4Kids.org - Week of February 11, 2007

Week of February 11, 2007

Un-Bee-lievable Books

Having trouble deciding what book to read next? Buzz over to the BookHive at www.bookhive.org and you'll find everything you need to track down a great read. In Fun Activities, click on Zinger's Booklists to browse Zinger's favorite books by grade level. You can even create your own booklist to share with friends when you go to MyBooklist. Ready for some fun trivia? Take the Lemony Snicket Quiz or test your knowledge on Harry Potter characters and trivia. Before you go, print off a few bookplates to stick in your favorite books.

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

Visit the Featured Web sites to find the answers.

What is the name of the Weasley house?

The Burrow
Weasley Estate
The Shire

Where did potbellied pigs come from?

Vietnam
Japan
China

Where should you put your fire extinguisher?

In your closet
Under the bed
The kitchen

Holy Hogs!

Join the swine and wallow in The Joy of Pigs at www.pbs.org
/wnet/nature/episodes/the-joy-of-pigs/introduction/2123. Pigs are so much more than a food that ends up on your plate. Did you know pigs also hunt for special mushrooms known as truffles? Another fun fact is that pigs are surprisingly clean, smart animals. Potbellied pigs can also make great pets, but make sure to do your research before adding one to your family. These oinkers can weigh up to 300 pounds! To view some pig pics, click on Pigs Around the World and connect with your local mud lovers.

Play It Safe

Ride along with the Rescue Heroes for some fire safety fun at www.fisher-price.com
/us/rescueheroes/firezone
/fz_game.asp. All kids need to know what to do in case of a fire, so get ready to play the Fire Escape Game and brush up on your safety skills. Duck down and save your breath as you travel through a smoky hall. Help is only a phone call away, but be sure to dial 911 as soon as your smoke detector goes off. Batteries can be a lifesaver, so make sure your smoke detector is in working order. Billy Blazes reminds players to always have a fire escape plan, so get to work and make one with your family today.

Do you think people should own exotic animals like tigers?

Speak Out Here!

Dear Amy: How does a computer work? — Scott, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Dear Scott: There are a few major components found in a computer. The Central Processing Unit, or CPU, is the “brain” of the computer and tells the other parts what to do.

Memory stores instructions for the CPU and temporarily stores data. This temporary data is erased when the computer is turned off, so any data that needs to be saved for later use is stored on the hard drive.

The computer also needs an Input/Output (I/O) subsystem. The I/O allows the computer to communicate with the user. Your keyboard is an example of an input device, and your computer monitor is an example of an output source.

The computer components communicate with each other using “buses.” Buses are wires that can be set to 1 (on) or 0 (off). All information stored and used by computers is written in binary code, a language that uses only 0s and 1s.

For pictures and more details about computer components, check out: www.stutzfamily.com/mrstutz/eisgeneral/computerparts.html.

Ask Amy a Question