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A LEARNING LINK TO NORTON SIMON MUSEUM
When you think of Holland, what springs to mind? Maybe you imagine tulips, windmills, canals, or klompen (wooden shoes). Perhaps you have eaten the delicious cheese which is produced in this European country. The dairy industry has played an important role in Holland's economy so it should come as no surprise to find cows featured in paintings by Dutch artists.
A LEARNING LINK TO LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARY
Reading is a hobby that you can do at all times of the day. Keep a book close at hand when you are standing in line, waiting in the doctor's office or kicking back on a lazy afternoon. "The Earth Dragon Awakes," by Laurence Yep tells the story of the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 from the viewpoint of two boys, Henry and Chin. In his book, Yep combines scientific fact with an engaging story. Although the characters are fictional, the situations surrounding the earthquake and fire are based on true accounts.
A LEARNING LINK TO SPACE PLACE
Summer's coming. You're looking forward to playing outside on warm, sunny days. But some days are so hot the only way to be outside is under a big shade tree. Why does shade make you feel cooler? Since air is moving all around you, and the air is all about the same temperature, why should it matter whether you are in the shade or not?
A LEARNING LINK TO LOS ANGELES CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
Do you have rhythm? If so, try making your very own kettledrum. Here's what to do.
A LEARNING LINK TO NORTON SIMON MUSEUM
At first glance, this painting may appear to be a jumble of shapes, lines and color, but if you look carefully, you may notice several recognizable objects. What do you see? The title of the painting is "The Traveler" by the Russian artist Liubov Popova. Can you spot the traveler? Click on the image and look carefully at the center of the artwork and you will find an image of a woman seated. Can you discover her shirt collar, a curve suggesting her hair, an umbrella she grips with her fingers and the rolled arm of the chair in which she sits? Glimpses of a railing and a flag suggest the scenery through which she passes in her travels.
A LEARNING LINK TO ORANGE COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART
Have you ever tried finger painting? Did you know that some famous artists also use their hands to make art? Chuck Close used his own thumbprint to create this portrait of his wife, Leslie. That's correct; the image below is not a photograph! Look closely -- it is actually made of hundreds of thumbprints.
A LEARNING LINK TO LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARY
Where would children be without the stories of Hans Christian Andersen, the brilliant Danish author who was born on April 2, 1805? "The Ugly Duckling," "The Little Mermaid," "The Emperor's New Clothes" and "The Princess and the Pea" are so much a part of our literary experience that we often think of them as traditional folk tales. But, these are original stories written by a man who was raised on superstitions and great literature. This combination sparked Andersen's imagination to produce lasting tales that have been read aloud, acted out and made into ballets and movies.
ESSAY WINNERS
High school students in Los Angeles County with an interest in music, costume and lighting design, theater, storytelling, performance or visual art, were invited to write an essay on "Why I Want to Attend the Opera." Winners were awarded tickets for themselves and a guardian to attend four LA Opera productions. They will also get exclusive backstage tours and recitals. There were 50 winning contest answers. Here are three of them.
A LEARNING LINK TO ART CENTER FOR KIDS
Advertising is not just about selling products or influencing behavior. It's also about communicating a message in a clear, interesting and persuasive manner. Advertising is a big part of our visual landscape – from advertising in newspapers, magazines and billboards to television commercials, posters and ads on the internet.
A LEARNING LINK TO SPACE PLACE
Birds eat worms. Everybody knows that! But have you ever seen a bird eating a worm? Probably not. Even though at this very moment, millions of birds are eating millions of worms, it's hard to catch a birdy breakfast in the act.
A LEARNING LINK TO THE LOS ANGELES PUBLIC LIBRARY
Storytelling is a beloved custom in Ireland. Especially popular are tales about the fairies that are said to live there. A word of caution though: if you ever encounter any, be careful what you call them. According to "Children & Books" by Zena Sutherland, they like to be called "the little people," "the wee folk" or "the good people," but never fairies!
A LEARNING LINK TO ART CENTER FOR KIDS
Everybody has a face, but did you know that a clock and a playing card both have a face and so do the sun and moon? When an artist renders a picture of someone's face it's called a portrait, and portraits can be created in many different ways. Artists sometimes do self-portraits. One way to do a self-portrait is to look in a mirror and try to draw your face.
A LEARNING LINK TO CATALINA ISLAND CONSERVANCY
Some plants need fire so that they can grow. For people who have had a personal encounter with fire, their experiences may have been negative. But not all encounters are bad.
A LEARNING LINK TO BALLONA WETLANDS
If you visit the Ballona Wetlands in Playa del Rey, you will see many different types of birds. Some birds are very tall, and some are very small. The great blue heron is a big bird, standing five feet tall. If you were to see one, you might notice it has very long features: long legs, a long beak, and a long neck.
A LEARNING LINK TO UCLA
People can learn a lot about themselves by studying insects. This is true for the several species of paper wasps found in the Los Angeles area. Dr. Aviva Liebert, a biology teacher at City College of San Francisco who studies these wasps says, "Their society balances cooperation and conflict." She tells of wasps who work together to build a home and defend and care for the offspring in their nests.
A LEARNING LINK TO CATALINA ISLAND CONSERVANCY
Have you ever thought about what living things need every day to stay healthy? Animals need oxygen and plants need carbon dioxide, but there are other things that all living things need. They are called the four components of habitat.