July 2012

A product of www.BuzzingKidsWorld.com

July National Events

Protect your hearing on the '4th'!

1-31, National Recreation and Parks Month. Education on healthy lifestyles for The rockets' red glare. The bombs bursting in air. livable communities. Web: www.pa.com. Fireworks season is upon us, and with it comes the usual safety warn1, Halfway Point of 2012. Because 2012 is ings. People generally underestimate the efa leap year, when July 1 ends at midnight, fect loud noises have on their hearing. They 183 days will remain before Jan. 1, 2013. don't realize that if they are relatively close to 5, Earth at Aphelion. At approximately 12 a fireworks blast, it may take only one blast to a.m. EDT, planet earth will reach the point cause permanent hearing damage. in its orbit and will be farthest from the sun. 22, Parents' Day. Honoring those whose Bring disposable earplugs to any fireworks show. Use them when parental devotion helps strengthen our noises are so loud that you no longer can carry on a conversation country. without shouting to someone who is standing less than three feet 27-Aug 5, Dodge City Days in Dodge City, away. Have a safe 4th! KS. A western heritage celebration with rodeo, concerts, parades and more.

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CHALK TALK
Kids and fireworks dont mix
Are Sparklers Safe? Parents who understand that firecrackers, bottle rockets, and roman candles, etc. can cause injuries, often let their younger kids play with sparklers because they think they are safe; however, sparklers, which can reach about 2000F, cause half of the injuries to children under age five and 10 percent of fireworks-related injuries overall. So even sparklers should be avoided. Fireworks Injuries Many parents feel that playing with fireworks is a rite of passage for kids, that they will supervise their children, and they can play with fireworks safely. If you review some of these real life reports of injuries from the CPSC you will see how, like other accidents, injuries from fireworks can't always be avoided unless you simply avoid playing with fireworks. Here are some examples of misguided or unintentional 'misfirings' of lit fireworks that resulted in injuries to family members or others nearby: Aerial shell type fireworks Shell launched sideways - 5-month-old struck in forehead Father lit multiple devices that tipped over/traveled horizontally - serious facial burn to 4-year-old 12-year-old received facial burns when friend unwrapped & lit powder poured onto the floor Fountain type fireworks 12-year-old brother received foot injury when nearby boxes were ignited accidentally When 12-year-old lit fireworks he found in the woods, he received 1st degree facial burns 5-year-old was burned on chest and arms when sparks ignited another box 25 yards away Errant rocket launches Eye injury to 12-year-old friend when rocket veered off path 14-year-old lit rocket in one hand, igniting rocket in other hand - 3rd degree burns to his hand Ground poppers 8-year-old picked up popper thrown on ground; it exploded - particles lodged in his eye A ground popper threw sawdust into a 7-year-olds eye Miscellaneous mishaps 6-year-old received burns to both arms from exploding firecracker when he tried to open it with a rock 11-year-old burned his fingers when he put drain cleaner in a plastic bottle and lit a small firecracker placed on top of the bottle So this year, skip the home fireworks display; take your family to see a public fireworks show instead and...

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History Matters
On July 1, 1862, 150 years ago, the Internal Revenue Service was established in the United States, and the first income tax was introduced. The first U.S. Postage stamps were issued on July 1, 1847, 165 years ago. On July 2, 1962, 50 years ago, the first Walmart store opened in Rogers, Arkansas. The world's population reached 5 billion on July 11, 1987, 25 years ago. On July 12, 1862, 150 years ago, the Medal of Honor was introduced, our highest military award. July 31, 1790, 222 years ago, the U.S. Patent Office opened.

Have a Safe and Happy 4th of July!

FUN AT HOME WITH MATH, SCIENCE, PCs

Bedtime math games
Statistically, American kids' reading test scores are rising. Reading to them, and letting them read to you are partly responsible. Math scores aren't rising. Kids also like games at bedtime, and mathproblem games are actually one of their favorites. Recognizing that was one of the reasons Bedtime Math was born. The nonprofit sends out daily emails with suggested math problems for "Wee-ones" (preschoolers who count on their fingers), for little kids, and for bigger kids. There are no flash cards or anything else that invites math anxiety (visit www.bedtimemathproblem.org). At Kentucky Derby time, wee-ones were asked how many legs the jockey and the horse had together. See how many ways you can include a math challenge in every-day situations. ^.^

July Projects

Schools to focus on science

Studies show that eighth-graders' science scores were nearly flat from 2009 to 2011. One international study shows that 15-yearCelebrate the country's birthday on July 4th olds ranked average among industrial nations with the fanfare it's due in science and just below Hungary. The National Teachers Association hopes families will start talking at home about science and about science and technology careers. [Bedtime science, anyone?] Better get ready the federal government has created new standards for science.

American Flag Fan

Supplies needed: 17- by 5 1/2-inch piece of white paper Ruler Pencil Red and blue markers Pushpin Plastic drinking straws Paper fastener Tape Instructions

~ Technology and You

New PCs and Macs coming this year
Unless your computer is really on its last legs, you may want to wait until later this year to replace it.

1. In the upper left-hand corner of the paper, measure and mark a rectangle that's 8 Microsoft will introduce Windows 8, the most radical new version of Windows in years. It 1/2 inches wide and 3 inches high. Draw should be out by fall. PC makers will be offering new laptop designs to take advantage of it, rows of stars within the rectangle and then color around them with blue marker. says tech expert Walter Mossberg. 2. Divide the rest of the paper into stripes Windows 8 will work with a mouse or touch pad and keyboard, but it will be heavily oriented and color every other one red. Now fold the toward tablet-type touch screen navigation. Many PC makers are planning new models for the paper accordion style. holiday shopping season that can act as either tablets or clamshell laptops. 3. Create a frame for the fan by using the For Macintosh users, Apple is bringing out a new operating system this summer. Called Moun- pushpin to poke a hole through each straw, tain Lion, it won't be as big a change as Windows 8, because Macs already have a lot of touch 1 inch from the bottom. Then, join the three straws with the paper fastener. gestures and tablet-type features in the Mac. 4. Spread apart the top of the straw frame, New Mac laptop designs are due out later this year, especially for Mac Book Pro line. fit the flag onto the frame, and tape it in Many consumer laptops that are bought right now will be outclassed by new machines that will place. be introduced later this summer, says Mossberg. ~

July 4 Glow-Stick Photographs

CREATIVE CORNER
Last Night's Nightmares
Some aliens from outer space came down in UFOs. They kidnapped me and shoved a slimy brain probe up my nose. A horde of screaming monkeys chased me halfway to Japan, and Transylvanian vampire bats attacked me as I ran. Demented ogres tackled me and tied me in a knot, and wicked witches cackled as they cooked me in a pot. A starving three-eyed dinosaur then drowned me in his drool. But scarier than all of these, I dreamed I was in school.
~ Kenn Nesbitt www.poetry4kids.com

Glow-stick photographs bring new meaning to waving the red, white, and blue. Move glow sticks quickly in a pattern to create different shapes -- just make sure your flash is off, your camera is set for a long exposure, it's dark out, and you're wearing dark clothing. It may take a few attempts to snap a keeper, but this is a fun, kid-friendly activity for the holiday -- without the sparks.
~ Source: Martha Stewart Living, July 2012

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