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Cool Kind Kid

Compliments – How they can prevent bullying?

The kids all came into class excited about what they were doing on their summer vacations from school. Ms. Gimour greeted each child and asked what fun things they had done so far during the summer. Nicole started by saying that her family had a staycation. Rudy said, “My family has done that. It can be a lot of fun.” Nicole added, “We went on some fun day trips to the beach, to an amusement park and to visit my grandmom.” Everyone had their hands up to share their summer experiences. Stephen said, “I went to soccer camp for a week with my friends. We had a great time.” Stephen added, “I went to basketball camp with my cousins. We played a lot of basketball.” Ms. Gilmour asked Carmen what she did. She replied, “We took a car trip to visit family. It was fun to visit cousins we don’t see often.” Truman the Dragon shared about his trip to Disney World. The other kids all laughed and asked him if they allowed dragons in Disney World. He said, “Of course they do. Everyone there thought that I was very cool.” Ms. Gilmour laughed too, and then asked if the kids understood that people at Disney World telling Truman that he was very cool, was called a compliment. Tanner said, “I’ve heard that word. Doesn’t it mean saying something nice to someone?” Ms. Gilmour replied, “Yes, Tanner, you’re right.” Nicole said, “Can’t it also mean saying someone looks nice?” Ms. Gilmour agreed that Nicole was right also. Ms. Gilmour then added, “Some other things that compliment can mean are ‘an action that expresses admiration or approval;’ or ‘an act or expression of praise, approval, respect or admiration.’” She continued, “Now how do you think that a compliment might prevent bullying?” The kids all looked puzzled. Truman the Dragon spoke up and said, “When I heard people telling me how cool I was, it made me feel really good. I liked that feeling.” Nicole added, “I love it when someone tells me they like my dress or shoes.” Carmen said, “I like to tell others they look nice.” Rudy was thinking about this, “If a lot of bullying happens because kids say mean things to each other, what will happen if they start saying nice things instead?” “I can see how that would change how kids treat each other, and maybe help stop bullying,” added Stephen. Ms. Gilmour then asked, “How should you act when someone gives you a compliment?” Nicole was first to answer, “I think you should smile and say ‘thank-you.’” Ms. Gilmour continued, “Did you know that just like a present or a favor is considered a gift, a compliment can be a gift also.” Truman the Dragon was waving his hand, “I like to get gifts and I like to give gifts. Since compliments are gifts that make others feel good, I want to give them whenever I can.” Carmen added, “Let’s tell our friends about how compliments work.” Everyone agreed to do that. Note to Parents from Ms. Gilmour: Bullying is the #2 epidemic in the U. S. In addition to these Cool Kind Kid articles, we endeavor to provide up to date research, articles and other news on this topic on our Facebook page. For your kids, we post Anti-Bullying and Social Skills Tips from Barbara on Mondays, Tanner’s Tuesday Tips on Tuesdays, Cool Kind Kid Challenger Tips on Thursdays, and our newest contributor, Oliver’s Tips on Fridays. We also post Shocking Sunday Stats to keep this issue in the forefront of people’s minds. We’d love to post stories and photos of your kids being Cool Kind Kids, and how you have successfully dealt with bullying.

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Conservation Corner

Is Your Yard Wildlife-Friendly?

Being a good neighbor means more than being friendly to the humans across the street, it also means being friendly to the animals in your yard. Making your yard a safe place for local wildlife should be a top lawn care priority. With that in mind, here are some tips for creating a healthy habitat for local critters. Be a Valuable Rest Stop • Stock your garden with small native species of trees, shrubs and flowers to give wildlife needed nourishment, as well as cover from predators. • A source of water can also be a great resource for visiting fauna. Whether it’s a pond or a bird bath, be sure this zone is well-maintained so you don’t inadvertently create a haven for unwanted species. In the warmer months when mosquitoes are most active, you should change the bird bath water even more often. Promote Safety • A bird feeder in your backyard, full of water and seeds, will be the perfect invitation for beautiful migrating and local birds to stop by. • Just be sure your property is safe for birds. Unfortunately, birds don’t see clear glass. As a result, millions of birds die every year by striking glass. Don’t let your sliding glass doors or other windows become a death trap for birds. To protect birds, apply special decals that reflect ultraviolet sunlight. For example, those from WindowAlert have the appearance of frosted glass, but glow like a stoplight for birds, so you don’t have to compromise your own view out your window. The brand also makes a high-tech liquid called WindowAlert UV Liquid, which should be applied between decals. “Wildlife can beautify your garden and be a sign that your yard is healthy” says Spencer Schock, founder of WindowAlert. “But birds and other wildlife need food, shelter and safety.” Get out the binoculars! With a few small actions, you can make your yard or garden a wildlife refuge.

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Kidsville Connections

Let’s Spin A Yarn

Everybody loves a good story. We love to read them, listen to them, watch them on TV or in a movie theater. Throughout history, stories about people and places have always been popular. For a long time, those stories were not written down. Instead they were told from one generation to the next. These stories are called folktales. Noun: Folktale a story originating in popular culture, typically passed on by word of mouth. Many of the stories we know by heart were folktales handed down in Europe; stories like Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella, etc. America has its own version of these kinds of stories, many of which you may already know. As mentioned earlier, folktales are generally passed down from one generation to another and often take on the characteristics of the time and place in which they are told. Folktales speak to problems or situations that we all face, and they help people make sense of what’s going on in the world in which they live. Most of you have heard of Johnny Appleseed. Johnny Appleseed was a kindly man who went throughout the country planting apple trees, right? Well in a folktale handed down in Ohio, Johnny did more than plant apple trees. In a tale told by S.E. Schlosser, Johnny was also a hero of the War of 1812. The story goes like this: “Johnny Appleseed was a hermit and a wanderer who was welcomed wherever he went in the Ohio territory. Everyone loved him, in spite of his unkempt appearance. He always carried a sack full of apple seeds to plant, and walked barefoot all year round. He knew the frontier woods better than anyone. Even the Indians respected Johnny Appleseed for his courage. When the War of 1812 began, many Indians allied themselves with the British, seeking to revenge injustices done to their people by the settlers. They attacked up and down the Ohio territory, but they left Johnny Appleseed alone. Taking advantage of his position, Johnny Appleseed became the Paul Revere of the Ohio territory, warning settlers of danger. On one occasion, Johnny Appleseed learned that a band of Indians had laid siege on the town of Mansfield, Ohio. Johnny Appleseed ran twenty-six miles through the forest to Mt. Vernon to obtain help for the settlers. As he ran, he tried to warn other settlers along the path of the danger by blowing on an old powder horn. Aid reached the town within a day, and the settlers were spared, thanks to the bravery of Johnny Appleseed.” Have you ever heard that story? Talk to your grandparents or older people in your community. Ask them to tell you stories that they were told as children, you might be surprised to learn that you have heard the same story — only told a different way!!!

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Come Out and Play

Come Out and Play – Logrolling/Running

Logrolling is a uniquely American sport with a colorful history. It started as a necessity, a job. In the 1800s wood was a very important resource in early America, most buildings and cities were made almost entirely of wood. Lumberjacks would harvest the trees and then transport them by floating them down rivers toward sawmills. However, there were so many logs on the rivers that they would jam and clog the river. The logs had to be unjammed, but it was very dangerous work, the most dangerous in the camp. The men hired to do this dangerous work were called river drivers. They would keep the logs moving down the river and unjam the logs. Because the work was so dangerous they were very skilled and respected. These men are the ones who created the sport of logrolling. Being able to stand and move across the slippery logs was an important skill, so they would often challenge each other to see who could stay on top of a log the longest. He was then named the best river driver in the camp. They then kept the sport alive even after logging lost popularity by passing the skills on to their children. • Until 1985, people competed with spiked shoes for traction • Original river drivers also used spiked shoes and long spiked poles • Now people compete in tennis shoes on smooth logs • Two athletes stand on each side of the log that is floating in water • There are two goals in the competition: to stay on and to make your opponent fall • They do this by springing and kicking the log • The last person standing on the log wins • It takes a lot of balance • There are four different sizes for logs used for competition, they are color coded • The sizes are based on diameter and are 15 inches, 14 inches, 13 inches and 12 inches • The U. S. Logrolling Association is the national governing body of the sport • The smooth logs are usually placed in lakes or ponds Logrolling is just one sport that evolved out of the American Lumberjack tradition. There is an entire group of sports called Timber Sports or Lumberjack Sports. These sports mimic the many jobs in the lumberjack camps. Other sports include sawing and chopping wood, ax throwing and pole climbing.

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Kids

Around the world – August 2015

The American Folk Festival on the Bangor Waterfront From Aug. 28-30, the Bangor, Maine, waterfront is home to the American Folk Festival, which is a large, three-day event that focuses on the many cultures that make up America today. At the festival, you can see the nation’s finest performing groups sharing the traditional arts of their region and culture, which includes story telling! For more on the festival, visit www.americanfolkfestival.com. World Folk 2015 The World Folklore Championship is Aug. 20-30 at Nessebar, a beach resort in the European country of Bulgaria. Hundreds of folk performers from music to dance to storytelling gather to compete for the world championship. This year, all of the performances will be videoed and shown throughout Europe, you can also catch it on the Internet at World Internet Television “EuroFolkTV” at tv.eurofolk.com. There are seven days of competition, and thanks to technology, you don’t have to miss any of them! Rockland, Maine Lobster Festival The people of Maine are known for a lot of things, one of which is their catch of fresh lobster. For the past 68 years, the town of Rockland, Maine, has celebrated its commercial fishing success with the Annual Maine Lobster Festival. The festival begins each year on the Wednesday before the first full weekend in August and runs through Sunday. In the case of this year, it is July 29-Aug. 2. If you decide to attend the festival, you will find some interesting things, the most important of which is the 20,000 pounds of lobster that will be sold in various forms throughout the event. Throw in a big parade, entertainment, arts and crafts, a carnival, a seafood cooking contest and a blueberry pancake breakfast and it’s a party you don’t want to miss! For more on the festival, visit www.great-maine-vacations.com/maine-lobster-festival.html#sthash.xHpwfRh9.dpuf.

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What’s It Like To be

Interpretive Exhibits Coordinator

Please tell our readers a little about yourself. My name is Tim Pula. I grew up in the Orlando, Florida, area but now live just outside of Washington D.C. As a young child, I loved going to museums and science centers. Now I am part of the Spark!Lab team at the Smithsonian, where I continue my work of creating open-ended hands-on activities. The activities I get to create here are focused on the process and steps of invention. I really feel lucky that I get paid for playing with toys and creating fun things for museum visitors to explore. The Smithsonian is often referred to as the nation’s attic. Why is that? Much like the collection of stuff in a family’s attic, the Smithsonian’s collection is large and varied. There are over 137 million objects in the Smithsonian collection. The Smithsonian’s objects tell stories about who we were in the past, who we are now and who we may become in the future. However, unlike an attic, our collections are stored in state-of-the-art facilities and are constantly being used. We are always learning new things here! What is it that you do at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History? I work in the Spark!Lab which is part of the Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation. My official title is Interpretive Exhibits Coordinator. I play with toys, manipulate materials, write simple computer programs and build cool stuff for museum visitors to use. All of the activities I work with or create are designed to let our visitors engage in the process of invention using their own ideas and creative problem-solving skills. I also work to ensure that our activities connect in some way to our museum’s collection or work being done through the Lemelson Center. When and how did you know you wanted to work at the Smithsonian? When I was about seven, my family traveled to Maryland to visit an uncle and his family. One of our excursions during this visit was to Washington D.C. I still remember the overload of amazing things I saw as we visited at least three of the Smithsonian museums on the National Mall. My most vivid memory, though, is of the full size Triceratops that was outside of the Natural History Museum. I was fascinated by dinosaurs and this was the first full-size, fleshed out model of one I had ever seen. I still have a photo taken of me sitting on that dinosaur. That experience along with all of the other amazing artifacts and collections had me hooked. When I started working at a science museum in 2003 I was continually reminded of the work and collections of the Smithsonian, though I did not expect that my career path would really take me there. Wow, it so amazing to be able to say, “I work at the Smithsonian.” What do you love most about your job? Watching a visitor thoroughly engaged in an activity while family members take photos of their experience. When I see that someone is engaged in the activity they are doing, the experience that most often follows is a pride in what they invented or created. This is due to an “I can do this attitude” that you can’t get from following step by step instructions. The visitor has used their own ideas and imagination to invent something. The end product is their idea. What is something challenging about your job? We will likely have over 300,000 visitors each year interact with the things I create. The biggest challenge of my job is keeping activities operational. In a busy hands-on museum space, activities can easily become what we call “highly loved.” I spend about 80 percent of my building and design time trying to figure out how to make an activity last. I have often explained the situation this way to adults: Imagine you are having a 1,000 or so kids over for about eight hours to learn and play, every day. This is what our activities and museum space experience. What is your favorite exhibit in The National Museum of American History and why? My favorite exhibit has to be America on the Move. I love machines that move. I do, however, have a few favorite collection objects that are not in America on the Move. One of these objects is the Joseph Ellicott tall case clock from 1769. This clock not only tells time it also shows the phases of the moon, depicts the positions of the sun, earth moon and planets and plays 24 different tunes. My other favorite object is an automaton friar which was likely made over 450 years ago. The friar is a wind up character that walks and performs motions that would be common of a friar from the 1500s. The clock and the friar are inspirational for me. Why is it important for people to learn about our nation’s history? It is important to learn about our nation’s history so that we can learn from the experiences of the past. When we look back on American history, we see a lot of amazing accomplishments but we also see a lot of challenging failures. The failures often lead to huge steps forward that lead us right back to more accomplishments. It is important to learn about what made those who came before us keep trying or make changes that lead to success. What did they learn from their failures and how did they work to best use those failures to inform future decisions? These are all important. Can you tell our readers something interesting about America’s history that is not common knowledge? During my time at the Smithsonian I have learned so much. One of the things I found very interesting about American history is that the first at-home video game system was invented in the late 1960s and did not have any computer code involved. The game was operated by electronics hardware only. This game system was…

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Wildville

Wild Turkey

Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Aves Order: Galliformes Family: Phasiananidae Subfamily: Meleagridinae Genus: Meleagris Species: Gallopavo When America was founded the leaders decided the nation needed a symbol. The emblem had to represent all that the young nation stood for and that was a tough role to fill. There were many different suggestions, but they decided June 20, 1782, to make it the bald eagle. On the Great Seal of the United States is a large bald eagle with an olive branch in his right talon and 13 arrows in his left talon. The olive branch represents peace and the arrows represent the willingness to go to war to protect the nation. In the beak of the eagle is a scroll that says, “E Pluribus Unum,” which means out of many, one. Now the bald eagle is a symbol of strength and freedom. Benjamin Franklin, however, strongly disagreed with the choice of the eagle as the symbol for America. He thought there was a bird native to North America that could better represent the courage of the young nation. He wanted to see the wild turkey as America’s symbol. Here are some facts about the wild turkey: • It is native to the North America • They are omnivores • The average life span is 3 to 4 years • They have wingspans of 4 to 5 feet • They forage for food on forest floors and in swamps • They prefer woodland areas for habitats • Their distinct gobble can be heard for up to a mile away

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Where in the World

Washington D.C.

Washington D.C. wasn’t always the capital of the United States. In order for a city to be considered the capital, it has to be the meeting place for the U.S. Congress. The first city was Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. That began with the First Continental Congress in 1774, and lasted until the first meeting under the Articles of Confederation in 1783. Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress met in Princeton, New Jersey, in 1783, Annapolis, Maryland, until 1784, and New York City until 1789. The modern United States was formed after the Articles of Confederation dissolved and the United States Constitution was written and ratified. The first capital in this new government was New York City until 1790. It then moved back to Philadelphia until 1800. Finally, in 1800, Washington D.C. was made the capital of the United States and it has remained the capital ever since. Here are some facts about Washington D.C.: • It is the capital of the United States • It is not part of any state or a city, it is a Federal District • It is located between Virginia and Maryland • The city was designed by the French engineer Pierre Charles L’Efant, Andrew Ellicott and Benjamin Banneker, a freeborn black man • It is 68 square miles large along the Potomac that was once part of Maryland and Virginia • The official tree is the scarlet oak • George Washington never lived in the White House • Thomas Jefferson was the first president inaugurated inWashington • The White House was set on fire by British troops on August 24, 1814 • The Washington National Cathedral took 83 years to build • The heads of all three branches of government, executive, legislative and judicial are located in D.C. • D.C. stands for District of Columbia • It is named after Christopher Columbus • The motto is “ Justitia Omnibus” this is “ justice for all” in Latin • The U.S. Capitol building is the center of the city • In 1878 the original phone number for the White House was 1 • The only President buried in D.C. is Woodrow Wilson • The Library of Congress is the second largest library in the world • D.C.’s first baseball team was the Washington Senators • There are 2,000 animals and 400 different species at the National Zoo

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Weather

Fighting Wildfires with Weather

A wildfire is a dangerous, out of control fire that most often burns through forests and rural areas. However, wildfires sometimes spread into areas where people live, destroying homes, schools and other buildings. In addition, smoke from wildfires is bad for your health. Breathing in smoke produced by a wildfire can be extremely harmful, particularly for children and older adults. Nine out of ten fires are caused by people – which is why Smokey Bear says, “Only you can prevent wildfires.” These fires may be a result of people not properly putting out campfires, throwing burning cigarettes out of windows, or shooting off fireworks when the grass is dry. For a wildfire to form, you need heat, fuel and oxygen. Heat means high temperatures. Fuel is material that will burn, such as dry trees or grass. Oxygen is contained in the air we breathe. Wildfires that endanger homes and property need to be contained. To do so, you need wildland firefighters. These are highly-trained men and women that endure exhausting work, harsh living conditions and long separations from friends and family to protect our nation’s natural resources from the ravages of unwanted wildfire. But for the firefighters to safely and efficiently fight the fire, they need to understand the weather. Weather conditions (such as wind and rain) influence how easily a fire may start, how quickly it spreads and where the fire and smoke will move. Incident Meteorologists (IMETs) are National Weather Service forecasters who have been specially trained and certified to provide local weather forecasts at a fire location. They’re like the meteorologists you see on TV but they predict what a wildfire will do based upon their knowledge of weather conditions. They use computers, satellite information and portable weather stations to track dangerous wildfires and help keep firefighters safe. One hazard that IMETs look out for is lightning. When lightning is in the area IMETs issue warnings to firefighters so that they can find safe shelter. Wind is another dangerous element when it comes to fighting wildfires. Strong gusts can cause the fire to suddenly shift, which can injure the firefighters or cut off their escape routes. The weather changes by the minute so IMETs are needed to provide timely information around the clock. Computers are an essential tool for weather forecasters. IMETs help keep fire crews safe by tracking one of the most variable aspects of a wildfire – the weather. All those who fight wildfires put themselves in danger to keep the rest of us safe. Do your part to prevent wildfires from starting. Never leave a fire unattended. Be careful during periods of dry or hot weather. And speak up if you see someone in danger of starting a wildfire. Remember, as Smokey Bear says, “Only you can prevent wildfires.”

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Kids

July 2015 – Letter from Truman

Hi, Kids! Did you know that America’s official birthday is in July? That’s right! July 4th is the day we celebrate our country’s founding. In honor of America and her history, this issue is all about the United States. We take a look at some of the symbols that represent our country, In “Cultural Connections” we learn about the man who planned our nation’s capitol. Here’s an interesting fact — Washington D.C. is not the only place that served as America’s seat of government. There are nine other cities that have had that honor. How long do you think it took to build Washington D.C.? It’s probably a lot longer than you think! How do you celebrate America’s birthday? Some people go to cookouts or baseball games. Others go to patriotic events and enjoy fireworks at the end. No matter how you choose to celebrate, I hope you spend a few moments thinking about what a special place this great country is.

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