Table of contents for January/February 2025 in Chickadee

Are you a hockey fan? You might become one after reading this issue! That’s because we’re exploring the world of hockey. Have you ever wondered why this sport uses a puck? Or why sticks are curved? Get the scoop on page 8. This month, we welcome a new comic to Chickadee! The Weevil Geniuses are tiny inventors who go on huge adventures. We can’t wait for you to meet the crew on page 16! Speaking of adventures, we wish you lots of fun this year as we welcome 2025. Thanks for spending it with us! owlkids.com Find Owlkids on: mailto:chickadee@owlkids.com https://www.facebook.com/owlkids https://twitter.com/owlkids?lang=en https://www.instagram.com/owlkidspublishing/?hl=en owlkids.com Find Me Inside Find Me A. 11 B.34 C. 26 D. 24 E. 28…

1 WHY is hockey called “hockey”? To get to the name, we have to look to the roots of hockey! There are a few theories. For centuries, the Mi’kmaq played a game called Oochamkunutk, which closely resembles hockey. When Europeans came to North America, they brought over games with names like hurley, shinty, and bandy. All of these sports may have influenced the game we play today. So what about the name hockey? One theory is that the curved stick players used, which the French called hocquet, may be how hockey got its name. 2 WHY are hockey sticks curved? The curve helps players control the puck. The stick’s curve makes a “pocket” where the puck can sit at its roundest part. That means players can shoot and pass from the same…

Have Your Say STELLA “I love having both a small family and a big extended family. They are always there for me, and my sister pushes me to do better.” HANNAH “My family is always there to help me when I need it. I also love being able to explore new places and watch movies with them.” OTTO “I love my family because we speak a funny language together called Denglish. It is German and English mixed together.” EZRA “I love my family because they are kind to me.” ANNIKA “We cook delicious food together. We also travel the world while having fun and enjoying each other’s company.” EMILY “My family always helps me with math, sports, and school projects.” GIDEON “I love my family so much because they are…

You’ll need: • 1 banana• 125 mL (½ cup) nut butter or alternative• 250 mL (1 cup) rolled oats• 15 mL (1 tbsp.) maple syrup or honey• yogurt• berries• large bowl• spoon• lined muffin pan What to do: 1 Mash the banana in the bowl. Stir in the nut butter, oats, and syrup or honey. 2 Scoop a spoonful of the mixture into your hand and form it into a ball. 3 Place the ball in the muffin pan and press down and around the edges to make a cup. 4 Repeat steps 2 and 3 until the muffin pan is full. Place the pan in the fridge for one hour so the cups harden. 5 Take the cups out of the fridge. Add a spoonful of yogurt and some…

Milo the Knight by Grégoire Laforce Illustrated by Charlotte Parent Reader Review by Ruby The pictures in this book are so nice. The best part of the book is when Milo takes off his armour and has a ladybug shell and purple and blue legs. He seems so happy and colourful! Connect with Us! Email your photos, drawings, jokes, and letters to: chickadee@owlkids.com Or mail to: Chickadee, 1 Eglinton Avenue East, Ste. 800, Toronto, ON M4P 3A1 Parents: Find Owlkids on https://www.facebook.com/owlkids https://twitter.com/owlkids?lang=en https://www.instagram.com/owlkidspublishing/?hl=en…

Picture Puzzler What does this say? Defence! Just Joking What’s a hockey player’s fave food? A Stanley Cup-cake! Tongue Twister SAY THIS 10 TIMES FAST: Penguins proudly prancing! Just Joking Why are magicians good at hockey? They always have a hat trick! Just Joking What kind of bird works at a construction site? Evan A crane! Mush’s Corner What do you see? A hockey net! Draw Stuff Create a hockey mascot. Just Joking Where do snowpeople check the weather? The winter-net! Knock Knock Knock, knock.Who’s there?Snow.Snow who?Snow moreskating—I’mtired! Do Mish and Mash know the answer? Send us your riddles, jokes, and tongue twisters. Address page 31.…

Gear Up Help Pat pick up all the hockey gear for the game. You can move up, down, sideways, or diagonally. Who Is Who? Find the answer to each math question below and then fill out the name on the correct hockey jersey. Story Scramble Put the panels in order from 1 to 6. We did one for you! Just Joking :) What did the goalie say to the puck? Catch you later! Hockey Hoopla Gear Up Who Is Who? 1. Felix (11) 2. Ahmad (17) 3. Dion (27) 4. Tran (13) 5. DaSilva (20) 6. Santos (31) 7. Singh (22) Story Scramble…

You‘ll need: • empty paper towel or toilet paper roll• friend or family member• timer What to do: 1 Gently press the end of the roll on the other person’s chest where the heart is. (The heart is located in the middle of the chest, slightly to the left.) Listen for a heartbeat at the other end of the tube. 2 Set a timer for 10 seconds and count the number of heartbeats. 3 Ask your friend to do something active, like 25 jumping jacks. 4 Set the timer for 10 seconds and listen through the tube again. How many heartbeats can you count this time? Dr. Zed explains A heartbeat is the sound a heart makes when it pumps blood through your body. When you exercise, your heart works…

Space Edition Why do astronauts mostly wear white? George White helps keep astronauts safe! These suits work a lot like sunscreen, protecting astronauts from the Sun’s strong rays. The colour also works to keep astronauts cool because dark suits would absorb the Sun’s heat. And the white suit is the easiest to spot in a place as dark as space. This helps the astronauts keep track of each other. Super suit! Is there gravity only on Earth? Layla Gravity is everywhere! Even on other planets and moons. Gravity is a force that makes objects stay on the ground. But gravity in space isn’t as strong as it is on Earth. When astronauts are in space, they are in what’s called “free fall.” Earth’s gravity is pulling them back towards Earth.…

Watch Out Orcas, also known as killer whales, are apex predators. That means they’re not hunted by other animals. These tough mammals often hunt in groups to find and catch prey. Some work together to make waves to knock seals off ice floes! They’re also the only sea creatures that can take down great white sharks and blue whales. Family Orcas are the largest members of the dolphin family. Size These mammals weigh as much as elephants. Top Types Orcas live in every ocean on Earth. In the North Pacific, there are three types: resident, offshore, and Bigg’s. Each type hunts different prey, makes different sounds, and never mixes with the others. Fave Foods Resident orcas eat mostly salmon. Offshore orcas eat mainly sharks and some other fish. Bigg’s orcas…

TIP: For this design, we used multicoloured yarn for an easy colourful effect! You’ll need: • 2 twigs or craft sticks• yarn• glue• scissors What to do: 1 Cross the twigs or sticks to make a plus sign. Dab glue in the middle and let it dry. 2 Hold the end of a piece of yarn against the middle of the plus sign. Use your other hand to wrap the yarn around the plus sign about four times. 3 Wrap yarn around one stick, then under and around the next one, then over and around the next one, and so on. Keep going over and under each stick to create a square yarn shape. 4 When the square is the size you want, snip the yarn and weave it through…

Harriet Tubman was a conductorWho worked on freedom’s track.She lived for helping othersTo gain their freedom back. She would travel into the darkness.Despite danger, she marched forth.She found friends and family, strangers, too,And led them to the North. Harriet Tubman was a seerWho saw visions in her mindOf safe paths that she could travelAnd safe places she could hide. She always led courageous folksEscaping slavery’s gripAgainst all odds to safety,On long and dangerous trips. Harriet was small,And mighty like a train,Blasting through the UndergroundOn a journey out of pain. Harriet was determined.She was stubborn as can be.She would not take no for an answerIf it meant not being free. Harriet was wiseAnd had faith in a higher power.She looked to the shining great North StarWhile hiking hour after hour. She…

Send us a drawing of your favourite thing! (Address page 31.) Harriet Tubman: A North Star for Us All Note from the Author: Harriet Tubman (1822–1913) was an African American freedom fighter. Although she was once enslaved in the United States, she eventually escaped slavery and made it her life’s mission to help others do the same. As a conductor on the Underground Railroad, Harriet never lost a passenger. The Underground Railroad was a secret network of people who helped enslaved African Americans from the southern states escape to the northern states and Canada. Interestingly, she was known to have unexplainable visions about where to lead her passengers to safety. She was also guided by the North Star, and I believe that her incredible story can be like a North…