GIGGLEMOOSE
KIDS NEWS -- Winter 2002/03 -- Hi, kids!
---------------------------------------------------------
CONTENTS
1. Stay Warm & Safe
2. Do Not Disturb---Until Spring!
3. Have You Met Peter Rabbit and Jenny Wren?
4. Nature Profile: White-Breasted Nuthatch
5. Got Cabin Fever? Take a Garden Tour---Online!
6. Answers R Us
7. Your Vote Counts!
8. The Fun Never Stops
9. Gasp! Wow! I Didn’t Know That!
10. Moose Moment
11. Kids Make a Difference
12. Missed an Issue?
13. Feed Your Need to Read
14. A Note to Moms, Dads, Teachers, and Guardians
---------------------------------------------------------
1. STAY WARM & SAFE
BRRRR! Is it cold where you live? It certainly has been here in Gigglemoose
country. We’re located in New Hampshire, and this winter has brought us lots
of cold air and snow. The good news is, that means plenty of skiing, sledding,
snowshoeing, and my favorite, animal tracking. The bad news is, it also means we
have to bundle up every time we go outside. Long underwear, layers of clothes,
snow pants, coats, scarves, hats, mittens. What a hassle! But we have to keep in
mind how important it is to wear proper outdoor clothing. It’s very dangerous
to be outside in cold temperatures without the right protection. So listen to
your parents and teachers when they say, “Don’t forget your hat! Don’t
forget your gloves!” Remember: lots of layers = lots of FUN!
2. DO NOT DISTURB---UNTIL SPRING!
When the raw winds of winter howl
outside and the snow begins to pile up, those of us living in colder regions
spend most of our time inside where it’s warm, dry, and cozy. Did you know
that some animals due something very similar? Discover how and why some animals
hibernate by visiting http://www.gigglemoose.com/artcl-hibernation.htm
3. HAVE YOU MET PETER RABBIT AND JENNY WREN?
Do you like stories about animals? We certainly do! We like factual books that
tell us about the lifestyles of our favorite animals, and we like fictional
books that teach us about wildlife through fun stories. One of our fiction
favorites is a classic written around 1920 by Thornton Burgess. THE BURGESS ANIMAL BOOK FOR CHILDREN is a make-believe tale of
talking animal friends that introduces some of the mammals of America. We’ve
decided to put this timeless treasure online so all of our young, animal-loving
friends can read it. Chapter one, “Jenny Wren Gives Peter Rabbit an Idea,”
is online now. When Jenny Wren returns from her winter migration to Florida, she
tells Peter Rabbit about meeting a cousin of his . . . a swimming rabbit! Peter
has never heard of such a cousin---nor of swimming rabbits---so he goes to Old
Mother Nature for answers. You can read the first chapter at http://www.gigglemoose.com/burgessanimalbook.htm
4. NATURE PROFILE: WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH
Unlike its red-breasted cousin, this particular nuthatch doesn’t usually
migrate. In fact, it’s commonly seen at birdfeeders year round. It’s the
largest North American nuthatch (approximately 6" in length), and its
preferred habitat is deciduous woodlands. The white-breasted nuthatch’s
rounded body can be identified by the contrasting blue-gray upperparts and white
undersides. The flight feathers and outer tail feathers are black, as are the
tops of their white heads. They don’t have black eyestripes like red-breasted
nuthatches. One of the most entertaining things about nuthatches is watching
them forage for food on trees. Quite often, they will work their way down the
trees headfirst! Another funny fact about these little birds is that they will
pick up an object and sweep the bark around their nest cavity. Why? The experts
at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology suggest it could be to hide their scent from
predators.
5. GOT CABIN FEVER? TAKE A GARDEN TOUR---ONLINE!
Have you ever heard of “cabin fever?” It’s a phrase people use to describe
being stuck indoors for most of the winter. If you’ve got cabin fever and
can’t wait for spring, take a cool virtual tour of the awesome Michigan 4-H
Children’s Garden. Maybe you’ll be inspired to try some of their garden
ideas at home or school! Visit the garden at http://4hgarden.msu.edu/main.html
You'll find more virtual field trips (and real field trip suggestions) at http://www.gigglemoose.com/field_trip.htm
6.
ANSWERS R US
The nature questions keep coming in at Gigglemoose.com and we're doing our best
to answer them all. The featured question this time around is: "How is wind
chill measured?” Do you know? Discover the fascinating answer to this question
(and many more!) online at http://www.gigglemoose.com/feature_question.htm
7. YOUR VOTE COUNTS!
If you were to travel on an expedition to the polar regions (dressed warmly of
course!), what animal would you most like to meet? A penguin, polar bear,
reindeer, or walrus? Visit our home page at http://www.gigglemoose.com then
scroll down to the bottom and cast your vote in our online poll!
8. THE FUN NEVER STOPS
If you enjoy challenging word games, then the Gigglemoose.com online games
center is the place to go! Check out http://www.gigglemoose.com/indoors.htm and
print out the NEW Bug Scramble, Woodland Creatures Match-Up, Marine Life
Match-Up, and Bird Identifier Fill-in-the-Blanks. You’ll also find a bunch of
fun crossword puzzles, word searches, and pages to print out and color!
9. GASP! WOW! I DIDN’T KNOW THAT!
When you mention the large, bulky hippopotamus, most people assume this creature
moves slowly and with great difficulty. But did you know that hippos can run
faster than humans? It’s true! In fact, they can be quite dangerous. Discover
more strange and amazing nature facts at http://www.gigglemoose.com/strange&amazing.htm
10. MOOSE MOMENT---Brief facts about the majestic American Moose!
One of the most unmistakable physical features of moose is the unique fleshy
pendant that hangs from the throat. Have you noticed it in pictures? It’s
actually called a “bell,” and it’s just a large flap of skin covered with
long hair. It can get as long as two feet on adult bulls, whose bells are bigger
than those on cows or young bulls.
11. KIDS MAKE A DIFFERENCE
We’re always thrilled to hear about what kids are doing to make our world a
better place. Did you study the environment in school this year? Are you
planning any special Earth Day projects this April? Log on to
http://www.gigglemoose.com/kids_make_a_difference.htm and tell us all about it!
(With your parents’ permission, of course.)
12. MISSED AN ISSUE?
If you missed an issue of everybody’s favorite e-mail newsletter about nature,
or you’d like to look up something you remember reading in a past issue,
don’t sit around and sulk. Just visit our online newsletter archive at http://www.gigglemoose.com/newsletterarchive.htm
13. FEED YOUR NEED TO READ!
Like it or not, there are times when we can't be outside exploring the wonders
of our natural world. But there's no need to pout, because that's the perfect
time to pick up a book! Sure, we hope you continue to visit us on the Internet
at Gigglemoose.com, but there are millions of fun-filled books out there that
can take you on amazing expeditions right inside your living room! You can look
up what kind of bird you saw outside, discover what penguins do all day, plan a
garden, take a swim with sharks, identify beneficial insects, explore the
prehistoric world of dinosaurs, and much more. Best of all, books are absolutely
free when you visit your local library. So don't pull your hair out when you're
stuck inside . . . feed your need to read!
--------------------------------------------------------------
A NOTE TO MOMS, DADS, TEACHERS, AND GUARDIANS: This kids' newsletter is sent
only to people who have specifically subscribed to it. You may unsubscribe by
simply replying to this message with the word "UNSUBSCRIBE." We will
certainly miss you, but we respect your privacy, which is why we promise to
never rent or sell your e-mail address. We also abide by a very strict
children's privacy policy, which of course follows the guidelines of the U.S.
government's Children's Online Privacy Act. Our privacy policy is explained in
detail at http://www.gigglemoose.com/privacy_policy.htm. If this newsletter was
forwarded to you by someone else and you would like to subscribe, visit our home
page at http://www.gigglemoose.com and click on the "subscribe"
button.
**************************************************************
All content is copyright by John W. Schlim Jr. or Gigglemoose unless otherwise
indicated.
GIGGLEMOOSE.COM (http://www.gigglemoose.com)
Exploring and preserving nature with children, parents, and teachers. Visit our
online Nature Learning Store!