Who is Marven?!

Marven of the Great North Woods

The Lasky family emigrated from Russia to America in the early 1900‘s. From 1880 - 1930, 3,300,000 emigrated from Russia. People seeking to come from Russia would often make their way to Hamburg, Germany or Rotterdam, Netherlands and board a ship departing for America. Most ships would disembark at Ellis Island, a small island in New York Harbor. It had been designated the first Federal immigration station in 1890.

Minnesota Fun Facts
* Known as the "Land of 10,000 Lakes", Minnesota actually has more than 11,000 lakes 10 acres or bigger. It has 90,000 miles of shoreline, more than California, Florida and Hawaii combined.
* The average snowfall in a Minnesota winter is 58.9 inches.
* Bloomington, MN has the largest shopping mall in America.
*The name 'Minnesota' means cloudy or sky-tinted water from the Dakota language.
*The Northwest Angle at the top of the state is the northernmost point in the continental (excludes Alaska and Hawaii) United States.
*Minnesota is one of the leading producers of milk in the country.
*The first successful open-heart surgery took place at the University of Minnesota in 1952.
*Minnesota inventions include: Masking and Scotch tape, Wheaties cereal, Bisquick, HMOs, the bundt pan, Aveda beauty products, and Green Giant vegetables

Vocabulary Word Game!

Vocab Flashcards

Did you say you wanted to learn another language?

bonjour - hello
derriere -bottom
en retard - late
leve-toi - get up
mon petit - my little one
merci beaucoup - thank you much
au revoir - good bye
Qui es tu?- Who are you?
Quel est ton nom?- What is your name?

Read a Graphic Novel about Lumbering!

Health: Influenza

There was a flu epidemic in Minnesota. An epidemic is an outbreak of a contagious disease that spreads rapidly and widely.

What causes the flu?
The flu is caused by the influenza virus. It is spread from person to person by direct contact (shaking hands), small droplets from sneezes or coughs, contact with objects (hanker chiefs, clothing) that have been in contact with fluid from an infected person's nose or throat.

What are flu symptoms?
Different strains of flu include various symptoms, but the following are the most common:
~fever (usually 100° F to 103° F)
~cough
~sore throat
~runny nose
~headache
~muscle ache

Sometimes diarrhea and vomiting are also symptoms. Most people recover from the flu in 1-2 weeks.

Lots of people get the flu, but what do you do?
~Drink lots of liquids, like water, chicken broth, and other fluids.
~Get plenty of sleep. If you can't sleep anymore, keep resting. Listen to music, watch a movie, or read a book or magazine.
~Wear layers. You might be cold one minute and hot the next, so if you wear plenty of layers you can pull your favorite sweatshirt on and off.
~Wash your hands! You don't want to spread the germs that cause the flu. Don't share cups and eating utensils, like forks and spoons, with anyone.

It's important to let someone know if you have trouble breathing, your muscles really hurt, you feel confused, or if you start feeling worse at any time.

The Flu Germs

Chicken Jokes
Marven doesn't want his dad to tell the chicken joke again. I wonder which one he was referring to...

Q: Why did the chicken cross the park???
A: To get to the other slide!

Q: Why did the chicken cross the basketball court ?
A: He heard the referee calling fowls!

Q: Why did the turkey cross the road ?
A: To prove he wasn't chicken!

Q: Why didn't the chicken skeleton cross the road ?
A: Because he didn't have enough guts!

Q: What do chicken families do on Saturday afternoon?
A: They go on peck-nics!

Q: What do you call a rooster who wakes you up at the same time every
morning?
A: An alarm cluck!

Q: Why don't chickens like people?
A: They beat eggs!