MidLink Magazine: Winter Issue

Feature Articles

Electronic Peace Cards:

MidLink Magazine wishes you all of the peace and joy of this season. Join our celebration of hope and peace as you view Electronic Peace Cards from kids all over the world. Then you can send in one of your own.

Don't miss the Holiday Links for ALL of the holidays we could think of. If you can think of some we missed, please write to us and tell us about them.



Beautiful Virtual Valentines!

Join us for some HEARTWARMING activities. This section includes a fieldtrip through a beating heart at the Franklin Institute of Science!


Ongoing Articles:

These articles will remain active throughout the school year.

The BALDRIGE Sets Sail!

Editors: Matt Vepraskas and Mac Young
*****ATTENTION*****
Captain Nelson came to Ligon Middle School in Raleigh, NC on January 30, 1996! WE met him personally in our February CU-SeeMe teleconference. Details are here.

You got NEW Mail! Do ORCAS have ear wax? Read your mail to find out about it.

It's time to breathe some of that fresh salt air as we set sail aboard the NOAA's largest research vessel, the MALCOLM BALDRIGE! We will be following the adventures of this *real* ship on a *real* voyage around the world. Captain Craig Nelson and his crew will be studying problems that cause the greenhouse effect and climate changes that will affect all citizens of the earth. They are also looking for new species of fish. See Where they are NOW! If you have "Forms Support" on your Web Browser, you can even write to the captain and crew to ask about their progress. And get this: your message will bounce off a satellite!

Don't miss this Mail Call from last spring ==>>> Spring Mail Call From the BALDRIGE! : Kids just like YOU have been wondering about what goes on out at sea. Has the crew seen any whales? Have they found any pollution? What kind of sea birds have they found? Read the answers to these questions and many more, and then write Captain Nelson some questions of your own. You could even make up your own project, and we'll post it here in MidLink Magazine!

Read all about El Nino at this NOAA Web Site. You can even see where El Nino is at this very moment! There are maps, charts, realtime data, and much more here. Don't miss the fun at this site.


Best Web Sites

These are some of our favorite places to surf the net. Some are funny, some provide information, and some are just plain silly. We make no apologies...We just like 'em :-) This is not an attempt at a comprehensive list. These were picked by kids!


Blast Off With Kids On the MOON

Kids at Immaculate Conception School in Somerville, New Jersey, invite you to join them on their adventure in space. This project will provide simple weekly science activities with results posted in MidLink Magazine. Don't miss the Blast Off!
You can start now by taking our SURVEY. Kids, be sure to tell your teachers about this project. It's *easy*!
Look at the RESULTS of our project so far !


Take a Breath of Fresh Air with MidLink Magazine !

Will there be any fresh air to breathe when we get to high school?? Students in Pretoria, South Africa, want to find out!
For the last 2 months, students all over the world have used MidLink's forms to enter data about fresh air in their neighborhoods. South African students are now tabulating the results, and we will post them here SOON! Check back in a few days to see how polluted...or how CLEAN...the air is in neighborhoods all over the world.
The creative scientists who created this project won 1st prize at an EXPO! Way to go!


Cells, Virtual Cells!

Are you studying CELLS in science class? You'll love these Cell Projects from Orlando. You're invited to draw a cell of your very own and mail it to MidLink Magazine using these simple mailing instructions..


Character Counts!

Editors: Steven Tam and Kelly Parrish
Most of us can think of people we admire because of their high moral character, their honesty, or trustworthiness. We ask you to share your heroes and heroines with MidLink readers. Your hero can be famous, or he might even live in your very own house! Write to us and tell us about the person you admire. We'll make your heroes famous by posting the letters right here! Wonder who kids admire in Japan? Australia? Sweden? Check here next month to read all about it.
Read about the People of Character at Ligon Middle School. These Raleigh, North Carolina, kids wrote about some terrific role models.
An entire class from Greenwood, Missouri, sent in stories about their favorite people of good character! What a group!
**New Mail** from YOU! See letters from our readers about People of Character in their neighborhoods.


Cool-School Home Pages

These schools not only contribute to MidLink Magazine, but they have also created their own terrific home pages. You'll enjoy your visit to each and every one. Find out what other middle schools are doing with their web sites. Join one of our projects, and we will add your school's home page to our growing list of excellent sites.


Creative Cuisine:
Recipes Revisited!

Do you have a favorite family recipe to share? This project from Ligon Middle School in Raleigh, NC, will tickle your taste buds. You can participate by e-mail directly from these pages.


Currency Comparison/Conversion Project

Hey there, all you MATH lovers! Do you still do your currency conversion problems the old fashioned way? Well, check out this Australian project. They provide a real-time Currency Converter that tells you the value of your currency as compared to others in the world. While you're there, you can add your own data to their project. They want to know how much a hamburger and fries costs in your neighborhood.


Desert and Desertification

Students at the High School for Environmental Studies in Israel created this successful project last year. This is an official Kidlink Project and involves students all over the world. Teachers, David Lloyd and Hannah Sivan, invite you to join their study of the desert. Be sure to look at the results from last year and sign up for this year's project. We will point to the results in MidLink Magazine.


Design an Alien

Join students at Highland Middle School in Libertyville, Illinois, as they design their own ALIENS! You can take this project any way you like. You might want to create an alien that could *really* survive on the planet of your choice. How would he look? Why? Hey, science and language arts teachers, this is a great interdisciplinary project! Check here next month to see all the creatures we create...and congratulations to Mark Mueller, Computer Teacher, for the terrific project idea.


Electronic Portfolios

This page caused so much excitement last spring, we wanted to continue it this year. What happens when you put together kids, computers, the Internet, and a research assignment? Students create Electronic Portfolios that may change the meaning of the word "report" forever! This page will be updated regularly as research is completed.
**NOTE**If you are preparing your own portfolios, please share them with our readers.


Environmental Issues

If you would like to help preserve our environment, be sure to check out this project by kids at Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii. They are gathering data about environmental issues all over the world. It's easy to join this project by e-mail. We will post the results here. Help them preserve their island home and maybe *your* home, too!


International Book Fair

Editors: Jessica McLawhorn and Kate Caldwell
  • What should you read for that next book report? Here are some cool suggestions from readers all over the world. You can even enter your *own* book review here! Students at Vitebsk School 37 in Vitebsk, Belarus, started this project last year. They want to share their favorite books with you!

  • NEW!! Since this project began last spring, kids from all over the world have been joining the book fair. In this project, kids--and teachers, too!--tell you about their favorite books.

  • Some kids get all *wired up* about books! The NEW Book Raves by kids at Discovery Middle School will get you excited, too!

  • Don't miss the READER'S CORNER! This is another page full of book reviews written by kids like YOU. Read all about it!

    Want to know the *best* part? YOU can send in your own book reviews from the pages of MidLink! Watch this section as it...
    G R O W S!!

  • Global Rivers Project

    Kathy Jo Mathison, teacher at First Colony Middle School in SugarLand, Texas, has a classroom full of students who want to know all about rivers in your home town. They have set up a beautiful data base of information about Texas rivers and other rivers...well, just about everywhere. Write to Kathy Jo to find out how you can join this project!


    Global Skylines

    This page is from our *very* first issue on September 19, 1994, but it keeps growing. This month you can see the beautiful skyline of New skylines include Lysekil, Sweden, Hamilton, Ohio!. Take a virtual tour of the homes of MidLink Magazine kids. Shouldn't *your* city's skyline be here?


    Surf the 'Net with MidLink Magazine

    More and more students are beginning to research, read, and write using the Internet and the World Wide Web. Armed with an electronic tool box of computer skills, classes all over the world are producing a variety of Electronic Portfolios. If you want to add your site to this growing list, just write to MidLink Magazine, and we will post or point to your handiwork. (This is a great place to get ideas for your own Web projects.)


    The "Write" Spot!

    This section contains fantastic stories written by kids just like YOU. You'll find science fiction stories and some terrific jokes in the LaughLink section. These are guaranteed to tickle your electronic funny bone. You can even submit your very own story right on the pages of MidLink Magazine!

    You won't want to miss the Interactive story of Litestar and his holographic adventures. You can add your own chapter to the story if you have "Forms Support". This fine project was started by kids at Welford and Wickham Primary School in Berkshire, England.


    How Can YOU Participate in MidLink Magazine?


    Caroline McCullen, Ligon GT Magnet Middle School, Raleigh, North Carolina. Send questions or comments to Caroline_McCullen@ncsu.edu

    Last Revision: February 18, 1996