04may2

Nicholas' News May 2004
page 2

Book Review
Poetry Corner
Monthly Math Challenge
P.E. Challenge

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Book Review

Gregor the Overlander
by Suzanne Collins

Gregor thought he was going to have a boring summer watching his toddler sister, "Boots." He was missing out on summer camp and playing with his friends, but boy, was he going to have an adventure!
While downstairs in the basement trying to catch Boots, Gregor and his sister get sucked into a vent! They fall a long way down. Somehow they survive and find themselves in the Underland, a place where there are huge bats, rats, spiders and cockroaches. The people of the Underland live in a huge city and some of the huge bats live with them! The rats are enemies with the Underlanders and also the Overlanders. The rats want to kill Gregor because he is an Overlander and they are afraid of him. Gregor must take a trip into the rats' cavern. Will he find what he's looking for in the cavern? Will Gregor make it out alive or will his body be eaten by rats? Find out by reading this exciting book!

Bright red crested head,

Singing joyful songs out loud,

Welcomes the sun rise.

Warm with light, fresh air.

Good kite flying breezes blow.

Soft grass wearing dew.

Monthly Math Challenge

    I have been working with pentominos and have made a set of them .Pentominos are shapes made up of 5 squares.Each square has to touch the side of another square not just on a corner. On the right is a picture of one of the shapes. Can you make the other 11 pentamino shapes? Try to use graph paper and little square or cube blocks to help you. Shapes are considered the same if you can flip or rotate it to make one of the other shapes.
      After you make the twelve shapes try to use them to make rectangles. See if you can make 5 rectangles using any 3 shapes (but each shape only once!). See if you can make a rectangle using 8 shapes. The big challenge is to make a rectangle using all 12 shapes. (I'm still working on this one!!) Good Luck and check back next month for the answers.
     (If you want a hint or help with the 12 shapes, e-mail me at:
[email protected])

Here is one the the pentomino shapes. It is usually called the "T" pentomino because it looks like the letter T.

Anwer to April Monthly Challenge:
With $716 worth of property and $834 in cash, it would be better to pay the 10%.

P.E. Challenge

    In honor of National Juggling Day this month, let's all learn how to juggle!! Most books say to start with one ball or bean bag and toss it about as high as your head back and forth between your hands. Try to keep your arms out in front of you with your elbows at your side. When you can do that about 100 times in a row, start using two balls. Toss the ball in your left hand just like you did before. Just before it gets to your right hand, throw the ball in your left hand (gently!) then catch with your right hand, then catch with your left hand.
    It takes a lot of practice. Try practicing over a couch so the balls don't roll away or bounce and break anything. If you want some more help, here's a good website:
       Instant Juggler's Manual
Good Luck!!

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