4Kids.org - Week of April 1, 2001

Week of April 1, 2001

Kudos to Captree Elementary School

Congratulations to Captree Elementary School in West Islip, N.Y., 4Kids.org's Cool School of the Month. John Simeone and Dianna Grancagnolo designed and maintain Captree's excellent Web site at www.captree.k12.ny.us. It features a look at all the classrooms as well as art and music in this K-5 school. You'll find an up-to-date photo album that serves as a journal for the school dating back to September when the doors first opened. The school's state-of-the-art library media center, a combination library and computer lab, allows students to read and do further research on the Internet. This is one cool school! Congratulations, Captree Elementary. Enjoy your 4Kids award pack.

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Visit the Featured Web sites to find the answers

How many students does the Captree Elementary School library media center serve?

480
380
580

What is the uppermost part of the earth called?

stratosphere
core
crust

When were Arabic numbers introduced in Europe?

8th and 9th centuries
10th century
13th century

Take a safari to Geo'Globe: Interactive Geography at http://library.thinkquest.org/10157. Play Geo-Find, and have your own geography bee. Use the clues in Geo-Quest to find mystery animals from all over the Globe. At Geo-Seas, follow a maze through the ocean and discover tons of cool facts about our planet's huge bodies of water. Have a Geo-groovy time.

Nerd Power

Slip on your pocket protector and surf over to Triumph of the Nerds, a PBS site at www.pbs.org/nerds. Discover the history of computers from the ancient Babylonian abacus to modern-day computer networks and the World Wide Web. Find out what some of the world's most famous nerds have contributed to the computer industry. Then test your early computer knowledge in the Guess the Computer game. You'll learn why nerds now rule the world.

Should schools use filter software to protect kids from adult Web sites?

Speak Out Here!

Friday the 13th

Like other silly beliefs and superstitions, Friday the 13th's stereotype as an unlucky day has many origins. The Egyptians' story about a banquet at Valhalla is one. Twelve gods gathered for a meal. Loki, the Evil One, stopped by and disrupted them, increasing the number of gods to 13. This led to the Egyptians' fear of the number 13. Some Egyptians, however, believed the number 13 to be lucky. They thought life was a quest for spiritual growth with 12 levels. The 13th level was the eternal afterlife, something for all to work toward.

Some people also believe the day Friday can be lucky or unlucky. Friday is named after the Norse deity Frigg, the goddess of fertility and love. However, in medieval Rome, Friday was execution day, a rather unpleasant thought.

Combining the many superstitions about Friday and the number 13, Friday the 13th has become the most notorious day. But don't take my word for it. Check out the info at www.uselessknowledge.com/explain/friday13.shtml and decide for yourself. (This site is no longer available.)

-- Amy

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