4Kids.org - Week of February 27 , 2005

Week of February 27 , 2005

Currency Through the Ages

The American Currency Exhibit at www.frbsf.org/ currency has a showcase of bills to explore. You can view money from eras such as Independence, Civil War, Industrial Revolution and World Standard. Take a quick look at the portraits on American currency and meet historical figures George and Martha Washington. Then visit Artistry and Imagery for a tour of the monuments and buildings featured on American money. Enjoy your stroll through the historical vault of the United States.

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

Visit the Featured Web sites to find the answers.

When were the larger denomination notes retired?

1969
1699
1996

Where are the Orkney Islands located?

Ireland
Northern tip of Scotland
Ontario, Canada

What type of insect appears to look like a twig?

Stick Insects or Walking Sticks
Tree Bugs
Wood Camoflaged Insects

The History of Orkney

The past is alive at Orkneyjar: The Heritage of the Orkney Islands at www.orkneyjar.com. History runs deep in Orkney. Start in the Mesolithic era and work your way to the Norse Takeover to see Orkney's historical tapestry weave itself together. From Annual Festivities to Language and Custom, Tradition examines events deeply embedded in Orkney culture. Don’t forget to visit Folklore to explore the islands’ many mythical and superstitious stories. The heritage of the Orkney Islands is waiting for you.

Bugging Out

Get the dirt on bugs at www.insects.org. Not only do you get the facts on many different kinds of bugs, you can also learn how they are a part of cultures around the world. Follow Entophiles to see awesome close-up photography and read scientific facts about 150 different insects. The Cedigest contains cool articles about bugs spanning from ancient cultures to modern life. Class:Insecta presents a lesson on Butterfly Wing Patterns, where you can view colorful images of unique wing designs. Get ready to turn over a rock because these are the coolest creepy crawlies on the Web.

What does your family do for spring break?

Speak Out Here!

Dear Amy: What is an MP3? — Joe, Chicago

Dear Joe: MP3 is a file format that compresses digital audio into very small files. MP3 stands for MPEG Audio Layer-3. The acronym MPEG is short for Moving Picture Experts Group. This group has developed ways to compress large files such as video, audio, HDTV broadcasts and others into small files, which move over networks quickly. A CD audio file of about 30 megabytes can be compressed into a 3-megabyte MP3. For more information on MP3s and how they work, visit http://computer.howstuffworks.com/mp3.htm.

Dear Amy: Where can I find pictures on the Internet to print out and color? — Shelley, Derry, N.H.

Dear Shelley: I’ve always thought that coloring is a great way to spend a rainy day. One of my favorite places to get coloring pages is at www.janbrett.com/activities_pages_artwork.htm. This Web site contains pictures from stories by children’s book author Jan Brett that can be printed out and made into your very own works of art. You can choose pictures from nearly every holiday as well as print out pages to make your very own calendar. Let your creative side shine through!

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