Month: April 2014

Sports

Raptors Headed To Playoffs

Canada’s only basketball team in the National Basketball Association (NBA), the Toronto Raptors, are generating some excitement.

For the first time in six long years they have made the playoffs.

Of the 30 teams in the NBA, only 16 make it to the playoffs. There will be eight teams from the Eastern Conference and eight teams from the Western Conference. The Raptors play in the East.

In the playoffs, each team competes in a best-of-seven series. The first team to win four games moves on to the next round. A team has to win three rounds to make it to the finals. Then, the lone surviving team from the East plays the lone surviving team from the West.

Animals Science

Why Do Zebras Have Stripes?

A new study answers a question people have long asked themselves about the animal kingdom: Why do zebras have stripes?

If you want to try guessing the answer, stop reading now.

Have you guessed? OK, start reading again.

According to a new study, a zebra’s stripes most likely help to keep annoying, biting flies off them.

Scientists have thought that might be the reason.

However, they also had other theories: that the stripes provide camouflage to help them hide from enemies; to confuse their enemies; to help them stay cool; or for a social reason such as to attract a mate.

News Politics

Liberals Win Majority In Quebec

Voters in the province of Quebec made their feelings known on Monday, giving the Liberal party a majority government.

Majority means the Liberals got more votes than all of the other parties put together.

The Liberals beat the main rival, the Parti Quebecois, led by Pauline Marois.

Kids

Toy Weapons For Girls: Too Violent, Or Too Pretty?

Some toy companies have recently introduced new lines of toy weapons designed especially for girls.

While the toys are a hit with girls, some adults object to them. Some people say the toys encourage violence and aggression among girls. Others say they are too feminine, and promote old-fashioned stereotypes.

Last fall, Nerf introduced its Rebelle line, which includes bows and guns that shoot foam darts or spray water. The weapons have names like the Heartbreaker Bow Blaster and the Pink Crush Blaster gun. They are brightly coloured in mostly pinks and purples.

News Politics

Liberals Likely To Win Quebec Election: Poll

Quebec residents are gearing up for a provincial election on Monday.

The four leading parties that want to form the province’s government are Coalition Avenir Québec, Québec Solidaire, Liberal Party of Quebec, and the ruling party–the Parti Québécois (PQ)–led by Premier Pauline Marois.

The most up-to-date poll conducted by Ipsos Reid for CTV News shows that the Liberals are likely going to win the election.

John Wright, Senior Vice-President of Ipsos Global told Teaching Kids News that, “The election is only days away and while the outcome for the Liberals forming the next government appears likely, we can’t predict if it will be a minority or a majority result and that’s what makes the final days so interesting to watch.”