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Young Reporter's Story Ideas
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Sponsored by
 School Book Fest Activities Draw Crowds
by Reporter Arabella Breck
Utterback Magnet Middle School
On March 14 and 15, huge crowds flocked to the Tucson Book Festival hosted at the UofA. There were tons of events for children and adults, including outdoor presentations and book signings.
One children’s author, Gail Carson Levine, gave a sneak peek into her next book, which is about the classic tale “Puss in Boots.” Tucson Medical Center had presentations on health and safety. Of course our own Bear Essential News had an attractive and very well-visited booth also.
This was the first Tucson Book Festival, and
I personally hope organizers will do it again. While there,
I interviewed several people about this year’s events.
“The kids center was fun with the balloons and face painting,” says Jhanna, who is 6.
“There are so many things to do it’s hard to choose.
I am staying all day,” adds Anna, an 11-year-old.
“It was nice to bring kids and take them to different activities, and there was plenty for us parents to see also,” adds David, 42.
During the second day of the Tucson Book Festival, a Buddhist sand painting, called a mandala, was finished in a ceremony for world peace by Lama Losang from Tibet. It took a whole month to be done.
I hope that the UofA decides to host the Tucson Book Fair again next year!
Carefully Choose What You Eat (and Drink)
by Reporter Jessica Carpenter
Safford Magnet Middle School
Why do people love Red Bull and Rock Star? Do they drink these energy beverages to get through the day? Are these drinks good for you? Can they be harmful?
We asked Safford teachers and students about their energy drink consumption. We also decided to do a little research on the effects of these wildly popular drinks.
Anna Larson, an English teacher, says that she drinks Red Bull in the morning so she can wake up. “I enjoy the taste of Red Bull, but I know it’s not good for me,” she states.
In truth, energy drinks stop your body from making its natural energy. Drinking them can cause your energy to shoot way up and then plummet so that you’ll need to drink another drink to stay awake.
Student Javier Gomez says, “I like energy drinks because they taste good and they make me happy and hyper.” This makes sense if you read labels. A Red Bull has about 80 milligrams of caffeine per 8-ounce serving. On the Rock Star label it states that the drink “is not recommended for children, pregnant women and people sensitive to caffeine.”
In the end, what you drink is up to you. But at least now, you’ll know the facts about what you’re drinking and its effects.
by Allie Huber, Corbett Elementary
Spring is coming, bringing fairs and junk food. Hot dogs and corn dogs might tempt you at carnivals or ball games. Don’t be so quick to buy them, though. Think about it. Are these foods really healthy? No!
Here are some ways to keep you from buying junk:
- Don’t carry a lot of money.
- Pre-pack a healthy but yummy snack, like nuts and fruits, to carry with you.
- Think of something you really want and put a picture of it on your wallet. When you see it, remember you are saving money for it and not spending it on junk food.
‘Newsies’ Fight for What’s Right
by Reporter Adriana Suarez
Banks Elementary
Adviser: Lisa Martin
I just saw a great old movie called “The Newsies.” This movie came out in 1992. Fortunately, you can rent it on DVD. It is a musical loosely based on a true story about newsboys—kids who sold newspapers—that takes place in 1811 in New York.
In the old days, instead of using vending machines to buy newspapers, people got them from newsboys, or newsies.
The newsies used to buy papers at half a penny each and sell them on the street for a whole penny. Then the owner of the newspaper raised the price the newsies had to pay for each paper by one-tenth of a cent. This was such a hardship that the main character, played by a teenage Christian Bale (known these days for his role as Batman), organized a strike by the newsies. They put up posters and handed out fliers so the owner of the paper would lower the price.
Watch the DVD to see if the newsies succeed.
Library Supports Jewish Culture
by Reporter Shane Weinstein,
Tucson Hebrew Academy
Judaism is a culture of many traditions. One of these traditions is the tradition of doing “mitzvot,” or good deeds. An example of a mitzvah is doing “tzedakah,” which means donating to charity.
A charity I recently learned about is called the PJ Library. It’s funded by the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona and promotes Jewish values through literacy. The PJ Library is in place in more than 120 communities nationwide and soon to be located in Canada. But it is relatively new to Tucson.
Harold Grenspoon, a Jewish philanthropist, founded the PJ Library. Grenspoon was inspired by country singer Dolly Parton’s charity, the Imagination Library. Parton was raised in poverty without any books to read. She took her own experiences and used them to help those in need.
The Imagination Library gives books to children who cannot afford them. Grenspoon used this same formula and added a hint of Judaism into the mix. Here’s how the PJ Library works: Children who are signed up receive a free Jewish book or CD once a month for two years—no strings attached. The program is free for two years and then requires a small donation for continued membership.
The PJ Library came to Tucson through a challenge Grenspoon put out to Jewish Federations nationwide. He encouraged federations to raise as much money as possible for the charity, and then he promised he would double that.
PJ Library has 525 spots available annually, and this year it has only filled 350. If you are interested in enrolling, contact Mary Ellen at 577-9393 ext. 138, or at PJlibrary@jfsa.org.
Acting Studios Give Kids a Stage
by Reporter Allie Huber,
Corbett Elementary
Adviser: Louise Till
Many kids in Arizona enjoy acting. Others want to try it. There are a lot of kids acting studios in Tucson, including the Melody Baker Acting Studio and the Live Theatre Workshop.
At Melody Baker, children put on plays at the Gaslight Theatre. The ages range from 6 up to about 15. Live Theatre Workshop offers classes for all ages. It has musical theater, playmaking and acting classes.
I do my acting at Melody Baker. “Scrooge’s Christmas Carol” was the first play I was in. Now I am working on “Little Luncheonette of Terror.” I enjoy it, and I think you should try it!
Peanuts, Potatoes Basis for
Inventor’s Major Contributions
by Reporter Myranda Escobar,
St. Joseph School
George Washington Carver, an American botanist, chemist and educator, developed more than 300 products from peanuts and sweet potatoes—including plastics, dyes, medicines, flour, powdered milk and fertilizer.
The son of a slave, Carver was born near Diamond Grove, Mo. He is not related to George Washington, the first American president. Although we don’t know Carver’s birthday, we think he was born around 1861. While Carver was still an infant, his father was killed. He, his mother and another child were kidnapped from his mother’s master, Moses Carver, who paid his ransom with a $300 race horse.
When Carver was 10, he went to Neosho, Mo. He finished high school in Minneapolis, Kan. In 1890, Carver went to college in Iowa. He found ways of restoring the soil by planting peanuts and sweet potatoes.
Carver began a “school on wheels.” His first publication, printed in 1898, was “Feeding Acorns to Livestock.” In 1940, the Carver Research Foundation was founded at Tuskegee Institute. Carver died in 1943.
Congress has made Jan. 5 the day to honor him each year.
They’re Friends Forever
by Reporters Leighton Rickel and Camryn Stallwood
Harelson Elementary
We have been best friends since kindergarten, and we’ve had some ups and downs. But we know we will always stick together until the end, and that’s what being best friends is all about. We’ve helped each other throughout the years. We’ve never doubted each other.
Do you have a best friend? It’s great! I recommend you have a “Bear Essential best friend” so you can write stories together, like we do. But don’t forget fighting is a part of being friends. Just don’t fight a lot. If you do fight, just say, “I’m so sorry.” It really works.
You should go to Harelson Elementary—that’s where we met, and we’ve been friends for five years.
Searching for a 4-Leaf Clover
by Reporter Savannah Hornyak,
Homeschool
I have been looking for a four-leaf clover my whole life. My sister found one. But she was born on St. Patrick’s Day, so I think she is lucky.
Estimates show there is one four-leaf clover for every 10,000 clovers. That’s why they are hard to find. Legend says that when you find a four-leaf clover, you find never-ending luck.
I have found clovers with one, two, three, five and seven leaves. I have never found a four-leaf clover. There is an entry in the “Guinness Book of World Records” for most leaves on a clover. The official record is 21. A man from Japan found that clover in June 2008. Some have claimed finding clovers with as many as 27 leaves, though.
Four-leaf clovers bring good luck. There are also ways to get bad luck. If you break a mirror, legend says you get seven years of bad luck. Others say if a black cat crosses your path, you get bad luck. This one is the most ridiculous: Step on a crack, break your mother’s back. I just don’t believe it!
Well, maybe you will have better luck than I have had.
Penny War Raises Cash for Charity
by Reporter Hope Seasholes,
Green Fields Country Day School
Adviser: Anne Davies
The students of Green Fields Country Day School held a fundraiser for the Community Food Bank. Only students from fifth to 12th grade could participate. The goal was to see which grade could raise the most money. Overall, the fundraiser lasted about a week.
Each class had a jar. Students put pennies in the jar for his or her class. If students brought in more than a penny, like a dime, that much money in pennies would be subtracted from the jar of another class. It started a war!
The prize was an eegee’s party. The 11th-graders won because they had the most pennies. The fifth grade raised $84, and the school as a whole raised about $300.
Museum Takes Art to Kids
by Reporter Alan Cheng,
Lineweaver Elementary
Have you ever heard of a museum on wheels? I have, and it was at my school!
It’s called the Arts Mobile, which is a miniature museum that comes to you instead of you going to it. It features different cultures at every visit. On my most recent visit, I saw Native American art from the Tohono O’odham and Pascua Yaqui tribes. The exhibits were separated by a small Adobe Room.
I like the Pascua Yaqui side, but I especially liked the Adobe Room, which had a lot of items made of straw—including my favorite, the Man in the Maze.
Throughout the Arts Mobile, I saw a variety of baskets. From tiny baskets to a large wine basket, from burden baskets to a straw bowl, baskets were all over the place.
The first room you enter is on the Tohono O’odham side. You will probably smell the odor of the saguaro fruit in the first exhibit. Right before you go into the Adobe Room, you might find a long, black stick with lots of X’s, dots and squares on it. This is called a calendar stick, which the O’odham used to keep track of how well their month, day or year was going.
The Adobe Room is filled with items made of straw. There were animals made of straw, like a cat and a turtle. There are also a few Man in the Maze pieces in the Adobe Room, which is also where the majority of the baskets are.
Apart from the things made of straw, I saw a sculpture of a witch named Ho’ok from Native American legend. Although it is a great story, I’d rather not tell it, for I do not want to scare you. This sculpture is one of the main examples of how the Native Americans used nature in their art, because the base of the sculpture is really a saguaro rib.
When I went to the Pascua Yaqui side, my eyes had to adjust to the color. It had brighter colors than the Adobe Room and the Tohono O’odham side. There were flowers all over the place. Besides a mannequin (a cardboard statue) carving a mask, there was a mannequin band playing real instruments covered with flowers.
I had a wonderful experience looking at art, sculptures and much more. Maybe the Arts Mobile will come to your school, too!
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It’s Time Again to Get Ready for AIMS
by Reporter Caitlin Chavez
North Ranch Elementary
Are you ever nervous before you do a play or before you take a big test? Well, this is how students in Arizona feel—AIMS testing is coming up!
AIMS, or the Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards, is a big test that shows where you’re at when it comes to math, reading and writing! The results are sent to parents during the summer.
So what techniques are kids using to do well?
“I study and practice on the things I need help with,” explains Trista Chavez, a sixth-grader at Sunset Canyon Elementary. “Then during the test, I eat mints.” She says that helps her concentrate.
“I always think about the question and eliminate the first two answers that don’t make sense,” explains Lauren Mitchelson, a fourth-grader at North Ranch Elementary. “I eat mints and Hershey Kisses.”
Last year, I practiced and then ate chocolate and mints during the test.I got great results! I never thought I could, but I just put my effort into it and passed!
‘Cavalia’ Stars Equine Ballerinas
by Reporter Emily Atwater
Christ Lutheran School
Adviser: Stacey Lane
On Feb. 13, I went to a horse show called “Cavalia” with my Young Reporters teacher, Stacey Lane, and her two daughters, Katie and Tatum. “Cavalia” is about a lot of things—acts, plays and gymnastics. It is considered an equine ballet and combines acrobatics, dance, aerial stunts and live music with the equestrian arts.
Acrobats fly around on bungees and hang from only a bar. For one act there were two boys, two girls and two horses. The boys were hanging on to the girls’ hands and the horses were running in circles while the girls were doing flips and all that fun stuff. My favorite act was when the performers ran on and off of the stage yelling, and doing turns and all sort of wacky stuff on the horses. The horses are very well behaved.
“Cavalia” toured European capitals such as Brussels, Madrid and Berlin before coming to Scottsdale. We spoke to the performers and director after the show. Normand Latourelle is the president and artistic director. We also spoke with Ruth Joyal, who is an acrobat, and Carey Hackett, a dancer and acrobat. We also visited with trick riders Jessie Lee Cooper, Maxim Penteleenko and Landon Spencer.
“Cavalia” takes place under the White Big Top in Scottsdale through the month of March. For more information visit www.cavalia.net.
Help Fight Cancer
by Reporter Heather Gallozzi
Marshall Ranch Elementary
Relay for Life of Peoria is a moving event that offers everyone in the community a chance to participate in the fight against cancer.
The event takes place April 25 at the Peoria Sports Complex, 16101 N 83rd Ave. It’s free and open to the public. The kickoff starts at 6 p.m. and continues until 6 a.m. the next morning. After honoring cancer survivors and their caregivers, the teams will walk around the baseball field all night because “cancer never sleeps.”
There will be games and raffles. Teams will also sell products, food and services to raise money for the cause—the American Cancer Society. Last year more than $125,000 was raised. This year the goal is $200,000.
The year’s event features a pirate theme called, “Charting our Course to Discover a Cure.” Families are encouraged to come to this event, or even better join a team. For more imfo, visit www.relayforlife.org/peoriaaz or call
623-695-8058.
Good Luck Looking
for 4-Leaf Clovers
By Reporter Savannah Hornyak
Homeschool
I have been looking for a four-leaf clover my whole life. My sister found one. But she was born on St. Patrick’s Day, so I think she is lucky.
Estimates show there is one four-leaf clover for every 10,000 clovers. That’s why they are hard to find. Legend says that when you find a four-leaf clover, you find never-ending luck.
I have found clovers with one, two, three, five and seven leaves. I have never found a four-leaf clover. There is an entry in the “Guinness Book of World Records” for most leaves on a clover. The official record is 21. A man from Japan found that clover in June 2008. Some have claimed finding clovers with as many as 27 leaves, though.
Four-leaf clovers bring you good luck. There are also ways to get bad luck. If you break a mirror, legend says you get seven years of bad luck. Another legend says if a black cat crosses your path, you get bad luck. This one is the most ridiculous: If you step on a crack, you break your mother’s back. I just don’t believe it!
Well, maybe you’ll have better luck than I’ve had.
Japanese Honor the Loyalty of Legendary, Loveable Akitas
by Reporter Chantal Navratil
Rancho Solano Private Schools
Adviser: Stacey Lane
Looking for a protective, family loving dog? Look no further than the Akita.
A large Japanese hunting breed, Akitas have been loved for centuries. They go back at least 500 years! This breed is considered so valuable and precious that there is a statue in Japan honoring an Akita! Its name was Hachiko. Every day Hachiko waited for his owner at the local train station. One day his owner had a heart attack. Hachiko did not know his owner had died, and he waited there every day for his owner to come home. That proves how loyal an Akita really is.
Akitas are big dogs—they measure 75 pounds to 100 pounds—but they do not need much exercise. Most love other dogs, though some may want to be the only dog around.
If you’re interested in adopting an Akita, call Akita Advocates Relocation Team Arizona at 602-882-5482.
Farm Friends Lots of Fun
Stories by Reporter Drema Harmon,
Altar Valley Middle School
Adviser: Virginia Igram
Alpacas Feature Fabulous Fibers
Alpacas are a domesticated species of South American camel and resemble a small llama.
They are considerably smaller than llamas and aren’t used as beasts of burden. Instead, they are valued for their coats! Their fiber comes in more than 16 colors. It’s used for making items like soft blankets, sweaters, socks, coats, bedding, ponchos and a variety of textiles.
Alpacas are such lovable, fun animals. My brother and I bought our first alpaca last April, and now we have a herd of seven! We’ve found them to be easily trained, and our alpacas are very comical. They love getting hugs and taking walks with us.
Show Pigs Particular About Care
Raising a pig to show at the Pima County Fair is a fun thing, but isn’t an easy task.
You have to take them for walks every day to get them used to walking before the judge. You give them baths and haircuts, weigh them regularly and make sure they are being fed the correct feed. You need to clean their pens regularly and make sure that they always have fresh water.
Fancy health spas offer $100 mud baths to clean and refresh your skin. But if you get a pig, you can get a free, all-natural mud bath any day of the week!
Energy Drinks Tasty But Unhealthy
by Reporter Jessica Carpenter
Safford Magnet Middle School
Why do kids love Red Bull and Rock Star? Do teachers and other adults drink these energy beverages to get through the day? Are these drinks good for you? Could they be harmful?
These are just a few of the questions we had, so we asked Safford teachers and students about their energy drink consumption. We also decided to do a little research on the effects of these wildly popular drinks.
Anna Larson, an English teacher, says that she drinks Red bull in the morning so she can wake up.
“I enjoy the taste of Red Bull, but I know it’s not good
for me,” states Ms. Larson.
In truth, energy drinks stop your body from making its natural energy. Drinking them can cause your energy to shoot way up and then plummet so that you’ll need to drink another drink to stay awake.
Student Javier Gomez says, “I like energy drinks because they taste good and they make me happy and hyper.”
This makes sense if you read labels. A Red Bull has about 80 milligrams of caffeine per 8-ounce serving. On the Rock Star label it states that the drink “is not recommended for children, pregnant women and people sensitive to caffeine.”
In the end, what you drink is up to you. But at least now, you’ll know the facts about what you’re drinking and its effects.
Good Luck Finding
Four-leaf Clovers
by Reporter Savannah Hornyak
Homeschool
I have been looking for a four-leaf clover my whole life. My sister found one. But she was born on St. Patrick’s Day, so I think she is lucky.
Estimates show there is one four-leaf clover for every 10,000 clovers. That’s why they are hard to find. Legend says that when you find a four-leaf clover, you find never-ending luck.
I have found clovers with one, two, three, five and seven leaves. I have never found a four-leaf clover. There is an entry in the “Guinness Book of World Records” for most leaves on a clover. The official record is 21. A man from Japan found that clover in June 2008. Some have claimed finding clovers with as many as 27 leaves, though.
Four-leaf clovers bring you good luck. There are also ways to get bad luck. If you break a mirror, legend says you get seven years of bad luck. Another legend says if a black cat crosses your path, you get bad luck. This one is the most ridiculous: If you step on a crack, you break your mother’s back. I just don’t believe it!
Well, maybe you’ll have better luck than I’ve had.
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