Page 3 - Kind News Teacher Guide, Nov/Dec 2021

ANSWER KEY DO ACTIVITIES

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The Science of Learning Crossword FROM PAGE 6 KINDNEWS.ORG!
1 2 ACROSS
P L A Y
3
P E 1 To do a fun game or activity

O A 5 Taking special care to notice things about others
4
R S R 6 To say something nice about what someone else has done as encouragement
5

A T T E N T I O N 9 Feeling proud about what you know or can do
P T
6 I DOWN
P R A I S E
T V 2 To gain new knowledge
I E 3 To encourage someone’s behavior with rewards or praise
7 8
B T T is called ______________ reinforcement
9
C O N F I D E N T 4 Doing something over and over

N O A 7 A connection between two creatures when they
D N C trust and know each other well
H 8
To help someone learn something new
Critter Clues FROM PAGE 7
Our mystery critter is the parakeet. Parakeets, part of the parrot family, are native to
Australia. The term parakeet describes a group of parrots that are small with long tail
feathers and slender bodies. In Australia these colorful birds live in flocks and are also
known as budgerigars, or “budgies” for short.
Parakeets are very popular pets, only surpassed in popularity by cats, dogs, and fish!
They are social, can be very easily trained, and often form strong bonds with their human
opposite page, from top: carroll foster/bigstock; redrover. this page: (critter clues) unsplash den trushtin.
companions. Parakeets are also excellent imitators. Some can learn many words and
phrases, while others may just mimic human sounds.
Although parakeets are sometimes seen as “easy” pets because of their small size and social
nature, they need specific care to stay happy and healthy. They need a balanced diet with parakeet
seed or pellets, chopped dark green and yellow vegetables, fruit, eggs, and cheese. Parakeets also need mineral blocks and
cuttlebones to make sure they get all of their nutrients. Cuttlebones also help prevent parakeets' beaks from becoming overgrown.
Parakeets need a well thought-out living environment. Provide a long cage with perches, chew toys, and other entertainment
such as ladders, swing toys, and toys with bells. They need ample time out of the cage every day and lots of interaction. Because
of their social nature, it is often best to get a pair of parakeets so they can socialize with each other in addition to their human
companions. If you get two parakeets, it’s best to get two males.
Parakeets are one of the many wild birds that are used in the illegal bird trade, which threatens many species of parrots
and has spurred the increase of wild bird breeding facilities. If you’re interested in adopting a parakeet, reach out to a rescue
or sanctuary that helps birds in need. Interested in volunteering instead? Reach out to your local rescue or sanctuary to learn
how you can be involved.

Rez Dogs BOOK NOOK

Written by Joseph Bruchac | Recommended for ages 8-12
Malian loves spending time with her grandparents at their home on a Wabanaki reservation. She’s there
for a visit when suddenly, all travel shuts down. There’s a new virus making people sick, and Malian will have
to stay with her grandparents for the duration.
Everyone is worried about the pandemic, but Malian knows how to keep her family and community safe:
She protects her grandparents, and they protect her. She doesn’t go outside to play with friends, she helps
her grandparents use video chat, and she listens to and learns from their stories. And when Malsum, one of
the dogs living on the rez, shows up at their door, Malian’s family knows that he’ll protect them too.
Told in verse inspired by oral storytelling, this novel about the COVID-19 pandemic highlights the ways Malian’s community
has cared for one another through plagues of the past, and how they keep caring for one another today.
Copyright: Rez Dogs. Text © 2021 by Joseph Bruchac. Dial Books for Young Readers, New York, NY. Book summary from Amazon.com.