4Kids.org - Week of February 16, 2003

Week of February 16, 2003

Nature’s History

Discover a world spanning eons at the Natural History Museum in London at www.nhm.ac.uk. In the Earth lab, you’ll find fossils, minerals and rocks. Twelve unidentified fossils are in Quest. Take notes about the fossils and try to identify them. Rub vocal chords with Mother Nature by spinning sound bytes with the nature sound mixer. The AntCast lets you spy on an ant colony with a live video stream. Put your bravery to the test with a visit to an animated T-Rex and other dinosaurs. This museum brings natural history to you.

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

Visit the Featured Web sites to find the answers.

Spiders and crustaceans belong to what scientific group?

arachnid
arthropod
anthropoid

What element brings out the green of the quartz specimen?

uranium
plutonium
kryptonite

How many gorillas are there that know sign language?

three
two
five

Museum of Fluorescence

Glimpse the colorful world of minerals under the lamp at The Thomas S. Warren Museum of Fluorescence, located at www.sterlinghillminingmuseum.
org/warren/about.php. When certain minerals are placed under ultraviolet light, they fluoresce, producing tantalizingly beautiful and otherworldly results. Read all about this mysterious property in About Fluorescence. Specimen Photos display examples of fluorescence at work. Check out What’s Here if you decide to visit the real-life Museum.

Life With Koko

Visit The Gorilla Foundation and meet Koko at www.koko.org. Koko, the world’s most renowned gorilla, can sign more than 1,000 words. She will teach you American Sign Language as well as a language she developed on her own. You’re sure to love Koko’s Christmas QuickTime video. Check out the pictures she has taken and see pictures of Koko as a baby. People all over the world are trying to help gorillas. One way you can help is by expanding your knowledge about these animals, so subscribe to Koko’s eNews for the latest gorilla information. (Disclaimer: This site now contains advertisements.)

Should kids be allowed to wear bulky coats in the classroom?

Speak Out Here!

Educated by Nature

Humans learn a lot from animals. Whether we draw comparisons between human and animal behavior or we learn from human and animal interaction, animals play an important role in our world. Below is a group of sites dedicated to teaching us about animals. You’ll find information about unusual species and unusual behavior. You’re sure to encounter a few creatures that are new to you, so spend a little time getting to know them.

Animals A to Zoo
http://animal.discovery.com/animals

Camouflage Field Book
www.harcourtschool.com/activity/camouflage/camouflage.html

Wildchannel
www.wildchannel.com (This site is no longer available.)

Endangered!
www.amnh.org/nationalcenter/Endangered

—Amy

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