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Letter From Truman

Truman’s Letter – January 2020

Hi, Kids! Happy New Year! I just love fresh starts and new beginnings. This year is pretty special because we are getting a new president. The election was held on Nov. 8, 2016, but the incoming president doesn’t take office until Jan. 20, 2020. You can find out more about this process in the “Connections” section. One of the ways we welcome the incoming president is with a fancy dance, or a ball. These are sort of like the balls in fairy tales like Cinderella. Actually, there are usually several balls on Inauguration Day. The president and his wife may not make it to all of them, though. Most balls include dances like the waltz or foxtrot or other ballroom dances. These dances can be a lot of fun to dance and just as exciting to watch. Check out “Cultural Connections” to learn more. While January marks the beginning of a new year, there is another day that we celebrate this month — Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It falls on Jan. 16 this year. King was an amazing civil rights leader in the 1960s. Many people honor his memory by volunteering on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. What are some ways you can volunteer in your community? Truman

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Space Place

Studying Storms On Earth

You’ve probably seen some scary storms with very fast winds. But did you know that over the oceans, spinning storms can create even faster winds? ese storms are called tropical cyclones. Depending on where they happen in the world, these storms also go by other names, like hurricanes (in the North Atlantic Ocean) and typhoons (in the Western North Paci c Ocean). In order to study these storms, NASA created the Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System, or CYGNSS. When the tropical cyclones spin, there is an area in the center called the “eye.” e eye of the storm has less wind and rain than other parts of the storm. What happens on the ocean’s surface in the eye may tell scientists what the storm will do next. However, the eye is surrounded on all sides by high-speed winds. is area is called the eye-wall. If a person were to go to the eye-wall to study the ocean’s surface, it could be very dangerous. But satellites can safely study what happens in the eye and eye- wall of an ocean storm. CYGNSS is launching in November and has eight satellites that will orbit Earth. ey will look at the ocean surface, and measure how fast the wind is going. Although other satellites can measure wind strength, sometimes rain from inside the tropical cyclone can make their measurements less accurate. However, the CYGNSS satellites will be able to accurately measure the strength of the wind, even in rainy weather. When there is a storm, the CYGNSS satellites will be able to watch it get stronger or weaker. ey can see what is happening in the eye and eye-wall of the storm from space. Scientists will use information from CYGNSS to learn more about how storms form. It may help them predict where a storm is going. e satellites may also help us know if a storm is going to get worse. When tropical cyclones move toward land, they can be very dangerous for people who live in the path of the storm. If we know when a hurricane or typhoon will happen, where it will go, and how strong it will be, we can keep people safe. CYGNSS may help us do that. is is just one way NASA is helping us here on Earth, as well as exploring the stars. Want to learn more about how hurricanes form? Visit the NASA Space Place for more information: Hurricanes. Artist’s concept of one of the eight Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System satellites deployed in space above a hurricane. Image credit: NASA

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Movie Reviews for Kids by Kids

Reviews For Kids By Kids

Moana Arjun N, Age 14 Moana is an excellent movie that is a colorful visual treat with lots of creativity. The voice acting, stellar animation and good message impressed me. However, I didn’t care for the slow exposition. Despite this flaw, this movie is still a fun experience to watch. The story is about Moana (Auli’i Cravalho), the daughter of the respected chief on Motunui Island, wanting to venture out into the sea. One day, danger faces Motunui Island and Moana must go out to save it. Moana is chosen to reunite the Heart of Te Fiti, which was stolen by the legendary demigod, Maui (Dwayne Johnson). Moana teams up with the arrogant Maui in order to reunite the Heart of Te Fiti and both face various dangers. Auli’I Cravalho delivers an excellent first performance and steals the show as Moana showing her adventurous and determined side, distinguishing Moana from the rest of the Disney characters. It is surprising that this is her first performance because of how well she performs. Dwayne Johnson also steals the show in his charismatic and funny performance as Maui. Dwayne Johnson, as usual, puts his best work into his characters. Rachel House delivers an outstanding performance as Gramma Tala, who is important in Moana’s call to adventure. John Muskers and Ron Clements’ direction keeps the movie flowing from one place to another, whether it is a lush island or the windy seas. The animation is some of the best I have seen, particularly the water effects. The bright colors of the various locations also impressed me. I have rarely seen a movie with such good use of colors. My favorite scene in the movie is the fight scene between Maui and a giant crab. I can’t spoil it, but it is uniquely creative. The movie is not all perfect. The exposition showing Moana growing up is a little slow and drags, but this is only 10 minutes of the movie. The rest of the movie is amazing. The movie has a great message about how Moana never gives up. She is constantly reminded that she can’t perform such adventurous tasks, but she always tries her best to face the challenges. I give this movie 4 1⁄2 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 18 years old. Finding Dory Morgan B. Age 12 I loved watching the brand new Blu-ray DVD Combo of Disney Pixar’s film, Finding Dory, which is the sequel to Finding Nemo. Fans of Finding Nemo will absolutely love this sequel. The animations in this film are amazing, the humor is hilarious and witty, and the plot is so heartfelt. It does not disappoint. Dory, a forgetful but fearless blue tang fish (voiced by Ellen DeGeneres), suffers from short-term memory loss, and she has struggled with this for her entire life. Then one day something happens to Dory that triggers her memory and she remembers that she has a family. She tries to find them with the help of Nemo (voiced by Hayden Rolence) and Marlin (voiced by Albert Brooks). The question is will Dory find her family, or will she forget to find them? In the Blu-ray DVD Combo, aside from having the film, there are many bonus features that talk about how Finding Dory came to be. In What Were We Talking About it shows us the difficultythe filmmakers had making a narrative that worked involving Dory and her short-term memory loss. There are also bonus features that have interesting facts about how this movie was made. For example, in Animating and Acting, it shows us how the director, voice actors and animators worked together to make the animations and performances believable. Another thing that is included is a theatrical short called Piper, which is about an adorable hatchling venturing from her nest for the first time to dig for food. Additionally, there are director’s commentaries, deleted scenes (which are fun to watch), and much more. You can also use the scene selection option, pick what language you want the movie in, and play the movie. I give this Blu-ray DVD Combo of Finding Dory, 5 out of 5 amazing stars. I recommend this to kids ages 5 to 18 and I think adults might like this as well. I also recommend this to people who like action, adventure, animation, comedy, and family movies.

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Kids

Connect Kids with Food for Healthy Habits

Even when the weather is colder outside, these tips make it fun for families to learn about where their food comes from and help encourage kids to eat healthy for a lifetime. 1. Grocery shop together, or go to a farmers market. Many cities now have year-round indoor markets where you can select fruits and veggies to try. Often the farmers are there, so you can learn about produce and get ideas for how to prepare unfamiliar items at home. 2. Cook with your kids. Find fun recipes that let them explore fresh foods where they can be creative. Find age-appropriate ways to involve them, like stirring or measuring, and encourage them to get hands-on with recipes, such as this fun Flower Salad recipe from registered dietitian Ellie Krieger. 3. Explore the story of where some of their favorite foods come from. Kids learn and remember information when it comes in the form of a story. Cuties is giving families the chance to uncover those stories by encouraging them to submit questions using #AskAGrower on Facebook. Actual growers will answer with stories about how this sweet, seedless and easy-to-peel fruit is grown with care by their family of growers. A video series at cutiescitrus.com/our-story also helps bring the stories to life. Flower Salad – Recipe courtesy of Ellie Krieger Flower: 1 Cuties clementine 9-10 thinly sliced strips red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces 1/2 grape tomato 1 celery stick, cut to 3 inches 2 small leaves romaine lettuce 1 English cucumber, unpeeled, seeded and cut to 1 1/2 inches then thinly slice. Dip: 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt 1/2 teaspoon honey 1/4 teaspoon fresh lemon juice Peel clementine and separate sections almost all the way, leaving attached at the base. Place on plate with base down. Place piece of red bell pepper between each citrus section, and half tomato in center to form a ower. Place celery and lettuce leaves underneath as stem and leaves. Arrange cucumber slices below to represent grass. In small bowl, stir together yogurt, honey and lemon juice. Serve dip in dish alongside flower, or in a mound underneath cucumber slices. Nutritional information per serving: 76 calories; 0.5 g total fat; (0.3 g saturated fat, 0.2 g poly fat); 4 g protein; 15 g carbohydrates; 2 g ber; 2 mg cholesterol; 21 mg sodium.

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Kidsville Kitchen

Connect Kids with Food for Healthy Habits

Even when the weather is colder outside, these tips make it fun for families to learn about where their food comes from and help encourage kids to eat healthy for a lifetime. 1. Grocery shop together, or go to a farmers market. Many cities now have year-round indoor markets where you can select fruits and veggies to try. Often the farmers are there, so you can learn about produce and get ideas for how to prepare unfamiliar items at home. 2. Cook with your kids. Find fun recipes that let them explore fresh foods where they can be creative. Find age-appropriate ways to involve them, like stirring or measuring, and encourage them to get hands-on with recipes, such as this fun Flower Salad recipe from registered dietitian Ellie Krieger. 3. Explore the story of where some of their favorite foods come from. Kids learn and remember information when it comes in the form of a story. Cuties is giving families the chance to uncover those stories by encouraging them to submit questions using #AskAGrower on Facebook. Actual growers will answer with stories about how this sweet, seedless and easy-to-peel fruit is grown with care by their family of growers. A video series at cutiescitrus.com/our-story also helps bring the stories to life. Flower Salad – Recipe courtesy of Ellie Krieger Flower: 1 Cuties clementine 9-10 thinly sliced strips red bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces 1/2 grape tomato 1 celery stick, cut to 3 inches 2 small leaves romaine lettuce 1 English cucumber, unpeeled, seeded and cut to 1 1/2 inches then thinly slice. Dip: 2 tablespoons plain Greek yogurt 1/2 teaspoon honey 1/4 teaspoon fresh lemon juice Peel clementine and separate sections almost all the way, leaving attached at the base. Place on plate with base down. Place piece of red bell pepper between each citrus section, and half tomato in center to form a ower. Place celery and lettuce leaves underneath as stem and leaves. Arrange cucumber slices below to represent grass. In small bowl, stir together yogurt, honey and lemon juice. Serve dip in dish alongside flower, or in a mound underneath cucumber slices. Nutritional information per serving: 76 calories; 0.5 g total fat; (0.3 g saturated fat, 0.2 g poly fat); 4 g protein; 15 g carbohydrates; 2 g ber; 2 mg cholesterol; 21 mg sodium.

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Cultural Connections

Cultural Connections – January 2020

Ballroom dance started in Germany, and it is a term that refers to dances performed with partners. For centuries, it was a way for the wealthy and elite to socialize and have fun at gatherings called balls. e dances aren’t choreographed, instead, the two partners have to know the rules of the dance and communicate with each other while they dance together. Even though the tradition of ballroom dance is old, it is still a popular way to have fun. Dances are also useful for socializing and building relationships that can be helpful in everyday life, this is called networking. is is true today, but it was even more important hundreds of years ago. Balls and dancing were so important because the relationships between men and women were very controlled and strict. Dances let men and women interact and share a fun activity together. Now balls are a lot less common, but one very important kind of ball we still have is the Inaugural Ball. These are celebratory dances that happen every four years — a er a president is sworn into once. People dress in their nest clothes and gather to celebrate with the new president. • Even George Washington celebrated by dancing a er he was inaugurated as president. • It was not an official Inauguration Ball, but it helped to form the tradition. • George Washington danced the Minuet. • John Adams and Thomas Jefferson had smaller and more casual celebrations after they became president. • The first official inaugural ball was held for the fourth president, James Madison, and his wife Dolley Madison. • Tickets to go to the first inaugural ball cost $4. • Now prices have gone up to $12,500. • Martin Van Buren had two inaugural balls. • The tradition of celebrating after Inaugurations has continued to grow over the years. There are often many balls held across the nation. • Some even have special pavilions built for the event. • The record for most Inaugural balls attended is held by Bill Clinton. The record is 15. • Woodrow Wilson and Warren Harding canceled their balls to save money. • Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover and Franklin Roosevelt held charity balls. For more information visit the following sites: History of Ballroom Dancing Ballroom Dance George Washington Attends Inaugural Ball

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Cultural Connections

Cultural Connections – January 2020

Ballroom dance started in Germany, and it is a term that refers to dances performed with partners. For centuries, it was a way for the wealthy and elite to socialize and have fun at gatherings called balls. e dances aren’t choreographed, instead, the two partners have to know the rules of the dance and communicate with each other while they dance together. Even though the tradition of ballroom dance is old, it is still a popular way to have fun. Dances are also useful for socializing and building relationships that can be helpful in everyday life, this is called networking. is is true today, but it was even more important hundreds of years ago. Balls and dancing were so important because the relationships between men and women were very controlled and strict. Dances let men and women interact and share a fun activity together. Now balls are a lot less common, but one very important kind of ball we still have is the Inaugural Ball. These are celebratory dances that happen every four years — a er a president is sworn into once. People dress in their nest clothes and gather to celebrate with the new president. • Even George Washington celebrated by dancing a er he was inaugurated as president. • It was not an official Inauguration Ball, but it helped to form the tradition. • George Washington danced the Minuet. • John Adams and Thomas Jefferson had smaller and more casual celebrations after they became president. • The first official inaugural ball was held for the fourth president, James Madison, and his wife Dolley Madison. • Tickets to go to the first inaugural ball cost $4. • Now prices have gone up to $12,500. • Martin Van Buren had two inaugural balls. • The tradition of celebrating after Inaugurations has continued to grow over the years. There are often many balls held across the nation. • Some even have special pavilions built for the event. • The record for most Inaugural balls attended is held by Bill Clinton. The record is 15. • Woodrow Wilson and Warren Harding canceled their balls to save money. • Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover and Franklin Roosevelt held charity balls. For more information visit the following sites: History of Ballroom Dancing Ballroom Dance George Washington Attends Inaugural Ball

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Conservation Corner

Conservation Corner – January 2020

Buying in bulk is one way to save money and protect the environment. Bulk items that can be stored without expiring reduce the need to travel to and from the store frequently, saving time and gas. In addition, bulk items typically feature less packaging than smaller-sized products and o en cost less per unit. Perishables are not something that should be purchased in bulk unless the items will definitely be used prior to their expiration dates. But cooking oil, toothbrushes, cereal, toilet paper, canned goods, pet food, cleaning supplies and printer paper are just a few of the many items that can be bought in bulk and stored for future use. Just be sure to store these items where they can be easily accessed or you may forget you have them and go to the store to buy more.

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Kidsville Connections

Kidsville Connections – January 2020

Even though the presidential election was last November, the new president does not take office until Jan. 20. That might seem like a long time, but it gives the outgoing president time to take care of unfinished business and the incoming president time to prepare for the job. The day the new president takes office is called Inauguration Day. It involves a short ceremony where the president takes an oath, making a promise to the country. The new vice president is typically sworn in before the president, who takes the Oath of Office promptly at noon. The oath states: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” Jan. 20, 2020, marks the 58th presidential inauguration in our nation’s history. The first Inauguration Day was held in New York City in 1789. Washington D.C. was not yet designated as the nation’s capital. That happened in July of 1790. But in 1789, President George Washington was sworn in on the second-floor balcony of Federal Hall in New York. Both Houses of Congress were there. The Constitution doesn’t have a lot to say about Inauguration Day, except that the president is required to take the oath of office. Now, most of the day’s events are driven by tradition.   While each first family has things that make Inauguration Day special to them, here are some events that are common on Inauguration Day. Most incoming presidents and vice presidents attend a worship service with their spouses the morning of Inauguration Day. is tradition was started in 1933 by Franklin D. Roosevelt. The outgoing president rides with the incoming president to the swearing-in ceremony. The vice president is sworn in first. While the presidential oath is in the Constitution, the vice presidential oath is not. The Constitution only says that the vice president and other government officials should take an oath that upholds the Constitution. Next, the president is sworn in. ere have been 57 Presidential Inaugurations. After being sworn in, the new president gives a speech called the Inaugural Address. After the inaugural ceremony, the outgoing president and first lady leave. This is usually a quiet part of the day so as not to take away from the celebration of the incoming president. Since 1953, the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies hosts an Inaugural Luncheon for the incoming president, vice president and guests. After the luncheon, there is an Inaugural Parade. is tradition started in 1841. The day concludes with the Inaugural Ball (usually several of them). President James Madison and his wife Dolley hosted the first Inaugural Ball in 1809.

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Kids

Come Out and Play – Football

American football has a long history that the National Football League traces back to 1869 when it developed out of Rugby. e rules were officially written in 1876 by Walter Camp, the father of American football, at the Massasoit Convention. The first professional football player was William Heffelfinger, who was paid $500 to play in a game in 1892. As the game became more popular across the country, the rules and teams kept evolving. Modern football really started in 1932 with the NFL playoff game. It increased in popularity even more a er the 1958 NFL Championship Game, which is called “Greatest Game Ever Played.” Now football is one of the most popular sports in America, and you certainly don’t have to be a professional to play. The first step is to and a 100-yard eld and enough people to make two teams. The goal of the game is to take the ball over the opponent’s goal line into the end zone. The ball can be moved by carrying it, kicking it or throwing it. At the beginning of the game, there is a coin toss to decide which team has the ball first. Whoever has the ball has four chances (downs) to move the ball at least 10 yards down the field. If they gain less than 10 yards in four attempts, the ball goes to the other team. e team without the ball can stop the other players from moving the ball down the eld by tackling and blocking the player carrying the ball. If you don’t want to tackle, you can also play flag football. When the player carrying the ball is tackled, the game pauses. Wherever they were tackled is where the players line up to start again. When the football makes it to the end zone it is a touchdown, which is worth six points. After a touchdown, a team can kick the ball from the two-yard line. If it makes it through the goal posts it is one point. Carrying or passing the ball to the end zone is worthtwo points. A field goal is when the ball is kicked through the goal posts. is is worth three points. A safety, worth two points for the defensive team, is when the player holding the ball (offensive) is tackled in his own end zone.

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