The Hoof
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Volume 12, Issue 1 · Quarterly Newsletter · Spring 2011
Da Xiong Mao
Make Those Wishes Come True
When you wish you had a new video game, do you beg a
parent, who keeps saying “no”? When you want more LEGOs, do
you have to hope you will get them for your birthday? Wouldn’t it
be great if you could get what you wanted?
You can make many of your wishes come
true. You can do it if you budget your money.
Here is how it works. Find out how much
your wish costs—say you want a video game
that costs $40. Then when you get money as
a gift or from an allowance or doing extra
chores, don’t spend it all. Put some or all of it
aside in your share account. If you save $5 a
week, you can buy the game in two months.
Does that seem too long? Save $10 a week by not buying soda
and candy, and it will take you just four weeks. A budget is a way
to plan your spending and saving to make your wishes come true.
Make a Bank
What You Will Need
· Square tissue box
· Small Jello or pudding box
· Construction paper
What animal is black and white and
loved all over the world? A giant
panda. In China the giant panda is
known as da xiong mao, the
“large bear cat.” It is the symbol of
peace in China. In the wild, they are
only found in the mountains of central
China. And, they are among the rarest mammals in the world—
there are probably about 1,600 giant pandas left in the wild.
Unlike the black bear, giant pandas do not hibernate and cannot
walk on their hind legs. Did you know that pandas have skin of two
different colors? The skin under the dark fur is dark, and the skin
under the white fur is pink. They also have unique front paws. Their
paws have five clawed fingers plus an extra bone that works like an
opposable thumb. This “thumb” is not really a finger (like our thumb
is). It is really an extra-long wrist bone that works like a thumb. This
enables them to grasp stalks of bamboo. And, the giant panda is
quite different from other bears. Most bears’ eyes have round pupils
but the giant panda’s pupils are vertical slits, like cats’ eyes.
Panda cubs are small, white, blind, furless, and helpless at birth. A
newborn panda is the size of a stick of butter, and they weigh four
to six ounces as newborns. A grown giant panda eats about 40
pounds of food each day.
One of a Kind Animal Facts
1. Elephants are the only mammals that can’t jump and the only
mammal with four knees.
· Wooden balls (4)
· Acrylic paints and markers
· Scissors and glue
2. The humming bird is the only bird that can fly backwards.
3. Bats are the only mammals that can fly (without a plane).
4. Sea horses all have a prehensile tail. This allows the fish to hold
on to objects such as sea grass.
How to Make
· Glue a piece of construction paper over the hole in the tissue
box. This side will be the top.
· Glue the Jello box to the tissue box.
· To make the feet, glue the wooden balls to the bottom of the
tissue box.
· Paint your bank the color you want it to be. When paint is dry,
cut a coin slot in the top of the bank. Cut out ears and glue to the
back of the Jello box. Cut out two circles for the eyes. Using your
markers, detail the nose and eyes.
9. Silks are produced by several other insects, but only the silk of
moth caterpillars is for textile manufacturing.
Have fun decorating your bank with markers or other ways. And,
don’t forget to add money to your bank!
10. The bloodhound is the only animal whose evidence is
admissible in a U.S. court.
5. The reindeer, also known as the caribou in North America,
is the only female animal with antlers.
6. Honeybees are the only insects that produce food for humans.
7. The duckbill platypus (male) is the only
venomous mammal in the world. It has
poison glands near the thighs.
8. The owl is the only bird to drop its upper eyelid to wink.
PRESORT
FIRST CLASS
US POSTAGE
PAID
BANGOR, ME
PERMIT NO.112
Maine Family Federal Credit Union
555 Sabattus Street
Lewiston, Maine 04240
✄
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
March 2 . . . Dr. Suess Day
Color and bring in the enclosed
Easter coloring page by April 22.
Be sure to put your name and phone
number on your picture to enter the
drawing to win a free prize.
May 8. . . . . Mothers Day
March 4 . . . National Grammar Day
March 6 . . . National Frozen Food
Day
March 10 . . International Day of
Awesomeness
March 14 . . National Potato Chip
Day
March 16 . . Everything You Do Is
Right Day
April 1 . . . . April Fools Day
April 2 . . . . National Peanut Butter
and Jelly Day
April 7 . . . . No Housework Day
April 12 . . . Look Up at the Sky Day
March 17 . . St. Patrick’s Day
April 22 . . . National Jelly Bean Day
March 26 . . Make Up Your Own
Holiday Day
April 23 . . . Talk Like Shakespeare
Day
April 24 . . . Easter
April 27 . . . Tell a Story Day
May 9. . . . . Lost Sock Memorial
Day
May 10. . . . Clean Up Your Room
Day
May 14. . . . National Dance Like
a Chicken Day
May 25. . . . Cookie Monster’s
Birthday
May 28. . . . National Hamburger
Day
May 30. . . . Memorial Day
(Credit Union Closed)
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