Page 3 - Kind News Teacher Guide, November/December 2023

ANSWER KEY

Critter Clues Animal Friends Crossword

FROM PAGE 7 FROM PAGE 6

Our mystery critter is 1 2
the house mouse. S A N C T U A R Y
Researchers say that house mice 3 P
have been thriving alongside S P A Y
humans since they were first attracted R
5
6
to the grain stores of hunter-gatherers in 4 V O L U N T E E R I N G
the Middle East about 15,000 years ago. They I C O
arrived in the United States after boarding ships with European L I L
colonists, and have been sharing our homes ever since! These I A D
intelligent and social animals play together and sleep in groups, and E T
often spend their lives in warm basements and attics without causing
any problems, yet some of us notice their nibbling on food. And while S 7 I
they keep themselves clean — grooming themselves several times a V A C C I N E S
day — like any animal, they will leave their droppings behind. E

Finding where mice enter a home can be near impossible since it is Across Down
often through cracks or tiny holes smaller than a dime, mostly around
pipes or wires. Mice love to snack — sometimes 15-20 times a day! 1. Sanctuary 2. Appreciative
— and are omnivorous, loving seeds, nuts, fruits, veggies, and even 3. Spay 5. Lilies
meat. Oftentimes, larger stores of easy meals like open bird seed and 4. Volunteering 6. Gold
bowls of pet kibble left overnight can keep families of house mice
thriving in a home. 7. Vaccines
Unlike white-footed and deer mice who are native to the US and can
survive outdoors, house mice are used to living with people and won’t
VISIT
fare as well outside the shelter of a building. Relocating them to a shed KINDNEWS.ORG
or garage is much more humane than kicking them to the curb. for online
According to The Humane Society of the United States, live traps are activities!
the only humane option for capturing house mice, and can be
purchased in hardware stores or online. If you don’t want to share your
home with house mice, opt for prevention. Keep your shrubs trimmed Where’s
at least 18 inches away from the foundation of your house to keep Raja?
them from finding their way in. Clean up crumbs and keep all food RAJA IS HIDING
sources contained. That will often keep them from setting up house! ON PAGE 7!

BOOK NOOK

Hate That Cat
Written by Sharon Creech | Recommended for grades 3-7
Jack is learning poetry in Ms. Stretchberry’s class. He’s also learning to come to terms with a big black
THIS PAGE: NITTY DITTY/UNSPLASH.COM About the Author: Sharon Creech is the author of the Newbery Medal winner Walk Two Moons and the Newbery Honor Book The
cat in his neighborhood who scratched him — and to understand the point of view of his mother, who
cannot hear. When she wants to come to class for their poetry presentations, will he find a way to make
her welcome? A little effort on Jack’s part and an act of caring by his feline nemesis makes everything
alright, and Jack is helped along by his favorite poets: William Carlos Williams, Valerie Worth, and
Alfred Lord Tennyson to name a few!

Wanderer. Her other work includes Love That Dog, The Castle Corona, Replay, Heartbeat, Bloomability, Absolutely Normal Chaos,
and Chasing Redbird, as well as three picture books: A Fine, Fine School; Fishing in the Air; and Who's That Baby? Ms. Creech and
her husband live in upstate New York.
HATE THAT CAT © 2014 BY HARPERCOLLINS; AUTHOR PHOTO CREDIT: LYLE RIGG