Table of contents for December 2021 in Chickadee

My favourite thing about winter is the first snowfall. I love looking at snow-covered trees! I get ready for the season with a warm coat, hat and gloves. Just like humans, animals prepare for the winter, too. Explore the different ways animals get ready for the cold on page 8. Speaking of chilly weather, we have fun indoor activities to keep you cozy! Get crafty and learn how to finger knit on page 14. Then try a recipe for a hot cocoa mug cake on page 26. Stay warm, friends!…

1 The Carnaval de Québec’s mascot is named: a) Un Amib) Rouge Chapeauc) Bonhomme 2 The coldest inhabited place in Canada is: a) Eureka, NUb) Swift Current, SKc) Snow Lake, MB 3 In winter, Ottawa’s Rideau Canal turns into the world’s longest: a) bowling alleyb) waterslidec) skating rink 4 The polar bear capital of the world is: a) Great Bear Lake, NTb) Churchill, MBc) Saint-Ours, QC 5 Snocross is a sport that mixes these two activities: a) snowshoeing and tennisb) snowmobile and motocrossc) hockey and basketball 6 In the Arctic, qamutiiks are sleds traditionally pulled by: a) dogsb) carsc) ants Just Joking :) What’s the chilliest month? Decem-brrr! Answers page 32.…

You’ll need: • large jar, no lid• small jar, no lid• water• a few drops of food colouring What to do: 1 Fill the bigger jar about halfway full with cold water. 2 Fill up the small jar with warm water. 3 Add food colouring to the small jar. 4 Put the small jar into the the big jar. Now watch what happens to the water! Dr. Zed explains The molecules in warm water are lighter than the ones in cold water, so they float to the top of the big jar. This process is called convection. You can see convection in action because of the food colouring. Convection helps a pot of soup on the stove heat up evenly. The soup gets hot near the stove element, then rises…

You’ll need: • cardboard tube• googly eyes• tissue paper• string• paint or markers• tape or glue• scissors What to do: 1 Use paint or markers and googly eyes to decorate a cardboard tube to look like a snowperson. 2 Tape or glue the ends of a piece of string inside the top of each tube. 3 Cut tissue paper into strips. Glue or tape the strips to the inside bottom of the tube to look like swirling wind. 4 Hang your decoration outside or by a window. It will look snow cool! Parents: Share with us! See page 31.…

You’ll need: • 80 mL (1/3 cup) flour• 30 mL (2 tbsp.) hot chocolate mix• 15 mL (1 tbsp.) pure cocoa powder• 15 mL (1 tbsp.) sugar• 0.6 mL (1/8 tsp.) salt• 2.5 mL (½ tsp.) baking powder• 15 mL (1 tbsp.) chocolate chips• 30 mL (2 tbsp.) melted butter• 60 mL (¼ cup) milk or alternative• 2 mugs• microwave What to do: 1 Mix all the ingredients in one mug, except the butter and milk. 2 Mix the butter and milk in the other mug. 3 Add the butter and milk to the first mug and stir until there are no lumps. 4 Place the mug in a microwave and cook for about 90 seconds, or until the top looks slightly solid. 5 Let the mug cool for a few…

Picture Puzzler What does this say? Just Joking What does a gingerbread person put on its bed? A cookie sheet! Knock Knock Knock, knock. Who’s there? Moose. Moose who? Moosestache! Olivia Tongue Twister SAY THIS 10 TIMES FAST: Fluffy puppy club Elizabeth Just Joking What falls in the winter but never gets hurt? Snow! Mush’s Corner What do you see? Draw Stuff Decorate the gift box! Just Joking What did one snowperson say to the other? Just Joking How did the tomato win the race? Nekoh It was able to ketchup! You’re cool! Send us your riddles, jokes and tongue twisters. Address page 31.…

Kojo panicked. Christmas couldn’t be over already! Kojo remembered the warm feeling he had when his family was together all day—the jerk turkey, the jollof rice and Papa’s special kelewele on the side of the fried dumpling. Unwrapping presents and receiving phone and video calls from aunts, uncles and cousins in Kumasi, London, Montreal, Montego Bay and New Jersey. But now, Papa pulled out a thick new book to read, Maame took baby Abena to sleep, his not-so-baby sister Akosua played with her science kit and—“Pass me my charger,” said his big brother, Kofi, before heading to his bedroom. Kojo just wanted the family fun to last. He pulled out his new tablet and typed in “holidays.” He got so many results that he lost track of them. “Hmmm …”…

Why do we get goosebumps? Thomas When we’re feeling cold, the little muscles attached to the tiny hairs in our skin can tense up, making goosebumps appear. These muscles also force the tiny hairs to stand up straight. Goosebumps don’t really serve a purpose for us. But when an animal’s fur stands straight up, that traps warmer air closer to the body, making the animal feel warmer. How are rocks made? Maeve There are three kinds of rocks. Igneous rocks are made when melted rock, like lava or magma, cools into a solid. Metamorphic rocks are made when other rocks get really hot or are under a ton of pressure. Sedimentary rocks are formed when layers and layers of sand, smaller rocks and soil squish together to become bigger rocks.…