Week of July 29, 2001

Larger Than Life

Go on an expedition and visit the Elephants of Africa at www.pbs.org/ wnet/nature/elephants/index.html Encounter these enormous 12,000- pound animals in the deserts and forests of Africa. Follow the life of an elephant as it progresses from the herd to life on its own. Learn how the ivory trade has severely diminished the elephant population. Then stop by The Poaching Problem section and read about people who are trying to stop poachers from taking elephants' beautiful ivory tusks illegally. When your expedition ends, you will be an elephant know-it-all. Wrap your trunk around the Elephants of Africa.

Fly With Amelia

Propel your way to the Amelia Earhart Web site at www.ellensplace.net/ eae_intr.html and meet the woman who set many aviation records. In October of 1922, Earhart set a women's altitude record of 14,000 feet. Then on June 18, 1928, she became the first woman to fly over the Atlantic Ocean. However, Earhart's last flight, an attempt to fly around the world, ended when she crashed into the sea. Pay tribute to one of the world's great aviation pioneers.

Spaced Out

Reach for the stars with Astronomy For Kids at www.frontiernet.net/~kidpower/ astronomy.html Go on a trip around our solar system. Stop by the sun and the asteroid belt. Look closely at our neighboring planets for some interesting facts. Take a space walk on the moon and ride Halley's comet around the sun. For more to explore, hop on a shuttle and zoom over to Astronomy For Kids.

	Dear Amy: How are satellites used to track semis? -- Caleb, Spencer, Iowa Dear Caleb: Automatic Vehicle Location is the name for the technology that tracks semis on the road. A tutorial about AVL is located at www.trimble.com/mpc/avl/index.htm Three satellites are used to pinpoint the truck. The location info is then sent through a communications network to a computer with the appropriate software, allowing a truck to be located. This technology is especially useful when a trucker gets lost along his route. (DISCLAIMER: This Web site is no longer available.) Dear Amy: Where can I learn about how kids live in other countries? -- Joaquin, St. Louis Dear Joaquin: A great site to learn about kids in foreign countries is Global Gang, found at www.globalgang.org.uk You can learn about the kind of foods they eat and the sports they like to play. If you want to take part in the sharing, feel free to add some safe info about yourself to the site. That way other kids can learn about how people live where you are. Global Gang also has international news, so you can stay up-to-date on world events. Ask Amy a Question

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