Cool Word Club — Page 72

Catch Me If You Can!

September 20, 2012 by Cool Word Club

When is the last time you ran as hard as you can?

Maybe you went running on a track.

Perhaps you ran as fast as you could to catch a fly ball on a baseball field.

Or maybe you were playing soccer and ran down the field to block your opponent’s shot.

But if your friends were playing a game that involved chasing you around obstacles, you would definitely need to be nimble (see definition below) to stay ahead of the crowd.

So think fast—and move those feet!

Speak Your Mind: Can you name three activities that require you to be nimble?

NIMBLE: Agile, moving with ease and quickness.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: nimble

Oh, So Tiny…

September 17, 2012 by Cool Word Club

Kittens are so adorable!

Part of what makes them so cute is their size.

It’s not uncommon to be able to hold a kitten in the palm of your hand.

That’s because the kitty is so diminutive (see definition below).

A full-grown cat usually weighs about eight to 10 pounds. Some adult cats can even tip the scales at more than 20 pounds.

A newborn kitten, on the other hand, can weigh less than a pound!

Speak Your Mind: What’s your favorite diminutive animal or object—and what makes it special to you?

DIMINUTIVE: Exceptionally small.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: diminutive

There are times in every student’s life when he/she just has to push through a tough assignment. Whether it’s finishing a research paper or preparing for a math test, students must be tenacious (see definition below) to get over those final humps. A little bit of tenacity is essential throughout life, whether you choose to become a teacher, an accountant or almost anything else. Steve Jobs, the founder and longtime leader of Apple Computer, which makes iPhones and iPods, is a good example. In a public statement describing Jobs’ legacy, Bono, the lead singer of the band U2, said: “[Steve Jobs] was tenacious in the extreme, his toughness never more evident than these past few years in his fight for his life as well as his companies.” We all don’t have to be as tenacious as Steve Jobs was to reach our dreams, but it wouldn’t be a bad idea for most of us to try to be at least a little more tenacious. –Will Bildsten

Speak your mind: Who is the most tenacious person you know—and how does he/she demonstrate that trait?

TENACIOUS: Persistent in seeking a goal.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: tenacious

The Thinker

September 10, 2012 by Cool Word Club

If you have a big decision to make, chances are you’ll want to give it a lot of thought.

Some people like to make lists of the “pros” and “cons” of their choices.

Others like to cogitate (see definition below) on their options for a while.

Speak your mind: What big decision have you made lately? And what type of decision-maker are you?

COGITATE: To ponder, usually intently

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: cogitate

It Feels Good to Give a Helping Hand!

September 6, 2012 by Cool Word Club

Have you ever missed hearing your teacher’s instructions on an assignment? It’s fairly common, and you may have asked another student what the teacher said. Unfortunately, many students are too worried about their own grades to bother to help their classmates. However, there are also some altruistic (see definition below) students who will sacrifice their own time to tell you what you missed. Altruistic people care more about the well-being of others and focus less on themselves. –Will Bildsten

Speak your mind: When is the last time that you performed an altruistic act?

Altruistic: Unselfish

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: altruistic

Yuck or Yum?

September 3, 2012 by Cool Word Club

When George H.W. Bush was president of the United States, he once famously declared that he did not like broccoli and would no longer be eating it in the White House.

Like former President Bush, most of us have a few “yuck” foods that we really don’t enjoy eating.

But broccoli–as well as spinach, cauliflower and blueberries, to name just a few–is one of the foods that are now known as “Super Foods.”

What makes these foods so “super”?

For one thing, vegetables and fruit contain crucial nutrients that help your body stay strong.

So it’s a good idea to try lots of these salutary (see definition below) foods until you find the ones you like. Maybe your “yum” foods are oranges, kiwis or apples. Or perhaps you really love beets, eggplant or cucumbers.

And, while you’re at it, be sure to drink plenty of water.

It, too, is good for you–and tastes really great when you’re thirsty!

Speak your mind: Do you have any favorite salutary foods?

SALUTARY – healthful, wholesome

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: salutary

Candy Galore!

August 22, 2012 by Cool Word Club

Do you have a favorite candy?

If you like sweets, chances are you have a piece of candy now and then.

Jelly beans, M&M’s, Reese’s Pieces–most people do have a favorite.

You may even like to satisfy your “sweet tooth” with a piece of licorice.

If that’s the case, you probably buy one package at a time.

But anyone who keeps pounds of licorice on hand truly does have a plethoraexcess or overabundance of the sugary treat.

What would someone do with that much licorice?

Do you happen to have a plethora of anything at your house?

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: plethora

Joys of Friendship!

August 2, 2012 by Cool Word Club

What do you appreciate most about your friends?

Is it the way they really listen to what you have to say?

Or what about all the times they laugh at your jokes?

Of course, you also want your friends to understand you and be supportive of your dreams and aspirations.

But sometimes the best friends are just those people whose convivialityfriendly, festive nature is downright irresistible.

So go ahead…join with your friends for some lively and festive times!

And while you’re at it, can you think of any other examples of conviviality?

It’s a cool word you’ll be really glad you learned!

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: conviviality

The Race Is On …

August 1, 2012 by Cool Word Club

You’re at the starting line. There are runners all around you. Some of them pace nervously. But you’re confident of a win.

Then you hear a voice over the loudspeaker: “Ready…set…go!”

And everyone takes off.

You run hard. Then harder. Now you’re in the lead.

Minutes later, you’re the first to cross the finish line. Then you wait and wait…and wait. Finally, your best friend crosses the finish line in the penultimateNext to last. position.

“Well, at least I wasn’t last!” your pal says.

So what was your friend’s position in the race?

Can you think of other times when the word penultimate would apply?

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: penultimate

An iPhone 5 Projector? Zoe N., 7th grade, Raleigh, NC

July 21, 2012 by Cool Word Club

Can you imagine a smartphone with a projector?

Recently, a rumor has been circulating that Apple’s iPhone 5 may contain a touch-screen projector. Surprisingly, this rumor could be true.

In 2010, Samsung introduced a smartphone, called the Galaxy Beam, that contained a projector. This projector displayed videos, pictures and other images through a small “pico” (pocket) projector. Unfortunately, the Galaxy Beam was poor quality and not successful.

Now it appears that Apple has found a possible way to include the projector in iOS devices such as the iPhone 5, the iPad 3 and MacBook. The pico projector will enable iOS devices to display power points, movies, slide shows and many other options–and control it all with the touch of your finger! These devices will become very successful if they are high quality and function correctly.

This recent development inspires and encourages me to be a scientist involved in technology and someday create some similar wondrous invention!

Filed Under: Sound Off: Cool Essays from Cool Kids