4Kids.org - Week of December 26, 2004

Week of December 26, 2004

Studying DNA

Ever wonder just how similar you are to other people? You can learn all about genes, DNA and the chemical makeup of all living things at http://nature.ca/genome/ index_e.cfm. Visit We Are All Alike for information on similarities between living organisms. Read about genetic disorders and what treatments are being developed to cure them. Then, study up on cloning and genetic modification. There are also lots of online games, activities, polls and videos you can check out to test your knowledge, learn even more, or just have a good time.

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

Visit the Featured Web sites to find the answers.

About how many cells do humans have in their bodies?

100 million
100 billion
100 trillion

Which game features math bowling?

Game 8
Game 9
Game 10

The “Nation's Attic” refers to what place?

Smithsonian
Natural History Museum
Library of Congress

1, 2, Buckle My Shoe

Count Us In! Learn online mathematics at www.abc.net.au/countusin with games designed to help you understand basic number concepts. You can practice your sheep counting skills by moving sheep from paddock to paddock. Catch a wave at the beach and learn about halves or go to the pond and help a frog leap on numbered lily pads. There are many other activities, such as patterning, addition and subtraction for you to play at home or in school.

Exploring Washington, D.C.

Washington, D.C., is more than just home to our nation's capitol. Explore the district in its entirety at www.exploredc.org. From the monuments and museums to the neighborhoods and surrounding sites, America's history and heritage runs deep in the district. Find out which presidents have monuments and memorials honoring them at U.S. Presidents. African-American Heritage honors those who invested their lives to help make the district great. From its rich local history to our nation's center of government, Washington, D.C., is an American jewel. (This site is no longer available.)

What kind of information do you search for most on the Web?

Speak Out Here!

Dear Amy: What does “mesa verde” mean in Spanish? — Steven, Park Ridge, Ill.

Dear Steven: In Spanish, “mesa verde” means “green table.” There are lots of fun sites on the Web that will help you translate Spanish words into English words. A good basic translation site is Dictionary.com at http://translate.reference.com. Also, Funbrain.com has a fun game called The Translator Alligator at www.funbrain.com/funbrain/lang designed to help you learn Spanish words. It has different categories of play such as traveling words, people words and food words.

Dear Amy: When and where did the last solar eclipse take place, and when and where will it happen again? — Michael, Memphis, Tenn.

Dear Michael: According to NASA’s Web site, the last solar eclipse occurred Oct. 14, 2004. It was a partial solar eclipse that reached Northeast Asia and parts of Alaska and Hawaii. The next solar eclipse is scheduled to appear April 8, 2005, visible from New Zealand, Panama, Colombia and Venezuela. For more information on recent and upcoming eclipses, visit NASA’s Solar Eclipse Page at http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse.html.

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