WR News, Senior Edition (including Science Spin) back issues from September 2007:
Turtle turnaround: Asia is working to protect rare green turtles.(Brief article)
Sep 07, 2007 ... Until recently, green turtles near China have had reason to hide in their shells. The turtles are endangered. Endangered means at risk of dying out completely. About 200,000 green turtles exist worldwide. However, only about 100 green turtles are left in Taiwan, an island off the coast of ...
Superhero delivery.(postage stamps with Marvel comics superheroes' design)(Brief article)
Sep 07, 2007 ... He can scale tall buildings and sling webs stronger than steel. Now Spider-Man has another special power-he can deliver the U.S. mail. The U.S. Postal Service recently issued Spidey his own 41-cent stamp. (Now that's a stamp with stick!) The stamp is part of a 20-stamp set of Marvel comics ...
Picture of the week.(space tourism)(Brief article)
Sep 07, 2007 ... Instead of going to the beach on your next vacation, how about visiting a galaxy far, far away? For only $4 million, you could enjoy a three-day stay at Galactic Suite, the first hotel planned for space. The $3 billion, three-bedroom ...
Arctic debate: Russia's claim to the North Pole raises a red flag.(WORLD NEWS)
Sep 07, 2007 ... Russian explorers recently went where no person had gone before--14,000 feet below the North Pole! After plunging downward in two mini submarines, they planted their country's flag on the seabed, or ocean floor. Russians everywhere cheered. "This is like placing a flag on the ...
TV time: new reality shows put kids in the spotlight.
Sep 07, 2007; ... Imagine starring in a TV show about you! Video cameras would record your every move and fans would watch intently to see what happens next. That might sound like a far-off fantasy, but these days, it's a reality for dozens of kids. Turn on the TV, and you can see kids struggling ...
Ghostly setting.(Kid Nation's location shoot is a ghost town )(Brief article)
Sep 07, 2007 ... The stars of Kid Nation aren't the first people to settle in Bonanza City, N.M. The city was founded around 1880, after silver, lead, and zinc ore were discovered nearby. As many as 2,000 people rushed to the area to cash in on the precious materials. The city's big boom didn't ...
Wake up your brain: a new study shows how to jump-start your noggin.(INFO ZONE)
Sep 07, 2007 ... Feeling a little groggy in some of your new classes? Then have a big yawn (but cover your mouth, please). Researchers say yawning may be the brain's way of recharging itself. A new study by scientists at the University at Albany (New York) finds that yawning can help you ward off ...
Brain fun.(INFO ZONE)(puzzle)(Brief article)
Sep 07, 2007 ... Refreshed? Then put your brain to work! To complete the Sudoku, fill in the blank spaces so that each row, column, and ...
What's the Word?(INFO ZONE)
Sep 07, 2007 ... What three-letter word completes all of the words below? MAI - - - ...
True campers: Operation Purple helps children cope with having a parent at war.(YOUR TURN)(Brief article)
Sep 07, 2007 ... Most kids learn to dive or toast marshmallows at summer camp. Not the kids who attend the 36 camps that are part of Operation Purple. The camps, run by the National Military Family Association (NMFA), are for kids and teenagers ages 8 to 18 who have parents serving in the U.S. military in ...
Presidential puzzler.(YOUR TURN)(Brief article)
Sep 07, 2007 ... You've probably heard about the candidates who want to be the next president. But do you know about our past commanders in chief? Each week, WR News will feature a clue about a president and the state in which he was born. Identify both and you could win a $25 gift certificate to ...
Tuning in to reality.(READ A CHART)(Brief article)
Sep 07, 2007 ... <Pre> RANK TV SHOW VIEWERS 1 American Idol 30,017,000 2 Dancing With the Stars 20,464,000 16 Survivor: Cook Islands 15,381,000 24 Survivor: Fiji 14,231,000 29 Extreme Makeover: ...
Know the news.(READING COMPREHENSION)(Brief article)
Sep 07, 2007 ... Fill in the circle for the best answer to each question. 1. What is the main idea of "TV Time"? (A) Watching reality shows can help kids lose weight. (B) Some people say kids should not be on reality shows. (C) Millions of Americans watch reality ...
Word power.(BRAIN BUILDERS)(Brief article)
Sep 07, 2007 ... VOCABULARY Fill in the circle for the best answer. 1. If a TV show interests people, they might watch it --. (page 4) (A) intently (B) rarely (C) indifferently 2. If you hear devastating news, you will ...
North may not be up.(Skill: Use a Map)(Brief article)
Sep 07, 2007 ... The North Pole is Earth's northernmost spot, so it is often shown at the top of maps. But that's not always the case. Mapmakers may position the North Pole in other spots to show a different perspective, or view, of an area. On this map, the North Pole is in the center. That means that all ...
Letter to the editor.(Skill: Write a Letter)(Brief article)
Sep 07, 2007 ... A letter to the editor, like all business letters, has the following parts: (1) your address, (2) the date, (3) the address of the person to whom you are writing, (4) the greeting, (5) the body of the letter, and (6) the closing. Below is an example of a letter ...
Stop the presses!(Skill: Analyze a News Story)(Brief article)
Sep 07, 2007 ... Reporters use many tools to convey news clearly. Take a look at some of the elements below that make up a news story. Then use the stow on pages 4 and 5 to answer the questions. 1. Headline: The headline appears in large type and gives the reader an idea of what a story is ...
Tomb Raiders: archaeologists uncover Aztec burial site.(Brief article)
Sep 14, 2007 ... If an Aztec emperor ever asks you to help build a temple, say no! Aztec ruler Ahuizotl (ah-WEE-zah-tol) once sacrificed 20,000 people after they slaved to build a temple to Huitzilopochtli, the Aztec god of sun and war. Archaeologists hope to find out how Ahuizotl met his own death. They ...
Picture of the week.(leopard cubs in Hungary)(Photograph)
Sep 14, 2007 ... Meow! Persian leopard cubs make their first public appearance at the Budapest Zoo in Hungary. Bella, Bara, and Bahar were born June 19. They won't ...
Shuffle the iPod? Some students are using iPods to cheat. Should MP3 players be allowed at school?(NEWS DEBATE)
Sep 14, 2007 ... Remove those earbuds! Schools across the country are saying no to iPods and other digital media players. Some teachers have caught students using the devices to cheat, while others believe they are simply a learning distraction. Shana Kemp, a spokesperson for the National ...
Mission to Mars: a spacecraft will search for life on the Red Planet.(Phoenix Mars Lander)(Cover story)
Sep 14, 2007 ... Talk about a cool mission. NASA's newest spacecraft is speeding toward the freezing polar region of Mars. The temperature there averages 81 degrees Fahrenheit below zero! The planet's cold climate won't slow down the Phoenix Mars Lander. After all, the spacecraft has a big job ...
Party like it's 1787!(INFO ZONE)(Constitution Week)(Brief article)
Sep 14, 2007 ... September 17 to September 23 is a great time for all Americans to celebrate--it's Constitution Week. It marks the anniversary of the signing of the famous document on September 17, 1787. The framers of the Constitution spent four months hammering out the law of the land in the Philadelphia ...
Sweet solution: a teen turns marshmallows into medicine.(YOUR TURN)(Kelsey Bohman's marshmallow launcher)(Brief article)
Sep 14, 2007 ... Could miniature marshmallows good for your health? Yes, says Kelsey Bohman--as long as you are shooting them out of a marshmallow launcher! Kelsey and her morn invented the toy to help sick kids who are recovering from cancer. To use it, you load a mini marshmallow into one end ...
Hide and seek.(Brainteaser)(states)(Brief article)
Sep 14, 2007 ... Find the name of a state hidden in each of these sentences, The first sentence has been done for you. 1. There is drama in everything. 2. I can braid a horse's tail. 3. Mario wants ...
Pounds per planet.(READ A GRAPH)(gravity)(Brief article)
Sep 14, 2007 ... Gravity keeps people and objects close to Earth's surface. The stronger a planet's gravity is, the more those objects weigh. This graph shows how much a 65-pound child would weigh on each planet. 1. On which two planets would a child weigh the same? (A) Earth and ...
Know the news.(READING COMPREHENSION)(Brief article)
Sep 14, 2007 ... Fill in the circle for the best answer to each question. 1. Why is Phoenix going to Mars? (A) to test out new high-tech tools (B) to make sure humans can find water there (C) to look for evidence of life 2. What Aztec item do archaeologists think they have ...
Word power.(VOCABULARY)(Brief article)
Sep 14, 2007 ... Fill in the circle for the best answer. 1. Positive results happen when people work--.(page 3) (A) urgently (B) productively (C) haphazardly 2. A hospitable planet--.(page 5) (A) can support forms of life (B) takes care of sick people ...
What is IFAW: animal action week?(International Fund for Animal Welfare)
Sep 14, 2007; ... Animal Action Week is the largest animal-focused educational event in the world. It takes place during the first week of October to coincide with World Animal Day OR October 4. Each year during that week, the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) launches, a new education program ...
Seven days: that can change the world ... and a year of action for animals.(Animal Action Week)(Calendar)
Sep 14, 2007 ... Day1 Free Education Pack Get your school or youth group to join in. We have free thematic educational materials that are ideal for students of many ages. The middle school pack, designed especially for US students in grades 5-9, includes a 16-page classroom guide, ...
Unscramble the preamble.(Skill: Use Vocabulary in Context)(Brief article)
Sep 14, 2007 ... How do you set the scene for one of the most famous documents in history? With an even more famous introduction-the preamble! The preamble sets the tone for the Constitution and outlines its goals. The version of the preamble printed below is looking a little blank. Can you put ...
High-tech helper.(Skill: Read a Diagram)(Phoenix Mars Lander)(Brief article)
Sep 14, 2007 ... The Phoenix Mars Lander packs a lot of tools into a limited amount of space. Study the diagram to learn about the spacecraft's equipment. Then answer the questions that follow. Solar array Traps sunlight and converts it into energy Robotic arm ...
Debate it!(Skill: Organize Ideas)(use of media players in schools)(Brief article)
Sep 14, 2007 ... Do you think iPods and other digital media players should be allowed in school? The guide below encourages you to think about both sides of the issue. In the boxes, provide reasons people might answer yes or no to the question. Then ...
To the rescue! Emergency relief for animals.
Sep 14, 2007 ... Dear Educators, A hot topic in every school is disaster prevention and preparedness. But it's not only our students, friends and families that we want to protect; it's also animals! This year, Animal Action Week (AAW), organized by IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) ...
Lopsided Lincoln? scientists discover a secret behind the 16th president's famous face.(Abraham Lincoln)(Brief article)
Sep 21, 2007 ... Abraham Lincoln was famous for his intelligence, cool head, and powerful speeches. But he was never known for his good looks. In fact, in his time, Lincoln was teased for being homely, or ugly. Some people said he resembled a baboon. Even Gutzon Borglum, who sculpted the heads on Mount ...
Crocs get the boot.(Thompson Elementary School bans use of Crocs)(Brief article)
Sep 21, 2007 ... You may love Crocs, but not everyone gets a kick out of the colorful slip-ons. In fact, some schools are banning Crocs and other loose-fitting shoes. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Crocs may look and feel cool, but educators say they're an accident waiting to happen. Some ...
Picture of the week.(Big Ben in London)(Photograph)
Sep 21, 2007 ... Workers lower themselves down the face of London's clock tower as they begin cleaning the famous landmark. The 314-foot-tall clock tower, often called Big Ben after the main bell housed ...
Toxic toys: U.S. companies recall millions of dangerous toys made in China.(NATIONAL NEWS)
Sep 21, 2007 ... Watch out for Elmo, Barbie, and Batman! Those characters may not seem dangerous, but toys modeled after them could be hazardous, or unsafe, to your health. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The U.S. toy industry recently recalled millions of toys made with poisonous lead paint ....
Fishing for answers: water loss is sinking the Great Lakes.(Cover story)
Sep 21, 2007 ... Something fishy is going on in Lake Huron. For years, young muskie and northern pike regularly swam along the lake's marshy coast. Today, the fish have all but vanished. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Researcher Pat Chow-Fraser has spotted only two or three young muskies ...
Rome reborn.(INFO ZONE)(new computer simulation )
Sep 21, 2007 ... Friends, Romans, schoolchildren, lend me your ears! We come to tell you about a new computer program that re-creates the ancient city of Rome. Scientists based at the University of Virginia recently created Rome Reborn, a 3-D computer model of Julius Caesar's hometown. It's the ...
The 'write' stuff: kid author wins award for hurricane Katrina book.(YOUR TURN)(McKenna Andrews wins the Mom's Choice Award)(Brief article)
Sep 21, 2007 ... McKenna Andrews will never forget August 29, 2005. That was the day Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. The destructive storm killed more than 1,300 people in Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, Mississippi, and Florida. It also mined thousands of homes. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...
You decide!(YOUR TURN)(child interpersonal relations)(Brief article)
Sep 21, 2007 ... In my new homeroom, we have assigned seals. I sit next to the class bully--the same one who called me mean names all last year ....
The Great Lakes.(READ A MAP)(Brief article)
Sep 21, 2007 ... This map shows the five Great Lakes, which straddle the border between the United States and Canada. Study the map, and then answer the questions. 1. Which is the northernmost Great Lake? (A) Superior (B) Huron (C) Ontario 2. How ...
Know the news.(READING COMPREHENSION)(Brief article)
Sep 21, 2007 ... Fill in the circle for the best answer to each question. 1. According to principal John McAleer, Crocs--. (A) aren't safe for school (B) should be worn only for recess (C) are the perfect back-to-school accessory 2. In which country ...
Word power.(VOCABULARY)(Brief article)
Sep 21, 2007 ... Write the correct letter for each definition on the line. 1. primitive (page 2)-- 2. faulty (page 3)-- 3. extreme ...
All about Abe.(Skill: Reading Comprehension)(Abraham Lincoln)(Short story)
Sep 21, 2007 ... The story below is a short biography of Abraham Lincoln, the nation's 16th president. Read the story, and then answer the questions that follow. Abraham Lincoln was born in a log cabin in Kentucky on February 12, 1809. When he was about 7 years old, his family moved to Indiana. ...
"Toon" in to the news.(Skill: Analyze an Editorial Cartoon)(Brief article)
Sep 21, 2007 ... This is an editorial cartoon. Artists use editorial cartoons to give their opinions about topics in the news. Editorial cartoons can say a lot, even though they don't use many words. In this week's issue of WR News, you read about toys made in China that were recalled. This ...
Water works.(Skill: Read a Chart)(Great Lakes)
Sep 21, 2007 ... Some of the Great Lakes may be losing water, but they're far from washed up! Together, the lakes contain the largest supply of freshwater in the world. Here's a look at how each of the Great Lakes measures up. Study the chart below. Then answer the questions that follow. <Pre> ...
A heart-y meal: starving snakes snack on themselves!(Brief article)
Sep 28, 2007 ... When it comes to adaptation, snakes are slithering to the top. The reptiles have figured out a way to go for more than a year without catching prey--they eat their own hearts, livers, and intestines instead! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Scientist Marshall McCue of the ...
Picture of the week.(Zhang Huimin)(Brief article)
Sep 28, 2007 ... Talk about going the distance! Zhang Huimin, 8, runs along the Great Wall of China with her father during her 55-day trek from China's southern Hainan ...
Hubba bubba!(ancient gum)(Brief article)
Sep 28, 2007 ... Chew on this! A college student recently made a sticky discovery-a 5,000-year-old piece of gum. Sarah Pickin, 23, found the tiny, light brown wad during a search for artifacts in western Finland. Scientists think people chewed the gum during the Neolithic period, from 8,000 B.C, ...
Robots to the rescue: scientists hope new technology will one day help coal miners.(NATIONAL NEWS)
Sep 28, 2007 ... The Cave Crawler can record video, detect the presence of dangerous gases, and create three-dimensional maps of its environment. Scientists hope the robot can put its skills to good use--they want it to help rescue trapped miners. More than 200,000 people work in the mining ...
Making the law: sixth grader tries to put the brakes on smoking in cars with kids.(Cover story)
Sep 28, 2007 ... Eleven-year-old Justin Kvadas isn't old enough to drive, but he's already steering a bill that could one day affect nearly a million drivers. The sixth grader is trying to get a law passed in Connecticut that would ban smoking in cars by people who have kids as passengers. ...
Storm surge.(INFO ZONE)
Sep 28, 2007 ... Scientists are blown away by the latest news about hurricanes. A recent study found that the number of hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean has doubled in the past century. In fact, twice as many hurricanes form each year now, compared with the number of hurricanes that occurred in 1900 ....
WR News flash! Get the scoop on our new team of student reporters.(YOUR TURN)(Brief article)
Sep 28, 2007 ... Extra! Extra! Read all about it! WR News has a new group of writers--and they're kids like you. The writers are the winners of WR News's Calling All Kid Reporters contest from this past summer. As student reporters, they will interview kids, plus celebrities, politicians, and ...
Presidential puzzler.(YOUR TURN)(Brief article)
Sep 28, 2007 ... When this former farmer was growing up in the "Show Me State," he spent his time chasing frogs, playing sports, and riding a Shetland pony. But as president, his days were far from a day a[ the ballpark. In fact, he had to ...
Mystery photo.(BRAINTEASER)
Sep 28, 2007 ... Look closely. Can you "catch" on to this mystery object's identify? ...
Clearing the air.(READ A GRAPH)(smoking ban)(Table)(Brief article)
Sep 28, 2007 ... This graph shows when states banned or will ban smoking in almost all workplaces. Each state is listed next to the year in which its ban went into effect. Study the graph, and then answer the questions. <Pre> Year Number of states 2009 MT, OR, UT 2008 IL, MD 2007 ...
Know the news.(READING COMPREHENSION)(Brief article)
Sep 28, 2007 ... Fill in the circle for the best answer to each question. 1. What is the main idea of "Hubba Bubba!"? (A) A student found a 5,000-year-old piece of gum. (B) People chewed gum thousands of years ago. (C) Ancient gum is good for your teeth. ...
Word power.(VOCABULARY)(Brief article)
Sep 28, 2007 ... Write the correct letter for each definition on the line, 1. A significant discovery is--. (page 2) (A) meaningful (B) strange (C) ineffective 2. A potential problem--. (page 2) (A) has already happened (B) ...
Short stuff.(Skill: Use Contractions)(Brief article)
Sep 28, 2007 ... In this issue, you read about how snakes make adaptations, or changes, to their bodies. Words can also be adapted-into contractions. A contraction is a shortened word made from two longer words. An apostrophe takes the place of letters. Can you match the words below with their ...
Power to the people.(Skill: Understand Civics)
Sep 28, 2007 ... The U.S. federal government is split into three branches: the executive branch, the legislative branch, and the judicial branch. Read the descriptions of each branch below. Then read the list of tasks that follow. Decide whether each task is performed by the executive branch (E), the ...
Reporter's notebook.(Skill: Analyze a News Story)(Brief article)
Sep 28, 2007 ... Here's the scoop: Most news stories can be boiled down to six basic facts-who, what, where, when, why, and how. Use the graphic organizer below to analyze the cover story in WR News. Headline: Who is the article about? When did the event happen? ...
Test yourself! WR News Literacy Skills Assessment.
Sep 28, 2007 ... WR News Senior Edition is pleased to bring you our fall Literacy Skills Assessment for the 2007-2008 school year. It provides you with a convenient tool for measuring students' strengths and weaknesses in selected comprehension skills. The assessment also provides students with practice in ...