Science of Snow and New Year Traditions

Science of Snow

• Snow forms when water vapor in the air freezes into tiny ice crystals, resulting in snowflakes
• The shape of a snowflake depends on the air temperature
• Scientists estimate that a septillion snowflakes fall to Earth each year

New Year Traditions

• Kiritimati Island, part of the Republic of Kiribati, is the first place to ring in the New Year
• American Samoa is one of the last places to ring in the New Year
• In Spain, people eat a grape at each stroke of midnight for good luck
• The Dutch believe eating donuts on New Year's Day brings good luck

Time Capsules

• Charles Wacker Elementary School in Chicago has a time capsule program called "Once Upon Our Time Capsule"
• The program encourages students to document what is important to them
• Students create artifacts like body maps, thoughts about people they met, and visions of their future
• The time capsules will be opened in ten years, allowing students to see how their lives have changed

Zoo Babies

• Zoo babies born in 2024 captured the hearts of people around the world.
• A rescued walrus calf was found alone on an Alaskan beach
• Six melanic penguin chicks hatched at Point Defiant Zoo in Washington
• Pesto, a penguin chick from Melbourne Australia, stole the hearts of fans with his fluffy appearance
• Jasper, a baby mandrill, was born at the Fort Worth Zoo
• Farah was the first baby Francois' Langur to be born at the Oklahoma Zoo in 20 years
• A litter of five lion cubs were born at the Oklahoma City Zoo, a rare occurrence

Kids Spotlight

• Kids Spotlight features interviews with children's entertainers and actors, including
  • The cast of "Wicked"
  • James Austin Johnson (The Grinch)
  • Voice actors for animated films
  • NBA player LeBron James
  • Actors Jenny Slate and Maya Rudolph
• The segment discusses how these individuals are impacting kids and inspiring them to dream big

Imaginary Friends

• The segment explores the concept of imaginary friends and the importance of imagination
• It features an interview with an actor who voices an imaginary friend
• The interview shares insights into voice acting and how actors create memorable characters

Beetlejuice

• The segment features an interview with an actor who played a role in the "Beetlejuice" film
• The actor discusses their experience working on the film, including meeting the character Beetlejuice

Kung Fu Panda

• The segment features an interview with an actor who voiced a character in the "Kung Fu Panda" film
• The actor shares insights into voice acting and working on animated films

Music

• The segment features a discussion about the music industry and the impact of popular songs
• One of the songs discussed is "It's Raining Men"

Holiday Traditions

• The segment features a discussion about holiday traditions and the importance of giving
• It features an interview with an author who wrote a Christmas-themed book about giving

Animated Films

• The segment features a discussion about animated films and the process of making them
• It includes insights into the roles of voice actors and directors in animated films

Advice for Kids

• The segment features advice for kids from celebrities and professionals on overcoming failure, pursuing their dreams, and finding success in different fields
• LeBron James emphasizes the importance of maintaining confidence despite setbacks.
• Actor Jenny Slate encourages kids to be creative and to use their imaginations.
• Actors discuss the importance of being true to oneself and not changing for others.