4Kids.org: October 25, 1998

Land of a Thousand Dances
With its medieval bazaars, sacred mosques and delicious kabobs, Turkey is a country that holds something for everyone. Its culture is neither Asian nor European, but somewhere in between. At the Republic of Turkey's Ministry of Culture Web site, you'll immerse yourself in the art, architecture, history and music of this incredible land. Sail across the Mediterranean to www.kultur.gov.tr/EN to enjoy the wonders of the Old World. You'll explore such landmarks as the Derinkuyu Underground City, the Rumeli Fortress and the Shah Nadir Throne. Get ready to celebrate with the Turkish Ballet as it celebrates its 50th year, or check out the colorful costumes and jewelry still worn at traditional weddings and ceremonies. Welcome to Turkey!

Jumpin' Jupiter From sunspots to shooting stars, the world of outer space is fascinating but often hard to figure out. That's where the Exploratorium Observatory comes into play. With its interactive, hands-on exhibits, historical accounts and oodles of information and graphics, the Web site will launch you into a new galaxy of learning. Point your telescope over to www.exploratorium.edu/ observatory and enter a world of X-ray images, magnetic fields and turbulent eruptions. You'll be able to build a scaled-down version of the solar system to get the lowdown on what space is really like. Better yet, you can calculate your weight on another planet, or even the sun and stars. Don't forget to check out auroras, those beautiful paintings in the sky.

The Scream Machine
You must be at least as tall as your computer monitor to take a ride on: http:// coasters.eb.com. Buckle yourself in for a total rush in history and learn about the birth of the roller coaster! Inventing the Scream Machine speeds you back to the first thrill rides down icy mountainsides, then whips you through the centuries. Lots of cool illustrations and animated physics tell the tale of how a little gravity and a cart make for fun all over the globe. Hang on... (This site is no longer available.)

When you know the answers to the questions below, enter your answers. If you are correct, you will become a "4Kids Detective of the Week." If a question is not answered it is considered wrong. Good luck.

1. Which three languages did the Turkish poet Fuzuli know?

Turkish, Arabic and German

Turkish, Arabic and Persian

Turkish, Russian and French

2. In which country did the first "Scream Machines" thrill its riders?

England

Russia

Canada

3. Where in the sky do auroras appear?

Far Norh

Far East

Near South

Dear Amy: How come people write you for help with their computers? Wouldn't it be faster to get help from a teacher in their school?--Rachel, Wartburg, Tenn.
Dear Rachel: It would be much faster to ask someone in your school for help, but some schools don't have very many teachers that know about computers. Some schools are helping teachers with computers by getting kids to help right in the classroom. First, the kids learn a computer skill and then they teach a teacher what they have learned. If you want to find out more, go to "Gen WHY" at http:// genwhy.wednet.edu. (This site is no longer available.)

Dear Amy: I have to do a report about the state of Georgia. Can you help?--Kimberly, Vicksburg, Miss.
Dear Kimberly: I think the Web can help you with your homework. Nearly all the states have official Web sites and Georgia has one at www.georgia.gov. In fact, if you substitute a state's two-letter abbreviation where "ga" is in this URL, then you can go to any state's Web site. You can find more World Wide Web sites on a state if you use a search engine like MetaCrawler at www.metacrawler.com but ask your parents' permission first. Commercial sites like "Georgia on My Mind-Online!" at http:// gomm.com might be more fun and easier to find information for your report. (The last site is no longer available.)

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