4Kids.org - Week of November 5, 2006

Week of November 5, 2006

Charged Up

Discover some shocking facts in the Theater of Electricity at www.mos.org/sln/toe/toe.html. Explore the truth behind the famous Ben Franklin experiment and watch what happens when lightning strikes a kite. The Lightning Safety Quiz tests your knowledge of storms, and browsing through the History and Construction sections will enlighten you about how giant electric generators are made. For fun, watch sparks fly in the picture and video galleries. Now you'll be ready for the next lightning storm!

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

Visit the Featured Web sites to find the answers.

How long does a lightning flash last?

1/1000 second
1/100 second
1/10 second

What is Dr. Seuss’ real name?

Theodore Geisel
Dibson Suesskins
Timothy Suess

Who introduced the concept of the free fall?

Socrates
Einstein
Galileo

Suess Lets Loose

Suessville, www.seussville.com, invites you for fun and cool games. Go visit the Playground if to learn is your aim. The Quote Maker is ready and willing to share, wise words from the master of writing with flair. Events will show you what's coming to town, and if you live close, you must head on down. Discover the Suess dirt in Biography. Where and when was he born? Just click and you'll see. Browse through this site, no matter your age. Not just an author, this Suess was a sage.

Rockin' and Rollin'

Discover the forces behind the fun when you ride a
roller coaster at Amusement Park Physics, www.learner.org/exhibits/
parkphysics. Pick a ride, any ride, from carousels to the pendulum and see what makes them tick. Are you ready to test your safety harness? Click on Design a Roller Coaster to create your own thrill ride. Did you know you are more likely to get hurt riding your bike than on amusement park rides? Read through ride safety for the scoop on this exciting pastime, and browse the Physics Glossary to help with new vocabulary.

What do you like or not like about changing seasons?

Speak Out Here!

Crack the Code

Sometimes my friends and I like to pretend that we are spies. Every good spy needs a spy kit complete with binoculars, a magnifying glass and a notebook. We also have a secret drop box where we leave coded messages. A drop box can be anyplace, such as under a doormat or in a tree knot.

There are many ways you can code messages. My favorite is the pigpen code that you can learn at www.nationalgeographic.com
/ngkids/trythis/secretcodes/pigpen.html.

Secret codes are not just for spies! Did you know that slaves used a secret quilt code on the Underground Railroad? It helped guide the slaves to freedom. Read more about it at www.timeforkids.
com/TFK/magazines/story/0,6277,58261,00.html

Check out these sites to learn more:

Morse Code
www.battleshipnc.com/kids/games/morse

Codes, Ciphers & Secret Messages
www.42explore2.com/codes.htm

(The first two sites are no longer available.)

—Amy

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