02-1 (05)
release dates: January 8-14
TM
TM
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
© 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
By BETTY DEBNAM
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
The Nation’s Capital
Washington, D.C., is the capital of
the United States. It is home to the
three branches of our national
government: the executive, legislative
and judicial. Many government
agencies, such as the FBI and IRS, are
also there.
Government and tourism are the
city’s two biggest sources of income. It
is a beautiful city with many parks,
monuments and wide avenues.
George Washington chose the exact
site for this new capital. It was created
from parts of Virginia and Maryland.
It became the capital in 1800.
It was called the District of
Columbia after explorer Christopher
Columbus. But people soon started
calling it “the City of Washington.”
It is the only city in the country
that is not part of a state. It has its
own mayor and city council, but is
under the control of Congress.
It has a population of about
565,000.
photo courtesy National Park Service
Washington, D.C., From A to Z
The
Smithsonian’s
National Air
and Space
Museum is the
most popular
museum in the world. Its exhibits
range from the Wright Brothers’ plane
to spaceships.
The U.S. Botanic
Garden and the National
Arboretum offer beautiful
views of nature.
The U.S. Capitol is
where the U.S. Senate and House of
Representatives meet. It is the center
of the city, and all the
main streets end at
that point.
The White
House, at 1600
Pennsylvania
Ave., is the
home of the
president of
the United
States, and a
worldwide
symbol of
democracy.
The Declaration of
Independence and the
U.S. Constitution are two
of millions of government
documents at the National Archives.
The Easter Egg Roll at
the White House attracts
thousands of children and
their parents each year on
the Monday after Easter.
Ford’s Theater is
where Abraham Lincoln
was shot while attending
a play.
Great art can
be seen in several
public galleries, such as the National
Gallery of Art, the National Museum
of African Art and the National
Museum of the American Indian.
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02-2 (05); release dates: January 8-14
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
Some Famous Washingtonians
These two men helped build
the nation’s capital.
Pierre L’Enfant
Pierre L’Enfant
(pea-AIR lohnFOHN) created the
main design for
Washington, D.C.
Pierre L’Enfant
After a disagreement (1754-1825)
with President Washington, he was
fired before the project was finished,
but many of his plans for the city
were used.
He was born in Paris and came to
America to serve as a military
engineer in the Revolutionary War.
Benjamin Banneker
Benjamin Banneker,
an astronomer and
mathematician, is best
known for his work
surveying the site for
Benjamin
Washington, D.C.
Banneker
He was born near
(1731-1806)
Baltimore, Md. His grandfather was
a slave and his grandmother a maid from
England. His father was also a slave.
His grandmother taught him to
read and write, and he learned some
math in school. But he was mostly
self-taught in math and science.
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
Mini Spy . . .
John Philip Sousa
Duke Ellington
John Philip
Sousa is best
known for his
compositions for
the marching
band. He also
wrote many other
kinds of music,
including classical. John Philip Sousa
(1854-1932)
He was born in
Washington, D.C. His father played
in the United States Marine Band
stationed there.
Sousa went to a special school for
musicians and learned to play many
instruments. His favorite was the
violin.
When he was a teenager, he joined
the Marine Band as an apprentice.
He later toured the country with
several orchestras.
In 1880 he rejoined the Marine
Band as its leader. He began
composing music for this band. The
Marine Band and John Philip Sousa
became famous when their music
was recorded for some of the first
phonograph players.
Some of his most famous
compositions include “Semper Fidelis”
and “The Washington Post March.”
Duke Ellington
was one of
America’s most
famous composers.
Although he is
best known for his
jazz music, he also
composed religious
and classical music Duke Ellington
(1899-1974)
and movie scores.
Edward Kennedy Ellington was
born in Washington, D.C. Both his
parents played the piano. He began
taking piano lessons when he was 7.
When he was about 25, he moved
to New York City to join a band, the
Washingtonians. He got the
nickname “Duke” because he was
always dressed so elegantly.
He became the leader of the band,
and it later grew to become the Ellington
Orchestra. He composed much music
for this group. Some of his most famous
pieces include “Mood Indigo,”
“Sophisticated Lady,” “Take the ATrain” and “Black, Brown and Beige.”
He later toured Europe. Many of
these tours were sponsored by the U.S.
State Department. He was awarded
the Presidential Medal of Freedom
in 1969.
TM
Mini Spy is visiting one of the Smithsonian’s museums.
See if you can find: • lima bean • ladder • ruler • spoon
• word MINI
• letter B
• umbrella
• bell • lion
• safety pin
• acorn
• knife
• letter D
• squirrel
• mushroom
• candy cane
• exclamation
mark
Brown
Basset ws
The Ned’s
Houn
TM
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
Washington, D.C.
TRY ’N
FIND
Words that remind us of Washington, D.C., are hidden in the block
below. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally. See if you
can find: DISTRICT, COLUMBIA, WHITE, HOUSE, PRESIDENT,
GOVERNMENT, CONGRESS, SMITHSONIAN, ART, SPY,
MEMORIALS, MONUMENTS, METRO, MALL, POTOMAC, ROSE,
CHERRY, COURT, ZOO.
P R E S I D E N T H O U S E C
THERE’S A LOT C W H I T E H C A M O T O P H
TO SEE IN D.C.!
M O Z S T N E M U N O M L D E
A A U O V D I S T R I C T V R
R M L R O M C O L U M B I A R
T D L L T N S S E R G N O C Y
K Y P S S L A I R O M E M U L
O R T E M T N E M N R E V O G
N A I N O S H T I M S E S O R
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®
02-3 (05); release dates: January 8-14
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
TM
Go dot to dot and color this sight to see in the lobby of
the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.
You’ll need:
Rookie Cookie’s Recipe
Microwave Beefy Pie
• 11/2 pounds lean ground beef
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1 (10-ounce can) mushroom soup • 1 (10-ounce can) refrigerated
• 1/2 cup sour cream
biscuits
What to do:
1. Cook beef on the stove over medium heat until browned.
2. Add the onion and cook for 5 more minutes. Drain the fat.
3. Pour beef and onions into a 2-quart casserole dish.
4. Add the mushroom soup, sour cream, milk and ketchup. Stir well.
5. Cook in microwave oven on high for 5 minutes.
6. Remove from microwave. Halve the biscuits, placing them on top
of the meat mixture.
7. Cook in microwave on high for 5 more minutes.
8. If needed, ask your mom to place the dish under broiler in oven
for 3 minutes until biscuits brown.
Note: You will need an adult to help with this recipe.
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
Fox photo
Meet Kenan Thompson
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
Rookie Cookie Cookbook
Easy, everyday recipes designed especially for kids!
• soups
• salads
• sandwiches
• breads
• beverages
Ingredients:
1) Step-by-step
directions
2) Measuring tips
3) Utensil guide
4) Cooking terms
5) How to set a table
6) Table manners guide
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
The Mini Page
• snacks
Kenan Thompson is an actor who plays the
star, Fat Albert, in the new “Fat Albert” movie. It
is based on a 1970s cartoon, “Fat Albert and the
Cosby Kids,” about kids growing up in a
Philadelphia neighborhood. It was created by Bill
Cosby about his experiences as a boy.
Kenan was 5 when he had his first acting role in the play
“The Gingerbread Man.” He went on to attend the Alliance
Theatre School in his hometown of Atlanta. By age 12, he had
an agent. His first movie role was Russ in “D2: The Mighty
Ducks.” Later he played a part on the Nickelodeon show “All
That,” followed by his own Nick comedy show, “Kenan and Kel.”
Kenan has an older brother and younger sister. His
favorite foods are chicken and pizza. He likes video games
and sports. He currently divides his time between houses in
New York City and Los Angeles, but still considers Atlanta
his “home.”
• casseroles
• main
dishes
• microwave
dishes
• desserts
Encourages kids to read and follow directions!
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Please send ______ copies of The Mini Page Rookie Cookie Cookbook (Item #4206-8) at $13.20 each,
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City: _______________________________________________ State: _________ Zip: __________
TM
All of the following jokes have something in common.
Can you guess the common theme or category?
Irene: What did Noah say to his son
when he went fishing?
Troy: “Use the bait wisely; we only have
two worms!”
Greg: Why did the worm decide to sleep
late?
Trudie: It didn’t want to get caught by
the early bird!
Mike: What did one worm say to the other
when they got stuck behind the furnace?
Everett: “It’s a little worm in here, isn’t it?”
Please include all of the appropriate registered trademark symbols and copyright lines in any publication of The Mini Page®.
®
02-4 (05); release dates: January 8-14
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
More About Washington, D.C.
The U.S.
Holocaust Memorial
Museum honors the
victims of Nazi persecution.
The International
Spy Museum features
the history of espionage.
The Jefferson
Memorial
overlooks the Tidal Basin, a large
pool. It honors Thomas Jefferson, the
third president of the United States.
The Kennedy
Center is one
of the world’s top centers for the
performing arts, and home of the
National Symphony, the National Opera
and the American Film Institute.
The Library of
Congress is the
biggest library in the
world. It has more
than 100 million items, including
about 26 million books, and maps,
photographs, sheet music,
instruments, recordings and movies.
The Lincoln
Memorial
honors our 16th
president and is also a monument to
civil rights.
The Metro is the area’s
subway system. Some of the escalators
leading from the subway to the
street are the tallest in the world,
stretching as high as 230 feet.
The National Mall is a long
park area where most of the
Smithsonian museums are located.
The Mall is a straight path from
the Capitol to the Lincoln
Memorial.
The Original Kermit
the Frog, the flag that
was the inspiration for
our national anthem, and
Dorothy’s ruby slippers are some of
the items at the Smithsonian’s
National Museum of American History.
The Potomac River
forms part of D.C.’s
border, and the Anacostia
River flows through part of
the city.
High-Quality gems
such as the Hope Diamond
attract millions of visitors to
the Smithsonian’s National Museum
of Natural History.
The American
Beauty Rose is the
official flower of the
district.
The Smithsonian
cares for millions of
scientific, historical,
cultural and artistic items. Its
museums have so many items that
only about 1 percent of its objects
can be displayed at one time.
Thousands of cherry
Trees brighten the city
in spring. The official
tree is the scarlet oak.
The U.S. Supreme
Court decides
whether laws in
the country follow
the Constitution.
Look through your newspaper for stories
and pictures about news events in
Washington, D.C.
Next week The Mini Page is all about the
president’s job.
The Vietnam
Veterans Memorial
honors Americans who
gave their lives in that
war. It is the most visited monument
in D.C. Other war memorials include
the Korean War Veterans Memorial
and the World War II Memorial.
The Washington
Monument is the tallest
structure in D.C., at more
than 555 feet tall. Every
March the Smithsonian
hosts a kite festival on
the monument grounds.
The Wood
thrush is the official
bird.
The
eXtraordinary
beauty of the
stained glass
windows and
arched ceiling inspire
reverence at the National Cathedral.
The amazing gargoyles on the
outside range from a dragon
skeleton to Darth Vader.
The Years of President
Franklin Delano
Roosevelt’s
presidency
stretched from
the Great Depression through most
of World War II, from 1933 to 1945.
He is honored by a monument on
the Mall.
The
National
Zoo is part
of the
Smithsonian.
It has more than 4,000 animals,
including two pandas.
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photo courtesy National Park Service
Read all about
Washington, D.C.
in
®
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
by Betty Debnam
Appearing in your
newspaper on ____________.
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam
© 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
(Note to Editor: Above is cameraready, one column-by-41/4-inch ad
promoting Issue 2.)
release dates: January 8-14
02-5 (05)
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The MIni Page Publishing Company Inc.
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate
TM
Standards Spotlight:
Washington, D.C. From A to Z
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 the interactions of people and their physical environment. (Social
Studies: People, Places and Environments)
• Students recognize national and state symbols and traditions, such as flags, seals and
holidays. (Social Studies: Civics)
Activities:
1. Design a travel poster encouraging people to visit Washington, D.C.
2. Find newspaper stories about events in Washington, D.C. Circle any words that indicate
where the news took place. What major places did you find? Why are those locations
important?
3. Write the letters C-A-P-I-T-A-L down the side of a piece of paper. Now finds words in the
newspaper that begin with those letters. Paste the words next the correct letter. (For
example, you might find the word “Congress” and paste it next to the “C.”
4. Where would you go in Washington, D.C., if you wanted to (a) see something beautiful,
(b) learn something about the government, (c) be entertained, and (d) learn about famous
people?
5. Use resource books and the Internet to learn more about Pierre L’Enfant, the man who
designed Washington, D.C. Use these questions to guide your research: Who was L’Enfant?
Why was he selected to design the capital? What was his idea to begin the design for the
city? How much of his original plan remains? What do you think was good about the plan?
What don't you like about the plan?
(standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)
(Note to Editor: Above is the Standards for Issue 2.)
from The Mini Page by Betty Debnam © 2005 The Mini Page Publishing Company Inc.
Supersport: Kevin Garnett
photo by David Sherman/
NBAE via Getty Images
®
Height: 6-11
Birthdate: 5-19-76
Weight: 240
Hometown: Mauldin, S.C.
Folks in Minnesota can count on at least two things each
winter: sparkling snow and glittering basketball
performances by Kevin Garnett.
Last season Garnett averaged 24.2 points and 13.9 rebounds for the
Minnesota Timberwolves. He was voted the NBA’s Most Valuable Player
and earned a spot on the league All-Star team for the sixth time.
Athletically speaking, “KG” grew up fast. He went straight to the
NBA from Farragut Academy High School in Illinois in the mid-1990s.
In addition to leading the ’Wolves, he helped the U.S. win a gold medal
in the 2000 Olympics. He also played legendary Wilt Chamberlain in the
basketball movie “Rebound.”
Garnett gets some of his energy from his favorite foods of hamburger,
French fries and pizza. A noted team player and “good guy,” KG also
uses some of his boundless energy by contributing to the Minnesota
community.
(Note to Editor: Above is copy block for Page 3, Issue 2, to be used
in place of ad if desired.)
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