4Kids.org - Week of June 28, 2009

Week of June 28, 2009

Visit the Featured Web sites to find the answers.

In Sunken Treasure, what tool helps find metal deposits?

Odometer
Gradiometer
Manometer

In what year was the first e-mail sent?

1962
1972
1982

Which star is closest to the North Celestial Pole?

Polaris
Sirius
Vega

Map It Out

Whether you are hunting for treasure or just setting off on a road trip, map-reading is an important skill. National Geographic's Maps: Tools for Adventure invites you to test your directional smarts at www.mywonderfulworld.
org/toolsforadventure/
games. Set off for Egypt and use a map to wind your way through an ancient Egyptian tomb, or blast off to outer space in Explore Mars. Want a real brain buster? Try out Go On a Family Adventure and follow clues to a mystery destination. This real map quest will make you a cartographic expert in no time.

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

Technology Grows Up

cell phone The National Science Foundation wants you to experience the Birth of the Internet, www.nsf.gov/
news/special_reports/nsf-net. Travel back to the 1960s to see how computers began to influence our world and then discover the intricacies of burgeoning computer networks. The ‘80s saw the computer get "personal," and during the ‘90s the World Wide Web grew rapidly, encouraging new business enterprises. Before you click away, browse through the 2000s to learn what the future holds for computer users just like you and your friends!

The Night Sky

Learn to appreciate the beauty of the night in a new way at Neave Planetarium, www.neave.com/
planetarium. Even though we all can see how pretty stars are, it takes a trained eye to observe and identify the different constellations. As the heavens roll past you in your browser, try not to get dizzy! Click on the area or star shapes that catch your eye and find out where it is located and how to identify it in your night sky. If you want a closer look, choose the Full Screen option and let your mouse roam through the celestial offerings. Then head outside and simply look up into the summer night.

Do you star gaze?

Speak Out Here!

Dear Amy: How do computers get glitches? I really don't like it when my computer does. — Daphne, Las Vegas

Dear Daphne: People often use the word “glitch” to describe all kinds of different computer problems that might happen. A lot of the time these problems are just a bug in software. After all, real people write software, and sometimes they make mistakes in their work. One way you can deal with software glitches is to make sure you update your computer software frequently, since new software updates are released to fix problems or add new features to a program. You can do this by running Windows Update or Apple Software Update, depending on what kind of computer you use.

Other times, computer glitches are caused by your hardware. Some of these problems go away if you shut down your computer, wait 10 seconds and power up again. If you have lots of computer glitches, instead of just every once in a while, it's a good idea to have a professional check your computer for any major problems.

If you want to look for helpful information online, ask a parent to search the Web with you for information about your specific glitch or problem. Good luck!

—Amy

Ask Amy a Question