ChillKids
December 2016
Fun Family Educational Resource of Chapel Hill • Carrboro • Durham • Hillsborough • NC Triangle
Holiday Fun in the NC Triangle!
Magical Holiday Season at Biltmore Estate
Triangle Youth Ballet's 22nd Season Performing The Nutcracker
FREE!
Piedmont Electric Membership Corporation A Touchstone Energy Cooperative
Art Project: Learn How to Draw an Elf
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Educational fun for the whole family! ChillKids is your LOCAL award-winning educational family resource magazine for parents, grandparents, children, and educators K-5th grade in Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Hillsborough/Orange County, Durham and the NC Triangle.
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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3 (12-4 PM)
DURHAM COUNTY STADIUM PRACTICE FIELD 750 STADIUM DRIVE, DURHAM, NC 27704
HAVE FUN READING & LEARNING with ChillKids, featuring award-winning educational puzzles and games.
SNOW SLEDDING • SANTA MEET & GREET • TRAIN RIDES
Santa Paws
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9 (6-8 PM)
DURHAM ARMORY 212 FOSTER STREET, DURHAM, NC 27701
Demos • Vendors • Santa Meet & Greet
Holiday Parade
Educators can request FREE distribution for your K-5 classroom(s) by calling (919) 951-4410. Read the monthly online edition at www. ChillKids.com/news. The ChillKids family educational resource is supported by sponsors who share our mission to promote literacy and a love of learning in our local community. To learn more about supporting our 501(c)(3) nonprofit literacy mission in partnership with the Newspaper in Education Initiative, call us at (919) 951-4410.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10 (10 AM) Vendors • Floats • Bands
FOR EVENT DETAILS VISIT DPRPL AYMORE.ORG
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December Maze Help the elf find his way out of the snowy maze to find his reindeer sidekick! Learn how to draw an elf cartoon on page ???.
DIVISION SUDOKU
MAIN STREET - DOWNTOWN DURHAM
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DECEMBER PUZZLE ANSWERS
COIN CAPER ANSWER: DDDNNN ADDITION SQUARE ANSWER 1, 8, 4, 3, 4, 12, 27 COIN CLUE PUZZLE: Q P Q P
THANKS to all our sponsors for supporting the ChillKids literacy & Newspapers in Education programs in Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Hillsborough/Orange County, Durham and the NC Triangle!
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2 www.ChillKids.com/news December 2016
ChillKids Chapel Hill/Carrboro/Hillsborough/ Orange & Durham Counties' Fun Family Educational Resource PUBLISHER/EDITOR Kate Look kate@ChillKids.com For Sponsorship Information, or to request (FREE!) K-5 distribution for your school, contact us at: (919) 951-4410 www.ChillKids.com/news ChillKids 1818 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, #210 Chapel Hill, NC 27514 Copyright © 2016 ChillKids. All rights reserved. No part of this issue may be reproduced in whole or in part in any form without permission of the publisher. Neither participating advertisers nor the publishers will be responsible or liable for misinformation, misprints or typographical errors. The publishers reserve the right to edit any submitted material. ChillKids is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, artwork, or other material. Children's art submissions should include name, address, telephone number, and permission to publish signed by a parent or guardian.
Welcome December! December is here and there are so many fun annual traditions to enjoy in the North Carolina Triangle! Have your picture taken with Santa and enjoy crafts and fun family events at Northgate Mall in Durham (see page 8), and enjoy the Festival of Lights at Hill Ridge Farms! (See page 10). Join in the fun in Durham at the Holiday Fest, the Holiday Parade, and Santa Paws (see page 2 for details.) Also make plans to visit Morehead Planetarium & Science Center for a Family-Friendly New Year's Eve celebration and planetarium shows (moreheadplanetarium.org). December is a great time to look up at the starry night sky! Ask your parents to watch for the Geminid meteor shower ("shooting stars") the nights of December 13-14th. The holiday season brings amazing decorations at Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. Read about Biltmore House and Biltmore Estate on pages 6 - 7. This month we talked with Sean Kenney about the awesome career he has built with LEGOs! Sean Kenney is a full-time LEGO sculptor/artist and author. His stunning LEGO sculpture exhibit, “Nature Connects: Art with LEGO Bricks,” is on display at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden in Fayetteville, NC now through January 8, 2017. Read more on pages 12 - 13. On page 5 we'll go behind the scenes and learn about the newest backdrops and scenery that will be unveiled at the Triangle Youth Ballet's performances of The Nutcracker. The Triangle Youth Ballet Have a joyful December! presents its 22nd year of The Nutcracker this year with performances in Chapel Hill on December 3rd and 4th, and performances in Durham on December 10th. While you are e njoying the holiday lights and s tar r y nights, be sure to think of ways to sho w your pare nts, f amily, te ache rs, and f r ie nds ho w much you appre ciate them. A simple card or a no te can br ighte n the ir day dur ing the holidays, or any day of the ye ar ! Happy Holidays!
Happy Holidays! WINTER WONDERLAND 1. ___________________________ 2. ___________________________ 3. ___________________________ 4. ___________________________ 5. ___________________________ 6. ___________________________ 7. ___________________________ 8. ___________________________ 9. ___________________________ 10. __________________________
Rearrange the letters in winter wonderland to come up with ten new words. You do not have to use all the letters. **EXTRA CHALLENGE** Can you come up with 20 words? 77 Vilcom Center Drive Suite 310 Chapel Hill, NC 27514 919-933-1007 www.cliftonandmauney.com
Clifton & Mauney Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry
December 2016 www.ChillKids.com/news
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Storms on Earth
- By Teagan Wall, National Aeronautics and Space Administration
You’ve probably seen some scary storms with very fast winds. But did you know that over the oceans, spinning storms can create even faster winds? These storms are called tropical cyclones. Depending on where they happen in the world, these storms also go by other names, like hurricanes (in the North Atlantic Ocean) and typhoons (in the Western North Pacific Ocean). In order to study these storms, NASA created the Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System, or CYGNSS. When the tropical cyclones spin, there is an area in the center called the “eye.” The eye of the storm has less wind and rain than other parts of the storm. What happens on the ocean’s surface in the eye may tell scientists what the storm will do next. However, the eye is surrounded on all sides by high speed winds. This area is called the eye-wall. If a person were to go to the eye-wall to study the ocean’s surface, it could be very dangerous. But satellites can safely study what happens in the eye and eye-wall of an ocean storm. CYGNSS is launching in November, and has eight satellites that will orbit the Earth. They will look at the ocean surface, and measure how fast the wind is going. Although other satellites can measure wind strength, sometimes rain from inside the tropical cyclone can make their measurements less accurate. However, the CYGNSS satellites will be able to accurately measure the strength of the wind, even in rainy weather. When there is a storm, the CYGNSS satellites will be able to watch it get stronger or weaker. They can see what is happening in the eye and eye-wall of the storm from space. Scientists will use information from CYGNSS to learn more about how storms form. It may help them predict where a storm is going. The satellites may also help us know if a storm is going to get worse.
Artist’s concept of one of the eight Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System satellites deployed in space above a hurricane. Image Credit: NASA.
When tropical cyclones move toward land, they can be very dangerous for people who live in the path of the storm. If we know when a hurricane or typhoon will happen, where it will go, and how strong it will be, we can keep people safe. CYGNSS may help us do that. This is just one way NASA is helping us here on Earth, as well as exploring the stars.
Want to learn more about how hurricanes form? Visit the NASA Space Place for more information: http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/hurricanes
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4 www.ChillKids.com/news December 2016
Behind the Scenes: Triangle Youth Ballet's The Nutcracker
ARTS & DANCE
Have you every wondered who creates the beautiful backdrops and scenery for the Triangle Youth Ballet's performances of The Nutcracker Ballet? In December 2016, the Triangle Youth Ballet's 22nd season of The Nutcracker will unveil a brand new backdrop created by local high school Technical Theatre students at East Chapel Hill High School, under the direction of the school's Theatre Manager Jeff Alquire. Triangle Youth Ballet will unveil the new "Big Toys Under Tree" backdrop in The Nutcracker performances in December 2016. This is the backdrop for the Battle Scene between the mice led by the Mouse King and the Nutcracker Prince with his army of toy soldiers, Clara’s stuffed bunny, and Clara. From research into toys of the period, to sketching with painstaking detail to coordinate the perspective of the young dancers, East Chapel Hill High School student Vanessa Mills created the art that would be the new backdrop. They first had to stretch the 18' x 42' canvas. Then they primed it. They sketched the artwork. And then they began painting! (The photos at right show the progression from sketch to completed backdrop.) Triangle Youth Ballet has funded its new backdrops thanks to concessions sales at ballet performances. Concession sales in 2014 provided the funds for a matching grant from the Orange County Arts Commission to paint the "Enchanted Snowy Forest" backdrop that was unveiled in 2015. Last year's concession sales funded materials for the new backdrop that will be unveiled this year. Come experience the magic of Triangle Youth Ballet's The Nutcracker and you can see the finished backdrop unveiled. You will be amazed by the finished product!
triangle youth ballet The
Nutcracker with live music by the
Tchaikovsky Virtuosi Saturday December 3 @ 7 pm Sunday December 4 @ 2 pm
Hanes Theatre, Chapel Hill High School
TICKETS ON SALE
Tututix.com
Saturday December 10 @ 11 am and 3:30 pm Carolina Theatre, Durham
TICKETS ON SALE
Photography by Catharine Carter
www.triangleyouthballet.org
919-560-3030 & TICKETMASTER
919-932-2676
The Triangle Youth Ballet is a 501(c)3 non-profit and a member of the North Carolina Center for Non-Profits.
The Nutcracker Ballet Word Find S N O W F L A K E S W N E A A
O R C H E S T R A P M Y C U T
N E E U Q W O N S G S T N D Y
D E T N A H C N E A N R A I Q
AUDIENCE BALLET CHILDREN CHRISTMAS CLARA DANCING DOLL DREAM
C H I L D R E N M E E D M E N
M T E L L A B T S Y M A R N U
O S W S B A S E E C E N O C T
U Q Q V R I R M U P G C F E C
S U G A R P L U M F A I R Y R
E U L H J E V L I U T N E I A
DRUMMERS ENCHANTED FRITZ DROSSELMEYER HOLIDAY MOUSE KING NUTCRACKER ORCHESTRA
December 2016 www.ChillKids.com/news
K C C B S Z R P O N S G P K C
I R S S G H O L I D A Y W H K
N J O Y K S V O K I A H C T E
G R F R I T Z N H M A E R D R
D S R E M M U R D P R I N C E
PERFORMANCE PRESENT PRINCE SNOWFLAKES SNOW QUEEN STAGE SUGAR PLUM FAIRY TCHAIKOVSKY
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North Carolina Treasures
Biltmore Estate
An Amazing Treasure in Asheville, North Carolina
Biltmore House is a mansion that was built in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Asheville, North Carolina, by George Washington Vanderbilt II from 1889 through 1895. Biltmore House is the largest privately-owned home in the United States. It has 250 rooms, 135,000 square feet.
Biltmore House Fun Facts
In the 1880s, George Vanderbilt began to make regular visits to the mountains in Asheville with his mother for his mother's health. He loved the Blue Ridge Mountains setting and the climate so much that he decided to build his own home in Asheville. Before beginning the design and construction of his home, George Vanderbilt traveled to Europe along with famous New York architect Richard Morris Hunt, to visited some of the castles there to for ideas and inspiration in planning the home he wanted to build in Asheville. (Richard Morris Hunt had designed houses for other Vanderbilt family members before Biltmore House was built.) George Vanderbilt decided to build a château (a château is a castle or country home like those he had visited in Europe) in the French Renaissance style, and employed architect Richard Morris Hunt to design Biltmore House. He also employed a famous landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed the gardens and landscape to preserve the forests and mountain views surrounding Biltmore Estate. Frederick Law Olmsted also was the landscape architect who designed New York City's Central Park. Biltmore House took five years to build, and it was completed in 1895. Along with the Biltmore House, the estate also included its own village named "Biltmore Village" (which you can still visit today), and a church known as the "Cathedral of All Souls" (where George's only child, his daughter Cornelia, was married.) The Vanderbilt family established a forestry school and farming operations on the Estate; now they also have a vineyard on Biltmore Estate at Antler Hill Village, which was once the center of farming and social life for the many employees who worked at Biltmore Estate.
Did you know? The Biltmore House has:
George's daughter Cornelia and her husband Cecil later opened Biltmore House to the public in March 1930. Family members continued to live there until 1956, when it was permanently opened to the public as a museum. Biltmore Estate is still owned and managed by George Vanderbilt's descendants. Visitors from all over the world now come to see the 70,000-gallon indoor swimming pool, private bowling alley, and two-store library. The rooms are filled with priceless artwork, paintings, tapestries, a ceiling mural, furniture, and other treasures. The estate today covers approximately 8,000 acres, including 5 acres of formal gardens, a winery and a 200-room hotel on the estate.
Its own bowling alley, but the bowling pins had to be retrieved and set back up in place by hand before each round of bowling. A 70,000 gallon indoor swimming pool, quite an engineering feat! Electricity, running water and plumbing, and forced-air heating, all of which were rare at the time. Electric freight elevators and passenger elevators, and refrigeration rooms.
In addition to tours of Biltmore House, Biltmore Estate also offers an outdoor adventure center, barns, horseback riding, vineyard, concerts, shops, museums shops, restaurants, and extensive gardens.
Dumb-waiters, centrally-controlled clocks, fire alarms, and an intercom call system.
Biltmore Estate remains a major tourist attraction in Western North Carolina and has over 1 million visitors each year. In 1964, it was designated a National Historic Landmark.
Biltmore House has 43 bathrooms; many of them have tubs or showers. The Library has more than 10,000 books. The Library also is where Napoleon's chess set is on display. (The chess set was a gift to George Vanderbilt on his 21st birthday.)
All photos courtesy of Biltmore Estate.
6 www.ChillKids.com/news December 2016
Magical Holidays at Biltmore Estate When George Vanderbilt opened his home to family and friends on Christmas Eve 1895, so began a tradition at Biltmore that is carried on to this day. Christmas at Biltmore this year reflects the theme of “Hearth and Home,” getting right to the heart of what Vanderbilt intended for his North Carolina home. Running Nov. 4, 2016, through Jan. 8, 2017, Biltmore’s holiday celebration will provide guests with a completely immersive experience. The wonders of Biltmore House—masterpieces of art, architecture, and Vanderbilt family treasures—are enhanced with more than 70 intricately decorated trees along with hundreds of poinsettias and garlands. The towering 34-foot-tall Fraser Fir in the home’s immense Banquet Hall is the star attraction. Guests may also enjoy the entire estate as part of their admission. The glass-roofed Conservatory anchoring the Walled Garden is filled with blooms, and daily seminars at A Gardener’s Place shop provide tips for guests’ own holiday décor. At Antler Hill Village & Winery, the Winery offers grown-ups free tastings of Biltmore wines—including the new Christmas commemorative wine—and additional in-depth tours and programs. Weekends in the Village bring carolers sharing traditional Christmas favorites, and Santa making guest appearances at the bandstand to hear wish lists from guests of all ages. Candlelight Christmas Evenings From fireplace mantels draped with evergreens to towering trees festooned with lights, Candlelight Christmas Evenings provide a warm welcome on a frosty night. By reservation only, these evenings in Biltmore House have become a cherished holiday tradition for many who enjoy a uniquely different view of holiday lights and live music. Setting the scene is a 55-foot Norway spruce sparkling in the center of the sweeping Front Lawn, flanked by rows of softly glowing luminaries. Candlelight Christmas Evenings are offered Nov. 4 through Jan. 7. For tickets, reservations, and more information about Christmas at Biltmore, visit Biltmore.com/visit.
December 2016 www.ChillKids.com/news
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8 www.ChillKids.com/news December 2016
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday Thursday
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Triangle Youth Ballet's
The Nutcracker 22nd Season!
Chapel Hill Performances December 3, 2016 at 7:00 p.m. December 4, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. Robert C. Hanes Theater, Chapel Hill High School
Triangle Youth Ballet
The Nutcracker 2:00 pm Robert C. Hanes Theater, Chapel Hill High School (See page 5.) www.triangleyouthballet.org
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& Holiday Family Fun at NORTHGATE MALL (See page 8.)
Saturdays at 1:30pm Sundays at 2:30pm
19 Story Time
Christmas Day
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9 Durham Holiday Events Santa Paws
Ages 3 – 6 Mondays & Tuesdays 10:30 am – 11:00 am ALSO Tuesdays 3:30 pm - 4 pm Chapel Hill Public Library
The Longest Night: A Winter Tale at Morehead Planetarium & Science Center
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NORTHGATEMALL.COM
Story Time
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Durham Performances December 10, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. & 3:30 p.m. The Carolina Theater, Durham Read more about Triangle Youth Ballet's The Nutcracker on page 5.
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Friday
6-8pm Demos Vendors Santa Meet & Greet DPRPLAYMORE.ORG
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Full Moon
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Geminids Meteor Shower Peak
Saturday Durham 3 Holiday Fun Fest 12-4pm Snow Sledding Train Rides Santa Meet & Greet
DPRPLAYMORE.ORG
Triangle Youth Ballet The Nutcracker 7:00 pm
Robert C. Hanes Theater, Chapel Hill High School
(See page 7)
10 Durham
Holiday Parade
10am Main Street Downtown Durham Vendors Floats Bands DPRPLAYMORE.ORG
Triangle Youth Ballet The Nutcracker
11:00 am & 3:30 pm Carolina Theatre, Durham
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Wright Brothers Day
The first powered human flight by Orville and Wilbur Wright at Kitty Hawk, NC in 1903.
between midnight & dawn Dec. 13 - Dec. 14, 2016
spaceplace.nasa.gov/ meteor-shower
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Story Time
Ages 3 – 6 Mondays & Tuesdays 10:30 am – 11:00 am ALSO Tuesdays 3:30 pm - 4 pm Chapel Hill Public Library
Ages 3 – 6 Mondays & Tuesdays 10:30 am – 11:00 am and 3:30 pm - 4 pm
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Learn how to draw an elf like me! (Page 8.)
Chapel Hill Public Library
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Family-Friendly New Year's Eve at Morehead Planetarium moreheadplanetarium.org
December 2016 www.ChillKids.com/news
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Hidden Picture Puzzle HIDDEN PICTURE PUZZLES by Liz
How many hidden items can you find?
November 24 - December 31, 2016 7 nights a week
* Sun. - Thurs. 5pm - 9pm * Fri. - Sat. 4pm - 10pm
Come join us for a magical holiday celebration!
Enjoy an old fashioned covered wagon hayride and magical train ride through our beautiful light show! Covered Wagon Hayride Old Fashioned Candy Store Train Rides Bonfires Giant Slide Visit Santa nightly through Dec. 23rd Smores/Hot Chocolate/Apple Cider Great Food at our Chuckwagon Grill! Jumping Pillow Barrel Racers
hillridgefarms.com
(919) 556-1771 or (800) 358-4170
703 Tarboro Road, Youngsville, NC 27596
10 www.ChillKids.com/news December 2016
by John Jensenius, National Weather Service meteorologist
Winter is the time of year when people think about holidays, winter storms and, of course, snow! In the United States, the average yearly snowfall ranges from zero along the Gulf Coast to more than 6 feet in northern New England, mountainous areas of the West, and around the Great Lakes. In fact, some locations receive more than 10 feet of snow in a typical year! Winter storms can also bring heavy rain, sleet, freezing rain, high winds, cold temperatures, dangerous wind chills and even blizzard conditions. Moisture and cold air are the two most important ingredients needed for a winter storm to develop and intensify. Southerly winds on the east side of a storm usually supply the moisture that the storm needs to produce precipitation while northerly winds supply the cold air necessary for the precipitation to fall as snow, sleet or freezing rain. When weather forecasters predict the type of precipitation expected to reach the ground during a winter storm, they look at
air temperatures at many different levels in the atmosphere. In most cases, the precipitation forms high in the atmosphere where temperatures are below 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Initially, the precipitation starts as tiny ice crystals, which then grow into snowflakes as they fall through the clouds. If the air temperature remains below freezing as the snowflakes fall toward the ground, the precipitation will reach the ground as snow. However, if the snowflakes fall into a layer of air where the temperature is above freezing, the snowflakes will melt into raindrops. Then, if the temperature remains above freezing on the way to the ground, the precipitation will reach the ground as rain. It’s also possible that the raindrops could fall into another layer of air that is below freezing. If this occurs, the precipitation could reach the ground as either sleet (ice pellets) or freezing rain. Sleet forms when raindrops or partially melted snowflakes re-freeze into a pellet of ice on their way to the ground. Even though the temperature may be below freezing where you are, sleet indicates that there is a warm (above
Snow!
freezing) layer of air somewhere above you in the atmosphere. Sometimes you might observe that it is raining, but the air temperature is below freezing. We call this type of precipitation freezing rain because all or part of the raindrop freezes when it hits the ground (or a tree, wire or car). When freezing rain coats everything with a layer of ice, we call the torm an ice storm. Ice storms can cause power outages due to falling trees and wires. This winter, if a winter storm heads your way, be prepared! If you’d like to learn more, ask your parent to download NOAA’s brochure on winter storms at: www.nws.noaa.gov/om/winterstorm/ winterstorms.pdf
Chapel Hill Pediatrics
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December 2016 www.ChillKids.com/news
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What’s it Like to Be . . . a LEGO® Artist? Meet Sean Kenney, LEGO Artist & Author!
build (much like one of my sculptures).
Do you have fun building with LEGO® bricks? Building with LEGO bricks is a great way to spark your creativity and imagination.
Bit by bit, as I create more pieces, host more shows, reach more fans, publish more books, I’ve slowly built up a fan base and garnered attention from media around the world. It also makes it very surreal because I never woke up one day and said “Today I am Awesome LEGO Man!”, so I don’t feel like I’ve ever “arrived” at any kind of success, I’m just sort of still on that slow, steady build.
Sean Kenney is a full-time LEGO artist who creates spectacular sculptures and artwork with LEGO bricks. He creates sculptures of people, animals, and entire city landscapes, mosaic portraits of individual people (and pets & robots too), and functional modern furnishings, all built entirely from LEGO bricks. He is one of only 15 LEGO Certified Professionals in the entire WORLD! Kenney also writes children’s books about how to make your own LEGO creations. You can make lots of cool LEGO sculptures (robots, mini vehicles, figures, and castles) following the easy designs in his books. He has created exhibits of life-size LEGO sculptures, for example, an exhibit of 32 lifesize animals for the Philadelphia Zoo called “Creatures of Habitat,” a “Gazillion-Piece Animal Adventure” depicting endangered animals built with LEGO bricks. The exhibit includes a life-size polar bear sculpture that was made with 95,000 individual LEGO bricks, and took 1,100 hours to build.
Sean’s exhibit, “Nature Connects Art with LEGO Bricks Exhibit” currently is on display at the North Carolina Botanical Garden in Fayetteville, NC now through January 8, 2017. The exhibit will then
continue its tour at botanical gardens and zoos across the country and all the way to Taiwan (in 2018).
We talked with Sean Kenney and what it’s like to be a LEGO® sculptor, artist and author! CK: When, and why, did you first become interested in becoming a full-time LEGO artist? Kenney: LEGO is very creative but it’s also very “mathy”, which is one of the things I like about it. I’d been playing with LEGO toys ever since I was a little kid. Even as I entered my teen years and my adulthood, I never stopped building! I was sharing my creations online and eventually, people started commissioning things from me and asking me to attend events. At the same time, I started having a good relationship with The LEGO Group... participating at events or working on projects together. It wasn’t long after that I didn’t need to work a “day job” anymore and I quit my desk job of 10 years.
CK: What career did you imagine for yourself when you were a child? Kenney: I wanted to be either an architect or a cartoonist. I drew a lot when I was a kid, and I even took some architecture classes in high school. I suppose that creating art with LEGO bricks is the perfect combination of those two things! CK: Which of your LEGO sculptures are your favorites? Kenney: I’m very partial to a small sculpture I made called “Success”. An office worker is sitting in a nice suit at his desk, dazing off in the distance as his fingers linger absentmindedly near his computer. It’s a personal statement about how we look at success and what it means to be “successful”. It is a portrait of myself before I left my former career to pursue art full-time and it has resonated with a lot of people.
It’s been a steady build since those days and now I’ve been doing this full-time for 9 years... I have a whole staff of assistants and a commercial studio in New York City filled with 2.4 Million LEGO pieces, tons of sculptures, and lots on the to-do list ;) There was no single “big explosion onto the scene”, it’s always been more of a slow, steady
Bottom left to right: (1) Sean Kenney with his Chicago Tribune Building LEGO sculpture (made with 27,000 LEGO pieces!); (2) Sean at work in his NYC studio; (3) LEGO Polar Bear sculpture with Sean (far right) and his team. Images courtesy of Sean Kenney and SeanKenney.com.
12 www.ChillKids.com/news December 2016
Sean Kenney, LEGO Artist (cont.) Another favorite (and more fun!) is a 50,000 piece city inspired by New York’s historic Greenwich Village. It was a true labor of love, assembled part-time over the course of 6 months in 2003. The model is intricately designed, capturing everything from street vendors and parking meters to historic buildings, high rises, taxicabs, and graffiti . Even the LEGO people in the city mimic the hustle and bustle of locals and tourists you’ll find on any New York City street corner. The model garnered a great deal of popularity and was broadcast on TV and news around the world. That year it was exhibited at an international design gallery in Chelsea in addition to an event honoring Freedom Tower architect Daniel Libeskind.
Sean Kenney’s Hummingbird LEGO Sculpture from his “Nature Connects” exhibit.
CK: What is your favorite hobby or thing to do when you are not creating LEGO artwork? Kenney: Who has time for hobbies when you’re always creating LEGO artwork?? :) I spend my free time relaxing with my wife and my 3-yearold daughter, and we love to travel all around the world whenever we get the chance. We’ve watched cheetahs play together in Africa, visited rural villages in China, sat with kangaroos in the Australian outback, crept through the Pyramids of Egypt, and danced in a Pakistani Wedding. It’s not as expensive or crazy as it sounds, and it is a wonderful way to learn about people and about the world ... and it’s given me tons of great ideas for new LEGO sculptures! :) CK: What advice would you give to kids who are interested in a career in art? Kenney: Do what you love, and practice, practice, practice. Every day that you practice, you get even better... even if you don’t realize it, you’ll look back a year later and see how much you’ve improved. And most of all: follow your dreams, because you are talented! CK: Thank you, Sean, for inspiring us and telling us all about your career as a LEGO sculptor!
Sean Kenney with LEGO mosaic self portrait. Courtesy of SeanKenney.com
Did you know? The word "LEGO" is a combination of the Danish phrase “LEg GOdt,” which means “play well.”
Above: One of Sean Kenney’s books, Cool Creations in 35 Pieces; Sean Kenney's LEGO robot mosaic, “Domo arigato, Mr. Eduardo!” (measures about 6 feet across); Sean Kenney's Penguin LEGO Sculptures. Images courtesy of Sean Kenney and SeanKenney.com.
December 2016 www.ChillKids.com/news
Photo: LEGO
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Math-A-Muse
Look for Math-A-Muse Answers on page 2.
By Evelyn B. Christensen, Ed.D.
30 ÷ 6
7÷7
16 ÷ 4 48 ÷ 8
12 ÷ 2 36 ÷ 9 16 ÷ 8
3÷3
21 ÷ 7
24 ÷ 8
6÷6
45 ÷ 9
42 ÷ 7
28 ÷ 7
24 ÷ 6
2÷2
A penny is between 2 coins of the same value. The first coin is worth more than the last coin.
6 2
54 ÷ 9
27 ÷ 9 14 ÷ 7
Use the clues to put the coins in order.
32 ÷ 8 10 ÷ 5
1 35 ÷ 7
9
4
2
9
6
10
20 ÷ 4
5 Rules for Energy Safety 1. Always ask a grown-up for help when you need to use something that uses electricity. 2. Don’t yank or pull cords from a wall. Pulling cords can damage the outlet, the appliance or the plug. 3. Ask a grown-up to put safety caps on all unused electrical outlets. This can also help save energy by stopping drafts. 4. Keep electrical stuff away from water. Water and electricity don’t mix. Most electrical accidents in the home happen when people use electricity near water. 5. Never touch or go near any kind of power line! Stay away from power lines that have fallen down. Never climb an electric tower or pole, or any tree that is near electric lines.
Meet LED Lucy and CFL Charlie and visit www.kidsenergyzone.com for fun games, activities, and Super Energy Saver learning tools.
Piedmont Electric
Dot-to-Dot STARS Instructions: Stop at each star , then skip to the next number and start your line again. End 229.
Membership Corporation A Touchstone Energy Cooperative TM
www.pemc.coop
14 www.ChillKids.com/news December 2016
DECEMBER 2016 Flick Picks Sing
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
(In Theaters: December 21, 2016)
Set in a world like ours but entirely inhabited by animals, Sing stars Buster Moon (Academy Award winner Matthew McConaughey), a dapper Koala who presides over a once-grand theater that has fallen on hard times. Buster is an eternal optimist—okay, maybe a bit of a scoundrel—who loves his theater above all and will do anything to preserve it. Now facing the crumbling of his life’s ambition, he has one final chance to restore his fading jewel to its former glory by producing the world’s greatest singing competition. Five lead contestants emerge: A mouse (Seth MacFarlane) who croons as smoothly as he cons, a timid teenage elephant (Tori Kelly) with an enormous case of stage fright, an overtaxed mother (Academy Award winner Reese Witherspoon) run ragged tending a litter of 25 piglets, a young gangster gorilla (Taron Egerton) looking to break free of his family’s felonies, and a punk-rock porcupine (Scarlett Johansson) struggling to shed her arrogant boyfriend and go solo. Each animal arrives under Buster’s marquee believing that this is their shot to change the course of their life. Rated PG. (1 hr. 48 min.) Universal Pictures, Illumination Entertainment.
KID’S MEALS… more than just yummy!
(In Theaters: December 16, 2016)
"A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away . . ." From Lucasfilm comes the first of the Star Wars standalone films, "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," an all-new epic adventure. In a time of conflict, a group of unlikely heroes band together on a mission to steal the plans to the Death Star, the Empire's ultimate weapon of destruction. This key event in the Star Wars timeline brings together ordinary people who choose to do extraordinary things, and in doing so, become part of something greater than themselves. Rogue One is the eighth Star Wars movie, and follows 2015's blockbuster film, The Force Awakens. Get your light saber ready to battle the Dark Side, and may the force be with you! In theaters December 2016. Rated PG-13 (for sci-fi action violence; contains scenes that may be too intense for younger viewers). (2 hours, 13 min.) Lucasfilm Ltd, Bad Robot Productions; distributed by Walt Disney Studios.
KIDS IN THE KITCHEN
Gingerbread Men It’s easy to make festive, sweet and fragrant gingerbread cookies! Helpers of all ages can mix and measure recipe ingredients and decorate the cookies for a fun holiday activity.
Ingredients • 3 cups flour • 2 teaspoons ground ginger • 1 teaspoon cinnamon • 1 teaspoon baking soda • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg • ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup (1 ½ sticks) butter, softened • ¾ cup firmly packed brown sugar • ½ cup molasses • 1 egg
Preparation 1. Mix flour, ginger, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg and salt in large bowl.
• 12 choices! • Free of: Artificial Trans Fat Processed MSG High Fructose Corn Syrup Artificial Colors & Dyes • Many less than $ .00! • KID’S MEALS INCLUDE choice of Organic Apple Juice or Organic Milk
3
2. Beat butter and brown sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add molasses and egg; beat well. Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed until well mixed. Press dough into a thick flat disk. Wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.
And so much more... 5408 New Hope Commons Dr. 919-493-3350
Fun stuff with JD Kids! http://www.jasonsdeli.com/JDKids
3. Roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness on lightly floured work surface. Cut into gingerbread-men shapes with 5-inch cookie cutter. Place 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets. 4. Bake in preheated 350ºF oven 8 to 10 minutes or until edges of cookies are set and just begin to brown. Cool on baking sheets 1 to 2 minutes. Remove to wire racks; cool completely. Decorate cooled cookies as desired. Makes 2 dozen.
December 2016 www.ChillKids.com/news
15
By Jan Buckner Walker
The Original Crossword Puzzle for Kids and Their Favorite Adults
™
Kids Across
The across clues are for kids and the down clues are for grown-ups!
1. A present to (or from) you 3. The ____ from Rudolph's nose helped to light Santa's way 5. At least this many socks must be in a box or it's not a very good present 8. The ight, fluffy paper that hides what's inside 10. It's a new beginning that's just a week away: New Year's ___ 11. A sticky strip that helps the wrapping paper do its job 12. Write now: What you use to put someone's name on a gift tag 13. Twinkle, twinkle: I look just fine on the top of a pine during the holiday season. What am I? 14. Another friendly name for that jolly old gentleman who visits during the holidays: St. ___ 16. When you need a piece of wrapping paper that's just the perfect size, they always makes the cut 18. Pretty easy: If you don't feel like wrapping a gift box, you can always stuff the present in a ____ 19. Today's the big day when
millions shout "Yay!" and kids have a very merry morning 21. What a dog's tail will do if he finds a big bone under the tree 22. Are you listening?: They're the body parts you use to hear sleigh bells ring 23. It's a gift you can't see sitting under the tree. It's not topped with a ribbon or bow. You can give it each year to those far and near and it means more than you'll ever know. It's not found in a store and the person it's for will be glad you gave this and not gloves. If you haven't yet guessed, this gift is the best. There's no better ______ than love. Parents Down 2. '__ the season for joy and giving 3. The Grinch's complexion, perhaps caused by jealousy 4. Unbox with glee 6. Want a festive and frugal holiday tip?: Save your Sunday newspapers and smile all over again -- the Comics section makes
colorful gift ___ 7. On the day after Christmas, you might say that the Customer Service counter is a place of many happy ______ 8. What you give the person who just gave you a gift (even before you open it) 9. They're the two fulfillment functions The Big Guy handles personally (with a little help from his reindeer): _____ and handling 13. The great unknown: What almost every gift is to its recipient until it is unwrapped 15. All's fair: If you want one for Christmas, consider adorning your holiday hat with a sprig of mistletoe 17. There's excitement in that ___ that hangs on Santa's back 18. Satiny toppers on gifts and girls 20. If your true love gave you one that bears pears, check for a partridge
Merry Christmas Wishes!
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Solution on page 2.
kris@kapd.com
KAPD ebooks now available on www.kapd.com
12/2016
Our Winter Schedule begins Nov. 19! Bring the family to Morehead for:
Live science demonstrations Six different planetarium shows
INCLUDING HOLIDAY FAVORITE: THE LONGEST NIGHT!
Special family-friendly New Year’s Eve TICKET SALES ON MOREHEAD’S WEBSITE SOON
...and more! Check out our daily schedule on our website: www.moreheadplanetarium.org THE LONGEST NIGHT: A WINTER’S TALE SATURDAYS AT 1:30 P.M. | SUNDAYS AT 2:30 P.M
250 e. franklin street • chapel hill, nc • 919-962-1236
Follow a young girl, born into a family of nomadic storytellers, as she embarks on a snowy quest that leads her to a dragon’s nest. The show’s stunning and intricate visuals are the result of a collaboration between Morehead and Paperhand Puppet Intervention.