Monthly Archives: March, 2009
What makes the ring around the moon?
The ring around the moon or sun is caused when the rays of light are bent and reflected by clouds of ice crystals high in the sky. A big, shining ring of light sometimes appears around the moon. The ring is not really around the moon—it only seems to be: The “ring around the moon” …
How are diamonds cut into pieces?
To bring out the brilliance in a diamond, many little sides, or facets, must be cut and polished on it with other diamonds. Most diamonds look like dull pieces of glass when they are taking from the ground. Before they are used as jewels, diamonds are cut and polished. The cutting and the polishing has …
What is a rain forest?
A rain forest is a very dense and dark forest that grows in a land where the rainfall is very heavy. A rain forest is a large, very thick forest in a land where rain is very heavy throughout the year. The closely crowded trees need at least 80, and often much more, inches of rain each …
When did the liberty bell become cracked?
The most famous bell in America is the Liberty Bell. It hangs in Independence Hall in Philadelphia, PA. The historic bell stands 3 feet tall. It weighs more than a ton. Originally cast in England, it was brought to Philadelphia in 1752, more than 20 years before the United States became a nation. When it …
What is Artesian well?
An artesian well needs no pump. It spurts out of the ground like fountain. There is more water in the world than in our oceans, lakes and streams. A good deal of water can be found beneath the ground. Springs are formed when water from rain and melted snow seeps deep into the ground. The underground water can fill …
What is shorthand?
Shorthand is a system of writing words quickly by using symbols that stand for sounds or for whole words or phrase. Can you write as fast as you can speak? Most people can’t. people talk faster than they can write in long hand or ordinary writing. But often it is necessary to take dictation, or …
What is pond life?
Pond life is made up of many kinds of plants and animals that live in a community in or near a pond. A small pond may look like a quiet place. But if you look carefully, you may see that the pond is really a little world of its own. In spring and summer the …
How did April Fools’ Day start?
The custom of playing jokes on April 1st may have come from an old Hindu spring festival in which people were sent on foolish errands. The first day of April is a fun day—April Fools’ Day. On this day people day play silly harmless jokes on their friends. The victim is called an “April Fool.” …
