The Weekly Flash -- Written by kids like you!
Fractions or Decimals?
Nicholas, 10, Troy, Michigan
Posted May 21, 2008

There is debate over whether or not fractions should be taught in schools. According to George E. Andrews, a Penn State University math professor, "It would be a tragedy to stop teaching fractions". In George's opinion, the point of teaching fractions is to provide a basis for more advanced math like algebra and calculus. He also says that if students want the option of going in to a scientific or technical career, then they will need to understand fractions.

I agree with George that fractions should be used. First, it takes time to learn decimals and young kids see fractions easier than they see decimals. For example, when kids eat pizza and the pizza is divided into 12 pieces, they would rather say they'd want "1/4" of the pizza instead of saying 0.25 of the pizza.

Many careers use fractions and if kids didn't learn them in school, the doors to their dream jobs may be closed early on in life. Careers such as chefs, builders and scientists use fractions everyday. Since learning them is easier at a young age and gives you plenty of time for practice before you start a career, it's better to know fractions early on.

Fractions are a basis for more advanced math. Imagine trying to learn percentages. Would you prefer to learn 1/100 or 0.01 as 1%? Most people prefer the 1/100 option because they can picture that in their mind. In order to be successful in algebra and calculus, you need fractions too.

Keep fractions because it is easier to learn them compared to decimals, they are easier to measure with and they provide the basis for more advanced math like percentages. Keep fractions in school!

4th Grade Students Make a Thousand Cranes!
Charlotte, 10, Texas
Posted May 21, 2008

On November 12, 2007, 4th grade students in a school in Frisco ISD have been making paper birds, or cranes. Their goal is to make 1,000 of them and hang them onto the classroom ceiling.

It all started when the class read the book Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr. It just so happens that there is a Japanese legend that says if people make 1,000 paper cranes, then the gods will grant a wish for them. The class was inspired to make 1,000 cranes for another 4th grade student who had leukemia. They wished for him to get well after his treatment during the school year.

Now, the whole class is excited about making the cranes. "The legend is actually quite fascinating," says Sally, "all the things we're doing are really awesome." The whole class, including the teacher, can't wait until the cranes are done and sent to the hospital.

Death Toll Nears 78,000
Jorantwins, 10, of the Philippines
Posted May 21, 2008

Myanmar state television says the oficial death toll from the devasting cyclone earlier this month has climed to 77,738.

The figure was broadcast Friday night. It was nearly double the figure released a day earlier by the military government.

The official count for the missing also soared to 55,917 -- from a figure of 27,838 that had been announced for the past few days.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies estimated Wednesday that the total death toll may be as many as 128,000. The U.N. has said more than 100,000 may have died.

The U.N. and the Red Cross say 1.6 million to 2.5 million people are in urgent need of food, water and shelter.

Disaster Day
Killen, 9, Texas
Posted May 21, 2008

May 14, 2008 -- The WORST disasters hit the earth, like the earthquake in China and the two tornados that hit central Texas.

The earthquake that hit China was the worst ever. It killed up to 34,000 people!!!! So Martin Walker, (a school in Copperas Cove), will be doing a penny drive for the people in China that survived the earthquake.

That morning, KWTX said, "We have a possible tornado in the area." At around 7:00 am, they said that there was a tornado on the ground heading towards Cyclone, which is in Uninc Bell County.

AIDS
Eva, 10, of Michigan
Posted May 21, 2008

Do you know what AIDS is? AIDS stands for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. It is as deadly as cancer. Never do any of the stuff listed below!!!!

How can you get AIDS? Well, if you get any kind of piercing, or getting a real tattoo, in a dirty place that uses a dirty needle. Another way is to be blood brothers. This is where you and someone else cut yourself and put your cuts together, if the other person has AIDS, and then you could get it.

AIDS is not fun. Doctors have medications for it, but there's no cure for it either. You have to take a lot of medications, which can make you sick too. These are called cocktails. It's a mixture of different medications to help you feel better. So if you don't like to take a lot of medications, be careful of what you do to yourself.

4th Grader Beats 5th Grader in Spelling Bee
Kyanna, 12, NJ
Posted May 21, 2008

Have you ever watched a spelling bee? Whether it was at your school, on T.V., or you were in one. Well I watched a spelling bee at my school, and it was rather interesting.

In fourth grade I watched this spelling bee. The participants were in the grades fourth through sixth. The winner of the bee was a fourth grader, but the amazing part about is that he beat this girl in the finals who was in fifth grade. This is how it happened.

There was just the two of them, Jacob and Kim. Kim received the word arithmetic. She spelled it a-r-i-t-h-i-m-e-t-i-c. "Buzzzzzz." "That is the incorrect answer," replied the judge. Then Jacob came up to the microphone, everyone knew that if he got this word correct that he was the winner. Jacob received the word encyclopedia. Jacob spelled it correctly.

The whole school jumped up with joy! Clapping, cheering, screaming, all for Jacob. This was surely Jacob's best day ever!

Platypus Proves Evolution?
Erin, 11, of Crawfordville
Posted May 21, 2008

For heaven's sake, people! After hearing the news today, I was more than a little upset that the evolution scientists think that the platypus proves evolution.

I googled platypus information. I went to the National Geographic website and was relieved to see that "No less than 45% of (polled) responding US adults agreed that 'God created human beings pretty much in their present form at one time within the last 10,000 years or soÄ.' Evolution, by their lights, played no role in shaping us".

For a minute or two I was pleased with this. Then I realized that this left 55% percent of the people believing in what I think is a lie! I don't know about anyone else, but this bothers me. I guess everyone has their opinions.

My Report on Walter Hunt
Victoria, 12, of Binghamton, NY
Posted May 21, 2008

Walter Hunt is whom I decided to do my report on for school. He invented the safety pin. It was invented on April 10, 1849. Hunt was not planning to invent the safety pin. He was trying to make something that would pay off his $15 debt that he owed a friend. So he started twisting a piece ofÄù brass wire, and created the safety pin.

Wow, I wish I could do that. Maybe I could some day.

The Killer Cyclone
Harrison, 7, Columbia
Posted May 21, 2008

There was a cyclone in Myanmar. It happened a few weeks ago. About 23,000 people were killed and they are finding more people that are turning up alive.

They lost a lot of electricity and the wind was up to 100 miles per hour. Roads were blocked by all the damages that happened during the cyclone. 1.5 million people are facing hunger and diseases, but their army people refuse help. A lot of other countries are trying to help them by giving them food and care.

The Red Cross is helping them and hopefully more people will too.

A Feast for a King
Catalina, 11
Posted May 21, 2008

Have you ever had a feast at school? Have you ever wondered what Middle Ages feasts were like at the great hall?

On Wed. May 14, 2008, kids from the 6th grade at a middle school had a feast at different periods. They were dressing up as people of the middle ages. There was king and a queen that was picked out for the feast.

At the feast, each king chosen from each class would welcome the guest (other classmates). There was also entertainment by classmates and, of course, the king and queen were served first.

At the end of the day, we were served almond pudding for dessert and the queens finished with a thank you speech.

Northwestern Pacific Tree Octopus
Joseph, 14, of Charleston, SC
Posted May 21, 2008

Hey y'all, I'm contacting y'all from South Carolina! Yeehaw!

Today I was in computer class, and my teacher Ms. H. was telling us that there are a lot of fake websites out there. She showed us one. It looked real, but once you start reading, you could tell it was fake.

The website she showed us was about a Northwestern Pacific Tree Octopus and that it was going extinct. It looked like a real site, but what caught my eye, was that it had some crazy things on it.

On the site it told you to dress like a lumberjack and wear an octopus costume and dance around. Then it sent you to another fake web address to get more information, ex, www.greenpeas.org. When the real website is called www.greenpeace.org which are two completely different things.

You really have to be careful were you get your information from these days. Try checking your sources twice, check if the source is up to date, get information from other sources (don't be biased), and make sure the information is appropriate.

Thanks a lot y'all! See y'all at the rodeo!!!

Are You Truly Friends with Your Friends?
Destiny, 11, of Watertown, Tennessee
Posted May 21, 2008

You just may think your friends are your "real" friends! They can turn sides on you as quick as lightning, and you may not have done anything to them! So be careful with your friends, and whom you trust.

Have you ever had "friend issues?" I have. Have you felt the embarrassment when they say that your friendship has sunk? I have, and more than once.

I have lots of friends, and some I trust and love with everything I've got. But friends can be jealous, be mean, and hurt your feelings without ever listening to you. If we're supposed to be realÄù friends, then we should be able to talk our problems out. Resolve our conflictsÄù and make our friendships better.

Like I said, BE CAREFUL WITH WHO YOU TRUST.

Indiana Jones Returns!
Sherri, 13, of NY
Posted May 21, 2008

Harrison Ford returns to play the role of Indiana Jones in the upcoming movie, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull! Director Steven Spielberg had already announced that he was filming the movie in 2007 and the movie will be released on Memorial Day of 2008.

In this movie, Indy journeys to South America to find a crystal skull in the ancient ruins. He runs into the villains lead by swordwielding Irina Spalko. Indy's friend Mutt faces off Spalko in a daring sword fight, and Indy's previous acquaintance, Marion Ravenwood, returns to help Indy too!

Recently, the official website for Indiana Jones (indianajones.com) released a video where Steven Spielberg, Harrison Ford (Indiana Jones), Shia Lebeouf (Mutt Williams), Ray Whinstone (Mac McHale), and Karen Allen (Marion Ravenwood) appeared and gave some information. It also includes introductions to the cast members, and Harrison Ford declaring that they were making a "dynamite movie."

Besides Harrison as Indy (as always), and Miss Allen as Marion, there will be some new characters, including Cate Blanchett as Spalko, Shia Lebeouf of "Transformers" as Indy's second youngest (compared to Short Round) sidekick Mutt Williams, and Ray Whinstone as Indy's other sidekick Mac.

It's been said that there will be a portrait of the late Denholm Elliot, who played humorous Marcus Brody in the first and third Indy Films outside Indy's classroom at Marshall College. But they did happen to find someone to do a similar role to Elliot's role.

The Lion Who Wouldn't Brush Her Teeth
Dylan, 7, of Arkansas
Posted May 21, 2008

Once upon a time there was a family of lions who had a brother and sister. The brother was named Dylan and the sister was named Hailey.

Hailey wouldn't brush her teeth for anything and couldn't make friends because her breath was so foul.

Dylan felt sorry for his sister and took her to the dentist. The dentist explained how important it is to brush you're teeth after every meal.

From that day forward Hailey's breath smelled very good.

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