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Kidsville Connections

What is Gravity

It is the force of attraction that causes physical things to move towards each other and to fall towards the Earth. Gravity keeps Earth and all the planets in our solar system in orbit around the Sun. Gravity also keeps the Moon in orbit around the Earth. Without gravity, we would be floating around like astronauts in space! All objects in our universe containing mass are exerting a gravitational force on other mass. If an object is small, the gravitational pull is smaller. If an object is large (like the Earth and Moon), the gravitational pull is enormous. So how is the Moon staying up there in the sky? Since there is a force of attraction toward the Earth, it’s as if the moon “falls” into an orbit around the Earth and revolves around us. The gravity of the Earth that is holding us down is also keeping the Moon in orbit. Otherwise the Moon would just travel in a straight line. A common playground game that children play is called tether ball. A volleyball is attached to a rope, or tether. That rope is attached to a metal pole and a stationary base. Each player’s objective is to hit the ball one way. The winner of the game is the player who winds the ball all the way around the pole down to the rope. What does this have to do with gravity, you ask? Well, if the volleyball becomes detached from the rope, the ball would sail through the air in a straight line, losing gravity. However, while the ball is attached, the string is being pulled towards the player’s hand much like the gravitational pull of the Earth. Connections content provided by April Cox, 5th grade teacher at Jo Byrns Elementary School in Robertson County, Tennessee G-force? G-force is the measurement of acceleration (speeding up) forces. 1-g is the force of Earth’s gravity and determines how much we weigh. At 5-gs, a race car driver experiences a force equal to five times his weight. Race car drivers can experience over 100-gs if they have a crash that causes them to decelerate (slow down) quickly over a short distance. Some roller coasters have been known to include G-forces of around 4 to 6-g. People can experience increasing G-forces also, such as those who participate in airplane acrobatics and space training. John Stapp was called a G-force pioneer because he experienced the highest known acceleration by a human at 46.2-g. As part of a test program, he rode a rocket sled that was designed to measure the effects of deceleration on the human body. Why did he do this? He wanted to help improve the aircraft design by better protecting passengers and pilots. What Are Tides? Tides are the regular upward and downward movement of the level of the ocean that is caused by the pull of the Sun and the Moon on the Earth. Because the gravity of the Moon pulls on the Earth, the tides rise and fall daily. The sea level swells in waves when the Moon passes over the ocean. There are low tides and high tides daily, with constant movement. If you’ve ever been to the ocean, you may have seen flags that are used to explain conditions of the water. The red flag describes when the tidal current (horizontal or sideways flow of water) is the strongest and when there are the most serious conditions in the water because of the up-and-down tidal movement. When the tide is rising, it is called flooding current. When the tide is falling, it is called ebbing current. There are times when there is no ebbing or flooding. This is called slack water. Did You Know… Isaac Newton’s theory of gravity was inspired by seeing an apple fall from a tree. Albert Einstein’s general theory of relativity is used to describe gravity. Sources: www.physics4kids.com/files/motion_gravity.html, www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/gravity.html, www.boatsafe.com/kids/tides.htm, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gravity, www.rocketcityspacepioneers.com/space/rocket-sled

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Come Out and Play

Come Out and Play – Maori

The Maori are the native inhabitants of New Zealand. Games are very important to the Maori, and they have many different kinds. Games are so important for several reasons. First, many of the games that they play teach lessons and life skills to children. Some games are used as religious rituals, and many games are played simply because they were fun. One favorite game of the Maori was Poi Rakau. The basics of the game were that a single warrior stand in the middle of a circle of other warriors and try to catch and return sticks they throw. This was used to help warriors develop spear skills for hunting and fighting. Men and women could play. Whoever drops the stick is out. The last person standing wins. The circle was called Wi. The people in the circle were called Tukunga. The person in the middle was called Putahi. The sticks or, Rakau, were traditionally made of Mako wood. There are variations where people stand in two lines facing each other instead of a circle. Usually they chant while playing. This game improves hand-eye coordination (the ability for hands and eyes to work together) and speed. To make it harder, there is an optional rule where the person that catches the stick must use the opposite hand than the person who threw the stick. For example, if the Putahi threw with his left hand, then the Tukunga must catch it with his right hand. While throwing sharp sticks isn’t very safe, there are similar games that anyone can play today. All you need is a group of people and a ball. Have one person stand in the center of a circle and quickly pass the ball around. Anyone who does not catch it or makes a bad pass is out. The last person standing is the winner. This is a great way for anyone to exercise, have fun with friends and improve throwing and catching skills, just like the Maori warriors. For more information about the Maori and their games, visit the following websites: www.teara.govt.nz/en/traditional-maori-games-nga-takaro, www.r2r.org.nz/games-activities-maori-youth/poi-rakau.html, http://matarikiwaihi.wikispaces.com/file/view/Maori+Games+Booklet2010_small.pdf

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Around The World

Around The World – June 2014

Many New Zealanders celebrate the Queen’s Birthday on the first Monday of June each year, as New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy with the Queen of the United Kingdom being the head of state. Many people have the day off on the Queen’s birthday, which is the official opening of the ski season. It’s usually held on a Monday so it is part of a long weekend. The Queen’s Honours list is released around the time of the Queen’s birthday public holiday. This list has hundreds of recipients, who are honoured and recognized for public service, from services to television to services to prisoner welfare.   Flag Day People across the United States celebrate Flag Day on June 14 each year to honor the United States flag and to commemorate the flag’s adoption. On the same day, the United States Army celebrates its birthday. Flag Day falls within National Flag Week, a time when Americans reflect on the foundations of the nation’s freedom. The flag of the United States represents freedom and has been an enduring symbol of the country’s ideals since its early days. During both events, Americans also remember their loyalty to the nation, reaffirm their belief in liberty and justice, and observe the nation’s unity. Many people in the United States honor this day by displaying the American flag at homes and public buildings. Other popular ways of observing this holiday include: flag-raising ceremonies; Flag Day services; school quizzes and essay competitions about the American flag; musical salutes; street parades; and awards for special recognition. Fathers Day Father’s Day is June 15, 2014 in many countries. It is a celebration honoring fathers and celebrating fatherhood, paternal bonds and the influence of fathers in society. Many countries celebrate it on the third Sunday of June, but it is also celebrated widely on other days. Father’s Day was created to complement Mother’s Day, a celebration that honors mothers and motherhood. Father’s Day was founded in Spokane, Washington at the YMCA in 1910 by Sonora Smart Dodd, who was born in Arkansas. Its first celebration was in the Spokane YMCA on June 19, 1910. Her father, the Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart, was a single parent who raised his six children. After hearing a sermon about Jarvis’ Mother’s Day in 1909, she told her pastor that fathers should have a similar holiday honoring them. Although she initially suggested June 5, her father’s birthday, the pastors did not have enough time to prepare their sermons, and the celebration was deferred to the third Sunday of June.

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Story Time with Truman

Anna’s Story: Chapter Nine; A New Century in a New Land

A New Century in a New Land Nearly a year and a half had passed when, early New Year’s morning, Thomas, Rose, Jake and little Bridey McMahon rode up on a rented buckboard to the door of the LaRocque farmhouse. Marc LaRocque opened the door wide and began to take their coats as they stomped the snow off their boots at the doorstep. “Am I the first foot over your threshold in the new year?” Mr. McMahon asked, stepping in. “A tall, dark-haired man is good luck.” “First foot in the new century,” Mr. LaRocque acknowledged. “There’s got to be extra luck in that.” Margaret LaRocque welcomed them into the parlor and gave Mrs. McMahon a quick hug. “Happy New Year!” she said. “Anna’s up to her elbows in the kitchen, but she’ll come soon. No Tommy?” “We dropped him off at Dennis’s farm,” Mr. McMahon said. “He’ll help with the chores so they can come in the sooner. Wait, now!” He took his coat back from Mr. LaRocque long enough to reach into the large front pocket for a small paper sack. “Best of luck in the new year, Missus,” he said, handing it to Mrs. LaRocque. She began to unfold the top of the sack, but suddenly stopped and crushed it shut. “I smell it already. Oh, but it can’t be!” She opened it to look inside, then handed it to her husband. “Oh, look what they’ve brought!” He took the bag and looked inside, then reached in and brought out a small chunk of light brown sugar. “Where on earth did you find this?” he asked, popping it into his mouth with a grin. “A drummer who sells the store Eastern hardwoods brought a sack of it at Christmas,” Thomas said. “I saw it on the boss’s desk and said, ‘I know someone who needs a half-pound of that!’” “What is it?” little Bridey asked, standing on tiptoe and trying to see better. “Maple sugar,” her father answered. “The year I was lumbering in the Adirondacks, well before you were born, that’s all the sugar we had.” “We made it each spring when I was growing up on the farm in Chazy,” Mr. LaRocque said. “But I haven’t tasted maple in 20 years, not since we came west.” Jake was looking at the bag, and his father guessed what he was thinking. “Go tell your sister ‘Happy New Year’ and see that the wood box next to the stove is full,” he said. “You’ll get a taste of maple, if not now, soon enough, as many meals as you eat here!” Jake headed for the kitchen and Mr. LaRocque smiled after him. “He’s never had a meal here that he hadn’t earned,” he said. “I enjoy having him come out to visit. He works as hard as if he lived here. He’s a good boy, Thomas.” “Your Anna is a gem, as well,” Mrs. McMahon said. “We’re lucky to have found the pair of them.” “The young ones are all doing well,” Mr. McMahon said. “We start this century with a great deal to be grateful for. Our Tom is working hard in high school and then at the newspaper at night. You know, Jake worked at the newspaper in New York, but I don’t think his heart was ever in it. He’s happier coming to the lumberyard after school to help out, or to do chores with you. But Tommy has found his place at the newspaper, and he’ll make that his life, I’m sure.” Mrs. LaRocque lowered her voice a bit. “Do you know, we have a problem with Anna. She’ll finish grammar school this spring, and she wants to go on to high school and then become a teacher, but she won’t do it. She feels she owes it to us to stay home and work the farm like the other children in her class.” “Have you spoken to her about it?” Mrs. McMahon asked. “Not yet. We’re not supposed to know,” Mrs. LaRocque said. “She told Tommy, Tommy told Dennis, Dennis told us.” “There are many things those four know that we’ve no idea about,” Mr. McMahon said. Mr. LaRocque nodded, “Beginning with how Dennis persuaded that thief to give him back the money for that worthless gold mine.” Mrs. McMahon raised her hand and turned away. “All’s well that ends well, and I’m sure I don’t want the details,” she declared, as the other three laughed. “However it happened, Dennis is a better man for it,” Mr. LaRocque declared. “And not just the money. He’s a better man simply for knowing the three of them.” “I think all four are better for knowing each other,” Mrs. LaRocque said. “As are we all, all of us,” Mr. McMahon said. “It’s good to have found such friends.” The dog barked in the farmyard, and they looked out the window to see Dennis and Tommy driving up on Dennis’s wagon. “They didn’t take much time on those chores,” Mr. McMahon said. “I’m sure Dennis was up before the rooster, as well as he loves holidays,” Mr. LaRocque chuckled. “You’re lucky you didn’t leave the boy off and then find Dennis already here!” The parents paused at the parlor windows, watching Dennis and Tommy climb down from the wagon. Tommy, who was about to turn 16, was as tall as Dennis and nearly as tall as his father. They came up the porch steps and into the front hall as Anna and Jake came out from the kitchen. “Anna made four pies!” Jake declared. “And there’s a huge ham!” “Oh, Tommy, ” his mother said, coming into the hall. “When you boys go to put the horses up, bring in the sack from our wagon. There’s a loaf of soda bread in it, and the things I need for colcannon.” Then she turned to give Anna a hug. “Happy New Year, Anna, dear,” she said. “Happy New Century.” “Happy New Everything!” Anna replied. Text c. 2010,…

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Kids

Maps / Geography /Latitude / Longitude

ge·og·ra·phy – noun jē-ä-gr-fē 1. an area of study that deals with the location of countries, cities, rivers, mountains, lakes, etc. What is a Map? A map is a visual image and representation of places including counties, states, countries and continents. Maps are ways that people can find where they are going to travel or live. Old maps give information about our past and allow for the information to be passed on for generations to come. Some of the oldest maps were on clay tablets around 2300 B.C. by Babylonians (ancient Babylon is located in what we now know as the country of Iraq). Creating maps is an art called cartography. Claudius Ptolemaeus’s, a Roman mathematician, astronomer and geographer, created a world map representing the Old World from about 60°N to 30°S latitudes. In fact, it was Ptolemy (who lived from 90 to 170 BCE) who invented the longitude/latitude system for reading maps. People used to travel with an atlas ( a large book of maps). Today, people only have to “google” the address on their cell phones or computers or use their GPS. Longitude/Latitude vs. GPS How Does It Work? lat·i·tude – noun la-t-tüd 1. distance north or south of the Equator measured in degrees up to 90 degrees 2. an imaginary line that circles the Earth at a particular latitude and that is parallel to the equator lon·gi·tude – noun län-j-tüd 1. distance measured in degrees east or west from an imaginary line (called the Prime Meridian) that goes from the North Pole to the South Pole and that passes through Greenwich, England 2. an imaginary line that circles the Earth at a particular longitude The Global Positioning System (GPS) is a navigation system of satellites that is used to calculate precise locations. Information is transmitted to Earth through signals. Bad weather? No problem. GPS will work in any type of weather, at any time needed anywhere you travel in the world! A GPS receiver can calculate latitude and longitude, as well as the distance necessary to travel from place to place. Check out www8.garmin.com/aboutGPS/ for more information on GPS.   Did You Know… On May 27, 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge opened in San Francisco, California. There was so much cable used in the Golden Gate Bridge that you could wrap it around the Earth’s equator more than three times. Just like figurative language, you wouldn’t literally wrap the cable, and it doesn’t mean exactly what it says. The distance of the Earth’s circumference (the distance around the edge of a circle) is approximately 24,900 miles. This means if you could drive your car around the equator of the Earth, you would drive about 24,900 miles!

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Kidsville Kitchen

Rainbow Fruit and Cheese Kabobs

Fuel your active lifestyle, simple Ways to boost fitness with dairy! Many people are taking advantage of warmer temperatures and increased hours of sunlight to get fit for the fun season ahead. As they do, they’ll be looking for ways to fuel their efforts. Enter dairy, a protein powerhouse that provides numerous benefits to active individuals. More protein per ounce The perfect addition to snack or mealtime, dairy foods offer a convenient way to add the protein needed to help you achieve your fitness goals. While helping your body build and repair muscle, as well as regulate metabolism, it also keeps you satisfied longer. In fact, just one serving of milk, cheese or yogurt provides approximately 8 grams of high-quality protein, including all essential amino acids. When it comes to smart snacking, dairy really packs a protein punch. Protein-packed whey Whey protein is a high-quality protein found naturally in dairy foods, and it provides the nutrients that help promote better health. Need a helpful way to remember this beneficial nutrition source? Think “Y-M-C-Whey” when you’re looking to fuel your fitness efforts: • Y is for Yogurt: Enjoy this versatile food at any time of day. Double up on protein with Greek yogurt, which often contains twice the amount as regular yogurt. • M is for Milk: Reach for low-fat chocolate milk after exercise. The protein it provides supports healthy muscles, and the carbohydrates help refuel you with energy. • C is for Cheese: Grab a slice, wedge or stick when you need something to tide you over between meals. The protein in cheese can curb hunger, which makes it a great tool for weight management. • W is for Whey: Add whey protein powder to your post-workout smoothie or cereal, which can help build and maintain lean muscle. It’s simple to power your fitness goals —whatever they may be — with dairy. Find more nutrition information and recipes to power up at www.dairymakessense.com. Rainbow Fruit & Cheese Kabobs Servings: 6 Prep time: 15 minutes 6 straws (8-inches or longer) 6 ounces Monterey cheese, cut into 18 cubes 1/2 cup strawberry halves 1/2 cup cantaloupe, cut into 3/4-inch cubes 1/2 cup pineapple, cut into 3/4-inch cubes 1 kiwifruit, peeled and cut into 6 pieces 1/4 cup blueberries 6 purple grapes To make a rainbow for each kabob, thread onto a straw a piece of cheese, a strawberry halve, a cantaloupe cube, a pineapple cube, another piece of cheese, a piece of kiwi, 2 blueberries, a grape and another piece of cheese. Repeat pattern with remaining straws. Nutritional information per serving: 135 calories; 9 g fat; 7 g protein; 8 g carbohydrates; 1 g dietary fiber; 25 mg cholesterol; 135 mg sodium; calcium 22 percent of daily value.

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Weather

Fascinating Facts about Lightning

You may have heard that lightning never strikes the same place twice. Well, that’s not true. Many of the tall buildings in the world are struck multiple times each year by lightning. In this article, I’m going to separate the facts from the myths and answer some of the frequently asked questions about lightning. Do the rubber tires on a car protect you from lightning? No, the rubber tires on a car, bike or other vehicle won’t protect you from lightning. What will protect you is the outer metal shell of a hard-topped metal vehicle (no convertibles). Cars are struck by lightning every year. Usually, the lightning damages the electronics in the car and blows out a tire or two, but the people inside are safe (but often a bit scared by the incident). How hot is lightning? Lightning is electricity. As electricity passes through something it causes heat. When lightning passes through the air, it can heat the air to as much as 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit — five times hotter than the surface of the sun. When lightning strikes a home, it can create enough heat to ignite a fire. How powerful is lightning? There’s enough electricity in a flash of lightning to power a light bulb for about a year. However, because a lightning flash happens in a small fraction of a second, all that power is discharged in a small amount of time and causes a very bright flash. Does the lightning go from the cloud to the ground or from the ground to the cloud? The answer is that lightning goes both ways. In the most common lightning flash, negative charges move from the cloud to the ground as a bright flash moves from the ground to the cloud. How fast is lightning? The stepped leader which precedes the flash moves downward at 300,000 mph. The bright flash moves upward at 300,000,000 mph — now that’s fast! Do planes get struck by lightning? Yes, on average each commercial jet is struck once a year. Commercial planes are designed to withstand a lightning strike. If struck, the lightning passes through the outer shell of the plane. Does metal attract lightning? No, this is a common myth. However, if struck, metal wires and poles will conduct the lightning discharge. If a pond or lake is struck by lightning, will all the fish die? No, most of the electricity spreads out along the water’s surface. As long as the fish are not near the surface of the water, they won’t be harmed by the lightning strike. John Jensenius NOAA Lightning Safety Specialist

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What’s It Like To be

Arctic Scientist

I got to talk with Alessio Gusmeroli this month. He is an Arctic Scientist. Truman: Tell me a little about yourself — some background information for our readers. AG: I am Alessio Gusmeroli, 29-years-old, from Italy. I live and work in Alaska. I came here four years ago after completing my graduate studies in the United Kingdom. I spend most of my day studying glaciers, snow and ice. Truman: Can you tell me a little bit about what you do? What is your typical day like? AG: When I am not in the office, my typical day out in the field starts by waking up in a cozy sleeping bag, under a tent in a snowy ice field. The first thing you have to do there is prepare water for breakfast. We do this by melting snow in a pot. After breakfast, we go out in the blazing Arctic sun to collect our measurements for the entire day. Truman: What does it take to become an Arctic Explorer? AG: You have to ask this of the Arctic Explorers. I am only an Arctic Scientist. But I can tell you that it takes will and perseverance. These are natural qualities in all of us. All of us can do things. To accomplish big things, we have to remove fear and doubts — and go straight to realizing our dreams. Truman: When and why did you first become interested in the Arctic? AG: I grew up in the Italian Alps, surrounded by snowy mountains. As a child, I loved exploring mountains and the natural environment and developed a fascination for natural phenomena. This led to the discovery of mountaineering and glaciology, which hasn’t left me since. Truman: What’s the hardest part of your job? AG: Going back to work after walking my dogs at lunchtime. They always want to play with me, so it is always hard to leave them. Truman: What is the best part of your job? AG: Discovering things that were not known before and sharing it with everyone, my colleagues, my family, my community and kids! Truman: Can you tell me about your most exciting expedition? AG: My most exciting expedition is the one that is about to happen in a week from now. We will be camping for two weeks on the Taku Glacier, near Juneau in Alaska. We will be installing explosive charges on the ice. We will generate big explosions and we will study how the explosions will propagate into ice. This will help us understand glacier motion and glacier erosion. Truman: What are some interesting facts that most people don’t know about the Arctic region? Maybe you don’t know that the Arctic can be quite warm, too. When the sun is high in the sky and the wind is not blowing, you can easily stand in a T-shirt enjoying the afternoon sun. You can also tan! Truman: What is your favorite thing to do when you aren’t working? AG: I love martial arts. When I am not working, you can find me in our local dojo (a martial arts school) learning and practicing martial arts. I love helping out teaching karate to kids. I started martial arts when I was a little kid. It is still accompanying me, and, without a doubt, it will do so throughout the rest of my life. Truman: Where can kids find out more? AG: Kids can find out more online. This is a nice video that shows some of our field research last spring in the Arctic. www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPVwTINk9DE This other video shows a much colder experience. It shows you how hard things can be when you work in cold places. http://vimeo.com/68575607 Truman: What is your favorite place to explore? AG: My favorite place is Val Tartano, a beautiful alpine valley located in the Italian Alps. This is the birthplace of my mom and dad, their parents and their parents before them. It is the place I know the most, the place that triggered my interest towards nature. I always go back to those mountains, and, even though I have walked in them since the age of 3, I always discover something new. Truman: I can’t wait to hear about your next expedition!

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Cool Kind Kid

Cool Kind Kid Challengers

by Barbara Gilmour Truman the Dragon came to class loaded down with art supplies. The other kids had some too, but not as much as Truman. When Ms. Gilmour saw him, she said, “Hello,” first and then rushed to help him. Tanner, Rudy, Carmen, Stephen and Nicole all greeted her as they put their art supplies on the table she had ready. Then they all looked at Truman and asked, “Why did you bring so many art supplies?” Truman smiled as he said, “When I went home from class last week and thought about all the places at school where bullying happens, I knew that we would need to make more than one poster each. I want us to be able to make enough posters so kids will see where they need to learn to be Cool Kind Kid Challengers. Ms. Gilmour and all the kids cheered for Truman. Ms. Gilmour then said, “Well, we have a lot of work to do, so we’d better get started. Before we start making the posters, let’s make a list of places we want to show.” Hands started going up as Tanner was first to share, “The classroom.” Nicole added, “The cafeteria.” Rudy said, “We definitely need to include the lockers.” Carmen added, “The bathrooms need to be bully-free.” Everyone agreed. Stephen said, “What about the gym and locker room?” “Good one, Stephen,” said Truman. He continued, “We can add the playground and ball fields, too.” Next, Ms. Gilmour asked the kids to think about challenges for just the classroom. Since this was the place that Tanner felt was important to show, he responded, “I think a challenge for the classroom would be to get to class on time, take your seat promptly and be prepared.” Nicole looked at him funny and said, “But how does that prevent bullying?” Ms. Gilmour asked if anyone had an answer for Nicole. No one was sure what the right answer was. She wanted the kids to think of the answer on their own, so she prompted them by saying, “What does being on time, taking your seat promptly and being prepared show your classmates and your teacher?” Nicole jumped up. “I know! It shows them respect.” Truman fist bumped Nicole. Ms. Gilmour continued, “Showing respect helps everyone get along, especially in the classroom.” Tanner had already started drawing on his paper. The kids all wanted to know what he was going to draw. He replied, “I’m showing some desks in a classroom, with kids sitting up straight, their homework on top and a clock on the wall. Then I’m going to write ‘Cool Kind Kid Challengers show respect to teachers and classmates by being on time and prepared for class.’” Everyone applauded Tanner. Ms. Gilmour then said, “It looks like we have much more to talk about with just the classroom part of school. I know you will have more good ideas for classroom challenges when we meet again next week. Bye for now.”

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Kids

Humpback Whales

Humpback whales spend summers in Antarctica. In late fall, they head towards warmer waters of the Pacific Ocean to breed and have their babies, which are also known as calves. Many people enjoy whale watching, and because the humpback whale has such a long migration route (about 5,000 km), they are spotted often. People love to watch humpback whales because they are known to leap out of the water and spin in the air with their pectoral fins stretched out like wings. Humpback whales are also known for their songs. The male humpback whales’ songs can travel great distances through the water — sometimes more than a hundred miles away. The songs can last for hours and are often quite complex. While the songs don’t sound very much like the music that people produce, they are beautiful and include recognizable patterns of squeaks and grunts. So far, scientists have only recorded the male humpback whales singing, and it is only in warm water that the whales make these serenades. While the male humpback whales are likely looking for a mate when they spend hours singing, many people find the songs of the whales relaxing. Some people play recordings of whales singing to help themselves relax and/or fall asleep and even use them as ringtones! Check out a recording of humpback whale songs at www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo2bVbDtiX8#aid=P8pbcjnh4Zw & www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtOUJLu5Wmo

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