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Letter From Truman

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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What’s It Like To be

Dance Instructor

Please tell our readers a little bit about yourself. My name is Rachel Choi, I’m 25 years old, and I️ am the owner of Alpha & Omega Dance Academy, a Christian dance studio in Fayetteville, North Carolina. I️ not only run the business, but also teach some of the dance classes and plan our big dance productions! I️ also love Jesus, theatre and music, and those are all huge influences for me when I dance. How did you become interested in dancing and fitness? I️ owe a lot of my interest in dance to my parents, who put me in my first class. Ironically, I stopped after that first year and wasn’t interested in dance for several years, until I saw my older sister on stage. Seeing all those ballerinas in their beautiful costumes and pointe shoes really inspired me to start dancing again! Also, my dad is a doctor and my mom was a nutritionist (understanding healthy foods), so they have always taught me the importance of eating healthily and being physically active. What do you love most about being fit? I️ feel much more energetic and confident when I️ am physically fit. Research also shows that being physically active makes you smarter, helps you sleep better and makes you more creative and happy. And since dance is a hobby of mine, it’s a very fun way to stay fit. How much time do you spend training when you are getting ready for a performance? All of my dancers are in their dance class(es) on a weekly basis, but some of my advanced dancers and I are in the dance studio every day! If we have an upcoming performance, we take time to stretch, warm-up, practice any difficult movements and then we rehearse our dances constantly. But we don’t just practice in the studio; we also practice at home. What is something you wish everyone knew about dancing? I wish everyone knew: 1. That you don’t have to already know how to dance to take a class, and 2. How fun it is! Some people tell me they don’t have rhythm or they’re not flexible enough to dance, but that’s precisely what the class is for — if we already knew how to dance, we wouldn’t have to take a class. I also try to make my classes a lot of fun by encouraging friendships among my students and by making sure that we don’t just work hard but also play/laugh hard! Do you have any advice for kids about how to make healthy choices about fitness? The best way to stay fit is to find a physical activity that you like doing and to be very careful with what you eat. Keep soda, candy and desserts as special treats rather than your normal diet. Then, try different physical activities to see what you like the best (but make sure you try it for a full school year or semester before deciding). Whether it’s dance or soccer or running, there’s a physical activity out there that could become your next hobby! Visit Alpha & Omega Dance Academy to learn more: www.alphaomegadanceacademy.com

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Conservation Corner

Conservation Corner | December 2020

Did You Know? According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, e-waste refers to electronic products that have finished their useful life. Televisions, computers, tablets, audio and stereo equipment, cameras and mobile phones all qualify as e-waste when their usefulness has expired. Many people are unaware of how to safely dispose of such items, and simply throwing them into the trash can be harmful to the environment and even illegal. Electronics can typically be donated or recycled, but men and women donating old computers or mobile phones should have any personal or potentially sensitive information scrubbed from such devices before donating or recycling them.

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Around The World

Christmas Around The World

When we think about exploring other cities or countries, we often compare our lives to the lives of people who live in these other places. Are they similar or different to us in values, entertainment or tastes? Close your eyes and think about December. What do you see in your mind’s eye? Maybe you see a lighting of the Shabbat candles, a manger or a bendera. The symbols that come to mind are likely connected to holiday traditions your family shares. The culture in Norway is to take holiday traditions seriously because they have been beloved for so long. Their traditions revolve around a holiday called Jul, which is Norway’s name for Christmas. To imagine a Norwegian Jul, think of a fireplace-warmed home heavy with snow and the smell of spiced clementine. Most begin making preparations in early December, not unlike many families you probably know. On Dec. 24, a family dinner is served, typically featuring either pork or lamb ribs. This probably sounds familiar to you, but does your family celebrate Santa Lucia Day Dec. 13? Today, this celebration is one of light, as “Lucia” is derived from its Latin origins, and it’s quite a big deal for school children all over the Nordic country. As it’s now a sort of festival of lights, it may be hard to imagine that it used to represent the darkest day of the calendar year when those who celebrated Christmas would mark their door with crosses to ward off the trail of unsettled dead souls (the Asgard parade). Sources: mylittlenorway.com/2008/12/saint-lucia-day/ www.visitnorway.com/about/history-traditions/christmas/

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Kids

Holiday Appetizers

While the main course is in the oven and guests mingle in anticipation this holiday season, tide them over with simple appetizers the whole crowd will enjoy. These skewers have something for everyone, with bits of pasta, cubed cheese, pepperoni and veggies! Appealing Holiday Appetizers 1 package (9 ounces) cheese-filled tortellini, cooked al dente and cooled 1/2 cup fat-free Italian dressing 1 block (8 ounces) reduced-fat Swiss cheese, cubed 2 cups baby spinach leaves 32 pieces turkey pepperoni 3 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes 16 wooden skewers, 9-10 inches each In large bowl, marinate tortellini in Italian dressing 30 minutes in refrigerator. To assemble skewers, start with two pieces tortellini, one cheese cube, two spinach leaves, one pepperoni slice (folded in fourths), one tomato and repeat. Each skewer will have total of four pieces tortellini, two cheese cubes, four spinach leaves, two pepperoni slices and two tomatoes. Repeat until skewers are complete. Refrigerate until serving. Nutritional information per serving: 81 calories; 2 g fat; 10 mg cholesterol; 191 mg sodium; 113 mg potassium; 8 g carbohydrates; 7 g protein. Find more dairy-inspired recipes perfect for holiday entertaining at midwestdairy.com.

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Space Place

Spooky in Space: NASA Images

Have you ever seen a cloud that looks sort of like a rabbit? Or maybe a rock formation that looks a bit like an elephant? Although you know that a cloud isn’t really a giant rabbit in the sky, it’s still fun to look for patterns in images from nature. Can you spot some familiar spooky sites in the space images below? This might look like the grinning face of a jack-o’-lantern, but it’s actually a picture of our sun! In this image, taken by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, the glowing eyes, nose and mouth are some of the sun’s active regions. These regions give off lots of light and energy, which causes them to appear brighter against the rest of the sun. Active regions are constantly changing locations on the sun. On the day this image was captured, they just happened to look like a face! This is a Hubble Space Telescope image of Jupiter. Do you notice something that looks like a big eye peeking back at you? That’s the shadow of Jupiter’s moon Ganymede as it passed in front of the planet’s Great Red Spot. Jupiter’s Great Red Spot is a gigantic, oval-shaped storm that is larger than Earth and is shrinking. It has been on Jupiter for several hundred years, and its winds can swirl up to 400 miles per hour! Can you see the profile of a witch in this image? This image from NASA’s Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer shows the Witch Head nebula. The nebula is made up of clouds of dust heated by starlight. These dust clouds are where new stars are born. Here, the dust clouds happen to be in the shape of an open mouth, long nose and pointy chin. The Black Widow Nebula looks like a giant spider in space. It is a huge cloud of gas and dust containing massive young stars. Radiation and winds from these stars push the dust and gas around, creating a spider-like shape. This image is from NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope. To learn some fun planet facts and make a planet mask, check out NASA Space Place!: spaceplace.nasa.gov/planet-masks

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Weather

What Causes Wildfires

Wildfires are fires that happen in wooded areas and can start from lightning or from people who do not carefully handle flames. Winds, dry plants and leaves on the ground can spread a fire very quickly. One type of wind phenomenon that spreads wildfires easily is called the Santa Ana winds. These strong, hot winds typically blow through the mountain passes in southern California. Santa Ana winds can easily exceed 40 miles per hour, are warm and dry and can quickly make wildfires spread, especially under drought conditions. There are many ways you can help prevent wildfires. When you are camping, make sure your fire is built in a location where it can be easily contained, away from loose brush or other items that could easily catch fire and spread the flames. Make sure that you are never far away from the fire once it is lit, and always have water on hand. Don’t burn on windy days! Before leaving the fire, pour water over the ashes, even if it already looks like it is out. All it takes is one ember catching nearby brush or grass on fire to start a wildfire. Did you know that wildfires can also harm you in multiple ways? Smoke from the wildfires can hurt your eyes, irritate your respiratory system and worsen chronic heart and lung diseases. When smoke is impacting your area, make sure to keep your doors and windows closed and turn off your air conditioner. If you spot a wildfire, you should walk or drive away from the fire immediately and call 911 to report it. Weather conditions and the type of ground cover can make the fire change direction quickly, so it is important to stay far away from the fire. If you live in an area that is near woods, it is important to have a plan of action and emergency supplies in case a fire starts, and to always listen to officials when a wildfire is happening in your area. To learn more about fire forecasts and wildfire safety and prevention, check out the NWS Wildfire Safety Page. Also, visit Firewise Communities to learn all about all of the risks of wildfires and how to be prepared for a wildfire.

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Cultural Connections

Cultural Connections | Hi-yah!

Many self-defense tactics are considered intense competitive sports and are often derived from a country’s history and culture. Norway is no different. Glima is a form of Viking martial arts, often referred to as Viking wrestling. It’s popular among men and women. There are three variations of this martial art: free-grip, back hold and trouser-grip. Each form requires strength, flexibility and speed. In fact, the name glima comes from the Norse word “glimt,” which communicates rapid movement. The sport is typically practiced outside. And when it gets cold, traditionally, wrestlers will wear warmer clothing instead of moving indoors. Thor, a superhero and a legendary god of Norse mythology, was the main character in the earliest accounts of Viking wrestling. He was mentioned in poems in the 800s A.D. During the poetic story of his journey, Thor participates in a battle involving one form of glima! There are also books about glima that date back hundreds of years. One of them is “Prose Edda,” which was written in the 1220s A.D.

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Come Out and Play

Come Out & Play | Kubb

It’s time to play Kubb, a Norwegian outdoor game that can be played when it’s sunny and 70 degrees or when there’s a foot of snow on the ground. The basics of the game include knocking over blocks, or kubbs, by tossing batons/sticks, all of which are simple carved wooden game pieces. Each player or team receives five pawn-like kubbs and one king, which are set up along a field, called a pitch, that is roughly 15 feet by 24 feet. The five kubbs are placed along the furthest line of the pitch, which is designated with marking pins; the king is placed in the middle and center. The order at which each player tosses a baton to knock over his or her opponents’ kubbs is strategic. All kubbs must be taken out of play before the king is knocked over. Here’s the basic order: Players/teams toss their batons to get as close as they can to the king without knocking it over. The closest wins and gets the first turn. Now, they toss a baton end-over-end at the opponent’s kubb. Every kubb they knock over is a kubb they get to keep and stand within their pitch boundaries, as the objective is to leave your opponent with no kubb and no king. If your opponent is unsuccessful at knocking down all your kubbs, starting with the baseline, you’re able to walk to the center line and toss your baton. This continues until you or your opponent knock down all field kubbs, baseline kubbs and the king. Here’s what makes Kubb really interesting. The game is referred to as Viking chess. And the orgins of the game are just as violent as the legends of Vikings. All the game pieces, as legend has it, were originally played with human femurs and skulls obtained after conquering a village.

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Kids

Norway

Located in northern Europe, Norway is surrounded by the North Sea to its south, the Norwegian Sea to its west and north and Finland, Sweden and Russia to its east. Although Norway lies on the outskirts of Europe, it is not a member of The European Union. It is a leader in waste management with what is claimed to be the most efficient recycling plant on the planet, located in Skedsmokorset near the city of Oslo. Norway is a country with a rich history that includes Vikings, adventurers, tradesmen, artists and kings. The Vikings were fierce warriors, which enabled them to conquer many lands. They were also clever businessmen, skilled sailors, talented metalsmiths, woodworkers and amazing storytellers. Because of their sailing skills and sturdy ships, they traveled to and explored places like Iceland, Greenland, Newfoundland and even North America. Vikings are credited with founding Dublin, Ireland, and Normandy, France. Many credit Vikings with inventing the comb – they made them out of antlers. They are also thought to be the first to use the magnetic compass. Here are some interesting facts about Norway: It is more than twice the size of Georgia, just slightly larger than New Mexico. Oslo is the capital of Norway. The landscape is a combination of rugged mountains, fertile valleys and plains with a coastline with many fjords. The north is arctic tundra. 27 percent of the land is forest. Most people live in the south where it is warmer. Norway has one active volcano: Beerenberg on Jan Mayen Island in the Norwegian Sea. There are approximately 5,320,000 people living in Norway. People from Norway are called Norwegians. Norway has two official languages: Bokmal Norwegian and Nynorsk Norwegian. Sami and Finnish are also common languages in Norway. Norway has many natural resources, including oil and gas, hydropower, fish, forests and minerals. Norway is the second-largest seafood exporter in the world. China is the largest. Sources: https://www.historyonthenet.com/viking-literature-stories-sagas-and-myths/ https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/no.html https://www.visitnorway.com/things-to-do/art-culture/vikings/ http://www.goodnet.org/articles/norway-now-has-most-efficient-recycling-plant-on-earth http://www.history.com/news/history-lists/6-things-we-owe-to-the-vikings https://www.livescience.com/44366-vikings-sun-compass-after-sunset.html

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