Eliminate the Unnecessary

Meet Wilber Whittle, who is having trouble narrowing the topic for his final research paper, and he’s facing summer school if he doesn’t improve his writing. Have you ever chosen a topic to write about that is just too broad? Information Elimination, tinyurl.com/y6b24may, explains how to overcome issues like writer’s block, and how to choose the most relevant information in your paper. Understanding each step of the writing process is important to becoming a good writer. Wilber meets characters like Detective McStickler, who explains the similarities in researching a paper and investigating a crime.

What relaxed-beat style of popular music was developed in Jamaica in the 1960s?

Dear Amy: How can I get enough exercise in the winter if I don’t play organized sports?

Dear Larson: Don’t forget the merits of outdoor exercise! You don’t have to be on a team to get exercise. There are many outdoor activities you can take part in with your family and friends that don’t require team membership.

A good exercise goal is to increase your heart rate for 60 minutes, three to five times a week. And the additional benefits of being outside are significant! Check out 50 Outdoor Things To Do With Your Kids in Winter, tinyurl.com/y65b8g46.

In winter you can go hiking, sledding, cross-country skiing or ice skating. Even going out and having a snowball fight or building a snow fort with friends can be good exercise.

Since animal tracks are more visible in snow, you could learn to identify and follow tracks to learn different species’ winter habits. Check out Tracking Wildlife With Kids, tinyurl.com/y3ubfaf4, for some tips.

Did you know that most zoos are open all year? Visit a zoo over a school break or on a weekend, and you might be suprised at the activity you’ll see from some of its residents.