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Show Page 4 AMERICAN FORK CITIZEN Thursday, July 3, 2008 paces NEWS AND IDEAS FROM CLASSROOMS AND EDUCATORS Learning Linda Butler NORTH COUNTY STAFF Children love bubbles. It is amazing how these clear floating spheres can bring smiles to a group of kids. Blowing bubbles in the shade can be a delightful summertime activity to do with children. It's also fun to make your own bubble solution. Older kids may wish to experiment with different combinations to see which makes the biggest or longest lasting bubbles. The two basic ingredients for bubbles are soap and water. The Exploratorium museum in San Francisco recommends rec-ommends a mixture of 23 cups Dawn dishwashing liquid, 1 gallon water, and 1 tablespoon of glycerine. Others recommend recom-mend using Joy dish liquid, and substituting glycerine with clear corn syrup. We've found corn syrup to be as effective as glycerine, and it's a lot less expensive. Older children may enjoy the challenge of finding the "best" bubble recipe. A variety of factors determine how large bubbles can be and how long they last. A brief bit of science: Water molecules are strongly attracted at-tracted to each other, which is known as surface tension. Surface tension is what allows a water skipper bug to walk on the water, or allows water to fill a cup slightly over the top. Normally, surface tension makes it impossible for water molecules to stretch to make a thin film. Soap reduces the surface tension and allows the film to form. When inflated, the film, or bubble, is stretched tightly like a balloon. Bubbles Group honors school's support of citizen soldier Marc Haddock NORTH COUNTY STAFF Lincoln Academy was honored hon-ored three times Tuesday for its support of a faculty member mem-ber who is currently serving in Afghanistan as a member of the Utah National Guard. The awards came from an organization called Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, and recognized the school's efforts to support Master Sgt. Charles Durrant, who teaches geography and world history at the school. Honors presented Tuesday include the Patriot Award, presented by Durrant's wife, April, to Mark Bishop, the charter school's CFO; The Above and Beyond Award, presented to the school by Maj. Gen. Brian L. Tarbet, adjutant general of the Utah National Guard; and a Statement of Support for the Guard and Reserve, Re-serve, which will be displayed at the school. The final award was presented pre-sented by Jim Martin, chair Greenwood Trixie Walker NORTH COUNTY STAFF With the help of the American Ameri-can Fork Arts Council, Greenwood Green-wood Elementary School has received a grant from Target for an after-school arts program pro-gram focusing on "students who are at high risk." Elisabeth Luntz, an Arts Council member, applied for the grant after taking a class provided by the Community Writing Center and paid for by the Arts CounciL "We were taught how to write grants and how to find them," Luntz said. "I could not have done it without the class." Greenwood received a $3,000 grant which will be used to develop ASAP, an After School Arts Program. Luntz chose Greenwood Elementary because it has a high percent Utah County's PREMIER local sports coverage the science behind bubbles luikwii? ts. w:v ' - Abby Raff creates a large bubble are round, because a sphere has the smallest surface area for its volume. The glycerine or corn syrup gives strength to the soapy film, allowing you to blow larger and longer lasting bubbles. bub-bles. Other factors determine bubble longevity. Hard water, especially water with iron, can cause bubbles to be weaker. Distilled water can be used if your water is especially hard. Even the brand of soap used can make a difference. Bubbles will dry out and pop quickly when the humidity is low. Bubbles last longer when they're blown in the shade, after af-ter a rainstorm, or if the lawn has been recently watered. Once the bubble solution is made, try using a variety of things for blowing bubbles. man of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. Tarbet said the awards and the school's willingness to support sup-port a faculty member who is also a citizen soldier, was significant. "This is a big deal because we are recognizing people who are doing much more than they have to," Tarbet said. "Many people don't realize what's going on out there, but for the families of our soldiers, this is World War II." Bishop said when Durrant was called up to active duty, the school made a decision to keep him on the school's payroll pay-roll even though he would be absent from the classroom. "No matter what they are paying him, it's not enough," Bishop said. "We felt like this was a great way to help the students understand what's going go-ing on." This is Durrant's second tour of active duty in 20 years of military service. He joined the U.S. Army in 1988, and served in Baghdad as a member of the Elem. receives arts program grant age of economically disadvantaged disadvan-taged students, with 52 percent of the students being eligible for free lunch. "Economically stressed families rarely have the opportunity op-portunity for extra-curricular activities and tools," Luntz stated in her grant application. applica-tion. She also said that Greenwood's Green-wood's high Hispanic population popula-tion 15 percent created an increased demand for after-school programming. "It is imperative that children of diverse ethnic backgrounds have the opportunity to share activities with the dominant culture," she said. Luntz said that the program will bring experienced local artists to Greenwood Elementary Elemen-tary for an hour of instruction the first Friday of each month of the school year. The second Friday of the month, the stu with her homemade bubble wand. Commercial bubble wands make many small bubbles. Try bending a metal coat hanger into a circle and dipping it into a tray or pan with about an inch of bubble solution to blow big bubbles. Wrapping the hanger with string or yarn will help hold more solution, allowing for bigger bubbles. Use your fingers to stretch a loop of string or yarn into different dif-ferent shapes. While holding the string shape taut, dip it into a flat pan of bubble solution, then blow. Bend thin wire hangers or bailing wire into different differ-ent shapes to blow bubbles. Wrapping the wire with yarn or string helps it to hold the bubble solution better. It may be better to swish a larger bubble wand through the air 7, Or ink- imf: J ' J-L MARC HADDOCKNorth County Maj. Gen. Brian Tarbet presents an Above and Beyond Award Tuesday to Julie Walker and Mark Bishop, members of the Lincoln Academy board of trustees, recognizing the school's efforts to support employees who are also members of the Utah National Guard. Utah Army National Guard's 1457th Engineer Battalion which is based in American Fork. He will be in Afghanistan Afghani-stan for one year. dents will gather to practice their new skills. Each participant partici-pant will receive art supplies including a paintbrush, painting paint-ing journal and colored pencils. "The three areas of focus will be Visual Arts, Sculpture and Musical Readers' Theatre," The-atre," she wrote. "Each month will feature a different set of skills ranging from watercolor, pencils, sculpture, music, script reading and listening, and set design. "In May, the children will perform their Musical Readers' Theatre for their classmates and their friends and families. At the end of the school year, we will present a citywide publicized pub-licized Art Exhibit to showcase their visual art and pottery for the public as well as their own families." Luntz said that the program will also benefit the community r www.heraldextra.tom - . 1 I A - 5 V I ;? v-f ..v. LINDA BUTLERNorth County rather than blow bubbles from it. What shape bubble does a square wand make? A triangle? tri-angle? A crescent? A star? The bubble film will be the shape of the wand, but the bubbles that are blown out are always round because a sphere is the shape that encloses the largest volume of air to the smallest surface area. A gentle breeze can distort the shape, but without interference, the bubble will always return to its round shape. Young children especially enjoy using a variety of tools as bubble "wands." Toilet paper pa-per tubes, straws, and other things that provide an enclosed area can be used to blow bubbles. bub-bles. Just dip the end into the bubble solution and blow. Lincoln Academy, which includes grades K-9, is in its fourth year of operation. by providing a positive after-school after-school activity, and by helping the students to feel more integrated inte-grated and appreciated in the community. "Studies also show that children who go to formal after-school programs watch less television and have higher academic achievement as well as better social adjustment," she said. "These children will more likely be contributors to society." Thirty participants will be selected from grades four through six, said school principal prin-cipal Cathy Matheson. "If (the program) grows and has success, suc-cess, we would look at lower grades," she said. While she would like the resources to include in-clude more students, she said she is grateful for the grant that made this program possible. , WW. . "IV Family friendly fun briefsforJuly3-10 Utah Museum of Natural History The museum presents a Free Family Monday on July 7. Admission to the museum at 1390 E. Presidents Circle, Salt Lake City, on this day is free. Family Monday hours are 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Live Physics demonstrations will be presented between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. in the museum lobby. Visitors are also invited to join in a free star party at the University's Observatory, located on the nxu ofthe South Science Building, Building Build-ing JWH Building No. 10 Mid-Summer Renaissance Faire in Cedar City Come join the fun, games, crafts, entertainment, and excitement July 9th through July 12th, when Cedar City's Main Street Park will be transformed into a Renais sance Faire. The festival known as the Utah Midsummer Renaissance Faire has a long-standing tradition of fun, excitement, and great memories. For 26 years, people from around the world have gathered in Ce dar City to be a part of these festivities. The faire includes food and craft booths and a variety of family friendly entertainment, including harp and violin music, magicians, a falconer, jugglers, a chalk art contest, and games for chil dren. Admission to the faire is free. Scottish Festival Hear the sounds of bag pipes and drums, enjoy the athletic and dance competi tions. The Payson Scottish Festival opens next Thursday with a concert at Peteetneet Museum. "Stonecircle" will perform at 7:30 p.m. on July 10. The events on Friday and Saturday take place at Payson s Memorial Park. Friday from 6-9 p.m. there will be booths and entertainment entertain-ment at the park's bandstand. Saturday's events begin with a breakfast at 8 a.m., a parade at 9 a.m. Competitions take place throughout the park from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and a variety performers will entertain enter-tain at the bandstand from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission to the festival is free. This is the Place Heritage Park Family Fun Day During July 12, entrance to This is the Place Heritage Park, 2601 E. Sunny side Ave., Salt Lake City, is free. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., enjoy exploring explor-ing and celebrating Utah's pioneer heritage with carnival games, food, crafts, live entertainment, enter-tainment, and farm activities. Monday Movies at PG. Library Join us in Pleasant Grove Library's Li-brary's Little Theatre for free family movies. Doors open at 10:45 a.m., movies begin at 11 a.m. Bring your own treats. (Please, no popcorn.) July family movies are: I July 7 "Charlotte's Web" July 14 "Sky High" July 21 "How to Eat Fried Worms" July 28 "Bug's Life." Afternoon Teen LOOKING EDITORIAL Movies at PG Library Every Monday afternoon the Pleasant Grove Library's Little Theatre is reserved for teens to watch movies old and new. Movies start at 3 p.m. Bring your own treats. (Please, no popcorn.) July teen movies are: I July 7 "Superman" July 14 "Flight of the Navigator" Navi-gator" July21"E.T." July 28 "The Princess Bride" Peteetneet Museum and Cultural Arts Center The museum is housed in the Peteetneet School, which was built in 1901. Children will enjoy the Victorian Home exhibit. ex-hibit. Each room is furnished to show family life during the late 1800s to early 1900s. Rooms include kitchen, dining room, bedr-" m, and parlor. There is als u school room and blacksmith shop from the Victorian era. Also of interest is the "History "His-tory of Writing" exhibit, which features antique pens, typewriters, cameras, telephones, tele-phones, and record players. The "Freedom Room" honors local veterans, and the museum mu-seum also has a large WWII exhibit. With its flowers and fountains, foun-tains, a walk through the Peteetneet grounds is also a pleasure Admission is free. Museum hours are Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Peteetneet museum is located at 10 S. Peteetneet Blve. (600 East), Payson. American Fork DUP Relic Hall The American Fork Relic Hall is a treasure trove of pioneer pio-neer artifacts and stories. The museum contains a variety of pioneer clothing, household, and farm items. The adjacent 18-foot square pioneer cabin not much larger than today's to-day's child's bedroom was built in 1854 and was the home of Thomas and Suzanne Proctor and their large family. It's furnished and provides an excellent view into pioneer home life. Robinson Park, which surrounds sur-rounds the museum, is a fun place to picnic and play after your museum visit. The museum mu-seum is located in Robinson Park, on the corner of 100 East and Main in American Fork. Hours are 1-5 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays. Group tours are available, contact Jill Smith at 785-9204 Tracy Aviary Tracy Aviary is America's oldest and largest bird park. The aviary features 400 birds, representing 135 species on 7.5 acres in Liberty Park in Salt Lake City. Tracy Aviary is located at 589 E. 1300 South in the southwest corner of Liberty Park. It is accessible from the northern entrance of the park located at 900 South. Parking is available outside the main entrance of the Aviary Avi-ary grounds. The aviary's daily summer hours are from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for children 4-12, students and seniors. Group discounts for 10 or more are available by calling 596-8500. Bird shows are included in-cluded with admission. At 1 1 a.m., see "Aviators: Superhe-roes Superhe-roes of the Sky" and at 2 p.m. enjoy "Avian Idol." 1 DatlD&HrraUi |