English:  hibernationFrench:   hibernationSpanish:  hibernaciónGerman: WinterschlafItalian:    letargoArabic:   alsubat alshitwiu السبات الشتويChinese: Dōngmián 冬眠

Hibernation(Hi-ber-nay-shun)A slowing down process that some animals use to survive the cold, dark winter months. They stay in their burrows or dens and rest. Their heart rate and breathing slow down and their body temperature lowers so they use less energy. Bears and groundhogs are two of the animals that hibernate in winter.James liked the […]

In the United States and Canada, Groundhog Day occurs on February 2. It is a yearly tradition that predicts, with the help of a groundhog, if spring will be warm and pleasant or cold and yucky.It’s important to know something about the four seasons here in North America.  It will help explain why Groundhog Day […]

English:  lunarFrench:   lunaireSpanish:  lunarGerman:   MondItalian:  lunareArabic:   qamari قمريChinese:  Yuèqiú 月球

AristocratSomeone from the ruling class, usually those with nobility, money, or both.May always drank tea with her little finger sticking out, pretending to be an aristocrat.

Mozart, who wrote some of the world’s most beautiful music, is about to have a birthday. On January 27 he will be 267 years old. Or would be if he were alive. He died in 1791.In his name, the z has a ts sound, so Mozart rhymes with  ‘notes art’. We say Mozart, and everyone […]

Lunar(Rhymes with sooner)Involving, caused by, or affecting the moon.Leslie got a telescope for her birthday. She aimed it at the Moon and looked at craters on the lunar surface.

A New Year’s Reunion By Yu Li-Qiong  Illustrated by Zhu Cheng-Liang This realistic fiction picture books illustrates a contemporary lifestyle that is supposedly nontraditional yet common for many families in China where family members live apart due to job conditions and meet one or two times a year during national holidays. New Year’s Day, as […]

For many people, the Chinese, for example, January 22 of this year is New Year’s Day. Why? Because of the type of calendar they use.The calendar we use is based on the time it takes the Earth to circle the Sun. That time (365 days) is divided into 12 month. Sol is another name for […]