Table of contents for March 2022 in OWL

We’re letting the cat out of the bag … and giving it a seat at the table! A Japanese company recently designed a table meant to be shared with feline friends. It has a hole in its centre so a cat can poke its head through and keep diners company. There’s even a perch underneath the opening where your kitty can comfortably sit as it joins in the fun. And for those times when you’re not up to having your pet at the table, there’s a cover to close up the hole. But let’s get real. Who doesn’t want their cat near them at all times? Quiz Whiz CAN YOU GUESS WHAT THIS OBJECT IS? THIS GADGET IS A: CLOCK CAMERA ROBOT Answer page 33.…

MOVIES Turning Red Mei finds navigating high school awkward enough. Throw in new-found superpowers that turn her into a red panda and it’s all too much! Can she juggle school and this weird new ability? Catch this flick March 11 on Disney+. GAMES Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain Play a wide variety of brain-bending activities in this new game! To make things more challenging, play against family and friends. This game is available for Nintendo Switch now. APPS Top Picks Make and learn with these apps. Botanicula Help five critters take back their home from evil parasites in this fun game! Toontastic 3D Draw, animate, and narrate cartoons in this cool app! Move characters and record your voice to create a 3D mini-movie. BOOKS Sunny Days Inside and Other…

OWL: When did you start drawing? ANGELA POON: I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember! I was a quiet kid and easily entertained myself through drawing. I always had an interest in art. O: What was your first creation? AP: My earliest memory is of a puppet show I put on in my kindergarten class. I decorated Popsicle sticks to make puppets and put on a show for the class with the help of some friends! O: Art can mean many different things. How would you describe it? AP: I see art as an expression of self. We make art based on our thoughts, ideas, beliefs, and things we love and observe. It is the result of our need to create things! O: How do you get inspired? AP:…

1 What’s your favourite season? a) summer b) fall c) spring 2 Pick a colour: a) red b) green c) blue 3 Which animal would you like to be? a) elephant  b) falcon c) octopus 4 How would your friends describe you? a) adventurous b) trustworthy c) determined 5 When you’re outside, you like to: a) race your friends b) play hide-and-seek c) have a picnic 6 Choose a breakfast: a) waffles b) granola and yogurt c) cereal 7 What’s your dream job? a) archeologist b) programmer c) marine biologist Answers page 33.…

YOUR TURN Don't be shy! Send in your silliest captions. Send us your “Say What?” captions. We’ll print our favourites in an upcoming issue. Fill in the speech balloons, cut out or photocopy this page, and send it to OWL c/o THE BUZZ, 1 Eglinton Ave. East, Suite 800, Toronto, ON, Canada M4P 3A1, or submit your entry online at owlkids.com/buzz. LAST LAUGH Why did the cat sit on the computer? To keep an eye on the mouse!…

Talk about the ultimate pizza party! Last summer, astronauts living on the International Space Station chowed down on pizza as they orbited the Earth. The seven space travellers, who’d been in orbit for nearly nine months, received a shipment of food that included the ingredients needed to make pizza. So they decided to throw a pizza party! The crust arrived pre-baked, and the astronauts added their own toppings, like sauce, cheese, and pepperoni. Then they warmed up their pies in the onboard space oven, before gobbling them up as they floated around. That pizza must have tasted out of this world!…

Who is a scientist? Is it a person who has gone to school and spent years researching, studying, and conducting experiments in a certain field? Yes. But science is something that anyone can participate in. We’re talking about citizen scientists! JODE ROBERTS WHO ARE THEY? Citizen scientists are everyday people who conduct experiments and other scientific research. They can work alone or in groups. They can work under the guidance of professional scientists or carry out research on their own. “That’s the beauty of citizen science—it can be anybody,” says Jode Roberts of the David Suzuki Foundation (DSF). “Citizen science projects are an incredible resource because they give kids and adults the tools to gather, share, and review scientific data. You just need basic tools, like a camera, a phone,…

WHAT IS JAZZ? This style of music was started by African American musicians in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th century. There are many different types—from upbeat and danceable to furious and intense to cool and thoughtful! But almost all jazz shares a love of swing (a bouncy rhythm), complex chords (how notes are put together), and lots of improvisation (where musicians are allowed to explore how they play). The 1920s and 1930s were known as the Jazz Age in America because the style grew rapidly in popularity during this time. GAME CHANGERS THROUGH TIME So many Black women have changed the history of jazz and are inspirational heroes! Let’s meet some of them. 1923 BESSIE SMITH SIGNS WITH COLUMBIA! Getting a deal with Columbia (a large record company) brought…

Presto change-o! British artist Rich McCor has a unique way of transforming the world around him into works of art. He holds black paper cut-outs in front of structures and landscapes, then snaps a photo to create an entirely new scene. McCor came up with his artistic technique about seven years ago in his hometown of London. He posted the images online for his friends to see. But others began taking notice, and he quickly developed a huge following. Now McCor travels the globe and uses some of the world’s most famous landmarks as his backdrop. He’s definitely a cut above the rest!…

People are buzzing about this artwork. And no wonder. It’s created by a team of bees, as well as one human artist. For this project, Canadian artist Ava Roth stitched together collages using natural items like twigs, bark, and leaves. Then she handed her creations over to master beekeeper Mylee Nordin and her swarm of honeybees. And the bees got busy. They built their honeycomb around Roth’s collages, teaming up to create several bughuman masterpieces. How bee-utiful!…

BEST T BOOKMARK YOU’LL NEED: ● square paper ● markers ● ruler ● scissors ● glue stick 1 Draw a grid of four squares on a piece of paper.. 2 Draw a diagonal line through the top left and the bottom right squares, as shown. 3 Scribble over the outer triangles and the whole top right square. 4 Cut out the remaining shape as shown. 5 Fold the triangle shapes over the square. Glue the top triangle to the bottom triangle. 6 Decorate the triangle with markers and cut paper and use it to mark your reading spot! BALLOON BOWL YOU’LL NEED: ● balloon ● coloured paper ● hole punch or scissors ● glue ● paintbrush 1 Use a hole punch or scissors to make paper confetti or small pieces of paper. 2…

“I want to take after-school art classes, but my parents say that I need to focus on getting better at other subjects (like math) first. What should I do?”—RINI, 11 “Tell your parents that you will work hard on math and other subjects.”SOFIA, 9 “Think about why the art classes are important to you. Talk to your parents and show them a list of pros and cons.”REED “Try teaching yourself! I did, and my drawing skills have turned out good!”MELANIE “Ask your parents if you can try art class to see if it works with your schedule. Or ask if you can take classes during summer break.”RACHEL, 9 “Maybe ask for extra math lessons or get a tutor. That way you can do well in math and art!”IVY Got a…