4Kids.org - Week of October 13, 2002

Week of October 13, 2002

From the Land Down Under

Discover Australia's Lost Kingdoms at http://australianmuseum.net.au/Australias-extinct-animals. You'll find in-depth information about the history of the land down under through this study of the formation of the Earth's layers. Start by analyzing Snapshots of archeological finds and learning about each geological era. Next, learn Fascinating Facts about fossils and Australian animals. For a break, play Games and brush up on your rock and fossil identification skills. At the end of the dig, it's Showtime, so watch movies of the changes of the land throughout time. (Disclaimer: This site now contains advertisements.)

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Visit the Featured Web sites to find the answers

What is the name of the current geological time period?

The Pleistocene Epoch
The Holocene Epoch
The Eocene Epoch

How does Tom M.L. Wigley contrast the terms "climate" and "weather"?

Climate is the average weather.
Weather is the average climate.
It's a trick question. They are the same.

What was the original name of the Pioneer Zephyr?

Chicago Zephyr
Burlington Zephyr
Quincy Zephyr

It's Getting Hot in Here

If you're wondering What's Up With the Weather, check out www.pbs.org/wgbh/warming. You can research the depletion of fossil fuels and analyze The Debate about the existence of global warming. Learn how much energy a typical household uses. Then search for new energy sources and play Your Carbon Diet to find out what you can do to conserve energy. You can read about what the world would be like if glaciers melted. Take a trip back in time and read the Stories in the Ice before it gets too hot.

Come on Ride the Train

Ride the Pioneer Zephyr along the rails at www.msichicago.org/exhibit/zephyr. This Illinois passenger train was on the right track to Building a Legacy when it revived railroad travel in the 1930s. See how Streamlined Design and the latest technology lured travelers to this train. From the tracks to the Museum of Science and Industry, the Pioneer Zephyr has a Legendary History. You can share its history with your friends with train e-cards. Check out Fun Facts about the Silver Streak before you're off. All aboard! (This site is no longer available.)

How old should you be to have and care for your own pet?

Speak Out Here!

Dear Amy: Why do we have daylight-saving time?
- Daniel, Brookhaven, Miss.

Dear Daniel: The purpose of daylight-saving time is to make better use of daylight. It is observed in almost every country in the world, with countries in the Northern Hemisphere observing it from April through October and countries in the Southern Hemisphere observing it from October through April. In the United States, daylight-saving time begins at 2 a.m. on the first Sunday of April and ends at 2 a.m. on the last Sunday of October.

With the number of daylight hours already at its peak during the summer, shifting time back one hour gives people an extra hour of daylight. Many people like the extra hour because it gives them more time to work outside in the evening. However, farmers and other people who work by daylight find that the time change disrupts their work routines. Some people complain that they have difficulty remembering how to adjust their clocks in the spring and fall. The key to daylight-saving time is to spring forward in the spring and to fall back in the fall. Go to http://webexhibits.org/daylightsaving for details about the origin and history of daylight-saving time.

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