© 2010 Universal Uclick

release dates: April 17-23 16-1 (10)

from The Mini Page © 2010 Universal UclickThe Party That Changed the World

Happy Birthday, Earth Day!

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Do you do special things to help our planet? Perhaps you have helped plant trees or pick up trash. Forty years ago, the world was a very different place. The first Earth Day, on April 22, 1970, helped change it for the better. The Mini Page celebrates this special day by showing how the world’s people started to care for Planet Earth.People wake up For hundreds of years, some people have been concerned about the environment. They called this concern conservation. They were worried about conserving, or saving, our resources. But until Earth Day, these conservationists were in the minority. Most people didn’t start to think much about the environment until the 1960s. In 1962, a scientist, Rachel Carson, published a book called “Silent Spring.” She caught everyone’s attention with her accounts of birds dying from pesticides. She warned that people were in danger too.

Fragile planet During the 1960s, people were fighting for change. Many were working for civil rights and women’s rights and against the war in Vietnam. The environment was low on the list of people’s concerns. A series of events came together to change this view. In the 1960s, astronauts took pictures of the Earth from space. The sight of our beautiful blue planet alone in the darkness of space made people think. For the first time, everyone could see how fragile our home was.

Growing concerns In 1969, there was a huge oil spill in Santa Barbara, Calif. It killed thousands of birds, animals, fish and plants. People were furious. That same year, a river in Ohio was so polluted that it caught on fire. Concern about the Earth grew. President Richard Nixon and Congress passed an important act to figure out how to fix the environment. Wisconsin Sen. Gaylord Nelson

visited Santa Barbara and saw how people had organized to clean up the oil spill. He thought it was possible to organize the nation to clean up our planet.

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Students at Ellis Elementary in Denver celebrate their achievements during the 2009 Earth Day. The students learned about plants that could grow well in drought conditions, or in times with little rain or snow. Then they landscaped, or planted an area, around their school with these plants. The students also helped raise money to put solar panels on their school.

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Rachel Carson (1907-1964)

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Astronauts shot this photo of the Earth in 1968.

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Gaylord Nelson (1916-2005)

from The Mini Page © 2010 Universal Uclick

16-2 (10); release dates: April 17-23®

The First Earth Day

Words that remind us of Earth Day are hidden in the block below. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally. See if you can find: ACT, AIR, CELEBRATION, CLEAN, CONSERVATION, ENDANGERED, ENVIRONMENT, GREEN, OIL, PESTICIDES, POLLUTION, PROTEST, RALLY, RECYCLING, SPECIES, SPILL, TREE, WATER, WORLD.

Earth Day try ’nfind

Earth’s hEalth is in our hands!

P C R T S E T O R P L L I P S O T L A V S E D I C I T S E P L S R E L D L R O W N E E R G L P N E A L R E C Y C L I N G U E O A E N Y A I R R E T A W T C I C N O I T A R B E L E C I I L T D E R E G N A D N E N O E N O I T A V R E S N O C C N S K V T N E M N O R I V N E

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Basset Brown

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ready resourcesfrom The Mini Page © 2010 Universal Uclick

The Mini Page provides ideas for Web sites, books or other resources that will help you learn more about this week’s topics.On the Web:    • www.earthday.org    • www.epa.gov/kidsAt your library:    • “Every Day Is Earth Day: A Craft Book” by Kathy Ross    • “Just a Dream” by Chris Van Allsburg    • “What’s It Like Living Green?: Kids Teaching Kids, by the Way They Live” by Jill Ammon Vanderwood    • “The Day the Earth was Silent” by Michael McGuffee    • “Girls Gone Green” by Lynn Hirshfield

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Kids lead the way During the 1960s, there were many protests against the Vietnam War. On college campuses, these were called “teach-ins.” Sen. Gaylord Nelson thought people could have a teach-in for the whole country at once. This rally would be to teach people about the environment. He recruited Denis Hayes to organize the first Earth Day. Denis was enrolled at Harvard University. He asked thousands of volunteers, mostly students, to plan events to be held all over the country. Organizers picked April 22 because in 1970, most colleges were on spring break. This meant college kids would be able to work at the Earth Day events.

Partying to protest All over the country, Earth Day participants had fun while working on serious environmental problems. In New York City, half a million people went to lectures, Frisbee games and concerts. In Washington, D.C., people gathered at the monuments, then met with members of Congress. Some people made their points by carrying oil-covered ducks and dead fish.

Making a joyful noise Denis and student volunteers got the word out by mailings and phone calls. There was no Internet to spread the message to a lot of people at once. More than 20 million Americans took part in that first Earth Day. Students from about 2,000 colleges and 10,000 elementary and high schools rallied for our planet.

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Students at Overfelt High School in San Jose, Calif., painted a mural at their school for Earth Day in 2009. With the help of people from Earth Day Network, they also planted a garden and a fruit tree orchard. Students put out recycling bins at their school and changed the light bulbs to energy-efficient fluorescent bulbs. In 1970, people first made acts such as tree planting part of environmental celebrations.

® 16-3 (10); release dates: April 17-23

from The Mini Page © 2010 Universal Uclick

Zachary: What do you get when you cross an ape man with a zebra? Zebediah: Tarzan stripes forever!

Zaire: What do you get when you cross the Little Dipper with a zebra?

Zada: Stars and stripes!

Rookie Cookie’s RecipeHomemade Cornbread

You’ll need:• 11/2 cups biscuit baking mix• 11/4 teaspoons baking powder• 1/4 cup yellow cornmeal• 1/4 cup sugarWhat to do:1. Combine baking mix, baking powder, cornmeal and sugar in a large bowl.2. In a separate bowl, whisk honey, eggs, milk and melted butter until well

blended.3. Add dry mixture gradually to wet mixture and stir only until combined

(do not overmix).4.  Lightly grease an 11-by-7-inch baking pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30 

minutes until set.5. Cut into 12 squares and serve warm with butter.You will need an adult’s help with this recipe.

from The Mini Page © 2010 Universal Uclick

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All the following jokes have something in common. Can you guess the common theme or category?

Zeke: What is black and white with red polka dots?

Zandra: A zebra with measles!Please include all of the appropriate registered trademark symbols and copyright lines in any publication of The Mini Page®.

Mini Spy . . .Gus and Goldie Goodsport are helping Mini Spy clean up a playground. See if you can find:  • bearded man• ice pop  • fish  • horse’s head  • letter V• letter D  • cat  • mouse  • chicken• butterfly  • pig’s face  • number 6  • frog• word MINI  • arrow  • ice cream cone 

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• 1/4 cup honey• 2 eggs• 1/2 cup milk• 1/2 cup melted butter

from The Mini Page © 2010 Universal Uclick

Meet Mia Wasikowska    Mia Wasikowska (VAH-she-KOV-ska) plays Alice in the movie “Alice in Wonderland.” She has acted in TV series and movies in Australia and the United States. One of her roles was in the movie “Amelia.” Mia, 20, grew up in Canberra, Australia. Her mother is a photographer and her father an artist. Mia likes to take

photographs as she travels to different places for her acting roles. Mia has an older sister and a younger brother.    She studied ballet when she was a child. She quit when she was a teenager to pursue acting instead.

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The Mini Page’s popular series of issues about each state is collected here in a 156-page softcover book. Conveniently spiral-bound for ease of use, this invaluable resource contains A-to-Z facts about each state, along with the District of Columbia. Illustrated with colorful photographs and art, and complete with updated information, The Mini Page Book of States will be a favorite in classrooms and homes for years to come.

NEW!

To order, send $15.99 ($19.99 Canada) plus $5 postage and handling for each copy. Make check or money order (U.S. funds only) payable to Universal Uclick. Send to The Mini Page Book of States, Universal Uclick, P.O. Box 6814, Leawood, KS 66206. Or call toll-free 800-591-2097 or go to www.smartwarehousing.com. Please send ______ copies of The Mini Page Book of States (Item #0-7407-8549-4) at $20.99 each, total cost. (Bulk discount information available upon request.)Name: _____________________________________________Address: ____________________________________________City: ______________________________________________State: __________________________ Zip: ________________

The Mini Page® Book of States

from The Mini Page © 2010 Universal Uclick

16-4 (10); release dates: April 17-23®

Changing the World

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The Mini Page StaffBetty Debnam - Founding Editor and Editor at Large Lisa Tarry - Managing Editor Lucy Lien - Associate Editor Wendy Daley - Artist

A lasting success The first Earth Day kicked off the modern environmental movement. After Earth Day, Congress passed important environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act and Endangered Species Act.

Republicans and Democrats all joined in the cause. The Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, was formed. Partly because

of Earth Day, the environment went from the bottom of the list of concerns to the top.

Being part of the change One of the best things you can do to understand the environment is to go outside. Experts say kids and adults are now spending about 90 percent of their time indoors. Just going outside can help us see our world differently. Many students across the country are helping to turn their schools green. Students are doing everything from raising money for solar panels for their schools to changing the light bulbs to energy-saving bulbs. Do you have a recycling program at your school? If you don’t, maybe

you could start one.

Acting together In 1970, people saw the environment as something outside of themselves. Today, experts say, people are more aware. They realize the environment includes everyone’s home. In honor of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, an organization called Earth Day Network is working with local groups and governments around the world. Through their program, Billion Acts of Green™, they hope to organize 1 billion acts of caring for the planet. Projects can range from picking up trash to painting posters about Earth Day. Although local groups may already be working on projects, everyone will now share their results on the Internet. Organizers hope projects will continue beyond Earth Day.

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Students and community volunteers at Thurgood Marshall Academy in Washington, D.C., harvest vegetables from a school garden. They planted the garden last May in connection with Earth Day activities. This year they are working with Earth Day Network to include elementary school kids in gardening and cooking activities. They are also creating a butterfly garden.

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Students on the Mean Green Team at CALS Early College High School in Los Angeles plant trees as part of the 2009 Earth Day activities.

The Mini Page thanks Sean Miller, education director, Earth Day Network, for help with this issue.

Look through your newspaper to find out what Earth Day activities are going on in your area.

Next week, The Mini Page is all about the 75th anniversary of the Dust Bowl.

A student at Overfelt High School in San Jose, Calif., is painting a recycling bin.

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release dates: April 17-23 16-5 (10)

(Note to Editor: Above is copy block for Page 3, Issue 16, to be used in place of ad if desired.)

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from The Mini Page © 2010 Universal Uclick

Supersport: Kevin DurantHeight: 6-9 Birthdate: 9-29-88Weight: 230 Hometown: Washington, D.C.    When Kevin Durant scored only 21 points in an NBA game on Feb. 24, it seemed like an “off” night for the Oklahoma City All-Star. That’s how good the Thunder forward has become. Before dipping slightly, he had racked up 25 points or more in his previous 28 

straight games, netting a high of 45 during the sizzling streak. Durant dazzles his opponents. Through mid-March, the third-year pro was averaging 29.7 points and 7.5 rebounds. While blessed with talent, he practices diligently. “Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard” is his motto. Coach Scott Brooks admires Durant’s dedication, saying he “prepares himself every day to be a better player.” While a big scorer in each of his pro seasons, the number on his jersey is perhaps most special to him. He wears “35” in memory of his late AAU coach, Charles Craig, who died at that young age.

(Note to Editor: Above is the Standards for Issue 16.)

Standards Spotlight: Happy Birthday, Earth Day!

Mini Page activities meet many state and national educational standards. Each week we identify standards that relate to The Mini Page’s content and offer activities that will help your students reach them.This week’s standard:•  Students understand changes in environments. (Science: Personal and Social 

Perspectives)Activities:1. Use newspaper words and pictures to make a Happy Earth Day card for a

friend.2. Make a “Growing Green” poster. Use newspaper words and pictures of things

that can help you grow plants.3. Draw a line down the center of a piece of paper. On one side, paste newspaper

words and pictures for things that save water. On the other side, paste things that can save electricity.

4. What can people do to (a) create gardens, (b) clean up the environment, and (c) recycle?

5.  With family members, make a plan to help the planet. List specific things you’ll do to save electricity, save water and replenish the Earth.(standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)

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by Betty Debnam

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(Note to Editor: Above is camera-ready, one column-by-31/2-inch ad promoting Issue 16.)

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Day

photo courtesy Earth Day Network