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Show Page 10 THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Volume VIII Issue X September 1, 2003 Old Fire House Offers Variety of Services Old Fire House offers a variety of services. The business has provided its services to the community since 1996, offering preschool, daycare, before and after school, drop-in care, ski care (as space permits), and private kindergarten. and Jerome Bruner, grounded in sound child development theory and appropriate practices. Themes are used to introduce information, and learning takes place as a child explores and manipulates real objects and events. Fellowship Bible Church Hosts Summer Vacation Bible School If you missed it this year, you won’t want to miss it next year! Missed what? Vacation Bible School at Fellowship Bible Church in Liberty. On August 4 through August 8, a group of 16 committed workers, including most of the youth group, presented a children’s summer program dedicated to helping children learn the bible. This year the bible story was about Queen Esther and her cousin who uncovered an evil plot to destroy the Jewish people. The bible story was told amidst a backdrop of child-sized castles, and a throne room. In addition to learning the bible story, the approximately 30 children attending, ages 4 – 10, played games, competed in a contest, made crafts, and had refreshments. Prizes were given at the end of the week. All activities were free of charge. If you missed it this year, Vacation Bible School will be back next summer with more exciting bible adventures and fun! First Day of School Old Fire House Child Care in Eden held their own magic show and circus with a variety of animals, clowns and more. Each classroom is set up for the child to Now in their new facility in Eden across from Iverson Dental, Old Fire House has explore different learning centers. The child expanded, offering more classes, including a has time during the day to choose what activities interest them. For example, a dramatic toddler class, 13 to 24 months. Many people think that childcare centers play area, a science center, a sand and water are a place that the children just “play all area, an art center, and a music center. Many day.” Owner Becky Daugaard states, “This times, theme related items are incorporated isn’t true in our center. We have qualified in the centers. Having free choice time gives teachers that are constantly taking child the teacher the opportunity to spend one on development classes—our staff is always one time with the children, to observe the children, or to just play and have fun with learning.” Old Fire House offers High Reach the kids. The other parts of the day are teach Learning. All High Reach Learning curricu- directed activities such as art projects, story lum programs are based on the philosophy time, American Sign Language, Spanish, that children learn best through hands-on games, or other group activities. According to Becky, “Free choice allows activities that address the needs of the whole child. In addition, each High Reach for the child to develop their interests, and to Learning program reflects the belief that learn things such as cause and effect, role children need balanced child-initiated and playing, and being creative, where teacher teacher-facilitated activities each day. This related activities prepares them for the ‘real approach reflects the beliefs of Jean Piaget, world.’ Real life is structured—as our proErik Erikson, Lev Vygotsky, David Ausubel, gram is.” Going Back to School Heather Holbrook of Valley Hair discusses color options with Julie, Megan (seated), and Emily Brandt in preparation for going back to school. Off to kindergarten. in 1959.Pictured are Kerry Fuller, Paula Ann Sowers, and Debra Malan in front of Valley Elementary School Close Encounters By Shanna Francis Ogden Valley News You don’t have to be a professional astronomer to enjoy the night sky this month. Step outside after 10:00 p.m. and look to the south. You will find a star that will outshine all of the others—Mars, our nearest neighboring planet. By August 27, Mars will have made its closest encounter to the Earth since the Stone Age, or 57,617 BC. At that time, scientists claim that the planet was about 55,718 km from Earth. On August 27, 2003, the Red Planet will have traveled within 55,760,000 km of Earth, or 34.65 million miles. It’s estimated that the planet will not be closer until the year 2729, when Mars will be about 34,500,000 miles from the earth—a truly close encounter! Mars is the 4th planet from the sun; Earth is the 3rd. Because Earth is closer to the sun, it moves faster in its elliptical orbit around the Sun than Mars does. Once every 26 months, it passes Mars like a speeding racecar on the inside track. The distance between the planets varies as Earth passes by. Since the orbital points of planets slowly change, Earth’s distance from the Sun can vary from its average orbital position by nearly two percent, and Mars’ distance varies from its average by more than nine percent. So at times, each planet is ultimately closer to the sun than at other orbital times. If Mars happens to be at its extreme nearest point to the Sun when Earth passes it by, during the same time Earth is at its extreme furthest distance from the Sun on its orbital trek, a truly close approach occurs between the two planets—relatively speaking in terms of cosmic distances! Throughout the rest of August and September, Mars will be clearly visible with the naked eye. Every night it has been rising earlier. Now, at the end of August, it can been seen just above the horizon south of east after sunset. Mars is half the diameter, and 1/10 the mass of Earth. Still, it is the planet most like our own. Some scientists believe that there is a possibility that there may be single celled organisms living beneath Mars’ surface. Since the 1960’s, satellites have been orbiting the planet, and probes have landed on the celestial body. They have sent images back to Earth showing a desert landscape of sand dunes strewn with boulders and smaller rocks. What looks like dry streambeds also cross the barren landscape. Mars is also home to the largest volcano known to man—Olympus Mons. The inactive monstrosity rises 26 km up into space. You can find Mars, a brilliant red/orange looking star, located in the constellation Aquarius. It will appear about as bright as Jupiter, shining like a beacon. At this time, it will be large enough that amateur astronomers with good-sized telescopes will be able to discern some of the planet’s features—polar ice caps, yellow-orange deserts-dark surface features, and perhaps maybe even some storm clouds above its surface. For the best view of the planet, take a quick trip to Australia! Hey, why not—the sky’s the limit! Garden & Landscape Design |