4Kids.org - Week of July 1, 2001

Week of July 1, 2001

No more Finger Foods

Point some chopsticks at The History of Eating Utensils at http://researcharchive.
calacademy.org/research/
anthropology/utensil/index.html. The anthropology department at the California Academy of Sciences has one of the largest collections of utensils, with over 1,700 items. Chopsticks, one of the earliest eating utensils, were first used over 5,000 years ago. Discover the many uses of knives and how they've changed from straight, pointed instruments to modern dinner knives. Look at some of the cool designs on Indian and Persian spoons. Last, check out the portable silverware used by nomads, from pocket forks to modern nesting cutlery sets. There are no forks in the road on the way to this site.

Nominate a cool Web site at
4Kids.org/nominations

Visit the Featured Web sites to find the answers

When did chopsticks begin to be made into two separate pieces?

9th Century
10th Century
11th Century

What can be viewed from a distance at the Root of the Modern Art museum?

Eiffel Tower
Arc de Triomphe
Notre-Dame

What number is lava soap on the acid/base scale?

8
7
6

Bonjour, Mes Amis

Let the Internet be your tour guide to Paris at www.paris-virtual-tour.com. You can visit all the famous monuments with QuickTime Virtual Reality. The site offers both Flash and HTML versions. Start at the Eiffel Tower and head to famous cemeteries, the bright lights of Belleville, the quiet garden at the Hotel De Cluny or the triumphant Arc de Triomphe. Have a great trip. Bon voyage! (This site is no longer available.)

The pH Factor

Join the Miami Museum of Science at its cool Web site, The pH Factor at www.miamisci.org/ph. Find out all about the world of acids and bases. Find out which parts of your tongue taste sour or bitter things. Then explore which substances are acid or base, such as lemon juice, aspirin or vinegar. You'll find great experiments you can do at home throughout this site.

What's on your summer reading list?

Speak Out Here!

Summer Vacation: Be Prepared

Summer is in full swing. Time for a family vacation. Your folks will do most of the planning, but there are some things you can do, too. Bring along a camera, whether it's one of those fancy ones or a disposable one. You're gonna want to get a picture of the look on your dad's face after he accidentally falls off the fishing boat. Take your swimming suit, too. That way if your folks forget the directions and you end up at the beach instead of the mountains, you'll be set for fun.

You might choose a book from the cool list at www.scholastic.com/
parents/summersizzlers.htm in case you get tired of watching the white lines on the road pass by. If you go to visit your Uncle Lester and Aunt Bertha, try to be cool about staying at their house. It's annoying when your aunt pinches your cheeks and tells you how cute you are and how much you've grown. But you won't be there very long, and it will probably be a long time before you have to go back. One last thing to remember is your pillow. I know I always sleep better when I have my own. Oh, and don't let your folks forget the directions. (This site is no longer available.)

-- Amy

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