4Kids.org - Week of June 3, 2007

Week of June 3 , 2007

Zoorrific

Come visit the animals at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park, http://nationalzoo.si.edu/ Audiences/kids. Solve a Jigsaw Puzzle lets you piece together many different types of zoo creatures, like the brown bear or the ruffled lemur. Just choose your animal and click and drag the puzzle pieces to form a complete picture. Browse through What's in a Name to learn how your favorite animals got their monikers. Then click on Coloring Pages to print out a creative canvas. The Conservation Kids Club always has room for members who want to help endangered species, so sign up today.

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

Visit the Featured Web sites to find the answers.

How long is a giraffe's tongue?

Up to 21 inches
Up to 50 inches
Up to 35 inches

What does “ER” stand for?

Endoplasmic Reticulum
Endoplasma Restrum
Endoplasmic Restrum

How tall is the Plantoir
sculpture?

28 feet 3 inches
20 feet 5 inches
23 feet 11inches

Mini Tours

Shrink yourself down to the molecular level and take a tour of the inside of a cell when you visit The National Science Foundation at www.nsf.gov/news/overviews
/biology/interactive.jsp. Use your mouse to direct your search by scrolling up, down, right and left to get a good look around you. Click on a cell-part number to find out which part of the cell you have come face-to-face with and how it functions. Maybe you want to learn more about mitochondria, a cell’s “power plant,” which creates energy. Explore the nucleus, also known as the cell's brain, where all genetic material, or DNA, is stored.

Up on the Rooftop

Meet amazing artists Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen when you visit www.metmuseum.org/explore
/oldenburg/index.html. These creative minds joined together in 1976 to begin “Large-Scale Projects,” works of art featured all over the world. The Roof Garden exhibit is made up of many everyday objects in super-large sizes. Read through Why the Roof to learn more about why these sculptures are outside. Are you wondering just how the exhibits made it up on the roof? How Did They Get Here? has a great slide show and video showing these colossal creations on the move. Finally, use your eyes to determine flavor in What Does Color Taste Like?

Do you think the government should require people to use public transportation?

Speak Out Here!

Backyard Games

One of my favorite summer pastimes is gathering kids in my neighborhood for some outdoor games. We usually play classic games such as hide-and-seek or kick the can. If we have enough people and plenty of space, then we like to play Frisbee baseball. The rules are just like baseball, but with a few changes. Players take turns “batting” like in baseball, but instead of hitting a ball, they throw a Frisbee as far as they can. If a player on the opposing team catches the Frisbee, then it's an out. You can also tag out players with the Frisbee or call a “foul ball” if their Frisbee lands out of bounds, but there are not any strikes or balls when a player is up to bat. Don't worry if you have a little trouble throwing the Frisbee long distances.You'll be hitting home runs before you know it!

For more outdoor game ideas, be sure to check out www.yardgames.org. The games there are sorted by sections such as Tag-Type Games and Spooky Games to Play at Night. With so many games to choose from, you'll have a blast all summer! (This site is no longer available.)

—Amy

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