his story in the “Cultural Connections” section. When people started moving west in search of gold, they brought with them different customs and ideas. Elk, which were abundant at the time, were hunted almost to extinction for food and for sport. Read more about it in the “Wildville” section. What would you do if you found a nugget of gold?

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Letter From Truman | December 2020

Hi, Kids! I went to the doctor for a checkup this week. She told me a lot about how my body works. Did you know there are six different systems that work together to keep your body healthy? You can read more about them in the “Connections” section. One thing that is an important part of staying healthy is eating foods like fruits and vegetables – and fish. One kind of fish that is popular to eat in places like Norway is the saithe. These fish are plentiful and affordable – and yummy! Read more about them in the “Wildville” section. Another way to stay healthy is to get plenty of exercise. There are many sports and activities to choose from when it comes to staying fit. Martial arts is one option. In Norway, Vikings practiced a martial art called glima. It dates back hundreds of years. Check it out in the “Cultural Connections” section.

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Truman’s Letter November 2020

Hi, Kids! History is filled with such interesting people! George Washington Carver is just one of them. Carver was an environmentalist, a botanist — a scientist who studies plants — and an inventor. Many people associate him with peanuts, but there were other crops he worked with, too. You can find out more about that in the “Connections” section. America is not the only country that grows peanuts. China grows them, too. “Wildville” takes us to China to investigate the giant salamander. Can you guess how big it is? Find out in the article! Do you like to paint? I do. Chinese brush painting is a specific kind of art. It is typically made on scrolls — not paper or canvas like other paintings. You can find out more about it in the “Cultural Connections” section. What is your favorite thing to paint? Truman

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Truman’s Letter October 2020

Hi, Kids! We all know that recycling is important, but did you know that the earth does some recycling of its own? The water cycle uses the same molecules over and over. Have you ever wondered about the energy source that makes the water cycle work? Find out all about it in the “Connections” section. The wettest place on Earth is in India. And do you know what is made in India? Silk! This super smooth fabric is made of fibers that come from cocoons. It’s true! Find out more about it in the “Cultural Connections” section. Ari Sarsalari is a digital on-camera meteorologist at The Weather Channel. He gets to tell people the weather forecast, which often involves rain and snow, both important parts of the water cycle. He shares a fun fact about heat lightning, too. Read about it in the “What’s It Like to Be …” section.

Kids

Truman’s Letter September 2020

Hi, Kids! I made a new friend the other day. He just moved here from Poland. The way he talks sounds different from what I am used to hearing, but we had a great time getting to know each other. The “Connections” section talks about cultural differences. Check it out! In “Wildville” we talk about the marbled polecat. This creature lives in so many places — from Europe to China! These unique-looking cats are rare, but useful. They kill rodents. Read “Wildville” to learn more about these impressive animals. Woodcarving is an interesting art form with a long history. Check out “Cultural Connections” to learn more about this craft’s interesting past. I hope you had a great summer and that your school year is off to a wonderful start.

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Truman’s Letter – August 2020

Hi, Kids! Have you ever wondered what makes us each unique? A lot of it has to do with science! The information in the cells that we are made of determines things like hair color, height and skin tone. While scientists have learned a lot about this in recent decades, farmers were in the business of picking and choosing certain traits for plants and animals thousands of years ago. Read more about it in the “Connections” section. “Cultural Connections” is all about the Renaissance and Italian art. Renaissance means rebirth. During this period, artists started focusing more on people and less on legends and religious stories. It was an exciting time to be an artist. Many of the works created during the Renaissance are famous even today. Scientists are working to find connections between humans and other groups in the Hominidae family. Neanderthals are one of these species. Using genetic samples, they hope to learn more about groups like Homo Habilis, Cro-Magnon and Homo erectus. “Wildville” is about some of the things scientists are learning about these different groups. I hope you are enjoying your summer! -Truman

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Truman’s Letter – July 2020

Hi, Kids! I just got back from the library. I got to bring home three books. I love reading stories. Did you know that stories weren’t always written down? For thousands of years, people told stories to entertain, to teach, to pass on history. One of the oldest written stories is the Epic of Gilgamesh. It’s about a king and his adventures with this friend, Enkidu. You can find out more about it in the “Connections” section. The people of Mesopotamia developed writing in about 3100 B.C.E. It wasn’t used for stories though — at least not at first. They used it to record information about their crops. “Cultural Connections” goes into detail about it. The Mesopotamians did more than develop the first type of writing. They also domesticated several kinds of animals. They used domesticated oxen and horses to help them work on their farms. Learn more about that in the “Wildville” section. Truman

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Truman’s Letter – June 2020

Hi, Kids! I found a cool rock with a shell imprint in it. My teacher told me it’s called a fossil. I can’t wait for you to learn what I found out about how fossils are made! I had no idea there were so many kinds of fossils! Check it out in the “Connections” section. Did you know that tree sap is not only part of the fossilization process? it is also used to make art. It can be quite beautiful, and many people even wear it as jewelry. You can read more about it in “Cultural Connections.” It was really cool to find a fossil. Did you know there are people who study fossils for a living? They are called paleontologists. It must be amazing the things they learn from their work! You can find out more about that in the “What’s It Like to Be …” section. Truman

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Truman’s Letter – April 2020

Hi, Kids! I planted some tomato seeds yesterday. I love tomatoes! I’ve been learning about plants and what they do. I had no idea how much one plant has to do to stay healthy every day. The “Connections” section talks about how plants work and why having plants around is important for people. Most plants use nutrients from the ground and sunlight to make food – but not all of them! Check out “Wildville” to learn more about carnivorous plants. Peter D’Amato makes a living growing carnivorous plants. Read more about that in the “What’s It Like to Be …” section. Plants make a lot of things easier for humans and provide us with many resources. It’s important to take care of them. What is something you can do to help nurture a plant today? Truman Subscribe “Free” online at www.kidsvillenews.com/

Kids

Truman’s Letter- March 2020

Hi, Kids! This issue is about economics, more specifically, the Great Depression. It was a hard time for a lot of people. You can read more about it in the “Connections” section. The Great Depression affected the entire Western world, including America and Europe, so “Wildville” talks about European bison. They are a bit different from the bison you will find in the U.S. Did you know there are people who study the production, distribution and consumption of goods and services? These people are called economists. Tibor Besedes is an Associate Professor at the School of Economics at Georgia Institute of Technology. He is an economist who studies behavioral economics, experimental economics and international trade. You can read more about him in the “What’s It Like to Be …” section. If you could pick something to study, what would it be?

Category - Letter From Truman

Letter From Truman | January 2018

Letter From Truman | December 2020

Truman’s Letter November 2020

Truman’s Letter October 2020

Truman’s Letter September 2020

Truman’s Letter – August 2020

Truman’s Letter – July 2020

Truman’s Letter – June 2020

Truman’s Letter – April 2020

Truman’s Letter- March 2020

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