Nicholas' News March, 2004

I sure hope that next month we can get spring weather for more than a few days. We had some nice days in March, but we had a few snow storms, too! Even with the crazy weather, I've been keeping busy. I've done a lot of things in Cub Scouts this past month. We had a Pack Meeting where we made bird houses and the money we paid to buy the birdhouses is being given to Habitat for Humanity. The money we raised will help them landscape a yard for one of the houses they are building in our town. This month I also went to the District Pinewood Derby. My car raced great, but I didn't win any trophies. It was still fun!      Another exciting thing I did was go to a concert. I went with my sister and mom to hear Trout Fishing in America, and they were great! They played in a small theater so it was really easy to see and hear them. Afterward, Gabrielle and I got to meet them and they autographed our tickets!      At home we have started remodeling our kitchen. All of our cabinets are now outside on our back patio. All of our food and dishes are in boxes in the living room and play room. We painted the kitchen a bright yellow and we will be putting in the new floor next. The new cabinets will also arrive soon.

In the March Issue: Page 1: Newsletter Cool links Future Fun Stuff Gabrielle's Grab Bag Page 2: Book Review: The Slave Dancer Poetry Corner Monthly Math Challenge P.E. Challenge Page 3: Science Fiction: Chocolate Rescue Art Page

I went on a field trip this month to the Moravian Pottery and Tile Works Museum. The Tile Works was started by Henry Mercer in 1898, and they still make the tile the same way as back then. There were lots of old tools and machines plus many beautiful and very fancy tiles and mosaics. I was so interested in the mosaics that I have been working on making one at home. I made a sketch of the picture I wanted for the mosaic, transferred it onto some old clay and then filled it with plaster to make a mold. I can now use the plaster mold to "stamp" the design onto pottery clay. I have the first one drying and then I will glaze it and a friend will fire it in a kiln for me.      In homeschool, I've been very busy, too. In science I've been studying light and its properties. I've also been attending an Astronomy Club at the library. In Social Studies I've been learning about the West and how the gold rush affected California. In math I've been practicing long division and working more on probability. I have also been writing some stories and poems for school. I am continuing to learn French and take piano lessons.      This month I have included one of my stories and a page with some of my artwork. I hope you like them and the rest of the website this month!

I also went on a cave tour this month with my scout pack. We were in one of the larger caverns with flow stone on the walls.

Future Fun Stuff

Cool Links

April is National Gardening Month and National Humor Month.

April 6 - 12 -  National Library Week-   Head to your local library and find some good books to read! Check to see if your library has any other interesting programs for kids.

Nabisco World for Kids http://www.nabiscoworld.com          Lots of free and fun games to play online.

April 17- 12 - 3PM: Mystery Of the Mummies at Franklin Institute, Philadelphia- Dissect mummified owl pellets, make a mummy mask and see a mummy show. For more information: http://sln.fi.edu/press/04mar31.html

Kids Hub www.kidshub.org     This site has links to lots of educational games, puzzles and quizzes. It also has links to fun projects and experiments to help with school.

April 22 -  Earth Day-   If you're not already recycling, now is a good time to start. Find ways to conserve water and energy around your house. It's also a good time to plant flowers and trees! Find out if there are any Earth Day activities in your community.

Schoolhouse Rock www.school-house-rock.com/index.htm     This site has all the school house rock videos ever made! It has the words to the songs and you can listen to a little music clip of each of the songs.

April 29 -  International Penguin Day-   I didn't even know there was such a day! The website below has all sorts of suggestions for celebrating this unusual holiday! www.members.shaw.ca/epenguin/penguinday.html

Gabrielle's Grab Bag

Gabrielle really enjoyed the Trout Fishing in America concert. She was dancing in her seat and clapping along with the music. After the show, Gabrielle was really excited about shaking Ezra's hand!      Gabrielle has also fallen in love with School House Rock! She has watched some of the videos and goes around singing her favorite, "Interjections."   "When Reginald was home with the flu..." (See the link in Cool Links.)      Wow! Gabrielle had a great month. Hey! I hope you did, too!                      Darn! That's the end!

To March Pg.2