Kids Archives - Page 25 of 62

4th of July

We celebrate America’s birthday on July 4 every year, but did you know that America’s second president and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, John Adams, considered July 2 America’s birthday? He even wrote about it in a letter to his wife! Here’s what happened: On July 2, Congress voted to declare independence from England, but the Declaration of Independence was not ready until July 4. When the document was printed — on July 4 — that is the date the printer put at the top of the page! And even though we have celebrated Independence Day every year since 1776, it was not declared a Federal holiday until 1941. A regatta is a boat race. In England, every year there is a race at the Henley Royal Regatta where teams of rowers race in long, slim boats. ere are more than 200 events every year in this one competition. e rowing teams train hard all year and compete in qualifying races to see if they are good enough to participate in the Henley Royal Regatta. The Henley Royal Regatta started in 1839. ere were no regattas during World War I and World War II, but other than that, this is an event that people look forward to every year. You can see what it is like here: HenleyRoyalRegatta. Every July, England counts its swans for the queen. It’s called swan upping. It takes about ve days to get all that work done. is year it starts on July 18. Hundreds of years ago (think the 1100s), the royal family decided that all the swans in the country belonged to them. e birds tasted especially delicious and made wonderful meals at royal feasts. While swans aren’t served at parties anymore, they are still counted every year. It is important because the swan markers use this occasion to help keep the swan population healthy and to educate the public about this regal bird. Swan markers spend five days rowing up the ames River. When the swan markers and a family of swans and babies (cygnets) they yell: “All up!” en they gently pull the swans and cygnets from the river to see if they are healthy. Sometimes they and swans that need help. O en, sh hooks get tangled in the swans’ feathers, and the swan markers are able to remove them and send the swans on their merry way.

What’s It Like To be

Geologist

Geology is an earth science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which they change. KN: Please tell our readers a little bit about yourself. My name is Kathleen Neset and I am a geologist. I grew up in New Jersey and I now work in the oilfields in North Dakota. I help oil companies find oil and natural gas in wellbores that they drill. North Dakota produces over one million barrels of crude oil every day. North Dakota is the number two oil-producing state in the nation and helps to fuel our great country and to provide a safe form of energy for our daily lives. KN: Please tell our readers a little bit about what a petroleum geologist does. As a petroleum geologist, I work at a drilling rig, and I look at drill cuttings, which are samples of the rock that is being ground up by the drill bit. These samples are then circulated to the surface and I catch a sample of these cuttings. I then wash and sieve them, and then I examine them under a microscope. I look for porosity— or holes in the rock — and I look for oil shows, which indicate a rock unit that may have oil and natural gas trapped in the rock. A lot of my work is done looking at rocks under a microscope. I use a computer in a lot of my work. KN: Why is this work important/how does it apply to everyday life for most people? The work of a petroleum geologist is so very important to many aspects of our daily lives, as well as to the security of our country. A petroleum geologist helps an oil company find oil and natural gas. This oil is refined — or separated into various components — such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other petroleum products. Petroleum is used in so many different parts of our daily lives. Some things that we don’t think about when we talk about petroleum and crude oil are the many uses of petroleum products. We all know that crude oil is used to make gasoline to run our cars and trucks, and lubricants for our engines, but did you know that crude oil is also used to make synthetic fabrics and textiles? Many of the fabrics that make our very cool clothing are made from petroleum-based products. KN: What is the coolest thing about your job? The coolest thing about my job is that I get to do a job where I get to work outside at a drilling rig — and I get to work inside a mobile lab looking into a microscope at rocks. While studying these rocks, I sometimes see fossils in the rock — very small, microscopic remains of plants or animals that were alive on this earth hundreds of millions of years ago. I can learn to identify these fossils, and by studying paleontology, I know how long ago the fossils were alive. KN: What is a typical day like for you? The typical day for a petroleum geologist who works at a drilling rig involves going outside with a hard hat, fire resistant coveralls, safety glasses and steel-toed boots on and climbing up on a drilling rig and catching samples of the rock as it is circulated out of the wellbore. We also evaluate the gas that is circulated out of the well. These things help the geologist to identify the rock unit they are drilling in and help determine if the well is drilling in an oil-bearing zone. In most of the drilling today, the wellbores drill horizontally in the target formation, and I help the oil company keep the drill bit drilling in the correct (target) rock layer. In North Dakota, that rock layer is called the Bakken formation. KN: What kind of training does it take to do your job? First, a petroleum geologist must study a lot of mathematics and science. They must go to college for a minimum of four years to get a bachelor’s degree in geology. Then, they must learn specialized techniques to evaluate rocks under a microscope and identify oil and gas in formations. This type of special training is very interesting. Some petroleum geologists work very hard to study how to map the underground formations and determine where oil and gas may be located before the oil company even decides to drill the well. KN: When/how did you know you wanted to work in the energy industry? I started my college work studying mathematics. However, when I took my first class in geology, I enjoyed the work and being outside so much that I decided to concentrate my studying in geology. As I learned more about geology, I decide to interview for a job in seismology and I got the job and began the work right after I graduated from college. This was work that was in the oil fields of Michigan. From there, I continued my work in geology and looking for petroleum. I moved to Texas and Wyoming before coming to North Dakota and working in the oil fields here. This work was all energy-related work and I just enjoyed it very much. KN: What is something cool most people don’t know about fossil fuels? Did you know that petroleum is used in making cosmetics — such as our mom’s lipstick? It is made from petroleum! How about pain medicines? They are made from a base of petroleum products called benzenes. And, how about petroleum products used to make our bicycles? The tires, seats, hand grips and all the comfort parts of a bike are made from petroleum-based products. A bicycle with no petroleum-based parts is all metal — and very uncomfortable to ride! KN: What do you like to do when you are not working? I like to do things outside. So — when I am not working I like to…

Wildville

Beluga Sturgeons

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order Acipenseriformes Family: Acipenseridae Genus: Huso Species: H. huso Sturgeon is a name for a type of fish that is part of the Acipenseridae family. There are 27 species that fit into this category and sturgeons can be found all over the world. Though each species is unique, they all share some similar characteristics. They look different from the average fish that you might catch in any river or lake. Scientists believe, based on fossils from the Triassic Period (2455 to 208 million years ago), that the sturgeons haven’t changed at all since dinosaurs walked the earth. Most other animals have changed and adapted over millions of years to adjust to their different environments. The sturgeons however did not, because of this they are called “primitive fish.” Some of the characteristics that are different from more modern fish are the lines of bony plates along their sides that act as armor. They have these bony plates called scutes instead of scales. The rest of their skin is smooth. • Sturgeons are very large. Most grow between 7 and 12 feet long, but some species can reach even 18 feet long. • They are bottom feeders. • Different species live all over the world, but they generally like river deltas and estuaries. • The largest recorded sturgeon caught was a female that weighed 3,463 pounds and was 24 feet long. • The Beluga is the largest species, they live in the Caspian and Black Seas. • They are considered freshwater fish, but can also survive in salt water. Unfortunately, many sturgeon species are endangered from over-fishing. Their eggs, called caviar, are considered a delicacy all over the world. The Beluga caviar is the most expensive, but the eggs from the Ossetra and Sevruga sturgeon are also popular. The most expensive caviar is $1,000 an ounce. Unfortunately, the popularity of the Beluga caviar has made the giant, ancient fish an endangered species. To maintain the species, the United Statesmade caviar from this specific species illegal in 2005. Not all caviar is harmful to the sturgeon populations, however. There are fishermen who are working hard to still provide the delicious salty eggs while still making sure that the sturgeon population lasts for years to come, this is called sustainable fishing.

Where in the World

Russia

The first human settlement in Russia existed 10,000 years ago in the southern part of the nation in a region called the Steppes. The northern part of the nation was still covered in ice from the Ice Age. Slowly, as the ice melted, more and more people, like the Slavs, settled into regions in this huge territory. Even the Vikings came, though they often traded with instead of attacking the villages they found. Today, Russia is a single nation under one government, but there is still a lot of diversity (differences) within the country with 120 different ethnic groups. Eighty percent of the population considers their ancestry as Slavic, but there are also Tartars and Ukrainians to name a few. • Russia is considered part of both Europe and Asia. • The official language is Russian, but there are 27 recognized languages in use , and more than 100 are spoken. • There are four official religions: Orthodox Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Judaism. • The capital city is Moscow. • Russia has a Prime Minister and a President. • Russia is so large it spans 11 time zones. • It is the largest country in the world based on land mass. • It covers 6,592,772 square miles. • It is about twice the size of the United States. • The population is 142,470,272. • The currency is the ruble. • The two major mountain ranges are Ural and Altay. • It has 100,000 rivers. Because Russia is such a large nation, it has a wide variety of environments. The North is famous for its frozen tundra, but there are also treeless plains called Steppes, as well as deserts, coasts and forests. Thankfully a lot of this beautiful nature is protected by national parks called zapovedniks. For many years these areas were unprotected and incredible animals like the Siberian tiger, snow leopards and polar bears suffered. These animals are still currently threatened, but national parks are a great step towards protecting them and their habitat.

Kids

How to Read a Weather Map

You have probably seen weather maps online or on TV. Weather maps are marked with Hs and Ls, which indicate high and low pressure centers. Usually surrounding these “highs” and “lows” are lines called isobars. Isobars are lines that show equal pressure. The boundaries between different air masses are called fronts. Fronts can be found in three different ways. Winds often “converge” or come together at the fronts. Also, temperature differences can be quite noticeable from one side of a front to the other side. Finally, the pressure on either side of a front can vary significantly. There are four different kinds of fronts you may see on a weather map. The most basic ones are the cold and warm fronts. Cold fronts are depicted by a blue line with triangles pointed in the direction of motion. Cold fronts divide the leading edge of a cold air mass replacing a warmer air mass. Cold fronts nearly always extend anywhere from a south direction to a west direction from the center of low pressure areas. A warm front is depicted by a red line with half-moons located on the side of the direction of its motion. A warm front is the leading edge of a relatively warmer air mass replacing a colder air mass. Like a cold front, warm fronts also extend from the center of low pressure areas but nearly always on the east side of the low. If the front is essentially not moving, it is called a stationary front. Stationary fronts are depicted by an alternating red and blue line with a triangle on the blue portion and half-moon on the opposite side of the red portion of the line. Cold fronts typically move faster than warm fronts, so in time they can “catch up” to warm fronts. When they do, the air is colder and denser. This is called an occluded front and they are indicated by a purple line with alternating triangles and half-moons on the side of its motion. Now you know how to read a weather map! Find weather maps and more information on the weather at weather.gov.

Letter From Truman

June 2016 – Letter from Truman

Hi, Kids! Can you imagine what life would be like if we could not drive cars or ride in trains or buses? What about if we had no heat or electricity for our homes and schools? It takes fuel to make these things happen. Most vehicles, homes, schools and businesses use fossil fuels to function. Fossil fuels include coal, oil and natural gas. While we don’t have an endless supply of these, fossil fuels play a big role in how we live our lives. They are called fossil fuels because they are made of just that — the remains of plants and animals that lived a long time ago. You can read more about it in the “Connections” section. Kathleen Neset is a petroleum geologist. She works with fossil fuels every day. Check out “What’s It Like to Be …” to read her thoughts on why fossil fuels are important. While dinosaurs are extinct, there are some species of animals that have been around since dinosaurs roamed the earth. One of these animals is a kind of fish known as a sturgeon. They swim in the water, but they don’t look like most other fish! Check out “Wildville” to find out more!

Space Place

Can you see underwater? NASA can!

By Michael Gregory National Aeronautics and Space Administration If you could choose something to look at, what would it be? Maybe to find out if a crab is about to nibble on your toe? Well, if you were really lucky, you might just see a beautiful coral reef. What is a reef? It’s basically a big collection of rocks sitting on the floor of the ocean. Coral reefs are living reefs covered by tiny animals called corals. They make their skeletons on the outside of their bodies, like a shell, and glue it to a rock — they stay in one place for their whole life! After corals die, their hard outer shells stay attached to the reef. After years and years of corals leaving their little skeletons behind, a reef gets bigger and bigger. A reef in Australia is so gigantic you can see it from space! We have learned that coral reefs are very sensitive to changes in temperature and light. They don’t like it when they can’t get enough clean water because the ocean has pollution in it. And sometimes the water they are living in gets too hot for them to survive. In 2016, NASA invented a way to study coral reefs from airplanes. Because reefs are underwater, it’s not very easy to see them clearly. That’s why NASA is going to use a special instrument (called an imaging spectrometer) to see how the reefs are doing. Coral reefs are usually really pretty. Some animals that live on reefs are fish, crabs, eels, sharks, sea turtles and starfish. A lot of the fish living on coral reefs are very brightly colored, which makes people want to go and look at them. Just be sure to bring a mask and snorkel so you can see and breathe under water! And visit the Space Place web site to learn more about Earth (http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/all-about-earth/)

Movie Reviews for Kids by Kids

The Jungle Book

Having now seen three versions of the Rudyard Kipling classic, I can honestly say that Jon Favreau’s 2016 adaptation reigns supreme. I know that may come as a far-fetched opinion for the faithful fans of the 1967 animated classic, but open your mind to the possibility that this version is above the rest. The darker, more realistic tone of this live-action adventure is a sharp contrast to the lighter tone of the 1967 musical comedy. That may be off-putting to some fans, but once you’re swept up in the visual splendor of the movie, the story becomes ever more engaging. Speaking of which, don’t be surprised if a few elements of the 1967 version’s story aren’t in this one or are rearranged. Jon Favreau gives the story the proper grandeur it deserves. He uses lush art direction and sweeping cinematography to make the story look bigger. Visual effects aside, the aesthetic of the film gets across the monumental stature a family adventure should have. Combine the visuals with the score of John Debney and you’ll find beauty and thrills that bring back a child like wonder. One thing I really appreciate is the way the film treats the animals as characters, not denying them close-ups or treating them as spectacles. They are instead, portrayed as natural beings within the world of the screenplay. It enhances the brilliant voice acting of the cast. Speaking of which, I hope this film can rekindle the campaign to get voice acting a category with the major awards. Idris Elba is perfectly evil. Ben Kingsley and Bill Murray provide such natural and fitting voice work. And, Scarlett Johansson and Christopher Walken steal the show. Their scenes are the highlights of the movie and are easily the most memorable. This movie is an overall construction of perfect cinematic elements. Disney has hit a grand slam with The Jungle Book as it will be etched in the memories of audiences for decades. I say this film is one of the best films of this decade and maybe even the last 10 years. With that said, I give this movie 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 18. It can be seen at a local theater near you.

Kidsville Kitchen

Make weeknight meals healthy and simple

Households in which both parents work and kids have school and extracurricular commitments can get a little hectic, particularly on weeknights. Parents who want to prepare nutritious dinners may feel it’s impossible to do so without making elaborate, time-consuming recipes. But there are ways for busy, time-strapped parents to make sure weeknight dinners are both healthy and simple. • Stock a healthy pantry. When grocery shopping, purchase some healthy nonperishable foods that you can rely on in a pinch. Instead of stocking the freezer with unhealthy yet easily prepared frozen foods that are often loaded with saturated fat, stock your pantry with whole grain pastas. Whole grain pastas are lower in calories and higher in fiber and contain more nutrients than refined white pastas. And once water is boiled, whole grain pastas can be prepared in roughly 10 minutes. • Rely on a slow cooker. One of the simplest ways to prepare healthy meals that won’t take much time to prepare each night is to use a slow cooker. Set dinner in the slow cooker in the morning before leaving for work, and by the time you arrive home each night you will have a fully prepared, healthy meal ready to be served. • Make meal prep a family affair. Families who share the responsibility of making dinner on weeknights may find it easier to prepare healthy meals. Younger children may not be able to join in the preparation of too many dishes, but middle school and high school students can help out by chopping vegetables while their parents work on other parts of the meal. Preparing meals can take as much time, if not more, than cooking meals, so making meal prep a family affair can save a substantial amount of time. • Cook meals in advance. Families who are hesitant to use slow cookers may benefit by preparing healthy meals over the weekend and then refrigerating or freezing them so they can be cooked on weeknights. If you plan to freeze meals prepared in advance, remember to remove them from the freezer the night before and place them in the refrigerator so they are thawed out when you arrive home from work to place them in the oven. • Choose simple recipes. Trying new recipes is one of the joys of cooking. But trying new recipes on weeknights can be time-consuming because cooks have yet to grow accustomed to each step in the recipe. When looking for new weeknight recipes, look for meals that can be prepared in five steps or less, leaving the more complicated recipes for weekend meals.

Kids

Cultural Connections – June 2016

There are many wonderful things about stories. They are creative and often clever. They are entertaining. We can learn from them. Sometimes they make us laugh. Other times they might make us think or even cry. That’s why we like them so much — stories are a way for us to transfer ideas and feelings to each other, and usually in a fun way. For centuries, people all over the world have loved to tell or listen to stories, too. One story that comes from Russia is called The Giant Turnip. It was written by Aleksey Nikolayevich Tolstoy and was published by Alexander Nikolayevich Afanasyev. Tolstoy was a Russian poet, novelist and playwright who lived from 1817-1875. Afanasyev lived from 1826-1871 and published almost 600 Russian folktales and fairytales. The story of the giant turnip is about a farmer who plants a turnip. It turns out to be a very big turnip! When it is time to harvest the turnip, it is so big that he cannot get it out of the ground! So he asks his wife for help. Together the two pull as hard as they can, but the turnip still won’t budge. They enlist the help of a young boy, then a young girl, then a dog, then a cat and eventually even a mouse. It takes all seven of them pulling together to get the turnip out of the ground! But once it is out, they all enjoy eating the turnip together. The moral of the story is that even the smallest and least among us have value and are useful. Here is a link to a YouTube video of the story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysPxSHHE8Lg

Category - Kids

4th of July

Geologist

Beluga Sturgeons

Russia

How to Read a Weather Map

June 2016 – Letter from Truman

Can you see underwater? NASA can!

The Jungle Book

Make weeknight meals healthy and simple

Cultural Connections – June 2016

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