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KIDS W ORLD PHONE 240-7111 EMAIL [email protected] FAX 243-3121 When kids speak out, The Sentinel listens The Sentinel at www.cumberlink.com Tuesday • January 31, 2012 — D1 MEGAN BOLLINGER Copy Editor Tell Me A Story The Bugganes and the waterfall ADAPTED BY AMY FRIEDMAN ILLUSTRATED BY JILLIAN GILLILAND Once upon a time on the Isle of Man, there lived a poor farmer and his wife near a place called Glen Mooar. They lived in a nice little cottage and owned a bit of land on which they grew potatoes and grazed their cow. Everyone knows fairies often play tricks, and on the Isle of Man, when the fairies were offended, sometimes they called upon the Bugganes, terrible ogres who lived in ruins and for- ests and waterfalls. The Bugganes hated to be disturbed. They could shift their shapes to look like anything and anyone they wished, and so few people had ever seen them. But those who had seen them said they were enormous creatures, with coarse black hair and wrinkled skin, with red mouths and cloven feet and eyes like fire. People often told the story of the Buggane that tore the roof off St. Trinian’s church again and again because the church was built on its mountain. And people said there was a Bug- gane that lived in the waterfall very near the farmer’s house. The farmer was hard working and kind, but his wife was terribly lazy and liked to lie in bed. Her neighbors were for- ever whispering about her. “She wears out more blankets than shoes,” her next-door neighbor said. “’Tis sad,” added another, “an excuse is nearer that woman than her apron is.” Every morning the farmer woke at dawn and called out to his wife, “Lose an hour in the morning and you’ll be looking for it all day!” but she only turned over again. “You’ll never plough a field by turning it over in your mind,” he said. But she slumbered on. So he set off to work in that field. Many were the days that he came home for breakfast only to find her still asleep. There was no fire. There was no food. On those days he would build a fire and cook his own gruel. Alas, he would sigh, “A cabin with plenty of food is better than a castle with none.” Often when he came home for his midday meal, his wife was still asleep. At long last, the farmer decided it was time to play a trick on her. So when he awoke, he fetched some straw from the barn. With that straw he blocked up all the windows in that little cottage. Late in the afternoon he came home and found his wife still in bed, waiting for the day to come. “Hurry,” the farmer said, “come see the sun rise in the West!” She quickly climbed out of bed, and the farmer opened the door to show her. The whole sky looked to be on fire, for the sun was actually setting. But the woman was frightened at the sight and asked, “What makes the sun rise in the West?” “Must be the Buggane,” the farmer said. “The hairy one that lives under the waterfall. It’s a bad hen that doesn’t scratch for itself. You best be careful or it might come to punish you for your lazy ways.” “What do you know of the Buggane?” the wife asked. But the farmer only said, “Ask me no questions; I’ll tell you no lies.” Soon after that he went out to go fishing under the bright full moon. As soon as he was gone, the woman realized she was hun- gry. But there was no bread in the cupboard, and she knew she would have to bake it. She slipped the bolt on the door so the fairies wouldn’t catch her baking after sunset -- the fair- ies did not like that kind of thing. Then she began to knead the meal. She clapped her cakes as thin as could be and picked up a knife to cut them into circles. When the first one was cut, she brushed the griddle and tossed the cake on the fire. As she picked up her knife and began to cut the second cake, she heard a knock at the door. “Who’s there?” she called, but no one answered. Then she heard another sound, someone knocking harder and way up high on the door. “Who’s there?” she asked again. This time a thick, gravelly voice answered, “Open for me, for I am he.” That made no sense, so she ignored the voice. But the voice cried again, “Open for me for I am he.” Before she could say a word, the door burst open, and there stood the hideous Bug- gane. Before she could run, that Buggane clutched her by her apron and swung her over its wide shoulder and ran down the hill all the way to the top of Spooyt Vooar, the huge waterfall. The woman was terrified. She could hear those roaring wa- ters, and from above she saw the stream turning to spray as it hit the rocks. She knew she would drown as the Buggane swung her high into the air, preparing to toss her down the falls. Just then she remembered the knife in her hands. Quick as she could, she cut her apron strings and tumbled onto the ground. She rolled away, but the Buggane stumbled and fell forward, right into that waterfall. The Buggane rolled and bounced, head over heels. People from miles away could hear the creature roaring, “Rumble, rumble, rumble, it is I who tumble.” Then they heard a splash. And no one saw that Buggane ever again. People say that farmer’s wife learned her lesson. She gave up her lazy ways and became as good a wife as a farmer could wish for. She always baked bread well before the sunset, so as to not offend the fairy folk! I was ice skating on a lake when... Kids Speak Out W ANT T O SEE Y OUR NAME HERE? Hey, kids! How would you like to get your story published in Kids Speak Out? Just write a short story on one of our prompts and send it to The Sentinel. You can also draw a picture to go with your sto- ry. Each week, The Sentinel will publish some of the stories we receive in KidsWorld and on www.cumberlink.com. Only the top three essay writers, published on this page, will receive KidsWorld T-shirts. To claim T-shirts, visit The Sentinel during normal business hours. You must be 5 to 13 years old to enter. Stories must be 150 words or less. Be sure to include your full name, age, address, school and grade. Mail your entry to “Kids Speak Out,” The Sentinel, 457 E. North St., Carlisle, PA 17013, drop it off at either Sentinel office or mail it to front- [email protected] with the subject “KidsWorld.” How you can get involved with Kids Speak Out Upcoming Topics Due Feb. 3 I made a gingerbread house and then my dog... Due Feb. 10 I’m going to give my Valentine a... Due Feb. 17 My favorite thing to do on the weekend is... Due Feb. 24 If I had a million dollars I would... Due March 2 When I’m riding the school bus I like to... Due March 9 I was eating lunch with my friends when... ATTENTION T EACHERS! Request the new Kids Speak Out writing prompts; email [email protected]. I was ice skating on a lake when I saw a big ice block. And then it hit the ice and it cracked and I fell in. I swam up and pulled the ice block up and there was a person in it! I brought the ice block home and put it near the fire and I let it melt. The next day I found the person sleeping on my sofa and then I woke him up and asked him how he got in the lake. He said he was skating and he fell and the ice broke and he did not know how to swim so he turned into ice. The end. Olga Rodriquez, 7 (WINNER) Hillside Elementary Second grade Tale from Isle of Man I was ice skating on a lake when the ice broke and I fell in. Then a duck saved me. It said, “Quack, quack.” I looked up what it said and I found out it said Hi, my name is Ducky. I want to be your friend. The duck took the spare bedroom in my house and stayed there with me. Chris Mikos, 9 (WINNER) Fishing Creek Elementary Third grade I was ice skating on a lake when I ran into some guy named Fred. He had three nostrils and a live raccoon as his hat. He was from some planet I never heard of. I watched him for awhile. He wasn’t that good at ice skating. At one point he flew over a fence. At another point he got hooked by an ice fisherman. We finally made friends after a few mishaps. Erik Schaeffer, 7 (WINNER) Hillside Elementary Second grade I was ice skating on a lake when the whole lake col- lapsed and I fell in and got soaked. Jaden Henline, 9 Fishing Creek Elementary Fourth grade I was ice skating on a lake when the ice broke. It went crack. The cracks were getting bigger and bigger. Then the ice was shaking, suddenly the ice stopped shaking. I stopped skating, too. I was terrified. Mason Palmer Newville Elementary Second grade I was ice skating on a lake when ice ninjas jumped out of the sky! I learned kung fu and knocked them out! Tommy Landis, 7 Bellaire Elementary School Second grade I was ice skating on a lake when I fell in the water and it was cold and I saw Luke and R2-D2, Chewbacca and Darth Vader were ice skating with them and saved me and I was back to life. Shelby, 8 Bellaire Elementary School Second grade I was ice skating on a lake when the ice broke and I fell into the water and a whale caught me. Then he took me to a land far away! And then I had some cocoa and I had some food with me like milk chocolate and I made ice cream! Adrianna Waring, 8 Bellaire Elementary School Second grade I was ice skating on a lake when the ice shattered in the middle. Under the ice there was a huge octopus. He squirted ink everywhere. A sunken ship was under the ice. The octopus came into the ship. I guess it was his home. There was ink all over the ship. Then the ice that was still left shattered all over the ship. The octopus was so mad, he threw me out of the water. I hit my head really hard. Then I woke up. I guess it was a dream. My mom called me down for breakfast. Gabriel Miller, 8 Fishing Creek Elementary Third grade I was ice skating on a lake when the ice broke and I scrambled off the lake. I was so sad. This meant that I had to wait a whole year. When I got home I told my mom what happened and she said, “Don’t be sad, you can go to another lake.” So, I went to another lake and that lake never broke. I had a trusted skating lake! Hayden Corbin, 8 Fishing Creek Elementary Third grade I was ice skating on a lake when a huge wave came. I went over it like a bird. I landed at my house. I was grounded for 18 months. It was worth it but I got 9,000 cookies. Tomorrow I get 100,000 cookies. It was awe- some. Mehar, 6 Elmwood Elementary First grade I was ice skating on a lake when my friends fell down a lot. I love ice skating. Aubrey, 6 Elmwood Elementary First grade I was skating on a lake when the ice broke! I tired to swim out, but an octopus grabbed me and pulled me down! I kicked it in the face and swam out. I started skating again. Then a shark ate me. I lived in the shark forever. Ryan Craig, 8 St. Patrick School Grade 2A I was ice skating on a lake when I saw some water in the middle of the lake so I skated over to see what was the matter. When I looked closer it was a big goldfish in the water. So, I picked the fish up and took him home. When I got home I put him in with my other fish. Now they love each other. The end. Addison Shover Newville Elementary Second grade I was ice skating on a lake when a dog jumped on me. I pushed it off me. The dog fell into the water. I pulled him out. The dog was cold. I gave it my scarf and gloves. Then I was cold. The dog curled around me and we lived together forever. Amy Syverson, 7 St. Patrick School 2B I was ice skating on a lake when everybody started to do the disco. I said, “Oh my gosh!” Then I saw a plug. I unplugged it. Then everything went back to normal. Abby Spahr, 7 St. Patrick School Grade 2B I was ice skating on a lake when I didn’t know what happened. When I woke up I was a flamingo, and the flamingo’s name was Mrs. Reeder. She was our teacher, and we were her class of flamingos. Zaida Witkowski, 7 St. Patrick School Grade 2B

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Page 1: Kid's World

Kids WorldPhone240-7111

[email protected]

Fax243-3121

When kids speak out, The Sentinel listens

The Sentinel at www.cumberlink.com Tuesday • January 31, 2012 — D1

megan bollingerCopy Editor

Tell Me A Story

The Bugganes and the

waterfall

adaPTed by amy FriedmanilluSTraTed by Jillian gilliland

Once upon a time on the Isle of Man, there lived a poor farmer and his wife near a place called Glen Mooar. They lived in a nice little cottage and owned a bit of land on which they grew potatoes and grazed their cow.

Everyone knows fairies often play tricks, and on the Isle of Man, when the fairies were offended, sometimes they called upon the Bugganes, terrible ogres who lived in ruins and for-ests and waterfalls.

The Bugganes hated to be disturbed. They could shift their shapes to look like anything and anyone they wished, and so few people had ever seen them. But those who had seen them said they were enormous creatures, with coarse black hair and wrinkled skin, with red mouths and cloven feet and eyes like fire.

People often told the story of the Buggane that tore the roof off St. Trinian’s church again and again because the church was built on its mountain. And people said there was a Bug-gane that lived in the waterfall very near the farmer’s house.

The farmer was hard working and kind, but his wife was terribly lazy and liked to lie in bed. Her neighbors were for-ever whispering about her. “She wears out more blankets than shoes,” her next-door neighbor said.

“’Tis sad,” added another, “an excuse is nearer that woman than her apron is.”

Every morning the farmer woke at dawn and called out to his wife, “Lose an hour in the morning and you’ll be looking for it all day!” but she only turned over again. “You’ll never plough a field by turning it over in your mind,” he said. But she slumbered on.

So he set off to work in that field. Many were the days that he came home for breakfast only to find her still asleep. There was no fire. There was no food. On those days he would build a fire and cook his own gruel. Alas, he would sigh, “A cabin with plenty of food is better than a castle with none.”

Often when he came home for his midday meal, his wife was still asleep. At long last, the farmer decided it was time to play a trick on her. So when he awoke, he fetched some straw from the barn. With that straw he blocked up all the windows in that little cottage.

Late in the afternoon he came home and found his wife still in bed, waiting for the day to come.

“Hurry,” the farmer said, “come see the sun rise in the West!”

She quickly climbed out of bed, and the farmer opened the door to show her. The whole sky looked to be on fire, for the sun was actually setting. But the woman was frightened at the sight and asked, “What makes the sun rise in the West?”

“Must be the Buggane,” the farmer said. “The hairy one that lives under the waterfall. It’s a bad hen that doesn’t scratch for itself. You best be careful or it might come to punish you for your lazy ways.”

“What do you know of the Buggane?” the wife asked. But the farmer only said, “Ask me no questions; I’ll tell you no lies.”

Soon after that he went out to go fishing under the bright full moon.

As soon as he was gone, the woman realized she was hun-gry. But there was no bread in the cupboard, and she knew she would have to bake it. She slipped the bolt on the door so the fairies wouldn’t catch her baking after sunset -- the fair-ies did not like that kind of thing. Then she began to knead the meal. She clapped her cakes as thin as could be and picked up a knife to cut them into circles. When the first one was cut, she brushed the griddle and tossed the cake on the fire. As she picked up her knife and began to cut the second cake, she heard a knock at the door.

“Who’s there?” she called, but no one answered. Then she heard another sound, someone knocking harder and way up high on the door.

“Who’s there?” she asked again. This time a thick, gravelly voice answered, “Open for me, for I am he.”

That made no sense, so she ignored the voice. But the voice cried again, “Open for me for I am he.” Before she could say a word, the door burst open, and there stood the hideous Bug-gane.

Before she could run, that Buggane clutched her by her apron and swung her over its wide shoulder and ran down the hill all the way to the top of Spooyt Vooar, the huge waterfall.

The woman was terrified. She could hear those roaring wa-ters, and from above she saw the stream turning to spray as it hit the rocks. She knew she would drown as the Buggane swung her high into the air, preparing to toss her down the falls.

Just then she remembered the knife in her hands. Quick as she could, she cut her apron strings and tumbled onto the ground. She rolled away, but the Buggane stumbled and fell forward, right into that waterfall.

The Buggane rolled and bounced, head over heels. People from miles away could hear the creature roaring, “Rumble, rumble, rumble, it is I who tumble.” Then they heard a splash.

And no one saw that Buggane ever again. People say that farmer’s wife learned her lesson. She gave up her lazy ways and became as good a wife as a farmer could wish for. She always baked bread well before the sunset, so as to not offend the fairy folk!

I was ice skating on a lake when...

Kids Speak Out

Want to See Your name Here?Hey, kids! How would you like to get your story published

in Kids Speak Out? Just write a short story on one of our prompts and send it to The Sentinel. You can also draw a picture to go with your sto-ry. Each week, The Sentinel will publish some of the stories we receive in KidsWorld and on www.cumberlink.com. Only the top three essay writers, published on this page, will receive KidsWorld T-shirts. To claim T-shirts, visit The Sentinel during normal business hours.

You must be 5 to 13 years old to enter. Stories must be 150 words or less. Be sure to include your full name, age, address, school and grade. Mail your entry to “Kids Speak Out,” The Sentinel, 457 E. North St., Carlisle, PA 17013, drop it off at either Sentinel office or mail it to [email protected] with the subject “KidsWorld.”

How you can get involved with Kids Speak Outupcoming Topics

Due Feb. 3

I made a gingerbread house and then my dog...

Due Feb. 10

I’m going to give my Valentine a...

Due Feb. 17

My favorite thing to do on the weekend is...

Due Feb. 24

If I had a million dollars I would...

Due March 2

When I’m riding the school bus I like to...

Due March 9

I was eating lunch with my friends when...

attention teacHerS!Request the new Kids Speak Out writing prompts;

email [email protected].

I was ice skating on a lake when I saw a big ice block. And then it hit the ice and it cracked and I fell in. I swam up and pulled the ice block up and there was a person in it! I brought the ice block home and put it near the fire

and I let it melt. The next day I found the person sleeping on my sofa and then I woke him up and asked him how he got in the lake. He said he was skating and he fell and the ice broke and he did not know how to swim so he turned

into ice. The end.

Olga Rodriquez, 7 (WINNER)Hillside Elementary

Second grade

Tale from Isle of Man

I was ice skating on a lake when the ice broke and I fell in. Then a duck saved me. It said, “Quack, quack.” I

looked up what it said and I found out it said Hi, my name is Ducky. I want to be your friend. The duck took the

spare bedroom in my house and stayed there with me.

Chris Mikos, 9 (WINNER)Fishing Creek Elementary

Third grade

I was ice skating on a lake when I ran into some guy named Fred. He had three nostrils and a live raccoon as his hat. He was from some planet I never heard of. I watched him for awhile. He wasn’t that good at ice

skating. At one point he flew over a fence. At another point he got hooked by an ice fisherman. We finally

made friends after a few mishaps.

Erik Schaeffer, 7 (WINNER)Hillside Elementary

Second grade

I was ice skating on a lake when the whole lake col-lapsed and I fell in and got soaked.

Jaden Henline, 9Fishing Creek Elementary

Fourth grade

I was ice skating on a lake when the ice broke. It went crack. The cracks were getting bigger and bigger. Then the ice was shaking, suddenly the ice stopped shaking.

I stopped skating, too. I was terrified.

Mason PalmerNewville Elementary

Second grade

I was ice skating on a lake when ice ninjas jumped out of the sky! I learned kung fu and knocked them

out!

Tommy Landis, 7Bellaire Elementary School

Second grade

I was ice skating on a lake when I fell in the water and it was cold and I saw Luke and R2-D2, Chewbacca and Darth Vader were ice skating with them and saved me

and I was back to life.

Shelby, 8Bellaire Elementary School

Second grade

I was ice skating on a lake when the ice broke and I fell into the water and a whale caught me. Then he took me to a land far away! And then I had some cocoa and I had

some food with me like milk chocolate and I made ice cream!

Adrianna Waring, 8Bellaire Elementary School

Second grade

I was ice skating on a lake when the ice shattered in the middle. Under the ice there was a huge octopus. He squirted ink everywhere. A sunken ship was under the ice. The octopus came into the ship. I guess it was his

home. There was ink all over the ship. Then the ice that was still left shattered all over the ship. The octopus was so mad, he threw me out of the water. I hit my head really

hard. Then I woke up. I guess it was a dream. My mom called me down for breakfast.

Gabriel Miller, 8Fishing Creek Elementary

Third grade

I was ice skating on a lake when the ice broke and I scrambled off the lake. I was so sad. This meant that I had

to wait a whole year. When I got home I told my mom what happened and she said, “Don’t be sad, you can go to another lake.” So, I went to another lake and that lake

never broke. I had a trusted skating lake!

Hayden Corbin, 8Fishing Creek Elementary

Third grade

I was ice skating on a lake when a huge wave came. I went over it like a bird. I landed at my house. I was

grounded for 18 months. It was worth it but I got 9,000 cookies. Tomorrow I get 100,000 cookies. It was awe-

some.

Mehar, 6Elmwood Elementary

First grade

I was ice skating on a lake when my friends fell down a lot. I love ice skating.

Aubrey, 6Elmwood Elementary

First grade

I was skating on a lake when the ice broke! I tired to swim out, but an octopus grabbed me and pulled me down! I kicked it in the face and swam out. I started

skating again. Then a shark ate me. I lived in the shark forever.

Ryan Craig, 8St. Patrick School

Grade 2A

I was ice skating on a lake when I saw some water in the middle of the lake so I skated over to see what was

the matter. When I looked closer it was a big goldfish in the water. So, I picked the fish up and took him home. When I got home I put him in with my other fish. Now

they love each other. The end.

Addison ShoverNewville Elementary

Second grade

I was ice skating on a lake when a dog jumped on me. I pushed it off me. The dog fell into the water. I pulled

him out. The dog was cold. I gave it my scarf and gloves. Then I was cold. The dog curled around me and

we lived together forever.

Amy Syverson, 7St. Patrick School

2B

I was ice skating on a lake when everybody started to do the disco. I said, “Oh my gosh!” Then I saw a plug. I

unplugged it. Then everything went back to normal.

Abby Spahr, 7St. Patrick School

Grade 2B

I was ice skating on a lake when I didn’t know what happened. When I woke up I was a flamingo, and

the flamingo’s name was Mrs. Reeder. She was our teacher, and we were her class of flamingos.

Zaida Witkowski, 7St. Patrick School

Grade 2B

Page 2: Kid's World

Kids WorldPhone240-7111

[email protected]

Fax243-3121

When kids speak out, The Sentinel listens

D2 — The Sentinel at www.cumberlink.com Tuesday • January 31, 2012

megan bollingerCopy Editor

© 2012 Universal Uclick

release dates: January 28-February 3 4-1 (12)

from The Mini Page © 2012 Universal Uclick

Please include all of the appropriate registered trademark symbols and copyright lines in any publication of The Mini Page®.

To order, send $15.99 ($19.99 Canada) plus $5 postage and handling for each copy. Make check or money order (U.S. funds only) payable to Universal Uclick. Send to The Mini Page Book of States, Universal Uclick, P.O. Box 6814, Leawood, KS 66206. Or call toll-free 800-591-2097 or go to www.smartwarehousing.com. Please send ______ copies of The Mini Page Book of States (Item #0-7407-8549-4) at $20.99 each, total cost. (Bulk discount information available upon request.)

Name: ________________________________________________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________________________________

City: _________________________________________ State: _________ Zip: ________________

The Mini Page’s popular series of issues about each state is collected here in a 156-page softcover book. Conveniently spiral-bound for ease of use, this invaluable resource contains A-to-Z facts about each state, along with the District of Columbia. Illustrated with colorful photographsand art, and complete with updated information, The Mini Page Book of States will be a favorite in classrooms and homes for years to come.

NEW!

Fun on Feb. 2

Celebrity for a Day February is a frigid month for much of North America. But on Feb. 2, people in the United States and Canada will be thinking about spring. On Groundhog Day, a small animal will be pulled from a tree stump in Pennsylvania. According to tradition, if he sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If he doesn’t, spring will begin soon. This week, The Mini Page learns more about this holiday and its traditions, and about groundhogs themselves.What is a groundhog? A groundhog is also called a woodchuck or a whistle pig. (Groundhogs use a high-pitched whistle to alert other members of their colony about danger.) Groundhogs are rodents, like mice and rats. They are related to marmots and squirrels. They may be about 20 inches long and weigh about 10 pounds. These cute, friendly animals eat leaves, berries, grasses and crops.

Hibernators Groundhogs hibernate, or spend much of the winter in a dormant, or sleepy, state. They go into their burrows in the fall and block all the entrances with dirt. After about four months, as the weather gets warmer, they come back out.Predators Groundhogs are hunted by wolves, coyotes, foxes and eagles. They may get away by running into their burrow. If a groundhog is trapped, it tries to fluff its fur to look bigger and grinds its teeth to scare the enemy.

Meet Chattanooga Chuck. He lives at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, Tenn. Chuck’s front teeth are used for biting plants. He also has chewing teeth. He can also use his teeth to bite animals that are threatening him.

phot

o co

urte

sy T

enne

ssee

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Where do they live? Groundhogs can climb trees, but they mostly stay on the ground. They live in underground homes called burrows. The animals use their strong front claws and teeth to dig a burrow and then line it with leaves and other softmaterials. Groundhogsare found mostlyin the easternUnited States andmost of Canada,even as far northas Alaska.

Words that remind us of Groundhog Day are hidden in the block below. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find: BURROW, CANDLEMAS, CUTE, DORMANT, FEBRUARY,FOLKLORE, GROUNDHOG, HIBERNATE, HOLIDAY, IMBOLC, PENNSYLVANIA, PUNXSUTAWNEY, RODENT, SHADOW, SIGNAL, SPRING, STUMP, WOODCHUCK.

Groundhog Day try ’nfind

Are you eAger for spring?

A I N A V L Y S N N E P H T KK S A M E L D N A C F I N C WY P F O L K L O R E B A U L OA R E W O R R U B E M H J O DD I T H T O S R R R C V L B AI N U Q D T U N O D X I G M HL G C E U A A D O L A N G I SO D N M R T G O H D N U O R GH T P Y E N W A T U S X N U P

from The Mini Page © 2012 Universal Uclick

Basset Brown

the news

Hound’s

TM

ready resourcesfrom The Mini Page © 2012 Universal Uclick

The Mini Page provides ideas for websites,books or other resources that will help you learnmore about this week’s topics.On the Web:

FintasticFolkloreForecasters.aspx

At the library:

from The Mini Page © 2012 Universal Uclick

Listen to the AnimalsNatural forecasters Today, when we want to know what the weather is going to be like,

broadcast or a mobile phone. Before any of that technology existed, people were more aware of the world around them. Sometimes they watched for signals from animals about coming weather events.Collecting folklore A Civil War general, William B. Hazen, learned that Europeans were studying weather folklore, or stories, to give them another way to predict the weather. After the war, as the chief of the Army’s Signal Corps, Hazen was also in charge of the Weather Bureau. He asked people to send him folklore about weather. Most of the stories he received involved animals’ behavior. Hazen wrote about the stories he collected in an 1883 book.

Fact or fiction?Animals gone wild Have you ever noticed your pets acting strangely before a storm reaches your house? In the 1800s, Native Americans paid attention to how animals behaved and came up with ways to predict what the weather was going to do. For example, Zuni Indians reported that frogs warbling indicates coming rain. Experts say this may be because higher humidity and rain make frogs more active.

Before a hurricane, Seminole Indians noticed frigate birds — which usually stay over the ocean — flying inland. The Seminoles moved

away from the coast to avoid the dangerous hurricane. Experts say the wind field ahead of the hurricane probably pushed the birds inland.

1. When tarantulas crawl during the day, rain is coming.

Answers: 1. Could be true. The spiders may be responding to changes in the barometric pressure. 2. Lizards make noises to attract mates. 3. All birds preen, or groom, but some may be restless because of pressure or wind changes. 4. It could happen, but it’s not a guarantee.

2. When lizards make a chirping noise, it will rain soon.

3. Parrots groom their feathers more before a storm.

4. If owls screech in bad weather, it will turn to fair.

photos courtesy Tennessee Aquariumph

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from The Mini Page © 2012 Universal Uclick

Gary: If you make hamburgers from ground beef, what do you make pork burgers from? Grace: Groundhogs!

Greta: What happens if you cross a groundhog with a ghost?

Greg:its own shadow!

TM

All the following jokes have something in common. Can you guess the common theme or category?

Gisele: What barks when it pops its head above ground on Feb. 2?

Gina: A confused ground dog!

Mini Spy . . .Mini Spy and her friends are glad to know there are only six weeks left of winter! See if you can find:

from The Mini Page © 2012 Universal Uclick

TM

Rookie Cookie’s RecipeCinnamon Graham Treats

You’ll need:

crackers (1 package frombox)1 2 cup margarine

What to do:1. Break graham crackers in half; arrange with edges touching in a jelly

roll pan.2. Melt margarine in a separate pan over medium heat; stir in sugars,

cinnamon and pecans.3. Cook 5 minutes, stirring frequently.4. Pour sticky mixture evenly over graham crackers.5. Bake in a 375-degree oven for 12 minutes.6. Cool before serving. You will need an adult’s help with this recipe. from The Mini Page © 2012 Universal Uclick

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1 4 cup brown sugar1 4 cup white sugar

from The Mini Page © 2012 Universal Uclick

Meet Katherine Dines Katherine Dines is a singer and songwriter who came out with a new CD in January,

Katherine has worked for literacy and early childhood arts education. She gives speeches and directs workshops on the arts for kids. She also works for a company that helps schools and nonprofit companies raise money by

selling music. She also conducts workshops with kids at schools. She helps the kids write lyrics and music and then perform and record that music. Katherine is one of the directors of the website The Children’s Music Network.

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from The Mini Page © 2012 Universal Uclick

Groundhog Day

The Mini Page StaffBetty Debnam - Founding Editor and Editor at Large Lisa Tarry - Managing Editor Lucy Lien - Associate Editor Wendy Daley - Artist

Home in Pennsylvania Groundhog Day began in the United States in Pennsylvania, after German settlers brought the idea from Europe. Today, the biggest celebration is in Punxsutawney, Pa. For 125 years, a groundhog named Punxsutawney Phil has predicted spring’s arrival. Candlemas and Imbolc Experts believe the Groundhog Day tradition began with two festivals in Europe. Candlemas is a Christian festival held on Feb. 2. Early Europeans believed that if the sun shone on Candlemas, winter would continue, but if it was cloudy, spring would come soon. Imbolc was celebrated during the Middle Ages (400 to 1400) in Ireland. This day, also around Feb. 1 or 2, marked the beginning of spring. Europeans used a hedgehog, badger or bear to look for a shadow on Candlemas. When Germans came to the U.S., they used groundhogs.

Groundhogs busy on Feb. 2 Phil isn’t the only groundhog who looks for his shadow on Feb. 2. Other events take place all around the United States and Canada. People may also play games, dance, eat traditional foods and put on plays. How will your community celebrate Groundhog Day?

Punxsutawney Phil The Groundhog Day tradition started in 1886 in Punxsutawney (punk-suh-TAWN-ee). The next year, people went to Gobbler’s Knob, a small hill outside of town, to wait for the groundhog to come out of his burrow. Today a small stage and tree stump on Gobbler’s Knob are the center of the Feb. 2 celebration. After he emerges, Phil

his prediction to one of the Inner Circle.

Punxsutawney Phil may be the most famous groundhog in the United States. Each year on Groundhog Day, Phil is watched by tens of thousands of people in person and more on television who wait for his prediction about spring’s arrival. Phil is managed by a club called the Inner Circle. When he is not predicting the coming of spring, Phil lives in a terrarium at the Punxsutawney Memorial Library.

The Mini Page thanks Thom Benson with the Tennessee Aquarium for help with this issue.

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One of Phil’s handlers knocks on his tree stump to wake him up.

Chattanooga Chuck at the Tennessee Aquarium gives his prediction about when spring will come.

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Next week, The Mini Page is about newly discovered planets.

from The Mini Page © 2012 Universal Uclick

Supersport: Robert Griffin IIIHeight: 6-2 Weight: 220 Hometown: Copperas Cove, Texas

At least, that’s what his statistics suggest. The Baylor junior

9 running — while leading the Bears to a 9-3 regular-season record. From a military family, Griffin is a Bear opponents hate to grapple with. He passed for 3,998 yards and ran for 644 yards this fall en route to becoming the first Baylor player to win college football’s most coveted award, the Heisman Trophy. Griffin, whose career totals include passing for 10,071 yards and 77 touchdowns, also is a standout student who already has a degree in political science. As for his future, it likely will include many more trips to the end zone.

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