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Letter From Truman

May 2016 – Letter from Truman

Hi, Kids! I love adventures! Do you? Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were two very lucky adventurers who lived in the 1800s. They got to explore a big part of North America in 1804-1806. They and their expedition party traveled about 8,000 miles on foot. When Lewis and Clark explored western North America, there were no maps or GPS to show them where to go or how to get somewhere. It must have been a challenge to navigate their trip! In “What’s it like to be…” I talk with cartographer (mapmaker) Tanya Buckingham about how to make maps and why they are important. If you go on an adventure, where would you go?

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Letter From Truman

April 2016 – Letter from Truman

Hi, Kids! Have you ever wondered what it is that makes you so special? Of course, there are many things that make each of us unique. One of them is our genetics. We are each made up of genes that determine what we look like as well as other things like whether or not we are likely to get certain diseases. Gregor Mendel is known as the father of modern genetics. It was his work in a monastery garden in the 1800s that laid the foundation for genetic study. Check out the “Connections” section to learn more about him. Kevin Bishop is a technician within the National Human Genome Research Institute. He is working to understand and cure diseases like cancer. In “What’s It Like to Be …” he talks about the specifics of his work and how genetics plays a role in it. I think it is great that scientists are studying to learn more about genes and how they work. I am happy with the genes I have. I hope you are, too!

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Letter From Truman

March 2016 – Letter from Truman

Hi, Kids! Did you know that Earth is not round – only round-ish? I had no idea. When I learned about the many things that influence the shape of this big beautiful planet on which we live, I was surprised. And what I found out was quite interesting. Check out the “Connections” section to learn more. Ecuador holds a special place of honor when it comes to the shape of Earth. It is home to Mt. Chimborazo. It is not the tallest mountain, but it is the highest mountain above sea level. Ecuador is also the home of a very special kind of music — pasillo. With beautiful lilting chords, pasillo is played with guitars (sometimes mandolins) and a rondin a flute-like instrument. It is the official musical genre of Ecuador. You can read more about it in the “Cultural Connections” section. Chris Moore has a cool job. He is an astrophysicist. He studies the stars and space. You can find out more about what he does in the “What’s It Like to Be …” section. It’s been decades since the first man walked on the moon, but it is still something not many people get to do. Would you visit the moon if you had the chance? I would!

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Letter From Truman

February 2016 – Letter from Truman

Hi, Kids! We know that ecosystems are interconnected systems where organisms interact and rely on each other. The Galapagos Islands have an especially interesting ecosystem. The plants and animals there are so unique that the government and other organizations are working hard to protect and preserve it. Read more about it in the “Connections” section. Washington Tapia is an Ecuadorian biologist, born in the Galapagos Islands. He works for the Galapagos Conservancy protecting tortoises on the island. Read more about his work in the “What’s It Like to Be…” section. The “Cultural Connections” section takes a look at the work of Charles Darwin. A trip to the Galapagos Islands in 1831 changed the way he thought about the world. His research from that trip also had a big impact on the scientific world.

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Kids

January 2016 – Letter from Truman

Hi, Kids! Welcome to 2016! It is a brand new year with all kinds of exciting possibilities! I always love a fresh start, and the new year is a great time to think about ways to improve myself and things I want to accomplish. I think it is pretty amazing that in the entire world there is only one me – and only one you. The “Connections” section talks about some of the things that makes each of us unique. I love being a one-of-a-kind and I hope you do, too! Speaking of one-of-a-kind things, I love to color. This month, I learned about a beautiful and colorful art form that involves sand. And the crazy thing is that once it is finished, the people that make it sweep it all away. Read all about it in the “Cultural Connections” section. “What’s It Like to Be…” features a judge for the Guinness Book of World Records. I was really surprised to find out what a typical day is like for him. As we welcome the new year, I hope that 2016 brings many fun and exciting things your way!

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Letter From Truman

December 2015 – Letter from Truman

Hi, Kids! Learning to manage resources is important. This is true for individuals as well as organizations. This month, the “Connections” section looks at a delicious example of how this works. It talks about supply and demand and how they are connected. I got to talk to Jenefer Bell this month. Her job in Alaska is about managing resources, too — wildlife. Check it out in the “What’s It Like to Be…” section. For thousands of years humans have had to learn not to waste what they have — again resource management. It happens in some pretty interesting ways, too. “Cultural Connections” talks about scrimshaw. That is the art of carving — usually it is whale teeth, but sometimes it is walrus tusks or other items. This kind of art can be anything from carving a picture into the bone to carving the bone into something useful. Some of the examples are pretty amazing. What are some easy ways that you can help manage your family’s resources?

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Letter From Truman

November 2015 – Letter from Truman

Hi, Kids I learned a new word this month – municipality. That is a city, town or village that was established under the governing state guidelines. Many cities (municipalities) are holding elections this month. That means people are running for mayor and city council positions. It’s important for citizens to vote in the elections because the decisions that local leaders make have a big impact on the community and the people who live there. Did you know that there is an organization that counts how many people live in a community? It is called the Census Bureau. The information collected by the Census Bureau is used for all kinds of things including trying to understand the way the population of the country is growing and changing. I got to talk to Lynda Laughlin this month.She is a demo grapher at the Census Bureau. You can read about her cool job in the “What’s It Like to Be…” section. If you like dancing you will enjoy the “Cultural Connections” section. It’s all about Flamenco dancing. Ask a responsible grown up to help you find videos of it online. It is fun to watch!

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Letter From Truman

October 2015 – Letter from Truman

Hi, Kids! Have you ever heard of the United Nations? It is an organization that includes countries from all over the world – 193 of them to be exact! Through the United Nations, these countries work together to make the the world a better place. Having 193 countries working together at anything is amazing, but I learned that there are many ways to defined what a country actually is. Read about it in the “Connections” section. Being able to understand each other is an important part of working together. How do you think all those countries work together when so many of them speak different languages? They use translators! Find out what a translator does in the “What’s It Like to Be…” section. I wonder what it would be like to see every one of the 193 countries that are members of the United Nations. It seems like that might take a while! Which country would you visit first?

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Letter From Truman

September 2015 – Letter from Truman

Hi, Kids! Did you know that even as the earth circles the sun, the ground under your feet is moving, too? It’s called continent drift! The movement is super slow and in very small distances but it’s happening all the time – and it’s because of Earth’s tectonic plates. You can read more about how those work in the “Connections” section. There are actually scientists that study the movement of the earth’s surface and how it changes over time. They are called geodesists. I was lucky enough to talk to one this month! Check out my interview with Dr. Theresa Damiani in the “What’s It Like to Be…” section to learn more. There are so many amazing things about Earth that it is hard to imagine all the wonderful systems that work together to keep this great planet functioning. What is your favorite cool fact about Earth?

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Kids

August 2015 – Letter from Truman

Hi, Kids! I just love a good story! I love reading them, listening to them and telling them, too! A folktale is a special kind of story. You’ve probably heard folktales before, I know I have. I just didn’t realize that’s what they are called. Read the “Connections” section to find out more about folktales and why they are important. Did you know that there are people who get to tell stories for a living? I didn’t. That is why I was so excited to interview Sherry Norfolk for the “What’s It Like to Be …” section. She is a professional storyteller. There is a lot more to that job than I realized. Reading stories is a lot of fun, but so is telling them. Do you have a favorite story that you like to tell?

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