WHYY for Kids

It's ZOOM time!

If you dislike that your children "veg out" in front of the TV after school, turn them onto ZOOM , a spontaneous and energetic program that encourages elementary and middle school students to get up, get out and do! Twenty all-new episodes, airing weekdays at 4 p.m. on WHYY TV12 throughout May and June, feature a diverse cast of real kids as they take karate lessons, try to hit balls out of Boston's Fenway Park and even learn the basics of dog training!

During the program, kids can follow along as their on-screen counterparts experiment with science; visit the ZOOM joke wall; and watch clips from the 1970s version of the show.

Below, is one "cool" ZOOM -inspired experiment you can try at home! For more scientific experiments, arts and crafts projects, and homemade games from the show, visit ZOOM online! -- Anna Christopher

Keep-a-Cube: Can you keep an ice cube from completely melting in 30 minutes using a cardboard box, wax paper, tape, newspaper, aluminum foil and rubber bands? With the above materials, make a box that you think will keep one cube cool. Put a second ice cube on a plate, and compare the two cubes after 30 minutes. Which is bigger? Why?

Hints: To prevent an ice cube from melting, you must keep warm air away from the cube using some type of insulation. With the materials listed above, figure out a way to protect your ice cube from exposure to warm air. For example, you could wrap your ice cube in wax paper, place it in the box and seal the box with tape. Using a small box might help keep your cube "iced" as well. Or, you could try covering the entire box with aluminum foil.

Once you've figured out a way to keep your cube from melting so quickly, experiment with different materials, such as foam packing peanuts or cotton balls. Make a prediction and test it, and report your results at the ZOOM Web site!

Dragon Tales Take a Trip to Dragon Land!

Sing along with Emmy, Ord, and Zak & Wheezie as they go on a wild adventure in Dragon Tales Live "The Riddle of Rainbow River" from May 20 to 23 at the Wachovia Spectrum. Y Kids Club members receive $3 off admission and are invited to meet the characters before the 10:30 a.m. performance on Saturday, May 22! Space for the meet-and-greet is limited, so call (215) 351-0511 to reserve your spot. Visit Y Kids Club for more information or to enroll a child.

The Pennsylvania Library Association honored the Y Kids Club with its Best Practices Award for a recent Kids Club event! Learn more about this honor.