25-1 (06)
release dates: June 17-23
TM
TM
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
© 2006 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
By BETTY DEBNAM
When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2006 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
Lightning Safety
“Lightning Kills, Play
It Safe” is the theme of
Lightning Awareness
Week (June 18-24).
To find out more about
lightning, we talked with
experts at the National
Weather Service.
The chart below shows the average
number of lightning flashes per square
mile from 1996-2000 in each state. Look
at the map and color in the 12 states with
the highest average of lightning flashes.
A force to respect
About 25 million lightning bolts flash from
the clouds to the ground each year in the
U.S. There are about 10 times that many
lightning flashes from cloud to cloud.
State Flashes
State Flashes
WV . . . .
IA . . . . .
TX . . . . .
NM . . . .
DC . . . .
VA . . . . .
AZ . . . . .
PA . . . . .
MD . . . .
CO . . . .
DE . . . . .
NE . . . . .
WI . . . . .
NJ . . . . .
SD . . . . .
NY . . . . .
MN . . . . 4
ND . . . . 3
UT . . . . . 3
WY . . . . 3
MI . . . . . 3
CT . . . . . 2
MT . . . . 2
MA . . . . 2
NH . . . . 2
NV . . . . . 1
RI . . . . . 1
ID . . . . . 1
ME . . . . 1
CA . . . . . 1/2
OR . . . . 1/2
WA . . . . 1/4
20
16
15
15
14
13
13
12
12
11
11
11
10
9
8
8
8
8
8
7
7
7
6
5
5
5
5
5
4
4
4
4
Information not available for Alaska and Hawaii.
Data supplied by Vaisala. © 2001 Vaisala. We have
rounded off the numbers for Mini Page readers.
Staying safe
Playing it safe
If you are hearing thunder, the
storm is close enough that you could
be hit by lightning. Even if the sky is
blue, you are not safe when there is
thunder. Lightning can easily travel
10 miles from a storm.
Even after the storm
has passed by, there is
danger for about 30
minutes. More than
half of all lightning deaths occur after
the thunderstorm has passed by.
During a lightning storm, the safest
place to go is inside a building or
inside a hard-topped metal vehicle
such as a car or school bus. Make sure
the windows are rolled up in the
vehicle. A substantial building, such as
an enclosed brick restroom or other
park building, is also safer than outside.
No place outside is safe in a
thunderstorm. Try to get inside as
quickly as you can.
If you are planning to play outside,
especially if you have a ball game or
other scheduled activity, listen to the
forecast. If there is a chance of a
thunderstorm, figure out a safe place
you can reach quickly.
An open shelter,
such as a baseball
dugout, picnic shelter
or tent, does not keep
you safe from
lightning.
If you see signs of a
developing storm, go One lightning
inside before you see bolt can be from
the first lightning or 60 to 120 miles
hear the first thunder. long.
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photo by James Minot, courtesy NOAA
photo by Harald Edens, courtesy NOAA
Lightning is very
dangerous. In an average
year, lightning kills more
people in America than
hurricanes or tornadoes.
But most people ignore
the dangers of this force
of nature.
Although lightning kills about 67
people each year in the United States,
it does not get the publicity that big
storms do. This is partly because
lightning kills only one or two people
at a time. Also, lightning does not
usually destroy entire towns, as do big
storms.
On average, 300 lightning injuries
are reported each year.
State Flashes
FL . . . . .
LA . . . . .
MS . . . .
AL . . . . .
SC . . . . .
GA . . . . .
TN . . . . .
KY . . . . .
IN . . . . .
IL . . . . . .
OK . . . .
AR . . . . .
MO . . . .
NC . . . .
OH . . . .
KS . . . . .
®
25-2 (06); release dates: June 17-23
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2006 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
More About Lightning
People believe many things about
lightning that are not actually true.
Experts from the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) point out some common
untrue beliefs, or myths.
• Metal objects, such as
jewelry, attract lightning:
False.
Nothing attracts lightning, but
lightning tends to strike taller objects.
• The rubber in tires protects
you in a car: False.
You are
protected in a
closed-top
metal vehicle because the lightning
flows around the metal shell of the
vehicle and into the ground. People
inside the vehicle will be safe.
(Lightning can sometimes blow
out the tires or shatter the
windshields in a vehicle. This could
be dangerous if the car is moving.)
• Lightning never
strikes the same place
twice: False.
Lightning may strike tall
buildings about 100 times
a year.
Here is a way to tell how far away
lightning is from you.
1. Count the seconds
between seeing
lightning and
hearing thunder.
2. Divide this
number by five. For
example, if there are 10
seconds between the lightning and
the thunder, divide 10 by five. The
lightning is two miles away.
If there are five seconds between
the lightning and thunder, the
lightning is one mile away.
Even if the storm is miles away, it
is not safe to be outside.
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2006 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
Mini Spy . . .
Lightning is shown striking the base of
the space shuttle launch site. When
lightning strikes a metal car or plane (or
shuttle), the electricity stays on the outside.
Experts believe airplanes are hit an
average of once a year, but passengers
are not hurt. When a plane is struck, the
lightning follows the metal outside of the
plane as part of its path to the ground.
photo courtesy NOAA
Figuring the distance
photo courtesy NASA
Mistaken beliefs
Ancient myths
Thousands of years ago,
people believed lightning
bolts were weapons of
the gods. The Greek god Zeus and
the Scandinavian god Thor threw
lightning at their enemies.
TM
Mini Spy is forecasting a lot of thunderstorms. See if you can
find: • paper airplane • toothbrush • word MINI • ruler
• gift • kite
• letter A
• pencil
• paper clip
• letter L
• ladder
• ice-cream
bar
• number 4
• lipstick
• letter D
• number 7
• letter E
Brown
Basset ws
The Ned’s
Houn
TM
Lightning in this photo is from a nearby
storm. What people call “heat lightning”
is actually lightning from a storm far away.
People see the light from the lightning
reflected off the clouds. It is so far away
from the viewer that it is not dangerous.
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2006 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
LIGHTNING
TRY ’N
FIND
Words that remind us of lightning are hidden in the block below.
Some words are hidden backward or diagonally. See if you can find:
THUNDER, INDOORS, SAFETY, WEATHER, KILLS, FORCE,
STORM, DANGER, BOLT, CLOUDS, FLASH, SKY, BUILDING,
CAR, FORECAST, WILDFIRES, ELECTRICITY, AIR, ICE,
MOISTURE, SUN, CHARGE, HOT.
T K S R O O D N I R E G N A D
STAY
H F I S A F E T Y C H A R G E
AWAY FROM
LIGHTNING!
U S L L C P G N I D L I U B M
N A K A L A K E R U T S I O M
D I V Y S S R N U S M R O T S
E R I C E H C L O U D S H O T
R E C R O F S E R I F D L I W
T S A C E R O F R E H T A E W
T L O B Y T I C I R T C E L E
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®
25-3 (06); release dates: June 17-23
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
TM
Go dot to dot and color.
Rookie Cookie’s Recipe
Refrigerator Layer Cake
You’ll need:
• 1 (3-ounce) box instant vanilla pudding
• 1 cup skim milk
• 1 (8-ounce) container fat-free non-dairy whipped topping
• 1 box low-fat graham crackers
• 1 container whipped chocolate frosting (room temperature)
What to do:
1. Combine the milk and pudding mix, then add the non-dairy whipped
topping and mix well.
2. Lay the graham crackers side by side on the bottom of a 9-by-9-inch dish.
3. Spread one cup of the pudding mixture over graham crackers.
4. Place another layer of graham crackers over pudding mixture.
5. Repeat layers, ending with graham crackers on top.
6. Spread frosting evenly over the top layer of graham crackers.
7. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for 6 hours. Cut
into squares and serve. Makes 8 servings.
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2006 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
photo courtesy The Animal Planet
Meet the Meerkat
The Animal Planet channel has just
introduced a 13-part weekly series about
real-life, furry animals called meerkats.
Meerkats are small mammals, about 1
foot tall, that like hot, dry places. They
are members of the mongoose family.
Although cute and sociable creatures,
these animals are tough enough to kill a cobra.
The show “Meerkat Manor” is about how a family of
meerkats survives in Africa’s Kalahari Desert. The family is
called the Whiskers, led by a mother meerkat named Flower.
The series was filmed during a study led by Cambridge
University over a 10-year period. The life and ways of these
little furry animals is narrated by Sean Astin, who played
the part of Sam Gamgee in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy.
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2006 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2006 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
The Mini Page®
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Flags of Our States Poster
Alabama
• Full-color flags from all
50 states
• Date each state entered
the union
Missouri
TO
C
L
K
R IGH T
ES
M IN
IL
ES
All the following jokes have something in common. Can
you guess the common theme or category?
GRA
IN
1869
O
To
S
EQUA
L IV
To
From
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2006 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
1890
Wyoming
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Baird: What number does a pig dial
when it needs help?
Ben: Swine-one-one!
Beverly: What type of phone do
imposters use?
Barry: Phoneys!
Bill: Do you believe in free speech?
Bob: Of course!
Bill: Then may I use your telephone?
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®
25-4 (06); release dates: June 17-23
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2006 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
More About Lightning
Safety outside
What causes lightning?
Always remember, no place is safe
outside during a storm. But if you
are caught outside during a
thunderstorm, here are some safety
tips from NOAA lightning expert
John Jensenius.
Lightning is a giant spark of
electricity that starts in the clouds.
In thunderstorms, warm air rises
into the atmosphere.* As it goes
higher, it grows colder.
*The atmosphere is a layer of air above
the Earth.
Do:
photo by R.R. Best, courtesy NOAA
Get inside a
safe place as
soon as possible.
Get out of the water
immediately.
If you are in a boat, bring
the boat to shore quickly and
seek shelter. If your boat has a cabin,
go inside. Wear your life jacket.
Do not:
Stand under a lone tree or
by a pole or tower. Lightning
usually strikes the tallest object.
Stand on a hill or other high
place.
Stand in the middle of an
open field. You do not want to
be the tallest object.
Stand near anything that
could conduct electricity
toward you, such as a metal fence or
metal bleachers.
Lightning fires
Lightning
causes most of
the wildfires in
the United
States.
The plumbing
and electrical wiring in buildings
usually helps protect them from
lightning strikes. The lightning
travels down the pipes or wires and
goes safely into the ground.
Sometimes, however, lightning does
cause building fires.
Lightning bolts can form within one
cloud, between clouds, or between a
cloud and the ground.
Safety inside
Although you are safest when you
are indoors, lightning can strike
indoors too. Here are some indoor
safety tips:
Do:
Stay away from the
plumbing and things plugged
in to the electrical wiring. Lightning
can travel down the metal pipes and
wiring.
Stay away from open doors
and windows.
Do not:
Wash your hands, take a
shower, or handwash dishes.
Handle anything plugged
into the wall. Do not use your
plugged-in computer games during a
thunderstorm, for example.
Talk on a corded phone. (It
is safe to talk on a cordless
phone or cell phone.)
The Mini Page thanks John Jensenius and
Dennis Feltgen, NOAA, for help with this issue.
Next week The Mini Page is about honeybees.
As the air keeps rising inside the
clouds, moisture from the air forms
water drops, ice particles and
snowflakes in the clouds, even in the
summer.
The snowflakes and ice particles
collide with each other. When this
happens, charges of static electricity
build up. When enough charge
builds up, a lightning bolt can occur.
Have you ever rubbed
your feet against the carpet
in winter to make sparks
form? These sparks are
static electricity. Static
electricity does not flow in a
current along wires.
Lightning bolts form when the
electrical charges in a cloud rush to
meet opposite electrical charges,
either within other parts of the
cloud, or on the ground.
Thunder
Thunder is caused
when lightning heats
the air super-fast. In
just a few millionths
of a second, lightning
heats the air to 50,000 degrees F,
hotter than the sun. This causes the
air to expand very quickly. The air
then quickly cools again, causing it
to contract.
When the air expands and
contracts this quickly, it creates a
shock wave that we hear as thunder.
Site to see:
www.education.noaa.gov/students.html
Look in the weather section of your
newspaper. Are storms in the forecast?
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photo by James Minot, courtesy NOAA
Read all about
lightning safety
in
®
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
by Betty Debnam
Appearing in your
newspaper on ____________.
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam
© 2006 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
(Note to Editor: Above is cameraready, one column-by-41/4-inch ad
promoting Issue 25.)
release dates: June 17-23
25-5 (06)
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2006 The MIni Page Publishing Company Inc.
®
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
Standards Spotlight:
Lightning Safety
Mini Page activities meet many state and national educational standards. Each
week we identify standards that relate to The Mini Page’s content and offer
activities that will help your students reach them.
This week’s standards:
• Students understand changes in the Earth and sky. (Earth and Space Science)
• Students understand science and technology. (Science and Technology)
Activities:
1. Cut out newspaper words and pictures about weather. Make a weather collage by
pasting your words and pictures on a large piece of paper.
2. Make a list of five things you like to do. Now think about what you would do if a
thunderstorm suddenly came up while you were doing those things. Next to each
activity on your list, write down the rule that tells you what to do to be safe.
3. Look at the weather map in today’s newspaper. What areas of the country might
face thunderstorms? What areas will be safe?
4. Look at the map and table in today’s Mini Page. How many lightning flashes are
listed for your state? Now look at the states around you. How many had the same
number as your state? How many had more? How many had fewer?
5. Use resource books and the Internet to learn more about lightning and thunder in
mythology and folk tales. How did people in earlier times explain lightning? What
ethnic or cultural folk tales have evolved around lightning and thunder? Make up
your own mythological story about where lightning comes from.
TM
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2006 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
Supersport: Justin Gatlin
Birthdate: 2-10-82 Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.
A few weeks ago, Justin Gatlin was hailed as the “World’s
Fastest Human.” But wait! Not so fast.
After running the 100 meters in 9.76 seconds, Gatlin was
credited with setting the world record. Later, however, officials
detected a mistake in the time and ruled that he tied the mark
held by Jamaica’s Asafa Powell. Still, sharing a world record isn’t
bad.
Gatlin can fly, or so it seems. He won world titles in the 100 and 200 meters
last August and turned into a blur the last 40 yards of the race in May, when he
tied Powell’s record.
Some math-minded expert calculated that Gatlin ran 26 mph. It’s a good thing
the race wasn’t held in a 25 mph school zone, or he might have gotten a ticket for
speeding!
Before hitting the track circuit full-time, Gatlin won six national championships
in sprint events during his two years at the University of Tennessee.
Gatlin, who suffered from attention deficit disorder, is focused on running, and
he brims with confidence. He thinks he can improve his time. Observers know he
doesn’t just talk the talk. Nor does he walk the walk: He runs it — blazing fast.
(standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)
(Note to Editor: Above is the Standards for Issue 25.)
(Note to Editor: Above is copy block for Page 3, Issue 25, to be
used in place of ad if desired.)
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