Achievements by Kids

You always read and hear about adult achievements, but what about achievements made by the kids? Kids are creative; they think beyond normal boundaries, and baffle even the most intelligent adults with their interesting observations. Want to share your bold new ideas with others or find out ways kids are making the world a better place? Visit these links on the Times Launch Point Web site, https://www.latimes.com/launchpoint/

Level 1

GreatKids Network: You are invited to a celebration of great kids. Visit “Stars” to meet kids who really shine in their families and communities. Read the cartoon adventures of the GreatKid Supreme. Or click on “Speak Up” to join bulletin board discussions with kids from around the country.

https://www.greatkids.com/

Meet Cool People: Discover what you can do to create positive changes in your community. Five-year-old Emily attended town meetings and helped rebuild a neighborhood playground. Read about the achievements of other cool kids by visiting the “Kids Who Care” link.

https://www.hud.gov/kids/people.html

Think Quest Junior 1999 Finalists: Pack your snorkel and fins, and get ready for the interactive “Adventures of Lilo the Green Sea Turtle.” This is just one of the many innovative instructional projects you can visit created by teams of students in grades 4 to 6.

https://www.thinkquest.org/library/tqjr99_finalists.html

Level 2

Amazing Kids! Whether it’s the PAL Peer Leaders of Orange County or the Project Earth students of Monterey Park, there are many kids performing amazing feats, and here’s the place to read about them. Submit stories of the inspiring kids you know or share your own amazing talents by sending in your art and literary masterpieces.

https://www.amazing-kids.org/

Young Inventor Home Pages: Can you imagine moving into an inflatable house? And then asking your robot “Dog Walker” to take Fido for a stroll? Check out this Web site for crazy, practical and awe-inspiring inventions by kids.

https://inventors.miningco.com/msub11hp.htm

International Youth Hall of Fame: The International Youth Hall of Fame honors ordinary youth for being extraordinary. Read about Von Lam, who created a birthday club and arranged special birthday parties for patients at a children’s hospital. Click on “meet honorees” for more stories.

https://www.youthhall.com/

Level 3

Think Quest: Imagine transforming your own classroom project into an award-winning Web site! Browse the “Library of Entries” and explore what students around the world are doing and creating on the Internet.

https://www.thinkquest.org/tq/index.shtml

The 17th Annual Duracell/NSTA Scholarship Competition: How would you invent an electric soda can opener? Or a computer anti-theft system? These are just a few of the innovations created by youth when they “powered their imaginations.”

https://www.nsta.org/programs/duracell

Arts Recognition and Talent Search: Calling all high school seniors 17 or 18 years of age. You are eligible to participate in the ARTS Program, which recognizes high school artists with outstanding talent in dance, photography, theater, jazz, music, voice, visual arts or writing.

https://www.nfaa.org/arts.html

EXPLORER’S QUEST

The answer to this Internet quiz can be found in the sites at right.

What can you do to help the homeless?

CLUE: Use the Meet Cool People Web site.

Find What You Need to Know: Have a project on California history? Need help doing a math problem? Launch Point now covers more than 80 topics for getting your schoolwork done. Go to https://www.latimes.com/launchpoint/ for the full list of subjects and direct links to the best Internet sites.

Explorer’s Quest

Answer to last week’s Quest: Some 49ers paid $1, $5, even $100 for a precious glass of water on the California trail.

Launch Point is produced by the UC Irvine department of education, which reviews each site for appropriateness and quality. Even so, parents should supervise their children’s use of the Internet. This column was designed by Shelley Rutkoske, Candace Logan, Adrina Memley Griffin, Ronni Rowland and Anna Manring.