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Virginia Johnson

Penguin Power

Mon, 01/04/2010 - 16:36 | Virginia Johnson
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They're very cute, very sturdy, and are excellent parents. Colored in black and white with sometimes a splash of orange, penguins make their homes in lots of different places, from South America to Antarctica.

Minfong Ho: Living in Three Languages

Mon, 01/04/2010 - 13:31 | Virginia Johnson
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When Minfong Ho was a small girl, she listened. She listened to her parents who taught her all those necessary things that parents do. Their words were Chinese, and their words went straight into her heart, giving her wisdom and strength.

When Minfong became a little older, she played in the streets, marketplaces, and temple fairs of Bangkok. All around her, she heard life being experienced: the shouting, the playing, the prayer, the love, and the daily work. It was time to grow, a time to learn how to do the practical things. Minfong came to think of Bangkok’s Thai language as the language of doing; the language of her hands.

Good Germs, Bad Germs

Thu, 05/21/2009 - 17:24 | Virginia Johnson
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The microbes we call germs have been around for a loooong time, and, tiny as they are, they are excellent survivors. You can find traces of microbes in meteorites that have crashed to Earth from other planets and moons, on the tops of the coldest mountains, and bubbling merrily in deep sea volcanic vents. Microbes are survivors. If they "know" anything, it's how to spread and how to live in the most unlikely places.

Snow Day Fun

Mon, 02/15/2010 - 14:39 | Virginia Johnson
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What's the best thing about a snow day? Is it the thought of building the biggest, best snowman ever, taking a run down a sledding hill, or just spending a day away from school? Some people just enjoy how quiet nature seems to be under a blanket of winter white. Others can't wait to get out and get moving, even if it means shoveling the walk first!

Great Backyard Bird Count Starts Today

Fri, 02/12/2010 - 15:49 | Virginia Johnson
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The GBBC is an annual, four-day event that takes a snapshot of where the birds are across the continent. It's an easy, fun, and free way to help the birds. Anyone can do this for as long or as little a time as he pleases, and their Web site has good information on how to get started, .

Tiger Treats for the Chinese New Year

Mon, 01/25/2010 - 18:40 | Virginia Johnson
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In 2010, the Chinese New Year celebration begins on February 14, marking the beginning of the Year of the Tiger. Why not have valentines and paper lanterns at your party? Get ready for a tigerrific time. Here are some places to go for craft and food ideas:

DLTK's Jungle Tiger Section
Print out pages to color, make a paper bag puppet or a book end, and try other tiger crafts.

There's Nothing Hard About Rocks!

Mon, 01/04/2010 - 13:29 | Virginia Johnson
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Rocks come in all shapes and sizes, but what kind are they? You can’t ask them, but sometimes, if you know how to listen, they’ll tell you anyway.

The shape and size of a rock doesn’t tell you much about what it’s made of.
Big rocks break into smaller rocks all the time. But there are other things to look for that can give you their I.D.

Making Holiday Gifts

Sun, 12/06/2009 - 15:56 | Virginia Johnson
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Now's the  time to begin making special gifts for families and teachers. Get started by taking a day or two to skim through craft books at the library, or go online and find some ideas. In this article, we've gathered a few neat projects for beginners as well as book and Web site recommendations to help create a crafty Christmas.

Ornaments

Sinners, Saints, and Soldiers in Civil War Stafford

Mon, 11/30/2009 - 15:22 | Virginia Johnson
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Stafford County was the southernmost part of the Union occupation of Virginia for much of the Civil War and as such it drew all sorts of characters to its farmlands and creeksides. General Daniel Sickles--described by his contemporaries and historians as a scoundrel, murderer, rapscallion, rogue, and adulterer--took charge of the 2nd Brigade of Hooker's Division, Army of the Potomac. He enjoyed scouting the enemy by hot air balloon and held extravagant parties for his officers while in Stafford.

First New World English Thanksgiving Was Celebrated in Virginia

Mon, 11/23/2009 - 15:55 | Virginia Johnson
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The Pilgrims get the fame for their feast in New England, but two years prior on December 4, 1619, thirty-eight Virginians at Berkeley Hundred celebrated “a day of thanksgiving’ to God as required by their charter: