May 2012

A product of www.BuzzingKidsWorld.com

Kids digging in, having fun and getting fit with gardening
There's nothing like digging, hoeing, and planting to get a kids motor running. What kid doesnt love to play in the dirt? Gardening gives them the perfect excuse to get dirty and make their parents proud at the same time. A tiny garden can bring kids closer to nature as they tend the plants with special care and watch them grow. It could be a niche in a corner of the yard, a raised bed of flowers or vegetables, a window box or two or a container garden on the deck. In any case, the compact garden takes less time and work. The satisfaction comes from working with each individual plant. For most flowers and vegetables, consider a spot that gets morning sun and afternoon shade. If your place is shady, search for shade-loving plants with greenery or flowers that may be planted under an ornamental tree. Even a sunny window is a great place for herbs such as rosemary and basil or a bright geranium. Not enough room in your yard? Containers come in all shapes and sizes. They can be put on trays with wheels so kids can move them whenever you want. Or they can be put on stands to make a more dramatic statement. And the kids won't need "mud shoes" to tend them after a rain. Plastic containers require less water than clay pots. Soil in clay pots dries out faster. Adding a wooden bench or chairs will give the kids, and you, a place to relax and watch the garden grow. You could also add a sundial, a birdbath or trellises for the climbing vines. Here are some tips from the Horticulture Gardening Institute at Michigan State University: Select plants for containers that have similar requirements for sun, shade, and water. Use flowers with long bloom periods and foliage plants for their texture and color. Containers may need to be watered every day or twice a day, depending on their size, material, location, and weather. Check frequently and water as needed. Apply a water-soluble, all-purpose or bloom-booster fertilizer every 10 days to two weeks. ote: For more insight on creating a fun garden for kids, check out http://www.theecologycenter.org/ blog/2010/11/17/designing-a-garden-with-children-in-mind/ In spring, at the end of the day, your hands should smell like dirt. ~ Margaret Atwood

May National Calendar

1-31, Motorcycle Safety Month. Encouraging safe motorcycle riding practices and motorcycling awareness. 1-31, ational Bike Month. 56th annual celebration of bicycling for fun, fitness and transportation. www.bikemonth.com. 8, ational Teacher Day. Pays tribute to all educators. Visit: www.nea.org. 13, Mother's Day. First observed in 1907, a day to honor all mothers and remember those who have passed on. 19, Armed Forces Day. Presidential Proclamation as a day to salute all of the men and women in all branches of the military. 20, Solar Eclipse. Annular eclipse of the sun visible in Asia, the Pacific and North America. 28, Memorial Day. Legal holiday for remembering those who have died in the service of our country, and a day to decorate graves of family members.

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Whats New with BKW
(www.buzzingkidsworld.com/) Weve just added both KidsGranny and KidsBuzz pages to our Facebook account so you can keep up-to-date with BKW without leaving Facebook while youre doing you own socializing. Check it out and Like us well Like you back. Being friends or sharing would be nice, too. ^.^

CHALK TALK
Taking Mom out to eat for Mothers Day with the kids?
Sure, but make it a peaceful experience. When you take your children or grandchildren to a "real" restaurant, here are a few tips on arranging a successful event. 1. Do lunch, not dinner. It's a more relaxed time. Prices are lower, so it won't be a great loss if your kids only pick at their meals. 2. Patronize the same restaurants consistently it helps to be welcomed warmly and get more slack from the staff if your kids get frisky. 3. Bring cleanup supplies. Come armed with moist wipes, plastic place mats and paper napkins. Pick up any food that falls on the table and the floor. Tip liberally to ensure a cherry greeting when you return. 4. Choose an established family-friendly restaurant. Some restaurants are meant for adults only. Parents go there to get away from kids for a while. 5. Check the menu in advance if you can. If kids can't get a hamburger, a drumstick, French fries or Jell-O, pick a different place. 6. Let older child order an unusual food from the menu. It's OK to let the child try it. 7. Be prepared to entertain your kids when they're hungry and waiting for a meal. Stories about food and how it is prepared are good choices. (But avoid any reference to how a cow or chicken was killed. You want it to be a good experience for the kids, too.) ^.^

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Other pages to check out:
Past issues of the BuzzLetter (BL) found in the Archives (see bottom menu) and our Buzz Blog (top menu) for articles about: Mothers Day BL - May back issues Teachers Appreciation Day BL - May 11 issue Memorial Day BL - May 11 issue Blog (Just Saying category) A Comforting Message

Enjoy your day, Moms

you deserve it!

HELPING OUR WILDLIFE FRIENDS

around for about 225 million years (longer than the dinosaurs), yet they are rapidly disappearing because of the exotic food industry, habitat destruction and the cruel pet trade. You can do a few small things to help save turtles for the next generation. Never buy a turtle from a pet shop or online. It increases demand for turtles. Never remove a turtle or tortoise from its habitat. Stay away from restaurants that serve turtle entrees. If a turtle is crossing a street, pick it up, take it in the direction it was going. If you take it back, it will just turn around to cross again. Turtles of many kinds are found throughout the U.S. Michigan's Mackinac Island takes its name from an Ottawa Indian word meaning Great Turtle. The Loggerhead Sea Turtle is the largest in the U.S. at an average adult weight of 200 pounds. Its nesting season is from May to August. They build nests on Atlantic seashores, shores of the bays, lagoons, salt marshes and ship channels of Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. Many coastal communities have lighting ordinances to reduce hatchling disorientation. Hatchlings reach maturity in 20 to 30 years. After that, they can live a very long life.

May Project

Decoupage Pots
Supplies needed: Clay pot Pictures (from magazine, funnies, etc.) Decoupage medium (Mod Podge) or slightly diluted white school glue Popsicle stick - to smooth out wrinkles Foam brush - to spread glue Scissors - to cut out the pictures Tweezers - to position small pictures Damp rag - to wipe up excess glue Decoupage is quite simple. If you can cut and paste, youre more than half-way there. Basically, you cut out pictures; glue onto an object; and then cover the object and pictures with a few coats of glue/decoupage medium to protect it. 1. 2. 3. 4. Start out by making sure the pot is clean and dry. Cut out pictures you are going to decoupage. Arrange and overlap the pictures as desired onto the pot the way you want them before you add glue. Working in a small area at a time, remove a few pictures and apply a generous layer of glue onto the pot, making sure you completely cover any area the picture will touch. Place the picture on the glued area. Use your finger to gently push down the picture and push out any wrinkles and excess glue. You can also use a popsicle stick to do this. Repeat the last 2 steps until all your pictures are glued on. Let dry. Once the glue is dry, coat your item completely with glue again. Let this dry. Now, you can continue to add coats of the glue until the edges of the pictures are all smooth. Let your decoupage craft dry completely and then it is ready to use, display, or be given away as a gift.

Help the next generation of the humble turtle

The American Rescue organization started World Turtle Day in 2000. They wanted to increase respect for the worlds oldest creatures. These gentle reptiles have been

POETRY & PUZZLE CORNER

I Raised My Hand In Class

Word Search
5.

I raised my hand in class this morning, sitting in the back. The teacher didn't see, I think. Instead she called on Jack. I stretched my hand up higher, but she called on Zach and Zoe. I started bouncing up and down, but, still, she called on Chloe. I waved my arms but, even so, she didn't call on me. She called on Bryan, Brooklyn, Billy, Bailey, Ben, and Bree. She called on Taylor, Tristan, Thomas, Trinity, and Ty. Then, finally, she called my name. I breathed a heavy sigh. She asked me for the answer. I just frowned and clenched my knees, and said, "I've no idea, but could I use the bathroom, please?"
~ Kenn Nesbitt www.poetry4kids.com ANNUALS BASKETS BIENNIALS BOOKS BULBS BUSHES CACTI EDGERS FLOWERS FUNGICIDE GLOVES HERBS HOSE HOUSE PLANTS MULCH ORCHIDS PERENNIALS POTS POTTERY RAKE ROSES SEEDS SHRUBS SOIL SPRINKLER STATUARY SUCCULENTS TRELLIS TROWELS VINES WEED KILLER

6. 7. 8. 9.

NOTE: Also, see our Fun Plants Blog (Craft category) about the Venus Fly Trap and Tickle Me plants. http:// www.buzzingkidsworld.com/buzzblog.php? blog_id=14851

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Permission to copy, use, and distribute materials contained in this publication is allowed without fee for personal, private, and educational purposes. Reproducing materials for profit or any commercial use is not permitted. Kids love it, parents and grandparents love it, and teachers love it. We hope you do, too. ~ Editor