In Russia, near the Sea of Okhotsk, a very different seal was spotted. An albino seal is extremely rare, but this little guy has a tint of orange. The pup was spotted by a biologist named Vladimir Burkanov. The orange puff ball is active and looks healthy. The biologist nicknamed him the "Ugly Duckling" because he stands out as unique among the group.Photograph from Boredpanda

Maya Gabeira(Portugal) surfed into the record books for riding a whopper of a wave. She rode a 73.5 ft. wave at Praia do Norte, Portugal, known for its massive waves. The surfing event was held in February but the height of the wave was just determined. The record for a male surfer is currently 80 ft. by Rodrigo Koxa(Brazil) in 2020.

Photograph from CBSsports

Archaeologist have recently discovered 13 wooden coffins in Egypt. Found at Saqqara, where the Djoser step pyramid is located, the coffins are completely sealed and are believed to date back 2500 years. Since many tombs have been robbed, these coffins, being unopened, makes this discovery a rare find. The coffins, found stack on top of one another, were found in a 40 ft. deep well. The coffins are in excellent condition. Red, white, bold, blue and black colored designs are still visible. Additionally, archaeologists say there are three other sealed compartments which may have other coffins.

Photograph from livescience.com

A four year study found a most unusual method to protect grazing cows from attacks by leopard, lions, hyenas and cheetahs. Paint EYES on their rear ends! Cattle ranchers, in Botswana, were having their roaming cattle attack at night by predators. Biologists did an experiment.Some of the cattle had two Xs painted on their backsides, others were given big eyes and the rest had nothing painted on their backsides. Those 683 cows with the painted eyes were left alone, making it a very inexpensive method for farmers to protect their herd of cattle. It is thought that the lions and other predators thought they were being stared down by the cows! The idea came about by the University of New South Wales after seeing that the eyespots on some butterflies(and birds) seems to lessen attacks by predators. The painted rear end eyes also are beneficial to the big cats as the farmers don't hunt them down in retaliation for their harming the cows. Win win for all.

Photo from ourcommunitynow.com

Imagine going up into the sky on 52 large helium filled weather balloons. That's what David Blaine, illusionist, did on September 2nd, flying him into the record books. Blaine soared 4.5 miles up over Page, Arizona, reaching about 24,900 ft. That is about the level jets cruise in the sky. Blaine had to learn how to sky dive and get a hot air balloon pilot certificate in order to able to do his balloon flight. With oxygen levels getting low, Blaine using his parachute and came back to earth traveling at a speed of 125 mph.WOW!

Photograph from Yahoo.com

PAST NEWS STORIES

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"The school is the last expenditure upon which America should be willing to compromise."FDR "If a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest."(Ben Franklin) "You must be the change you want to see in the world."(Mahatma Gandhi) "School is a building that has four walls-with tomorrow inside."(Lon Watters) "We know the future will outlast all of us, but I believe that all of us will live on in the future we make."(Senator Ted Kennedy) "The purpose of life is a life of purpose." (Robert Byrne)
Special thanks to EducationWorld for letting me use this image of my "alter ego" as Mrs. "Waffenschmidt!

About Gail:

I have retired from teaching after 33 1/2 years in the classroom. Of that time, I taught Grade 6 Social Studies teacher for 31 1/2 years.I earned my BA in early secondary education with a concentration in social studies from SUNY Oneonta, New York, and my MST in social studies education from Binghamton University in New York. In 1988, I was awarded the Outstanding Elementary Social Studies Classroom Teacher of the Year Award from the New York State Council for the Social Studies. Additionally, in 1988, I was also awarded the Outstanding Elementary Social Studies Teacher of the Year Award by the National Council for the Social Studies. I am the author of 8 books for teachers and over 30 books for children(Purple Turtle Series by Aadarsh Publishing). In 2019, my new series of three books, "Odd History" will be published by Red Chair Press.

My work has appeared in most children's publications including:
Appleseeds,Scholastic's Super Science,Scholastic's Science World,Highlights for Children,Jack and Jill,National Geographic World, Ranger Rick, Cobblestone, Faces, Muse Magazine,Contact Kids, US Kids,Action Magazine(Scholastic),Girls' Life,Boys' Life,American Girl, Instructor,Creative Classroom,Middle Years,Time for Kids,Scholastic News,Scholastic News Zone, Time for Kids , Ask Magazine, Dig,Calliope, Cobblestone, FACES, Studies Weekly, Glo Adventurer, and more.

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