The Herald-Palladium from Benton Harbor, Michigan • B2

Benton Harbor St. Joseph, Ml. The Herald Palladium 2B SATURDAY, August 6, 2005 Go dot to dot and color this homesteader. 16 17 is KidsWeek By Betty Debnam Free Land! The Homestead Act ll 14 19 .22 .37 P59 I .38 54. 49.

I 0 Have you been enjoying your summer vacation? If so, you're not alone. Most American schoolkids get to take the summer off. But for kids living on frontier r7 homesteads in the mid- The first homesteader, Daniel Freeman (right), is standing with his wife, Agnes Freeman, one of their daughters and three grandchildren. They are in front of a home they built on their homestead near Beatrice, Neb. The clay for the bricks came from their land.

1800s, summer was probably their busiest time. Everybody in the family had to work from sunup to sundown to put food on the table. But most people did not feel bad about working this hard. They felt lucky because they were working for the chance to own their own land. Until the United States government began offering free land on the frontier, few people had the chance to own their own land.

A homestead is a home and the land surrounding it. When the United States passed the Homestead Act in 1862, it gave thousands of people a chance to live the American dream. The Homestead Act Who could claim the land? In order to be eligible for this free land, people had to be 21 years old and the head of the household. Or Single women, widows and "deserted women" could also homestead. Later, Native Americans could homestead, although few did so.

They had been forced from their original lands by the U.S. government. Rookie Cookie's Recipe Corn Salsa and Chips they could have served during the Civil War in the Union Army for at least two weeks. Boys as young as 8 to 10 years old could legally homestead if they had served as buglers or drummer boys. Wl I0MESTEADER ATE 10TS OF CORN AND I USED IT IN MANY 1 DIFFERENT RECIPES You'll need: 1 cup corn, canned or fresh off the cob 3 large tomatoes, finely chopped 12 cup Vidalia onion, chopped 12 cup red pepper, chopped The Homestead Act offered to give citizens, or 3 tablespoons lime juice salt and pepper to taste 1 bag tortilla chips What to do: 1.

In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients except chips and mix well. 2. Refrigerate until ready to serve. 3. Serve with tortilla chips.

Serves 4. You will need an adult's help with this recipe. Confederates were not eligible to homestead because they had taken up arms against the U.S. government. After the Civil War, former slaves became citizens.

They were then able to homestead. About one in 20 homesteaders was an African American. people promising to become citizens, enough free land for a family farm. This was about 160 acres. Homesteaders had to farm the land, make improvements on it, build a home there and live on that land for five years.

About 270 million acres across 30 states were settled through the Homestead Act. Although it was changed many times, this law was in effect from 1862 to 1986. Alaska was the last state to be homesteaded. Meet Scott and Cheri Smith The Mini Page Presidents of the United States Poster Cm Brother and sister Scott and Cheri Smith are the creators of a new hip-hop CD for kids called "The Hootz." The cartoon band is made up of four owls: MK (Master Key), the group leader; Reason, the DJ; and Rhythm and Rhyme, who are twin sister and brother. Scott wanted to make music for Includes every president in chronological order Gus Goodsport's Supersport: Roger Federer 1 Height: 6-1 Birthdate: 8-8-81 iBK Weight: 185 Hometown: Basel, Switzerland Once again, the challengers charged after Roger Federer.

Once again, they succumbed to the smooth- stroking Swiss, who fended them off with an array of masterful forehands, backhands, serves and volleys. The result was a third-straight Wimbledon singles tennis title for Federer, the No. 1-ranked player in the world. Some experts believe he could become the best player ever. Federer, who turned pro in 1998, won an amazing 11 titles in 2004.

He's a champion who also shows good sportsmanship and serves as an outstanding role model. As a result, he has thousands of fans. Federer's fame is widespread. He has a fragrance RF RogerFederer that went on the market in 2004. Everywhere the Wimbledon champ goes, there seems to be the sweet smell of success.

from George Washington to George W. Bush, with the dates that each held office Handsome reproductions of engraved portraits An attractive educational reference children that both he and his own kids would enjoy listening to. Scott and Cheri have started foundations, or groups that raise money, to bring music education to children. Cheri was always creative as a child. She has worked as a graphic designer in New York City.

She enjoyed using her talents and ideas to create The Hootz. She is studying visual communications at Gibbs College in Livingston, N.J. 'To o'-dc t', I (U.S. funds only) payable to: Andrews McMeel Universal, P.O. Box 6814, Leawood, KS 66206.

Please send copies of The Mini Page Presidents of the United States Poster (Item 9939-6) al $4 0 eacl up qui si Toll free number 1-800-591-2097. www.smartwarehousing.com MIGHTY -Jy' FUNNY'S The Homesteaders All the following jokes have something in common. Can you guess the common theme or category This woman (right) was a homesteader in Doug: What happens when the sun tired? Denise: It sets awhile! The American dream In the 1800s, only about one out of 100 people in Europe owned land. Even when they owned land, it was not usually more than five acres. When the U.S.

government offered 160 acres for free, people could not am Danny: Which is lighter, the sun or 4T the Earth? Doris: The sun, because it rises every morning! Did you hear the joke about the sun' believe it. In the mid-1800s, Europe had been in a drought for years, and famine was Uorothy: JNo, tell me. Hard work Never mind. It is way over your head! Education Most homesteaders realized the importance of education. Often TRY 'N Basset Brow" Homestead Act FIND Homesteading was very difficult.

It was so hard that only about four out of every 10 homesteaders were able to stick it out for the necessary five years. Plowing the land was hard work, especially on the plains. Prairie grasses had long roots that made the soil hard to cut through. In order to qualify for the land, families in an area would come together to build a community school even before they built permanent homes. Words that remind us of the Homestead Act are hidden in the block below.

Some words are hidden backward or diagonally. See if you can find: FRONTIER, WORK, LAND, OWN, AMERICA, FARM, HOME, CITIZENS, BUILD, ACRES, CHILDREN, CABIN, PLOW, EDUCATION, SCHOOLS, FREE, FAMILY, HOUSEHOLD, SETTLERS, ALASKA, LAW. A A I A A A People were starving, especially in Ireland. Many people were also suffering from religious persecution. Thousands left for America, even though they knew they would never see their families and friends again.

The Homestead Act gave them a chance to start a new life. Experts believe that one-third of Americans today are descended from homesteaders. On the other hand, the United States took land from Native Americans. The federal government forced them onto reservations so it could give land to homesteaders. llOMESTEAimuN CHANGED I I 1 kMERICA! the farmer had to plow at least 10 acres.

To plow one acre of land, a farmer had to walk 10 miles I A I A I I In the winter, students and teachers were often very cold. At first, floors might be packed-down dirt. Later, when straw was put on the floors, fleas and other insects might live in it. Students often shared a few books and maybe one slate brought from the East. (A slate is a tablet of thin rock, which people write on with chalk.) SltV A I LDRENMRAFE LAWDLOHESUOHHGR SERCANO I TACUDEH The Mini Page thanks Mark Engler, Todd Arrington and Susan J.

Cook, Homestead National Monument of America, for help with this issue. while pushing a heavy plow. Horses or oxen may have helped pull it. This meant he or she had to walk 100 miles just to plow the land. Then the farmer had to walk this 100 miles again to plant it, then another 100 to weed it and another 100 to harvest it.

Women often did all the housework: cleaning the house, preparing food, cooking, making clothes, cleaning and ironing them all without Mini Spy Mini Spy and her friends are homesteading. See if you can find: exclamation mark question mark www.nps.govhome ladder Look through your newspaper for stories about people working to reach a goal. electricity or running water. Children as young as 2 or 3 years old had chores. They Next week The Mini Page is all about monkeys.

brought in firewood, gathered eggs and herded the cattle. Older children milked cows, and helped with the planting and The Mini Page is created and edited by Betty Debnam In the 1800s, a homesteading family with 10 children lived in this small cabin. Children slept in the loft, an area so small they could not even stand up in it. In winter, the whole family was crowded together in this little building. This cabin is now at Homestead National Monument of America near Beatrice, Neb.

Staff Artist Wendy Daley Associate Editors Tali Denton Lucy Lien harvesting, cooking and cleaning..