ChillKids
April 2020
Fun Family Educational Resource of Chapel Hill • Carrboro • Durham • Hillsborough • NC Triangle
Spring Fun Puzzles & Games
Virtual Visits with the North Carolina Zoo's Online Programs
Stay Connected with Fun Educational Programs & Activities Online
All About Giraffes
Help Name the Baby Rhinoceros at the North Carolina Zoo!
Celebrating the Hubble Space Telescope's 30th Anniversary
North Carolina Science Festival Goes Virtual for 2020
FREE!
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ENERGY EFFICIENCY WORD SCRAMBLE
Chapel Hill Pediatrics
Are you energy efficient? Test yourself by completing the word scramble below – and share these tips with your family and friends! 1.
Tell an adult about a leaky _ _ _ _ _ _ . You don’t want the water bill to rise from it. (efacut)
2.
Wash your full loads of clothes in _ _ _ _ water when possible.
3.
Make sure that _ _ _ is not escaping through cracks in your windows. (ira)
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Set your _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ to 68° or lower, and put on a sweater if you begin to feel cold. (tasmroteht)
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Use _ _ _ _ _ _ _ fans to cool down instead of pumping up your air conditioner. (gclinei)
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Use a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ oven instead of the regular oven whenever you can. (vacimorew)
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Turn on the oven _ _ _ _ _ to check on a dish rather than opening the oven door. (ltihg)
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Replace incandescent bulbs with _ _ _ lights. They last much longer! (DLE)
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When you _ _ _ _ _ your homework, do it the efficient way and use both sides of the paper. (intrp)
10.
When possible, take the bus or ride your _ _ _ _ _ _ _ instead of using a car. (bccleyi)
(oldc)
ANSWERS: 1. faucet 2. cold 3. air 4. thermostat 5. ceiling 6. microwave 7. light 8. LED 9. print 10. bicycle
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Chapel Hill/Carrboro/Hillsborough/ Orange & Durham Counties' Fun Family Educational Resource PUBLISHER/EDITOR Kate Look kate@ChillKids.com April 2020 Cover Photo Giraffe in Namibia by Hans Hillewaert
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Happy April! April brings beautiful weather in the North Carolina Triangle, and lots of beautiful places to spend some time outdoors with your family. With school and activities online right now, it's a good idea to get outside for some exercise with your family in the sunshine and fresh air. The 10th Annual North Carolina Science Festival will be held online, with virtual events taking place throughout the month, including stargazing events led by Morehead Planetarium. You can participate in these fun, cool science events and stargazing with your own family at home this year. Visit www.ncsciencefestival.org to learn more. This month we'll learn with NASA about the Hubble Space Telescope and celebrate it's 30th Anniversary. We'll also learn about NASA astronomer Nancy Grace Roman, who is known as the "Mother of the Hubble Space Telescope." She has a LEGO minifigure set designed to look like her along with a LEGO Hubble Space Telescope in the LEGO "Women of NASA" series! The Hubble Space Telescope takes amazing, beautiful pictures from space. Read all about it on pages 12 to 14. This month we celebrate Earth Day, and we'll learn about the amazing, beautiful gentle giant, the giraffe! Learn about the North Carolina Zoo's virtual educational programs, and make your own Towering Giraffe craft project with the NC Zoo! Remember, make sure to get some family time in the sunshine, and have a happy April !
By Jan Buckner Walker
The Original Crossword Puzzle for Kids and Their Favorite Adults
™
The across clues are for kids and the down clues are for grown-ups!
Kids Across
1. Since a rabbit's teeth never stop growing, they'd get way too long if he didn't constantly ____ on hard things he happens to find 4. Please touch: If you want to get your hands on animals like rabbits, chicks and goats, you should go to the petting ____ 5. With just a few dips, this liquid can bring color to the 20D in an Easter basket 7. Did you know?: Rabbits have five toes on their ____ front paws (but only four on their hind ones) 9. A bunny's whiskers are sensitive, so they ___ when you touch them 13. Hey! What's going on?: A rabbit's ears sometimes perk __ when he is startled 14. Rabbit habit: He can gnaw on it as long as he likes and never get a splinter 15. A crunchy orange treat that a bunny finds yummy
5. Warner Bros.' bunny's insistent inquiry: "What's up, ___?" 6. Storybook place in which Alice followed a rabbit down a rabbit hole 8. Bunny's coop (or pantry's cabinet) 10. Underground community of bunny tunnels (or billionaire Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway) 11. With 28 ___, a rabbit can graze for days 12. Surprise finish: Tortoise's cocky foe 17. Bunny's body parts that leave proof that it hopped through a snowy field not long ago 19. Years ago, every television had two tall antennae on top Parents Down that people called "rabbit ___" 1. No matter how warm the weather, a rabbit never 20. If a waiter asks the Easter Bunny how he likes his ___, takes off its fur ___ he will surely reply, "Hard 2. Cuddle time: Stuffed bunny's boiled" nighttime resting place 3. Surname of Peter, who was 22. I've been here before: Rabbits often ___ their chins on obspotted hopping down the jects to mark their territory bunny trail
Funny Bunny
16. According to the song, Peter Cottontail was seen hopping down the bunny ____ 17. The color of a rabbit's nose 18. You might see a silly rabbit on the box of a popular breakfast _____ 21. If Snow White had adopted several of the world's smallest bunnies, the fairy tale would be called "Snow White and the Seven ____ Rabbits" 23. The name of that crazy cartoon bunny (or another word for "insects") 24. A rabbit might think of your backyard garden as the neighborhood _____ bar
Answers on page 2.
™
kris@kapd.com
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April 2020 www.ChillKids.com/news
© 2015 KAPD, LLC
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STEM
2020 STEM Education Month & North Carolina Virtual Science Festival
Attend 2020 North Carolina Virtual Science Festival Events Online Even though the 2020 North Carolina Science Festival’s public events are cancelled, they still want to evoke the spirit of their mission - to provide the opportunity to celebrate science in fun and welcoming settings. What better setting to learn and engage with science than your own home? You are invited to explore science through hands-on activities, live virtual events, and other web-based resources this April (and beyond) - all curated and vetted by the NCSciFest team! The North Carolina Science Festival is moving online to provide festival participants with virtual learning opportunities throughout April.
Celebrate the NCSciFest's 10th Anniversary with Online Events & Activities The year 2020 marks NCSciFest’s 10th anniversary and its founders couldn’t imagine an April without the statewide celebration. “NCSciFest has become a tradition for the people of North Carolina,” says Jonathan Frederick, Director of the Festival. “It’s important that we connect with other people and do what we can to support each other through this unprecedented time.” The NCSciFest website will feature a variety of content including handson activities, live virtual events, pre-recorded videos, and other educational resources. Users exploring the site can expect daily updates to content and the user experience because of the quick pivot to a digital format. “Our team is working diligently to bring the website to life so that people can access the same high-quality virtual science content in place of the live public events we produce every April” says Frederick. “For a decade, you have trusted us as a partner to connect people, scientists, and communities through the annual NCSciFest, and we hope that you'll find these resources helpful and relevant as we all navigate life #athometogether.”
STEM Education Proclamation Governor Roy Cooper has declared April as STEM Education month, in order to encourage students to pursue science-related careers and businesses to continue investing in North Carolina. “The number one question employers considering North Carolina ask me is whether our workforce has the skills needed to do the jobs they want to create,” said Governor Cooper. “To make sure our workforce is ready for these jobs, we must continue to expand STEM education opportunities in our public schools and encourage students’ interests in these areas.”
About the North Carolina Science Festival Founded in 2010, the North Carolina Science Festival is the first statewide science festival in the United States. Through a series of community-based events each April (hosted by schools, colleges, libraries, museums, parks, businesses and other local organizations), the Festival celebrates the economic, educational, and cultural impact of science in North Carolina. It is an initiative of Morehead Planetarium & Science Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
About Morehead Planetarium and Science Center Morehead Planetarium and Science Center is a unit of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Morehead works to serve North Carolina and beyond by bringing together the unique resources of UNC to engage the public for an improved public understanding of science, technology and health. For more information, visit www.moreheadplanetarium.org. Morehead Planetarium & Science Center, as a unit of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has suspended public operations until further notice because of ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) concerns. Check out Morehead At Home, an online hub of resources for you to enjoy at home, at https://moreheadplanetarium.org/explore/morehead-at-home/.
Photo Highlights from Previous Years' North Carolina Science Festival Events
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2020 North Carolina Virtual Science Festival Online Events Scheduled for April 2020
Morehead At Home: Skywatching
Even though the 2020 North Carolina Science Festival public inperson events are cancelled, you can learn and engage with science in your own home by visiting www.ncsciencefestival.org!
Explore the sky from home using tips and tools from Morehead educators Nick Eakes and Amy Sayle. Every Tuesday and Thursday, join them via Zoom where they’ll discuss upcoming celestial happenings and other astronomy-related topics like how to identify constellations, measuring distances between objects in the sky and more. Each skywatching session will be accessible via Zoom.
Virtual Events
Find free science-related virtual events to attend from the comfort of your home at https://www.ncsciencefestival.org/virtual-events.
Science Activities & Projects
This year have fun with North Carolina Science Festival virtual projects, activities, and star-watching online by visiting https://moreheadplanetarium.org/ explore/morehead-at-home/
Find engaging science activities and projects to complete indoors and outdoors, searchable by science topic or age/grade level at https://www.ncsciencefestival.org/online-activities.
Star Party
The Statewide Star Party was originally slated to take place at 36 sites across the state on April 24-25, but they have switched gears to share some fun ways you can engage with the skies from your own homes (or anywhere).
Math-A-Muse Look for Math-A-Muse Answers on page 2.
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ANIMAL KINGDOM
Amazing Giraffes
Have you visited the beautiful giraffes at the North Carolina Zoo? The Zoo's Forest Edge habitat has giraffes, zebras and ostriches in a 3.5 acres habitat that mimics the lightly-wooded savannas found in Kenya. Until we can visit the giraffes in person at the Zoo's Acacia Station Giraffe Deck in the future (https://www.nczoo.org/ experiences/attractions/acacia-station-giraffe-deck), we can experience the North Carolina Zoo 's all-new Virtual Visit program online at home at https://www.nczoo.org/virtual-visit. On page 7, read all about the Zoo's new Virtual Visit program, which includes fun art projects, activities, and visits with the Zoo's keepers and animals online, and lots more!
Fun Facts About Giraffes! 1. Giraffes are found among the open plains and woodlands in Africa. 2. These gentle giants are the world's tallest animals. An adult male can grow to around 18 feet - that's taller than three adult humans! 3. A giraffe's height is helpful for keeping a look out for predators, such as lions or hyenas. 4. Giraffes have the largest heart of any land mammal. It takes a powerful heart to move blood up the long neck into the brain. 5. Giraffes are herbivores, which means they only eat plants. Their favorite food is the acacia tree, and they use their long necks to reach the leaves and buds in the treetops. 6. Giraffes' long tongues (which grow up to 20 inches!) also help them pull down leaves growing way up high. 7. They spend most of their time eating, and can guzzle up to 99 pounds of leaves and twigs a day! 8. Giraffes do not drink much water, as they get most of their water from their leafy meals, and only need to drink once every few days. 9. A giraffe's neck is too short to reach the ground. As a result, it has to awkwardly spread or bend its front legs to reach the ground for a drink of water. 10. Giraffes are very social animals and roam around in groups, called towers. 11. In the wild, these beautiful creatures live for around 25 years. In captivity they live longer, and have been known to reach 40 years old. 12. Giraffe feet are the size of a dinner plate with a diameter of 11 inches. 13. Just like human fingerprints, no two giraffes have the same coat pattern. 14. Giraffes can be so tall they can peer into a second story window! 15. Adult giraffes weigh around 2500 pounds. 16. Genetic studies have shown that giraffes may in fact consists of four, or perhaps as many as eight different species.
A male Reticulated Giraffe drinking at dusk. Image taken at Ol Pejeta Ranch, Kenya on July 10, 2010. Photo Credit: Steve Garvie.
Sources: North Carolina Zoo (https://www.nczoo.org/wildlife/ animals/giraffe); National Geographic Kids; Discover Wildlife Giraffe Conservation Foundation / Georgie Bray.
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Amazing Giraffes (cont.)
A giraffe at the Melbourne Zoo. Image: Wikipedia Commons. Left: A reticulated giraffe bending down to drink. A giraffe's neck is too short to reach the ground, so it must awkwardly bend its front legs to reach the ground for a drink of water. Image: Steve G/ Rainbirder, Flickr.
ART PROJECT
A giraffe at the Mikumi National Park in Tanzania. Image: Wikipedia Commons.
Towering Giraffes Art Project Visit the North Carolina Zoo Online for Lots More Fun Art Projects!
Learn with the North Carolina Zoo how to make your own Towering Giraffe craft, or make a whole tower (group) of giraffes! For this craft you will need: · Clothespins · Cardstock, construction paper, or thin cardboad · Markers and/or paint · Scissors · Glue Optional:
Did you know? A group of giraffes is called a "tower."
· Wiggly eyes · Chenille stems (pick cleaners) or yarn For the step-by-step instructions for this Towering Giraffes craft project, visit https://www.nczoo.org/
education/family-group-programs/arts-more and click on the Giraffe Craft image to download the Zoo's PDF at https://d15r41jch086ke.cloudfront. Visit https://www.nczoo.org/education/family-group-programs/artsnet/sites/default/files/2020-06/Giraffe-craft.pdf more for lots of fun art projects from the North Carolina Zoo! Image: NC Zoo. to make your own!
April 2020 www.ChillKids.com/news
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Hidden Picture Puzzle by Liz
Find the hidden pictures, then color the picture! How many hidden items can you find?
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April Sunday
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National Find a Rainbow Day
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Full Moon
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Encourage a Young Writer Day
April’s full Moon is called the Full Pink Moon (although the moon doesn't turn pink). In Native American tradition, the April full moon appeared when pink phlox flowers cover the ground.
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Leonardo da Vinci's Birthday, 1452
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Look for them all week!
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Poem in Your Pocket Day
Carry a poem in your pocket to share with your friends & family!
www.poets.org/ national-poetry-month/ poem-your-pocket-day
April 2020 www.ChillKids.com/news
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Help Name the New Baby Rhinoceros at the North Carolina Zoo! North Carolina Zoo Announces Public Poll to Help Name New Baby Rhino
Linda Rhino and new baby girl rhino born February 20th at the North Carolina Zoo. Photo Credit: North Carolina Zoo
The public is asked to visit the online poll at https://www. surveymonkey.com/r/nczoobabyrhino and rank the following four names, in order of their favorites, chosen by the Zoo’s rhino zookeepers: Kendi (ken-dee): African origin – means loved one in Swahili Rubybelle (ru-bee-bell): name of a young female rhino rescued after her mother was poached in South Africa Etosha (ee-toe-sha): for Etosha National Park in Namibia where the Zoo has an anti-poaching conservation program. Jojo (joe-joe): one of the keepers of rhino Sudan, the last male northern white rhino, at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. Jojo and Sudan’s story was featured in the documentary movie "Kifaru" which was featured at RiverRun International Film Festival in 2019.
A special surprise guest will announce the winning name with the North Carolina Zoo on May 4, 2020.
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Voting opens at 12 p.m. Fri., April 17, 2020 and closes at 4 p.m., Fri., April 24, 2020 (EDT). The online poll can be accessed through the Zoo’s website at nczoo.org or through the Zoo’s social media channels on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. There is no charge to select a name.
THE ANIMAL HOSPITAL
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The North Carolina Zoo is enlisting the public’s help in April 2020 to name the new female baby rhinoceros who was born at the Zoo on February 24, 2020. The new calf was born to mom Linda and dad Stormy. She weighed approximately 8090 pounds at birth and the mom and calf are doing well. This was the second rhino birth just this year at the Zoo, and fourth in the last two years.
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North Carolina Zoo Offers a New Virtual Visit Experience In an effort to help meet the educational and learning needs of children and parents during this challenging time, the North Carolina Zoo is offering an all-new Virtual Visit program at https://www.nczoo.org/virtual-visit. This program features a wide range of different online education events, art projects, at-home activities, and stories from the Zoo and the wild that will allow children, teachers, parents and others to experience the Zoo and its animals in a completely new way. “A trip to the North Carolina Zoo is always more than just seeing the animals — it’s a chance to learn in a fun environment,” said the Zoo’s Curator of Education Beth Folta. “We’ve now adapted many of our learning experiences to an online format easily accessible to everyone from home.”
veterinarians, conservation scientists, animal care staff and more. All-new Zoo Blogs: Get in-depth stories and firsthand accounts of what it takes to run a modern zoo. New stories will be coming out every week on how we care for our animals, insights into zoo operations, and what the North Carolina Zoo is doing to save species from extinction. Adventures in EdZOOcation Facebook Group: Join the Zoo’s EdZOOcation Facebook group and get extra weekly content available only to group members. Every week we will be posting new activities, lessons, videos and more on a variety of topics. Adventures in EdZOOcation programs will include: Zoo Science: Every Tuesday learn a new nature-based science experiment that you can do at home
The Virtual Visit web page — nczoo.org/virtual-visit — is the hub for all these experiences. It will be updated daily with new animal videos, wildlife-themed activities and other ideas for athome learning and play, even as the Zoo's staff continue to be busy caring for more than 1,800 animals and more than 2,000 acres of land.
Nature Arts and Crafts: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday get instructions for how to make a different animal-related craft or art project.
Highlights of the Zoo’s Virtual Visit program include:
Just go to the Zoo’s Facebook page and click on “Adventure in EdZOOcation Groups” to join.
Zoo EDventure Online Series: every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., join us Live on Facebook to get an up-close look at our amazing animals. This is a chance to learn and interact directly with Zoo staff about the theme of the day. All our Zoo EDventures can also be viewed through the Virtual Visit webpage and YouTube. Zoo Classroom is the Zoo’s free distance learning series appropriate for K-12 audiences streamed live every Thursday from 1 to 2 p.m. Each program features a different and fun topic on wildlife and nature. Join us live to ask our educators questions in real time or enjoy our whole series of classes on the website on your own time. Required pre-registration is easy through the Zoo’s Virtual Visit Zoo Classroom page.
Wild about Nature: Learn about easy outdoor activities you can do locally & in your own backyard.
For a full list of offerings, visit the Zoo’s Virtual Visit and follow the Zoo on all social media channels Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn. Source: https://www.nczoo.org/virtual-visit. The North Carolina Zoo temporarily suspended operations effective March 17 until further notice. Since a visit to the North Carolina Zoo isn't currently possible, the Zoo is bringing its programs to you! Check out the North Carolina Zoo's all-new Virtual Visit program at https:// www.nczoo.org/virtual-visit.
Living with Nature is the Zoo’s distance learning event series currently available to everyone. All of the 2020 events are now available online and have a variety of activities to do before, after, and during the viewing of the recorded program. These are accessible through the Zoo’s website at any time. Untamed Science: Every Tuesday and Thursday watch an episode of the Zoo’s science education show. Learn about how use science to care for the Zoo’s animals and help protect endangered species in the wild. Ask an Expert: An all new offering only on Instagram. Every Tuesday meet a new Zoo expert. On Wednesday ask them your zoo and wildlife questions. Then on Thursday hear the answers live. Experts from across the Zoo will be featured, including
You can help support the North Carolina Zoo during the Covid closure by purchasing an "Up Close and Virtual" t-shirt at https://www.nczoo. org/education/closeand-virtual-t-shirt.
April 2020 www.ChillKids.com/news
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The Hubble Space Telescope Cebrates its 30th Birthday: Three Decades of Cosmic Descovery by David Prosper / NASA's Night Sky Network
The Hubble Space Telescope celebrates its 30th birthday in orbit around Earth this month! It’s hard to believe how much this telescope has changed the face of astronomy in just three decades. The Hubble Space Telescope had a rough start, with an 8-foot mirror just slightly out of focus causing the most famous case of spherical aberration of all time. But subsequent repairs and upgrades by space shuttle astronauts made Hubble a symbol of the ingenuity of human spaceflight and one of the most important scientific instruments ever created. Beginning as a twinkle in the eye of the late Nancy Grace Roman, (see p. 10) the Hubble Space Telescope’s work over the past thirty years changed the way we view the universe, and more is yet to Hubble’s “first light” image. Even with the not-yet-corrected come! imperfections in its mirror, its images were generally sharper We’ve all seen the amazing images created by Hubble compared to photos taken by ground-based telescopes at the and its team of scientists, but have you seen Hubble time. Image Credit: NASA yourself? You actually can! Hubble’s orbit – around 330 miles overhead -- is close enough to Earth that you can see it at night. The best times are within an hour after sunset or before sunrise, when “Why Do We Put Telescopes in Space?” Activity its solar panels are angled best to reflect the light of the Sun back The Night Sky Network’s “Why Do We Put Telescopes in Space?” activity can help you and your audiences discover why we launch telescopes into orbit, high down to Earth. above the interference of Earth’s atmosphere, at bit.ly/TelescopesInSpace.
You can’t see the structure of the telescope, but you can identify it as a bright star-like point, moving silently across the night sky. It’s not as bright as the Space Station, which is much larger and whose orbit is closer to Earth (about 220 miles), but it’s still very noticeable as a single steady dot of light, speeding across the sky. Hubble’s orbit brings it directly overhead for observers located near tropical latitudes; observers further north and south can see it closer to the horizon. You can find sighting opportunities using satellite tracking apps for your smartphone or tablet, and dedicated satellite tracking websites. These resources can also help you identify other satellites that you may see passing overhead during your stargazing sessions.
Hubble’s images
Amateur astronomers may especially enjoy Hubble’s images of the beautiful objects found in both the Caldwell and Messier catalogs, at bit.ly/HubbleCaldwell and also at bit.ly/HubbleMessier. As we celebrate Hubble’s legacy, we look forward to the future, as there is another telescope ramping up that promises to further revolutionize our understanding of the early universe: the James Webb Space Telescope! Discover more about the history and future of Hubble and space telescopes at nasa.gov. Read more about the Hubble Space Telescope on pages 13 and 14!
NASA has a dedicated site for Hubble’s 30th’s anniversary at bit.ly/ NASAHubble30.
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Celebrating Nancy Grace Roman, the "Mother of Hubble" and NASA's First Chief of Astronomy Nancy Grace Roman (1925-2018), NASA's first chief astronomer, is known as the 'Mother of Hubble.' In a time when women were discouraged from studying math and science, Roman became a research astronomer and was instrumental in taking NASA's Hubble Space Telescope from an idea to reality and establishing NASA’s program of space-based astronomical observatories. Hear Nancy tell her story in her own words at NASA.com/Hubble. Long before there was a program called Women@NASA, Dr. Nancy Grace Roman was paving the path for women at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). She was the first Chief of Astronomy in the Office of Space Science at NASA Headquarters, and the first woman to hold an executive position at NASA. In her role, she successfully managed numerous astronomybased projects, including the Hubble Space Telescope. Dr. Roman is a true inspiration to the students of today. Raised in a time when women were discouraged from pursuing a science career, she not only succeeded in establishing herself in a scientific career but also she left a legacy for future astronomers.
Nancy Grace Roman explains the Advanced Orbiting Solar Observatory to astronaut Buzz Aldrin in 1965 in Washington, DC. Photo: NASA.
Did you know? Nancy Grace Roman has a "Women of
NASA" LEGO minifigure set honoring her work, with a LEGO Hubble Space Telescpe and a LEGO minifigure created in her image!
Often called the “Mother of Hubble” for her efforts in making the Hubble Space Telescope a reality, Dr. Roman was instrumental in establishing the new era of space-based astronomical instrumentation. She received her undergraduate degree at Swarthmore College in 1946 and her PhD in astronomy at the University of Chicago in 1949. She joined NASA in 1959 within a few months after its inception and set up the astronomy program. Source: https://women.nasa.gov/nancy-grace-roman-2/
Learn more about Nancy Grace Roman at https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12845. Watch this video to learn about Nancy Grace Roman's life and career in her own words (on the NASA Goddard YouTube channel) at https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/ a010000/a012800/a012845/Nancy_Grace_Roman_final. mp4.
Nancy Grace Roman describes her childhood, her career challenges and accomplishments in this video at https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/12845.
In the video Nancy Grace Roman describes her career and her fascination with the constellations beginning in childhood. She describes how her mother inspired her when she was a child by taking her out at night to look at the constellations, and taking her to see the Northern Lights. Between fifth and sixth grades she organized her friends into an astronomy club, and studied the constellations. By 7th grade she decided whe wanted to be an astronomer! She also describes the challenges she faced along the way. Nancy Grace Roman is an inspiration for young people and everyone!
April 2020 www.ChillKids.com/news
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All About the Hubble Space Telescope In 1609, visionary Italian scientist Galileo Galilei turned the newly invented optical device of his day — the telescope — to view the heavens. His observations conclusively showed that there were celestial bodies (the moons of Jupiter) that did not revolve around the Earth, launching a revolution that forever changed our view of an Earth-centered universe.
NASA has created an educational booklet highlighting Hubble's exploration of the Universe, available for download at https://www.nasa.gov/ sites/default/files/atoms/ files/highlights_of_ hubbles_exploration_of_ the_universe_0.pdf
Almost four centuries later, the launch of NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery in 1990 started another revolution in astronomy. Developed as a partnership between the United States The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, Image: ESA/NASA. space program and the a million observations and provided European Space Agency, data that astronomers have used to Hubble orbits 340 miles above Earth’s write more than 16,000 peer-reviewed surface. scientific publications on a broad range Its gaze outward lies beyond the of topics, from planet formation to Additional images and information distorting effects of the atmosphere, gigantic black holes. can be found at http://hubblesite.org. which blurs starlight and blocks some These papers have been referenced important wavelengths of light from in other publications over 800,000 reaching the ground. Hubble Space Telescope 30th times, and this total increases, Anniversary This vantage point allows Hubble on average, by more than 150 In 2020, the Hubble Space Telescope to observe astronomical objects and per day. Every current astronomy achieves its 30th year in orbit. Hubble’s unique phenomena more consistently and with textbook includes contributions from design, allowing it to be repaired and upgraded better detail than generally attainable with advanced technology by astronauts, the observatory. Today’s college made it one of NASA’s longest-living from ground-based observatories. undergraduates have not known a time has and most valuable observatories, beaming in their lives when astronomers were transformational astronomical images to Earth The telescope's sensitive cameras for decades. not actively making discoveries with and spectrographs can view objects as Hubble data. Hubble has fundamentally changed our nearby and small as colliding asteroids understanding of the cosmos. Throughout to distant star-forming galaxies that date Hubble’s discoveries and memorable the year, we’ll celebrate the many ways that Hubble has brought the universe home to back to when the universe was only photos have also reinvigorated the Earth with special events in public spaces three percent of its current age. public’s interest in astronomy. Along and on social media, new images, videos and documentaries, interactive features, and more. with pictures of the telescope and In fact, Hubble observations have the astronauts who launched and To keep updated on all of NASA's Hubble’s played a key role in discovering and anniversary activities as they develop, follow serviced it during six space shuttle characterizing the mysterious dark NASA on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. missions, certain memorable science energy that now appears to permeate Source: https://www.nasa.gov/content/hubblesimages have become cultural icons. space. Results like these have changed They appear regularly on book covers, 30th-anniversary our fundamental understanding of the musical albums, clothing, TV shows, cosmos. NASA Space Place encourages movies and even ecclesiastical everyone to get excited about science stained-glass windows. Source: Well into its third operational decade, and technology! Visit spaceplace. https://www.nasa.gov/content/ nasa.gov to explore space and Earth Hubble is still extremely productive. goddard/2017/highlights-of-hubble-sscience, with articles, activities, crafts, The orbiting telescope has taken over exploration-of-the-universe games, and lesson plans.
14 www.ChillKids.com/news April 2020
APRIL 2020 ONLINE Flick Picks DisneyNature's Dolphin Reef
DisneyNature's Elephant
(Narrated by Natalie Portman)
(Narrated by Megan Markle)
(Available on Disney+ April 3, 2020)
(Available on Disney+ April 3, 2020)
Note: Parents and teachers can download a companion Dolphin Reef Educator's Guide for Grades 2 to 6 as well as a fun Dolphin Reef Activity Packet at https://nature.disney. com/educators-guides/. These are beautiful resources, perfect for online learning at home.
Note: Parents and teachers can download a companion Elephant Educator's Guide for Grades 2 to 6 as well as a fun Elephant Activity Packet at https://nature.disney.com/ educators-guides/. These are beautiful resources, perfect for online learning at home.
In Dolphin Reef, DisneyNature dives under the sea to frolic with some of the planet’s most engaging animals: dolphins. Narrated by Oscar- and Golden Globe-winning actress Natalie Portman, DisneyNature’s Dolphin Reef tells the spectacular story of Echo, a young Pacific bottlenose dolphin who seems far more interested in exploring the coral reef, and its intriguing inhabitants, than learning to survive in it. Echo is a young bottlenose dolphin who can’t quite decide if it’s time to grow up and take on new responsibilities—or give in to his silly side and just have fun. Dolphin society is tricky, and the coral reef that Echo and his family call home depends on all of its inhabitants to keep it healthy. But with humpback whales, orcas, sea turtles and cuttlefish seemingly begging for his attention, Echo has a tough time resisting all that the ocean has to offer. Rated G. 1 hour, 15 min. DisneyNature, Walt Disney Studios.
KIDS IN THE KITCHEN
Narrated by Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, DisneyNature’s Elephant follows African elephant Shani and her spirited son Jomo as their herd makes an epic journey hundreds of miles across the vast Kalahari Desert. Led by their great matriarch, Gaia, the family faces brutal heat, dwindling resources and persistent predators, as they follow in their ancestor’s footsteps on a quest to reach a lush, green paradise. Rated G. 1 hour, 28 min. DisneyNature, Walt Disney Studios.
Make a Delicious Bouquet of Fruit Flowers
4. Displaying the flower fruit skewers Place the fruit flower kabob skewers onto the rind of an overturned melon, and place the into a basket or bowl. A half of a cabbage placed flat side down inside of a bowl (slightly larger than the cabbage half) is another way to hold fruit kabob flowers. You could also use grapes (or cereal) in a clear glass vase or mason jar to hold up the fruit flower kabob skewers.
It's fun to make a delicious and healthy bouquet of fruit flowers to celebrate Spring! Follow these steps and create your own flower designs made of fruit. Good choices for an edible fruit bouquet: Berries (strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries) Melon (watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew) Citrus fruits (oranges, mangos, and pineapple) Grapes, kiwis 1. Wash your hands well, and wash and dry the fruit you will use. Since this will be a centerpiece, only use fruits that do not turn brown quickly.(Don't use bananas, pears or apples, as they turn brown quickly.) 2. Parent: Use a flower-shaped cookie cutter and a melon baller to cut melons (cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon) into flower shapes. (First cut the melon and pineapple into 3/4 in. slices, then cut out flower shapes with cookie cutters). Melon ballers and cookie cutters can have sharp edges, so parents can prepare the fruit using these tools, and then help the children assemble their flower creations using the prepared fruit..
This flower bouquet is made with cereal for the center of the flowers and to hold the flower fruit kabobs in the vase. You can also use grapes in a clear glass vase or jar to hold the skewers. Image: kixcereal.com
3. Place the flower shaped melon, fruit, and melon balls onto wooden stick skewers, like a kabob. For watermelon, kiwi, (and other soft fruits), skewer a sturdier fruit such as a grape underneath to support the softer pieces. Use strawberries, blackberries and grapes to create more flower shapes.
For a leafy look, thread stems of mint (or pieces of green leafy kale or romaine lettuce) onto skewers, and place them among the fruit flowers in the bouquet. If you will not be eating/ displaying your fruit flower bouquet until later, keep it cold in the refrigerator. You can also put some lemon juice in a spray bottle and spritz the bouquet with it. (Lemon juice preserves other fruits.) Have fun displaying your beautiful fruit flowers bouquet for your friends and family to enjoy.
April 2020 www.ChillKids.com/news
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Reading Aloud Creates Everlasting
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