FROM REFUGEE TO CHESS MASTER - "I thank God for everything that he's done for our family." - WORLDkids
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VOL. 7 • NO. 6 • JULY/AUGUST 2021
TANITOLUWA ADEWUMI
FROM REFUGEE
TO CHESS MASTER
“I thank God for everything
that he’s done for our family.”
page 28
JET B
AL LO O N
6WK21_01_Cover.indd 1 6/10/21 1:40 PM
VOL. 7 • NO. 6 • JULY/AUGUST 2021
6-9 10-13 14-17
SCIENCE SOUP TIME MACHINE CITIZEN SHIP
A very high Finding an A newspaper
bridge and old coin run by a kid
very helpful and fi xing an and horses
spit old stage ridden by kids
18-21 22-25 26-29
TAKE APART SMART CRITTER FILE JET BALLOON
Hair made The last wild Marie Curie’s
from bananas macaw and house and a
and GPS for the goliath 10-year-old
sharks grouper Chess Master
also in this issue: 3 PUZZLING TIMES | 4-5 NEWS SHORTS | 30-31 EVEN MORE NEWS SHORTS | 32 PUZZLING TIMES
It’s a trick of the eye. We call it an
optical illusion. The French say, “trompe
l’oeil.” (trohmp luh-yuh) This is an art
installation in Trocadero Square in front
of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.
French artist and photographer known
only as JR created the tricky image.
When a visitor stands—or jumps—at just
the right spot, the artwork and the tower
line up with each other. That creates the
realistic perception that a ravine has
opened up before the famous landmark.
THIS PAGE: AP PHOTO/FR ANCOIS MORI • COVER: RUSSELL M AKOFSKY
WORLDkids, Issue 6, July 2021 (ISSN #2372-7357, USPS #700-950) is published 6 times per year—September, November, January, March, May, and July for $35.88 per year, by
God’s World News, God’s World Publications, 12 All Souls Crescent, Asheville, NC 28803. Periodicals postage paid at Asheville, NC, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER:
Send address changes to WORLDkids, PO Box 20002, Asheville, NC 28802-8201. EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, WORLD FOR STUDENTS: Rich Bishop, MANAGING EDITOR: Rebecca
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advertising@wng.org Mailing address: WORLDkids, PO Box 20002, Asheville, NC 28802-8201. Telephone (828) 253-8063. © 2021 God’s World News, God’s World Publications.
2 worldkids • JU LY/ AU GU ST 2 02 1
6WK21_02-03_Contents_PT.indd 2 6/10/21 1:30 PM
which
X The sneaky pirates put multiple X’s on the
treasure map. To find out which X marks
1
marks the true spot, unscramble the letters
the below to spell four pirate-related words.
spot?
r
THIS PAGE: AP PHOTO/FR ANCOIS MORI • COVER: RUSSELL M AKOFSKY
O H YA ROTRAP Now solve the last jumble:
Take the six circled letters and A
unscramble them to reveal
where the treasure is located! C
P
KALPN NONCAN The treasure is by the P
by
ER:
cca
A
63,
ons.
Answers
on page 5
JULY /AUG UST 202 1 • worldkids 3
6WK21_02-03_Contents_PT.indd 3 6/10/21 12:47 PM
The babies
are in plastic
cribs called
incubators
that keep
them warm
and safe.
A feeding tube
delivers milk and
medicine.
NINE Newborns!
Bioluminescence
is a fancy word A woman in Mali was expecting seven beautiful
for light made by babies. To keep them all as safe as possible, she went to
a living creature. Morocco for the delivery.
Morocco has better healthcare than Mali does. A big
team of doctors and nurses were there to help. Surprise!
When the time came, there were not only seven babies.
Turn Off the Lights There were NINE! Halima Cissé and her husband Kader
Arby have made history with their big family.
“Excuse me. Could you PLEASE turn off the lights?” The babies were all premature. They were born in
Fireflies can’t talk, of course. But if they could, that’s early May. That was about 10 weeks early. But several
what they’d be saying. weeks later, all nine babies were growing with lots of care
WOODSAT: HANDOUT • CLEVEL AND HARBOR LIGHT: MTBANGERT
Nearly 150 species of flashing firefly light up summer at the hospital.
MOROCCO
nights in North America. Most of these species have a Khalil Msaif is a
two- to four-week mating season. Each evening, males pediatric neona-
fly around, producing a species-specific pattern of tologist. That’s a
flashes. Females perch in the undergrowth. They doctor for
respond with flashes of their own. newborn babies. MALI
AFRICA
Humans use light too: house lights, path lights, and He says all the
streetlights. These can shine all night, year-round. People babies needed
can block out a neighbor’s annoying LED floodlight with to stay in the
curtains. Fireflies can’t. The more people light up the hospital for more
night, the less space fireflies have for their flash dance. weeks. But he also said that
MOROCCO: AP PHOTOS
As fireflies vanish from their usual they were “stable.” That means
homes, insect enthusiasts ask: Is your there were no immediate threats
porch light on even when you don’t to the babies’ health. Praise God!
need it? Can you give your backyard Children are a blessing and a
bugs just a little more dark? reward from Him! (Psalm 127:3)
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A camera on an extendable
Will WOODSAT Hold Up? “selfie stick” will record
changes to the plywood.
A satellite made of . . . wood? Yes, according to Arctic Astronautics! The
Finnish company plans to use a rocket in New Zealand to launch a wooden
satellite into space later this year. The project will test the wood in the tough
conditions of space.
The WISA WOODSAT is a cube-shaped satellite. It is made of lightweight,
strong, coated plywood. It measures about four inches tall and wide.
The makers say that plywood survives well in harsh environments. Space
is a very harsh place! The satellite will experience heat, cold, vacuums (places
with very low pressure), and radiation. If it holds up, the plywood might work
in other space structures. Imagine a wooden space station or spacecraft!
One of the cube’s cameras is on a “selfie stick.” It can take pictures of the
4i
n.
satellite in space. That will answer questions like “Will the color change? Will
the layers crack?” God made humans to be curious and ask questions about
how His world works. And He gave us the ability to explore!
Four FREE lighthouses? You bet! The federal government
announced the fun giveaway. Each of the four lighthouses has
an amazing waterfront view. Only government agencies,
nonprofit organizations, and community development
groups can apply to win one, though. The National
Park Service gets to decide who is a good fit for
lighthouse life.
Built in 1910, the Duluth Harbor North Pierhead
Lighthouse Light sits at the tip of Lake Superior in Minnesota.
It is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Giveaway! The Beavertail Lighthouse is in Jamestown,
Rhode Island. It was built in 1749. In 1779,
British soldiers burned the beacon. It was
rebuilt in 1856.
Rhode Island’s Watch Hill Light is a
three-story tower with a glass lantern on top.
It also has an attached house for the keeper to
WOODSAT: HANDOUT • CLEVEL AND HARBOR LIGHT: MTBANGERT
live in.
Every winter, the Cleveland Harbor West
The Cleveland Harbor
West Pierhead Light looks Pierhead Light turns into a beautiful ice castle.
very different in winter! When temperatures drop below freezing, the surf
sprays the lighthouse and covers it with icicles.
Which one would you choose?
PAGE 32 PUZZLE: 1) shoe, he, apron, on, ray, pray, finger, n, fern: soaring 2) baby, e, bye, nacho, p, chop, tuna, lip, tulip: banana 3) path, crow, c, throw, purr, shot, push: parrot
MOROCCO: AP PHOTOS
people would enjoy the sport and if they were careful with the fish, they would be appreciating God’s creation. | JET BALLOON, p26-29, Marie Curie, Chess Master 1) b, 2) b, 3) a, 4) a |
Macaws, Fishing 1) b, 2) a, 3) c, 4) d, 5) Answers may vary but could include a) No, because there may not be enough of them and the ones caught could go to waste; or b) Yes, because
complete answers, use this prompt as a dinner time or road trip conversation starter. | TAKE APART SMART, p18-21, Bananas, Magnetic Field 1) b, 2) b, 3) a, 4) c | CRITTER FILE, p22-25,
p10-13, Pirates, Colosseum 1) b, 2) b, 3) c, 4) a | CITIZEN SHIP, p14-17, Journalism, Horseback Riding 1) b, 2) b, 3) a, 4) c, 5) Answers will vary. If your student is not ready to write out
following: Keeping teeth clean, helping with speech, making swallowing easier, breaking down food for digestion, increasing taste, or signaling injuries in the body. | TIME MACHINE,
PAGE 3 PUZZLE: ahoy, parrot, plank, cannon, anchor | QUIZZES: SCIENCE SOUP, p6-9, Bridges, Saliva 1) c, 2) b, 3) a, 4) c, 5) Answers will vary but could include any three of the
More news shorts online everyday at kids.wng.org
—-——- —- JULY /AUG UST 202 1 • worldkids 5
6WK21_04-05_Shorts4.indd 5 6/10/21 12:51 PM
What a view!
People walk
across the
Arouca Bridge
in northern
Portugal.
A new bridge in Portugal is not 500 feet below, the Paiva River pedestrian walkway? The Arouca
for the faint hearted. In fact, flows through a waterfall. Bridge is almost 79 feet longer!
children under six years old are not The town of Arouca is north of Portugal spent $2.8 million
AROUC A: AP PHOTO • ARCH BRIDGE INSTRUCTIONS: KRIEG BARRIE
even allowed on this bridge! Take a Lisbon, the capital of Portugal. dollars to build the breathtaking
deep breath before looking down Gutsy local residents got to walk bridge. Suspension bridges make it
from 574 feet in the air. The Arouca across the bridge in May. Many possible to cross long open spaces.
Bridge hangs across a roaring river. were thrilled. Others admitted that They don’t require as much material
That river is far below in a canyon. it was unnerving to stroll across as bridges that are built from the
The suspension bridge wobbles the wiggly sky bridge. They held ground up. They also sway. Though
when people walk across it. It is on tight! scary, that’s good design. The
now the world’s longest pedestrian According to the Guinness swaying helps in high winds and
(walker) bridge. World Records website, the former even earthquakes! Solid bridges
The Arouca Bridge spans almost world’s longest suspension bridge might break under those conditions.
1,700 feet from one side of the for pedestrians is in Japan. It is the In a lush canyon like the one in
canyon to the other. The metal 1,280-foot-long Kokonoe Yume Arouca, a suspension bridge lets
walkway grid is easy to see Bridge. That bridge opened in 2006. pedestrians enjoy a birds-eye view of
through. That can be frightening! In 2017, the Charles Kuonen Sus- God’s beautiful creation. Psalm 104:8
The walkway hangs from two steel pension Bridge in the Swiss Alps says, “The mountains rose, the valleys
cables that run to tall towers on broke the record. It spans 1,621 feet. sank down to the place that you
either end of the bridge. More than How much longer is Portugal’s new appointed for them.”
Jesus, Our Keystone: The keystone is a wedge-shaped stone
SCIENCE at the very top of an arch bridge. It is the final stone laid into
SOUP place when an arch bridge is built. The keystone locks all
the other stones into place. It presses outward, making
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For centuries, bridges have
gotten people from here to there.
Craftspeople and designers have
Supplies: Cardboard or card stock,
developed seven popular types of bridges to carry our loads.
scissors, tape, marker, and two rocks
Suspension Bridge: This type of bridge can
Step 1: Cut seven identical strips from
stretch longer than any other bridge. Its deck
the cardboard. Divide each into
hangs from strong wires called cables. The
sections for bending. They must have
cables are anchored to large towers which
three equal sections. The fourth
carry the weight to the ground. These bridges
section must be ½ the length of the
wiggle. That’s because the cables move when
other three. (ex: 2 inch x 2 inch x 2 inch
the bridge meets pressure from wind.
x 1 inch). Tape the ends together to
make blocks.
Arch Bridge: This bridge is often made from
stones or bricks. Arch bridges have supports 3"
on each end called abutments. Arch bridges
1"
are simple but can carry heavy weight. A
2"
masonry arch always has a center stone or
7"
brick at the very top. It’s called a keystone.
2"
Beam Bridge: This is the simplest and
2"
oldest type of bridge. Beam bridges are
horizontal and level. They have a support on
each end. They cannot span very great Step 2: Cut out two eight-inch by
lengths because they may begin to sag in three-inch strips. Fold one in four
the middle without additional support. equal parts to make a cube. Tape the
cube together. Repeat with the second
Cable-Stayed Bridge: For this kind of bridge, strip. (You should have two cubes.)
towers called pylons hold the bridge’s weight.
Cables connect the bridge deck to the towers. 3"
The bridge’s cables create a fan-like pattern.
2"
AROUC A: AP PHOTO • ARCH BRIDGE INSTRUCTIONS: KRIEG BARRIE
Cantilever Bridge: Two beams stretch toward
one another to form a cantilever bridge. The 8" 2"
beams look like diving boards. Cantilever means
2"
to stick out. One end of a cantilever is anchored
2"
in the ground. The other end reaches out away
from the support to form the bridge.
Step 3: Place a rock in one of the
Truss Bridge: This strong bridge has a cubes. The cubes are called abutments.
support at either end. A frame connects the They hold the pressure sent out from
two ends of the bridge. The frame is usually the keystone. They support the bridge.
made up of lengths of wood or metal that
forms several triangles. Triangles make a Step 4: Stack the seven blocks together
structure sturdy. The frame forms a tunnel. to form an arch. (You will probably need
help with this step!) Use the abutment
Tied Arch Bridge: These bridges are usually
to hold one side in place. Place a rock in
metal. Ties hold the bridge support in an
the other abutment and put it at the
arch shape. The deck is sometimes the tie
other end. The block in the middle is
that holds the support in its curved shape.
the keystone. It is at the very center
and top of the arch.
the other stones press equally into each other. There is only one
keystone in an arch bridge. Jesus is our keystone. He holds all
things together perfectly. Colossians 1:17 says, “And He is
before all things, and in Him all things hold together.”
JULY /AUG UST 202 1 • worldkids 7
6WK21_06-09_SS.indd 7 6/10/21 1:53 PM
Spit it out! That liquid in your nerves in the mouth and throat heal. Sometimes it’s hard to tell if
mouth doesn’t only help you affect saliva. That’s how it can someone has a concussion. Often
swallow or gross others out. Now quickly show an injury. a doctor isn’t around. Th is test
doctors may be able to use saliva “The body knows that some- could help!
to diagnose a concussion. thing has happened upstairs,” says A company called Marker
A three-year research project Antonio Belli. “So every part of the Diagnostics wants to sell the saliva
called SCRUM studied 1,028 body begins to adapt and respond concussion test. The saliva must be
professional men’s rugby players. to that injury, including saliva.” sent to a lab. But the researchers
Players tackle or run into each Dr. Belli is a professor who studies say they could develop a game-side
other. That can cause concussions. brain injuries and surgery. He test in a few years. Players could
A concussion is an injury to the helped lead the study. take that test right away.
brain. Getting hit in the head or God made the parts of your
taking a hard fall during sports body to work together. Psalm
can cause those injuries. 139:13 says, “You knitted me
The researchers looked at 14 together in my mother’s womb.”
biomarkers in saliva. Biomarkers Paul used the unity of the human
are signals in the human body. body as an example for the whole
They found that those markers can church of God in 1 Corinthians 12.
show if a player has a concussion. People who get concussions
Scientists think signals from need to rest. Their brains need to
.
ab
sw
a
it
h
w
en
A sa tak
liva sample is
i
ell
Dr. B
RUGBY: AP PHOTO • BELLI: UNIVERSIT Y OF BIRMINGHA M
Rugby
players
collide during
a match in
Manchester,
England.
8 worldkids • J U LY/ AU GU ST 2 02 1
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God designed saliva to play an important role
in our bodies. Organs called salivary glands Dog saliva is less acidic than
around our mouths and cheeks make saliva. It’s human saliva. That means that
mostly made of water with a few other chemicals. it’s less common for dogs to
It helps keep teeth clean by washing away bits of get cavities than humans. It’s
food. (But you still need to brush and floss!) You’d a myth that dogs’ mouths
find it hard to talk without saliva to let your lips, are cleaner than humans’.
cheeks, and tongue slide around your mouth. Both people and dogs have
When you chew, the saliva doesn’t only help lots of different kinds of
you swallow food. Digestive enzymes in your spit bacteria in their mouths.
start breaking your food down—even before it
gets to your stomach! And saliva carries food A type of bird called the
molecules to your taste buds so you can enjoy edible-nest swiftlet makes
that delicious recipe. nests completely out of
Your saliva can tell a lot about you. DNA tests solidified strands of its
use your spit to find where your ancestors came saliva. The nest is shaped like
from. Other saliva tests can show whether you a bowl cut in half, and it can
have some types of cancer, parasites, or allergies. be white, yellow, or red. In
Chinese culture, soup made
from these bird-spit nests is
. b
wa
considered a delicacy.
Venomous snakes make
venom in a type of salivary
gland. Like human saliva, the
venom has enzymes in it. But
these are toxic enzymes that
kill or paralyze prey. Most of
these snakes inject their
venom through hollow fangs.
3. What does Professor Antonio
Belli say about concussions?
a) Every part of the body
1. What type of bridge reacts to the injury.
is the new Arouca b) They change saliva’s color.
RUGBY: AP PHOTO • BELLI: UNIVERSIT Y OF BIRMINGHA M
Bridge in Portugal? c) They strengthen the brain.
a) an arch bridge d) They happen for no reason.
b) a truss bridge
c) a suspension bridge 4. Which thing does your
d) a covered bridge saliva NOT do?
a) carry food to your
2. What is the center taste buds
stone of an arch b) help you talk
bridge called? c) clean your teeth so well
a) the cornerstone that you don’t need to brush
b) the keystone d) start breaking food down
c) the truss stone
d) the tie stone 5. Name three uses God gave
saliva in your body.
Answers
on page 5
JULY /AUG UST 202 1 • worldkids 9
6WK21_06-09_SS.indd 9 6/10/21 1:54 PM
One chore
Research shows that the Arabian silver coin was swabbing
was minted in 1693 in Yemen. (mopping)
the deck.
Sweet Berry Farm: Every. The case went cold. Another was found in
Come to pick fruit. Leave The case warmed up North Carolina. Records
with pirate coins. again more than 300 years show that some of Captain
Wait, what? later. In 2014, amateur Every’s men fi rst came
Let’s begin at the historian Jim Bailey took ashore there.
beginning . . . his metal detector to Sweet Mr. Bailey says the The Pirates Own Book shows
Once upon a time—on Berry Farm in Middle- coins he and others have Captain Every hoisting chests
September 7, 1695, to be town, Rhode Island. With found are evidence. They of treasure onto his ship.
exact—an English pirate it, he found a dime-sized show that the pirate made
named Henry Every coin. Peering closer, he his way to the American So where was Captain
robbed a ship. The vessel spotted Arabic text. The colonies. There, he and his Every hiding until his
was carrying Muslim coin was oooold . . . from crew spent the stolen death? In plain sight—pre-
pilgrims home to India. the 17th century. Eureka! treasure while on the run. tending to be a slave trader.
Captain Every and his That pocket change is the
crew killed the people on oldest ever found in North
board. The brigands also America!
stole tens of millions of Indeed, the coin was
dollars’ worth of gold and minted in 1693 in the
silver before escaping. Middle Eastern country of
Government officials Yemen. There’s no evi-
sought to bring the dence that American SOM ALI PIR ATE: AP PHOTOS • POSTER: DISNEY
criminals to justice. But no colonists traveled to
one ever found Captain anywhere in the Middle
East to trade until decades
later. So who left the
coins? Maybe pirates.
Maybe Captain Every. Jim Bailey
found the coin
TIME Since then, others have with a metal
AP PHOTOS
MACHINE unearthed 15 more detector.
Arabian coins from the
same era in New England.
10 worldkids • J U LY/ AU GU ST 2 02 1
6WK21_10-13_TM.indd 10 6/10/21 2:08 PMAaargh. Ahoy, matey!
Who said that? It wasn’t a pirate. At least, not a real one.
Most people get their ideas about pirates from movies and
books. But who were these swashbuckling sea looters, really?
Picture a pirate. Peg leg. Parrot Once a pirate, always a pirate. Maybe . . . and
Long
John perching on the shoulder. maybe not. The truth is, pirating was so unsafe
Silver Eyepatch. Is this image fact, or that some lasted only a few years on pirate
fiction? It’s fact . . . at least, it ships before being killed. And many got into
ng
might be. Pirates led dangerous pirating with the hope of soon getting out of it.
lives. Some likely had peg legs These sailors wanted to get rich quick
for this reason. Evidence shows by thievery on the high seas.
that some kept parrots. It’s also Some wasted the treasure right
possible that some pirates wore away in seaports around the
eyepatches to help world. Others made a
their eyes adjust to home in the American WHAT!?
the dim life colonies. These
below deck. used their gold
and silver to
buy chickens and
Pirates were lawless. Right? Wrong. These pigs and start
sailors of course stole and committed other farms.
atrocious crimes, including murder. But
they also had rules to follow. Each ship
held pirates to a set of codes. These rules
Talk like a pirate!
decided: How would treasure be divided?
And by that we
Who would do the chores? And one
mean, talk normally.
common rule on pirate ships: NO FIGHTING!
Pirates likely did not
At least not with one’s own shipmates.
have a unique dialect.
As far as we know,
they talked like
Pirates were all men. regular people of their
Myth. Mary Read, Anne day. The famous
Bonny, Grace O’Malley, pirate accent probably
and Ching Shih were all comes from the 1950s
famous female pirates. Mary Read Walt Disney version of
Treasure Island.
SOM ALI PIR ATE: AP PHOTOS • POSTER: DISNEY
A Somali Pirating is ancient history. Right? Wrong! Pirates still exist—and they’re
pirate is masked more tech-savvy than they used to be. The Bible encourages us to
and armed.
“mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for
the man of peace.” (Psalm 37:37) That does NOT describe pirates.
Pirates roaming the sea now still steal from ships and hold them
for ransom. They use sophisticated weapons and location tech in
their work. Real piracy, then as now, is nothing to be laughed at.
It’s a violent, dangerous, and dishonest business.
AP PHOTOS
JULY /AUG UST 202 1 • worldkids 11
6WK21_10-13_TM.indd 11 6/10/21 2:10 PMStand in the middle of the Colos- connected parts of the arena. One led the tunnels from rain. It will allow
seum. Imagine the roar of the crowd. to the gladiator school where fighters them to be aired out too. If needed,
Look down. What’s under your feet? learned their craft. Another ran to a the floor can be taken out again.
It’s a floor. Unlike the original place where ferocious animals were The new floor may eventually be
Colosseum floor, though, this one can kept. To explore all this, archaeolo- used as a stage—though not for
move. gists had to take out the floor. gladiator fights. That’s too barbaric!
The Colosseum is a gigantic, The Colosseum has been floorless Roman entertainment is one part of
round, outdoor theater in Rome, Italy. for two centuries. People have finally history we don’t want to repeat.
In ancient times, as many as 50,000 decided to replace the missing stage. Do not envy a man of violence
people packed into it at a time. They The new floor will be high-tech and and do not choose any of his ways.
focused their eyes on the stage in lightweight. Visitors will get to walk — Proverbs 3:31
the center. There, fighters called on it. They’ll see the whole Colosseum
gladiators struggled to the death. from the gladiators’ point of view.
Sometimes these warriors faced The project should be
dangerous animals such as lions and completed by 2023. The
bears. At other times, they battled platform will quickly Gladiators prepared
for fights and animals
against each other. These bloody cover or uncover the were caged in the
sights kept the people of Rome glued underground underground
to their seats. structures below. structures.
In the 1800s, archaeologists This will protect
wanted to dig beneath the Colosseum.
Underground tunnels there
The platform gives visitors a new perspective and
protects the structures below the Colosseum.
AP PHOTOS
12 worldkids • J U LY/ AU GU ST 2 02 1
6WK21_10-13_TM.indd 12 6/10/21 2:11 PMThe Colosseum was from nearby aqueducts.
built in Rome between A.D. This filled the bottom of the
72 and 80. Just a few years arena with about five feet
before that, the apostles of water. Little versions of
Some Christians
Paul and Peter were killed ships acted out famous faced wild animals
for their faith in the very battles at sea. Then, pull the in the Colosseum.
same city. plug! Time for the next
The Colosseum was as spectacle.
tall as a 12-story building. These games were held
And what a grand opening for hundreds of years. But
it had! People celebrated for some people in the
with 100 days of games. arena, they were anything
These games cost nothing but fun. Criminals were
for the public. Sometimes used as actors. They played
the spectators (people who parts in famous old stories just any death. Some 1. brigands
watched) got free food too. where people died. But Christians faced animals in a) farmers
Food and a show? Sounds during the play, the the amphitheater. Why? b) thieves
like a great recipe to get prisoners were actually Emperors hoped this would c) sailors
people to like you if you’re killed by wild animals. make others not want to
the emperor! Some of those who died follow Jesus. 2. atrocious
The Romans even were new Christians. Early Did that work? Not at a) edible
pumped in Roman emperors did not all! The Christians confront- b) terrible
water want Christianity to ed death with courage and c) repeatable
spread. So when humility—and everyone
an emperor watched. Instead of turning 3. barbaric
found out a away from Christianity, a) prehistoric
person was many Romans asked, “Just b) untrue
a Christian, who is this Jesus?” Christi- c) brutal
he some- anity grew and grew. Isn’t
times put that like our God? He uses 4. spectacle
him or her to evil to bring about good. a) display
death. But not (Genesis 50:20) b) writing
Answers
on page 5 c) emperor
Emperors held mock naval battles in water-filled arenas.
Gladiators were popular
subjects in mosaics that I am a citizen of Rome. I’m also a
decorated Roman
floors and walls.
theologian—a person who studies
God. I was born long after the
Colosseum was built. But Romans
still enjoyed gladiator games
during my
lifetime. In fact,
my friend Alypius used to
watch and love the games.
No sin is too great for
God to forgive, and God
had better plans for
Alypius. You can read his
AP PHOTOS
e
tin
story in book 6 of my
us
Mosaics are writings, The Confessions. A
p ai ug
pictures created tA
nting of Sain
with small tiles.
JULY /AUG UST 202 1 • worldkids 13
6WK21_10-13_TM.indd 13 6/10/21 2:13 PMCharlie von
Maur-Newcomb
has a lot to say.
atch out, Jackson Hole help with a little copy editing. “I lives in Kelly and what they might
News & Guide. There’s a edit for grammatical errors and be interested in.”
new kid in town. things like maybe a few redundan- Charlie’s readers wonder what he
Well, maybe not in town, but in cies,” says his mom. (Redundancies will do when he grows up. Will he
nearby Kelly, Wyoming. are unnecessarily repeated bits of try a career in journalism? He hasn’t
The vernal (youthful) newspaper information.) She adds: “I do not decided for sure. He’s still only 11,
CHARLIE: AP PHOTO
belongs to Charlie von Maur-New- edit his voice.” (Voice refers to the after all!
comb (a literal kid). He’s just 11. He specific way a person writes. Each
titled his newspaper Kelly Out Loud! writer has his or her own vocabu- Charlie uses his computer to create
Kelly Out Loud! Want to try it?
Kelly isn’t a town . . . or even a lary, tone, and point of view. Here are some tips.
village. Only about 120 people live Every person arranges sentences
there. But that doesn’t mean Charlie uniquely.)
doesn’t have anything to write Charlie works away at the
about. He covers everything from paper each week. What drove TITLE YOUR PAPER
local news in Kelly to world news. him to start publishing a news-
People pick up physical copies of his paper? He was reading another Make into have a
paper at the Kelly post office. local paper, the News & Guide. headlines columns newspaper
big and like this. template!
Subscribers can also get a digital He realized: News writers tell
bold to The word
version emailed from charlievmn@ people important information processing
grab program on Choose
icloud.com. about the world. He wanted to attention. your images
Charlie does do that too. or take
Format computer
the writing Charlie gets his ideas from your stories might even your own.
CITIZEN and reporting many places, including
SHIP for Kelly Out listening to news radio in the Don’t forget captions!
Loud! himself. car with his dad. Charlie
His parents says, “I think about who
14 worldkids • J U LY/ AU GU ST 2 02 1
6WK21_14-17_CS.indd 14 6/10/21 2:21 PMVocation Spotlight:
love his or
How does a journalist
a few ways .
her neighbor? Here are
the truth
Charlie von Maur-Newcomb son and a student. If he has • People need to know
in the
doesn’t know what he wants to do siblings, he’s a brother. He’s even about what’s happening
with the rest of his life yet. But called to be a neighbor to the ut rea de rs can ’t be
world—b
that doesn’t stop him from acting people of Kelly, Wyoming. And now re at on ce. Th ey ’re busy
everywhe
Journalist s
right now. he’s a journalist too. with their own callings!
nt informa-
What about you? What do you It’s fun to imagine what our can help bring importa
ly.
think your calling will be? future vocations might be. But you tion to everyone quick
Calling is an old idea. Way back can also make a list of the callings • All pe op le are ma de in God’s
they
in the 1500s, church reformer you have at this moment. Are you image. Because of this,
Martin Luther talked about calling a Christian? A friend? A brother or res pe ct. A go od journalist
deser ve
nity—even
a lot. He called it voca- sister? A pet caregiver? Through treats everyone with dig
ees with.
tion. Do you see some each of your callings, you serve people he or she disagr
iew
letters from “voice” God and show His love to your • Good journalist s interv
t eve nts with
hidden in that word? neighbors. Can you believe God is people and write abou
to get the
A vocation is a loving the world through you? fairness. They try hard
spiritual calling. Whose Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord ht. Th ey are ho ne st and
facts rig
voice is doing the calling? your God with all your heart and humble in their work.
nds
God’s! You might not hear His voice with all your soul and with all your • Even when news sou
list s do not
audibly. But He is always calling mind.’ This is the first and greatest scary, Christian journa
l the truth.
people to do good work—even kids. commandment. And the second is have to be afraid to tel
ow the
Right now, Charlie von Maur- like it: ‘Love your neighbor as Why? Because they kn
d is in
Newcomb has many callings. He’s a yourself.’” — Matthew 22: 27-39 big gest truth of all: Go
of eve ryt hin g! Christian
control
l readers
journalist s can also tel
from: God.
where all truth comes
This year, journalists
at WORLD News Group
D-
(which includes WORL
CHARLIE: AP PHOTO
kids) are celeb rating
40 years of good
work loving their
neighbors through
reporting the news .
R
One of their
n. callings is to
care for
s! their pet.
JULY /AUG UST 202 1 • worldkids 15
6WK21_14-17_CS.indd 15 6/10/21 2:22 PMBrandy’s hooves stir up dust as she races around the arena. Rider
Adison Wright holds Brandy’s reins in one hand. She has a giant flag
in the other. Cactus with rider Elly Rainey isn’t far behind. A dozen
other riders on horses follow them in formation. The horses are fast.
Their riders are skilled. Ridin’ on Faith Ministries is an equestrian Zio
flag team. It performs at rodeos and other events. The team uses rid
Ed
horses, music, skits, and flags to tell about Jesus.
Lisa Searcy founded Ridin’ on Faith Ministries in 2011. The
riders on her team love horses. But they love Jesus even more! The
Ridin’ on Faith team’s key verse is Colossians 3:17. It says, “And
whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of
the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
These athletes are excellent horseback riders. They range in
age from six to 32. Each has her own horse. Just like the riders,
the horses audition for their place on the team. They are not
afraid of big flags or loud music. The riders work hard to teach
their horses how to move to music. The songs and skits they
perform are carefully chosen to tell people about Jesus
and the hope we have in Him.
The riders and their horses meet weekly
to learn new routines and practice old ones.
“I don’t think people realize what goes on
The equestrian
behind the scenes,” says Coach Jennifer flag team uses
Ingle. First, the riders learn each routine on routines and
skits to deliver
foot. They may look silly galloping around
a message.
the arena—but not for long! Soon, the riders
mount their horses and slowly ride them
through the choreographed steps. With
each practice, the routines get better and
faster. Coach Ingle loves watching her
riders grow year after year. Older
teammates encourage younger ones.
Ridin’ on Faith is a family.
Ella Womack is new to the team this year.
“Even on hard days, my friends and coach cheer me
up. I love Ridin’ on Faith,” she says.
The team performs across the southeastern United
States. They do routines at fairs, rodeos, prisons, nursing
homes, summer camps, churches, and orphanages. “It
doesn’t matter if there are 10 people or 1,000,” says
Mrs. Searcy. “We reach people that may not ever go
to church. We have a simple message. It is the
gospel of Jesus Christ.”
JARED H SE ARCY
AP PHOTOS
16 worldkids • J U LY/ AU GU ST 2 02 1
6WK21_14-17_CS.indd 16 6/10/21 2:25 PMKids learn horseback
riding in a busy London
neighborhood.
Zion is 1. In writing, voice
riding is _______ .
Eddie.
a) something
repeated
unnecessarily
b) someone’s
unique style of
writing
c) a type of
newspaper
d) the plot of a
story
2. Calling is another
word for _______ .
a) location
b) vocation
c) locomotion
d) innovation
In the middle of measure horse feed, 3. Why are the
busy south London, groom the animals, Ridin’ on Faith
England, is a school and clean out messy team’s songs
where children get to, stalls. carefully chosen?
well—horse around. The Ebony Horse Club Shaddai’s hard work is paying off. He a) they tell people
is a riding school for children. It’s located in received his first award—a Pony Club about Jesus
the hustle and bustle of the busy city, only badge for horse grooming. His older b) they have a
a 10-minute walk from a subway station. siblings also ride. His 13-year-old sister good beat
The club gives children an opportunity to Zion always chooses Eddie for her horse if c) they are easy
learn important life skills through horse- to learn
back riding. Every week, volunteers provide Shaddai is d) they are loud
140 rides to children from poor back- grooming Rose.
grounds. The club is a charity. It depends 4. Where did the
on fundraising. Lesson fees are based on Ebony Horse Club’s
how much families are able to pay. horses go during
The program’s eight horses recently the pandemic?
came off a long rest. That’s because the a) to give rides at
club stopped meeting during virus lock- the beach
downs. They spent some months in a b) to the middle
country setting. But now they’re back in of Brixton
London, ready to work. Splash, Molly, c) to rest in the
Bailey, Joe, Rose, Eddie, and others are she can. She knows it’s a privilege to be a country
getting saddled up weekly. member of the club. d) to work in the
Shaddai McLeod is one of the club’s “You would never think this was here in mountains Answers
youngest riders. He is nine years old and the middle of Brixton,” says Zion. The on page 5
thrilled to be back in the saddle. Shaddai London neighborhood of Brixton was once 5. Think of three
rides after school on known for crime and violence. God is using things you might
Thursdays. But he’s the Ebony Horse Club to help families enjoy doing for
JARED H SE ARCY
spotted at the there. Only God can take a hard place and your job one day.
stable on change it into something safe and good.
AP PHOTOS
Explain what you
weekends too. Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “He has made like about each.
Shaddai helps everything beautiful in its time.”
This grooming brush has stiff bristles to remove dirt and dust. JULY /AUG UST 202 1 • worldkids 17
6WK21_14-17_CS.indd 17 6/10/21 2:31 PMThe future is bananas. Just ask
Kimani Muturi. Kimani Muturi displays hair extension made from
fibers extracted from the sheaths of banana
Bananas have been a staple trunks at the TexFad workshop in Uganda.
food in Mr. Muturi’s country,
Uganda, for a long time. A staple
food is a main food a people group
eats. The average Ugandan eats
more than 400 pounds of bananas
every year! But Mr. Muturi asks a
good question: What about the
rest of the banana plant?
Imagine this. A farmer lops
bananas from his plants. What’s
left? The plants’ bulbous trunks.
Farmers usually either burn these
or throw them away. Could those
“extra” parts be of use?
Mr. Muturi’s start-up company
is called TexFad. At TexFad, young
men pile the trunks of banana
plants in a heap. Next, they split
them in half with machetes. They
feed them into a machine, until . . .
out come long, leathery, moist
fibers. The workers hang these on
lines to dry. Later, they use them
to make carpets, placemats, and
hair extensions. (Hair extensions are fake hair. They to soften them. Perhaps the fibers will become as cozy as
make a person’s hair appear fuller or longer.) cotton. Then people could wear banana trunks as clothes!
“The hair extensions we are making are highly The company will ship carpets to countries outside
ABUBAKER LUBOWA/REUTERS
BANANA PL ANT: RICH BISHOP
biodegradable,” says Mr. Muturi. Uganda for the first time this June. Mr. Muturi says custom-
“After using, our ladies will go and ers in the United States, Canada, Australia, and many parts
bury them in the soil and they of Africa want to buy. But the little company has only 23
TAKE will become manure for their people on staff. It isn’t ready for that much business quite yet.
APART vegetables.” Banana fibers are light. They’re organically produced.
SMART
TexFad is also experimenting Mr. Muturi can picture many future uses for them—
with the fibers. The company hopes including “paper” money.
18 worldkids • J U LY/ AU GU ST 2 02 1
6WK21_18-21_TAS.indd 18 6/10/21 2:41 PMWill people everywhere soon be
wearing banana clothes? Will they be
walking on banana carpets? Will they BUNCH: All
trade banana money for banana hair the bananas on
the true stem
extensions? Maybe . . . if banana plants
hang around long enough.
People love bananas. This favorite fruit
is sweet, portable, and cheap. But banana
farmers know something most people HAND: Row or
don’t. A fungal disease called Tropical tier of bananas
LEAVES: Outer, older
Race 4 (TR4) moves across continents. It’s leaves dry up and die as
looking for banana patches to destroy. FINGER: FEMALE newer leaves grow from
Single fruit FLOWERS: the center and reach
TR4 starts in soil. It can hide there for Become the top of the plant.
decades. Then—surprise—it starts to young
PETAL
choke banana plants. Green banana bananas
leaves turn yellow. Their edges get brown. MALE
The leaves fall. That might be okay for a FLOWERS
maple tree in October. But it’s not okay
for a banana plant. Ever. FLOWER BUD
A similar fungus wiped out bananas
once before. Panama disease attacked the TRUE STEM: Produces FALSE
“Big Mike” banana. Before the 1950s, flower and fruit. Dotted STEM:
line shows how stem grows “Trunk” is
everyone was eating Big Mikes. Have you
from center of “trunk.” actually
ever noticed that banana-flavored candy made up of
doesn’t taste much like bananas? That’s tight layers
SUCKER: Young new plant of leaves.
because that flavoring is likely based on
sprouting from corm
Big Mike. You’re probably not used to that
banana. Ever since Panama disease, people
have been eating mostly Cavendish
bananas instead. All the bananas we CORM HERB: Banana
Cavendish bananas can resist Panama enjoy today have their plants are not
ancestry in two species actually trees.
disease. But they can’t fight TR4. They of wild bananas from ROOTS They are the
have the same problem Big Mikes had. Southeast Asia. It world’s largest
Every single Cavendish banana plant is wasn’t until after the flowering herb.
Civil War that bananas
genetically identical to every other became popular in
RHIZOME: A banana tree (actually a large
Cavendish banana plant. When a disease America.
herb) is the kind of plant that grows from
comes through, it can destroy all the this swollen underground stem. A rhizome
plants at once. Scientists scurry. They produces roots growing down and shoots
growing up to become new plants.
need to grow a new banana variety that
can resist TR4.
God made people in His image. They’re
creative like Him. Thinkers like Kimani The Blue Java banana
Muturi show their creativity by using may become the next
ABUBAKER LUBOWA/REUTERS
BANANA PL ANT: RICH BISHOP
every part of the banana plant. And lunchbox favorite. It’s
cultivators watching bananas show nicknamed the Ice Cream
another kind of inventiveness. They’re banana. This cultivar
planning to solve big problems even (cross between two other
before they happen. bananas) from Southeast
The plans of the diligent lead surely Asia has a creamy texture
to abundance. — Proverbs 21:5 and tastes like vanilla.
JULY /AUG UST 202 1 • worldkids 19
6WK21_18-21_TAS.indd 19 6/10/21 2:58 PMScientists made a remarkable discovery about sharks.
Apparently, the marine animals use the Earth’s magnetic field
as a natural Global Positioning System (GPS). Hang a left.
Swerve right. Straight ahead! The magnetic field helps sharks
navigate the world’s oceans.
A magnetic field is the area around a magnet that pulls
and pushes other magnetic objects. Sharks certainly aren’t
magnetic! So how does the Earth’s magnetic field guide them?
“We know that sharks can respond to magnetic fields,”
says Bryan Keller. He is a shark researcher. “We didn’t know
that they detected it to use as an aid in navigation. . . . Sharks
can travel [12,427] miles and end up in the same spot.”
For years, scientists have wondered how sharks migrate
such long distances. They travel in the open ocean where
there are few landmarks like coral reefs to guide them. But
they keep coming back to the same place. Over and over
again. Why don’t they get lost?
Journey to the center of the Earth and you’ll find the water, many marine animals
molten iron and other metals swirling around the sense it. Biologists are pretty sure that
planet’s solid core. As liquid metal spins around solid, God made turtles and whales, snails, frogs, and even
it conducts electricity. That electricity creates a lobsters able to detect the magnetic field. Not only do
magnetic field. they sense it—they use it!
Sound complicated? Here’s a simpler breakdown. Sharks orient themselves in the ocean like birds do
Most metals, like iron, are magnetic. Churning iron in the sky. They use the magnetic field for assistance.
particles send out magnetic fields around them. They’re These animals can feel differences in the magnetic field
kind of like a forcefield that attracts or repels (pushes in different places. Re-routing! Re-routing! That’s how
away) other metals. Earth’s “forcefield” is hundreds of they know when to shift direction.
miles wide. The Earth’s magnetic field originates in the Earth’s magnetic field helps people find their way
Earth’s core, passes through Earth’s crust, and shoots too—but with a compass. North. South. East. West. The
out into space. flow of energy shifts the compass needle toward the
This magnetic field is massive. But it isn’t very strong. north. Without the magnetic field, compasses wouldn’t
For its great size, Earth’s magnetic field work. For many marine animals, using Earth’s
seems relatively weak. Scientists have magnetic field is like swimming inside
found that the magnetic field is an ocean compass. They go with
strongest at Earth’s poles. the flow—of energy! It guides
Sea water conducts them exactly where they
SHARK & KELLER: AP PHOTOS
electricity. The motion of need to go.
the water across the Psalm 48:14 tells us that
Earth’s magnetic God promises to lead His
field creates people. It says, “That this is
energy. As God, our God forever and
this energy ever. He will guide us
flows through forever.”
20 worldkids • J U LY/ AU GU ST 2 02 1
6WK21_18-21_TAS.indd 20 6/10/21 2:43 PMLooking for answers, scientists from Florida State
University studied bonnethead sharks. That’s a
kind of hammerhead that lives on both
American coasts. Bonnetheads return to the
same coastal inlets every year.
The scientists exposed 20 sharks to
magnetic conditions like they would
experience in the ocean. Could they feel a
pulse? Did the water move? Could they see the
magnetic clues? The scientists watched each shark
carefully. They noticed that the sharks began to swim north when
the magnetic cues made them think they were south of where they
Bryan Keller A dusky
holds a shark swims should be. It’s as if their bodies could tell they weren’t where they
bonnethead off the coast needed to be. Flip around. Swerve left. Onward!
shark on the of South
North Edisto Africa.
More studies are necessary. How do sharks detect magnetic
River in fields? How much does the field tell them about their location? Do all
South sharks find their way around the ocean in the same way? Probably.
Carolina.
After all, great whites make cross-ocean journeys just like bonnet-
heads. It makes sense that God might use the same design for both.
Isn’t the usefulness of God’s design amazing? He created the
magnetic field. And He gifted marine animals with a sensitivity to it
to help them survive. That’s truly magnificent!
The outer core is filled
with liquid metal that
generates electricity
There is a difference of 11.7 degrees between as it spins. That is
the magnetic pole and the geographic pole what creates Earth’s
magnetic field.
The North
Magnetic Pole
Geographic North Pole
1. bulbous
The North and
South Magnetic a) toxic
Poles move b) rounded
over time due c) paper-thin
to magnetic
changes in the Answers
on page 5
Earth’s core. 2. resist
The magnetic field is a a) assist
shield against the b) fight
harmful particles in
solar wind. Solar wind
c) persist
hitting the magnetic
field causes the 3. navigate
Northern and Southern
Lights to appear.
a) carefully travel
b) get lost at sea
SHARK & KELLER: AP PHOTOS
c) ask for directions
The South
Magnetic Pole 4. detect
pole
a) create
tic
b) run away from
n
atio
magne
c) discover
Geographic South Pole
rot
s of
f
Axis o
Axi
JULY /AUG UST 202 1 • worldkids 21
6WK21_18-21_TAS.indd 21 6/10/21 2:43 PMJuliet is looking for love. No wonder!
She’s the last wild blue-and-yellow
macaw left in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Once, birds like her flew far and wide in
that city. Now Juliet has to visit the zoo
to fi nd a friend.
Almost every morning for the last
two decades, Juliet has appeared at the
BioParque zoo. She swoops onto the
enclosure where macaws are kept. She
sits there, enjoying the presence of other
macaws. Blue-and-yellow macaws like
Juliet live about 35 years. And Juliet is no
spring chicken. She should have found a
lifelong mate years ago. But she hasn’t.
She hasn’t built a nest or had chicks.
“They’re social birds, and that means
they don’t like to live alone, whether in
nature or captivity. They need compa-
ny,” says Neiva Guedes, president of the
Hyacinth Macaw Institute.
Blue-and-yellow macaws can be
found in other parts of Brazil. But not in
Rio de Janeiro. If you don’t count Juliet,
no blue-and-yellow macaw has been
seen flying free in Rio since 1818. That’s
more than 200 years! Macaws are noisy.
Th is, plus their bright feathers, helps the
Juliet performs her daily birds fi nd each other in dense forests.
ritual of flying to the zoo to
hang out with her friends.
But it also makes them easy for hunters
and animal traffickers to spot.
Where did Juliet come from? She
may have escaped from captivity. Is
Juliet even a she? Zoo biologists aren’t
sure. To know for certain, they would
have to test her feathers or blood or get a
closer look at her than they’re able to.
The animal caretakers are curious. But
that’s not enough reason for them to
interfere with the wild bird. They also
would not consider placing Juliet in an
enclosure. She seems to be getting
enough food in the wild. She also loves
soaring overhead. And she should!
Macaws are used to flying more than
20 miles each day!
TOP: AP PHOTO
CRITTER So God created every winged
AP PHOTOS
FILE bird according to its kind. And
God saw that it was good.
— Genesis 1:21
22 worldkids • J U LY/ AU GU ST 2 02 1
6WK21_22-25_CF.indd 22 6/10/21 3:01 PMThe macaws at BioParque zoo in Rio de
Janeiro flit and flutter inside a 10,700-foot
aviary (bird enclosure). The macaws sail along
beside green parrots and golden parakeets. Look
up! It’s a technicolor swirl!
Workers at BioParque have a big project
ahead. They’re bringing blue-and-yellow macaws
back to the wild. Here’s the plan: Zoo macaws will
raise about 20 chicks. These babies will receive
training. In “macaw school” they’ll learn to . . .
• find food in the forest.
• watch for predators.
• stay away from dangerous power lines.
Once the chicks “graduate,” they’ll be
released into Tijuca Forest National Park. This
A pair of macaws perches on top of a massive forest is probably where our pal Juliet
passageway as people visit the aviary
at BioParque in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
goes to sleep at night. If the project works, she
may finally have the chance to fly with friends.
Macaws are a type of parrot. How can you tell?
All parrots have curved beaks. They also have
zygodactyl (zy-go-DACT-uhl) feet: four toes on each
foot with two pointing backward and two pointing
forward. Cockatoos, lovebirds, parakeets, and cockatiels are all parrots
too. So are many, many more bird species—more than 350!
Sadly, some of these birds have
lately become extinct or nearly extinct.
Parrots you can expect not to see in the There are still some
wild: Glaucous macaws, Spix’s macaws, Spix’s macaws in
New Caledonian lorikeets, and Carolina captivity, but they are
extinct in the wild.
parakeets.
Why keep macaws in the forest? • Chew, chew,
They’re happiest there. Plus, they’re chew! God
pretty hard to live with in the house! designed the
macaw’s power-
• Macaws are smart. ful beak to crack
They’re curious. through tough
They’re busy. They nuts. But it can
need lots of toys to also do impressive
pick up, examine, taste, damage to the stuff
and toss around. A bored in your house.
macaw may harm itself.
• Macaws are made for
• When God created Adam, He said, “It volume. How would your neighbors—
is not good for the man to be alone.” or your mom—feel about living next
TOP: AP PHOTO
(Genesis 2:18) It’s not good for macaws to a pet as loud as a lawnmower?
AP PHOTOS
to be alone either. If you bring a macaw
into your home, you’re its new flock. It • Macaws can and will bite.
will need to spend a lot of time with you. Enough said!
JULY /AUG UST 202 1 • worldkids 23
6WK21_22-25_CF.indd 23 6/10/21 3:01 PM“Go get ’em.” Well, a few of them. between 400 and 800 pounds.
That’s a big
That’s what Florida wildlife officials They can grow to be a little more fish! A goliath
may soon say about Atlantic goliath than eight feet long. grouper
caught in the
groupers. Is it time to loosen the Florida officials aren’t sure how
Florida Keys
state’s 30-year ban on catching and many goliaths swim the surround-
killing the giant fish? The species ing seas now. But they think there
almost died off in the 1980s. But are enough to allow limited catch.
many believe the fish family’s They say the species is “recovering”
population is finally growing again. from the hard years when it was
The Florida Fish and Wildlife over-fished.
Conservation Commission thinks Not everyone thinks lifting the
some sport fishers would love to goliath fishing ban is wise. Some
land a goliath. So the commission biologists worry that the goliath
could choose to allow a fisher with a population is still too small. Others
license to catch one goliath. Just one. point out that goliath meat contains
The gentle giants are easy to high levels of dangerous mercury.
find and hook. Young ones hide The beasts live for decades—
among trees growing in shallow absorbing mercury over time. The
coastal waters. Adults linger near larger the fish is, the less safe it is
reefs and shipwrecks off the Florida for humans to eat. But no one
coast. These fish may be gentle, but wants to see the big beauties go to
they are also HUGE! Adults weigh waste if caught.
TOP: FLORIDA KEYS PUBLIC LIBR ARIES • BOTTOM: NEIL DEMASTER
FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
A scuba diver gets a closer look at a
goliath grouper off the coast of Florida.
24 worldkids • J U LY/ AU GU ST 2 02 1
6WK21_22-25_CF.indd 24 6/10/21 3:01 PMInstead of taking goliaths from
the sea, some people think Florida
should use the fish in a different
way. They suggest that the photo
genic fish could lure more scuba
divers to Florida. That could boost
tourism business for the state.
Goliaths are very popular with divers
and underwater photographers.
At the beginning of creation, God
gave man authority over all other For years, the element mercury Larger fish usually carry greater
living things. That includes fish! was a part of many everyday items. amounts of mercury. Why? Many
Genesis 1:28 says, “And God said to Light bulbs, paint, thermometers, live a long time. They eat and store
them, ‘Have dominion over the fish and batteries used the substance. mercury in their bodies all along.
of the sea and over the birds of the It even found its way into medicine Scientists study mercury toxicity
heavens and over every living thing used for cuts, scrapes, and burns. (how poisonous something is) in the
that moves on the Earth.’” Then, scientists realized that goliath grouper. These fish live close
It is our responsibility to pay mercury could be harmful. to ocean shores where pollution can
careful attention to fish species that Mercury is a natural metal. It is contaminate water. Goliath grouper
need care. People put laws in place present in rock, soil, and water. live for decades—enough time to
to protect the goliath species. Those Pollution from coal-burning power accumulate a load of mercury.
laws seem to have worked. Now, plants sends mercury into the In the 1950s, factory workers
maybe it’s time to let people enjoy atmosphere. In the air, mercury dumped mercury into Japan’s
catching some of those fish for fun molecules can travel thousands of Minamata Bay. People who ate fish
and, if safe, for food. miles. Eventually, most land in from the bay got very, very sick.
water. In the ocean, bacteria attach Mercury poisoned around 2,000
to the mercury. This new form of people! In 1972, 6,500 people in
mercury is called methylmercury. Iraq suffered poisoning after eating
It is poisonous. Most ocean fish mercury-contaminated bread.
will contain some mercury. Mercury damages human
Here’s why: Microscopic nerves. Mercury poisoning causes
marine algae called phytoplankton memory loss, muscle weakness,
absorb methylmercury from ocean numbness, and rashes. Some
water. Tiny marine animals gobble symptoms become very serious.
up phytoplankton. That means God made mercury for a good
those marine animals ingest the purpose—but that does not
A biologist
tags a
methylmercury too. Small fish include eating it. Scientists have
goliath scoop up the little marine animals. done a good job of educating
grouper it Uh oh! Now the small fish have people about the danger of too
TOP: FLORIDA KEYS PUBLIC LIBR ARIES • BOTTOM: NEIL DEMASTER
in order to
track its
methylmercury in their systems. much mercury. God puts people in
movement Larger fish eat the small ones. At our lives to keep us safe from
FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION
within the the same time, the big fish are dangerous things. Proverbs 10:17
Gulf of
Mexico.
slurping up their own share of says, “Whoever heeds instruction
methylmercury. is on the path to life.”
1. Blue-and-yellow 2. Which 3. How much can an 4. If ocean fish 5. Do you think
macaws have almost parrot is adult goliath grouper absorb too much Florida
totally disappeared extinct in the weigh? of this element, officials should
from _________. wild? a) 40 to 50 pounds the meat becomes let people fish
a) the Southern a) Carolina b) up to three tons dangerous to eat. the goliath
Hemisphere parakeet c) 400 to 800 a) iron grouper? Why
b) Rio de Janeiro b) lovebird pounds b) calcium or why not?
c) Brazil c) cockatoo d) a little less than c) magnesium
d) zoos d) cockatiel a pound d) mercury Answers
on page 5
JULY /AUG UST 202 1 • worldkids 25
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