♪ "teen kids news" is on now, and here's what we've got. i'll tell you why teams of teens are spending the night on fields like this, all over the country. like to shop? we'll show you where it all began, back when beaver pelts and otter skins were all the rage. watch how teens like you are helping neighbors in need. our question of the week is out of this world. and much more, next on "teen kids news." welcome to "teen kids news."

i'm mwanzaa. >> and i'm jessica. here's our top story for this week. would you stay up all night to help cure cancer? for thousands of teens, the answer is a resounding yes. because, as jack found out, contributing to a good cause can be a lot of fun. >> reporter: they're signing up for the 3:00 time slot. that's 3:00 in the morning. because this is the relay for life. >> relay for life is an overnight event where teams of 8 to 15 people come out and they take turns walking the track throughout the whole night and they raise main to fight back against cancer. >> reporter: the motto is "there is no finish line until we find a cure." and people have been marching toward that elusive finish line for more than a quarter century, raising awareness and raising money for research. in one night, this relay in connecticut is bringing in more than $60,000. since relay for life began in 1985, they've raised almost

$4 billion. >> all the money we raise goes to the american cancer society, and it's put toward research, education, advocacy, and patient services. >> reporter: but for many of the people out here tonight, the relay is personal. later on, these memorials will light up the night, each with a tribute to a loved one who fought cancer -- people like margaret's mom. why did you decide to participate? >> because it's for a good cause and i lost my mother last summer to lung cancer. >> she, you know, battled it for five years, and we thought it's a great cause to come out and support. >> wow. are you proud that your daughter is participating in this event? >> oh, very proud, very proud. the whole school. i'm proud of everybody here. >> reporter: events like this are being held in almost 5,000 communities across america and in 19 other countries. as the sun goes down and the lights come on, the music gets a little louder. and so does the laughter. people are ready for a long night of walking and cheering. some even brought tents, like my

classmates. our teacher came along, too. >> cancer touches a lot of peoples' lives in a lot of different ways, and i know our students really care about supporting each other. >> reporter: the only rule is that each team must have at least one member walking on the track at allimes. through the night, there's plenty of time to talk and learn how cancer has affected the lives of those around us. >> why are you participating in this event, ben? >> well, last year over the summer my great uncle died of cancer, and i thought this would be a good way to support him and just continue his memory. >> my mom and my grandma had cancer, so i'm doing this for them. >> my mother died from cancer when i was about 5 years old. >> my mom just went through treatment, and she has cancer as well. so it's a really important event for me, and i really enjoy being here. >> separate, you can't do much. but together, it's like a group. it's amazing what you can do. >> reporter: there's strength in numbers. >> yeah. >> reporter: if you want to put together a team to fight cancer, check the link on our webse, or go to relayforlife.org. the american cancer society says that every step taken at a relay

for life event brings us all one step closer to finding a cure. for "teen kids news," i'm jack. stay with us. there's lots more still to come on "teen kids news." and now our "fox in the classroom" update. >> our commander in chief, president barack obama. >> reporter: during a surprise holiday season trip to afghanistan president obama thanked troops for their service, telling them the u.s. is making important progress in the region. >> this part of the world is the center of a global effort where we are going to disrupt and dismantle and defeat al qaeda and the extremist allies, and that's why you're here. that's why your mission matters so much. >> reporter: while on the ground, the commander in chief visited wounded soldiers and met with top diplomatic and military

leaders. bad weather prevented a scheduled visit with afghan president hamid karzai. >> the house has resolved that representative charles rangel of new york be censured. >> reporter: back in washington new york representative charlie rangel became the 23rd congressman in u.s. history to be censured for misconduct. the ethics investigation lasted more than two years, and rangel supporters argued unsuccessfully for a lesser reprimand. after the vote rangel addressed his colleagues in congress. >> at no time has it ever entered my mind to enrich myself or to do violence to the honesty that's expected of all of us in this house. ♪ baruch ata >> reporter: and the holidays are in full swing at the white house. the president and first lady welcoming 500 guests to the east room for a hanukkah reception. the menorah, on loan from a new orleans synagogue devastated by

hurricane katrina. for "teen kids news" julie banderas, fox news channel in the classroom. let's show a little state pride. here's kristen with some interesting facts about our state flags. ♪ >> reporter: in september 1783 american colonists and members of the british parliament signed the treaty of paris, officially ending the revolutionary war. part of that treaty granted a parcel of land to the united states known as the northwest territory. that territory would become ohio. in 1803 ohio was admitted as our 17th state. but it existed without a state flag for almost 100 years, until an architect named john eisemann came up with a most unusual

design. >> the ohio flag is the only state flag of the 50 that is not a rectangle. it's a swallowtail flag that we usually see on a boat. what it is is it's a pennant, and it comes to two points, and they chose that to be distinct. they wanted ohio to look different from all the other state flags, and they certainly achieved that. they chose to use the red, white and blue of the american flag. several states have done that. but they also achieved simplicity by putting the letter "o" in the canton of the flag. and the letter "o" has two meanings to people in ohio. it's "o" for ohio. but it's also "the buckeye state." >> reporter: buckeyes are round nuts, commonly found in ohio, that native americans thought resembled the eye of a male deer, a buck. 13 stars are clustered around the "o," representing the original 13 states. four more stars stand beside them, representing the next four states to be admitted to our nation, including ohio.

the red and white stripes symbolize roads and waterways, which helped establish ohio as a center of american interstate commerce. with flag facts, i'm kristen. cookies, candy and soda are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to sweet treats. we know we should cut back on sugary foods, but is it okay to splurge occasionally? nutritionist jax hubbard has the answer. >> of course it's okay to splurge, but the key word is "occasionally." too much sugar is unhealthy for you, so you want to make sure you're eating it in moderation. be aware of the amount you're eating and avoid mindless eating like eating out of habit or when you're bored or when you're watching tv. and remember to eat your treat slowly and enjoy every bite of it. it will make it that much better.

>> so slow down and savor. sparingly, of course. all right, young america, what's your opinion? we'll find out in "speak of the week." >> it's a pretty big universe out there. do you think we're alone, or is there life on other planets? >> i totally do. totally. not necessarily in this solar system, but i mean there are like millions of galaxies and universes and everything. i mean, there has got to be life somewhere else. without a doubt. >> i think there's like micro organisms, but not like organisms that are big enough to communicate. >> i think so, just because the universe is so big and it would make sense that we weren't the only planet, but you can't know for sure. >> do you think we'll ever make contact?

>> maybe eventually, but i don't know how soon. >> yes, but not the kind of freaky alien green dudes. i think it's more kind of what we see here like little creatures that we just haven't found yet. little microorganisms, that kind of thing. >> and do you think we'll ever find them or make contact? >> probably, but it won't be in our time. >> i'm not sure if there's life on another planet. i don't believe in aliens, so i don't think so. >> reporter: in the 1990s, nasa actually started a program to search for extraterrestrial life. nothing was found, but the program continues to this day! for "teen kids news," i'm siena. this report is brought to you by crayola pop art pixies. >> konichiwa, i'm naomi. >> hey, i'm ya. >> peace! i'm skye. >> and i'm tatum, mixing it up! yum. >> and we're the pop art pixies!

>> reporter: they're four new characters from crayola, and they're on a mission -- to inspire girls to get creative. each pop art pixie has her own craft. so whether you love the outdoors, are a free spirit, live for music or enjoy hosting parties, there's a craft activity for you. >> vip nyc! >> reporter: to celebrate the launch of the pop art pixies, crayola invited a group of moms and daughters to take part in a vip event -- that stands for "very important pixie." the group was treated to a trip to new york city, where they toured the city, "pixie style." >> whoooo! >> reporter: they painted skye's wind chimes to hang in central park. next stop, tatum's tea party. the colorful cupcakes were served on personalized plates made using "tatum's decoupage glass plate kit."

at the world famous museum of modern art, the girls displayed "maya's shadow boxes." finally, there's no better way to end a busy day than with a dance party! at the scratch dj academy, they learned how to scratch records like a real dj. naomi's color glow lamp kit helped set the festive mood. >> you're going to love your avatar. it's so much fun! >> reporter: girls can also show off the crafts they've made and create their own avatar at popartpixies.com. for "teen kids news," i'm sandhya. what makes people happier -- buying a thing or having an experience? eight different studies say the answer is buying an experience is the better bet. whether it's a movie or a vacation, a positive experience is remembered, sometimes for a lifetime. but when you buy a thing, you're more likely to worry whether you made the right choice or paid

too much. or worse, that someone else bought the same thing for less. all across america, there are families struggling to make ends meet. some are even finding it hard just to put food on the table. tyler reports on how a group of teens spend their sundays trying to make a difference. on a day that many of us spend relaxing and hanging out with friends, these teens decided to roll up their sleeves and get to work. >> giving back to the community is one of my favorite things i do. i spend a lot of my time during the week doing that also, and it just feels amazing to be able to put all this hard work into something you know is really great. in the end, it's always worth it. >> reporter: more than 100 kids are taking part in a massive food drive that will support a local food pantry. this is all made possible by organizations like the families feeding families program, which is sponsored by the united jewish appeal. >> uja federation is a

philanthropy that helps people. essentially, that's it. >> we're sorting food that people from all over the county have donated, and it's going to the bronx community council food bank. >> it feels really good to give back to my community and the people who need it. >> reporter: but before any of this can get shipped out, everything needs to get organized. the teens are each given a specific job and are assigned to a zone. >> i'm a sorter. so basically, i'm getting everyone putting a bunch of food on the table, and we have to separate it if it's soup or pasta or vegetables. >> reporter: then everything is date checked to make sure that none of the food has expired. >> one kid found something from 1995 in the pile. so we just have to make sure that none of that stuff gets to the families. >> reporter: after the food is finally sorted and checked, it's ready to be packaged and placed on a truck to be sent out. it's kind of like an assembly line at a factory. each person doing their own part, working together towards a common goal. >> i think it's great.

i feel very rewarded that just something as simple as putting cans in a box is going to help people get food. >> reporter: but even though it may look like a lot of food, it still isn't enough to feed all the families that are struggling. >> it's an extraordinary need that's out there. there are so many poor people and people who just have difficulty getting by. >> if you're interested in lending a hand, check to see if there are food drives in your area. your teachers or religious leaders might be able to offer some guidance. >> i definitely think that the programs are helping. we've done this for three years. and everyone comes out to help, so it has to do something. >> i think a lot of people will benefit from this, so it feels pretty good. >> it feels really rewarding because i love helping people who like are hungry or anything or anyone in need. and it makes you feel really great. >> reporter: it just takes a few hours on a weekend to make a difference. and it doesn't hurt that you're having a good time while doing it, too. for more on uja's families feeding families program, visit our website.

online quizzes can be a fun way to put your skills to the test or to take a well-deserved break from all that tedious homework. think you have what it takes to name all 50 jelly belly flavors in just seven minutes? what about naming the villains from disney movies? sporcle.com has over 100,000 stimulating games just waiting to challenge you. the website also lets you create your own quizzes, which if you're lucky can be featured on the sporcle home page. sporcle is great to play with friends and family. new research finds that adults are just as likely as teens to text while driving. and they're more likely to talk on the phone. hey, they need to hang up and set a better example. 400 years ago, henry hudson sailed into the harbor of a small island.

it was here that early trade with native americans would grow to become the center of trade for an entire nation. erika has the story. >> reporter: the date is september 11, 1609. henry hudson has been hired by dutch businessmen to find a new trade route to india. instead, hudson discovers a secluded island, rich in natural resources. the dutch purchase it from a local tribe known as the manahattas. then, in 1664, england captures the island, naming it after the duke of york. today, we know it as manhattan, in the city of new york. i took a walk around manhattan's south street seaport with historian michael lord. it wound up being a trip into the past. what was the beginning of commerce here in new york? >> well, i guess commerce would probably predate even hudson if you're talking about native americans trading with you one another. they had a tremendous number of animal pelts, and they had lumber. the place was loaded with wood.

>> reporter: while native americans are rich in resources, europeans have depleted much of theirs, including animals used for clothing. >> europeans had no more beavers because they had already trapped them all, and their lumber was diminishing. so all of that lumber, all of those beaver pelts begin to be shipped over to amsterdam. beaver pelts would become very fancy hats, waterproof hats. that was the bling-bling of the day. lumber went into making masts for sails. and those masts for sailing ships then all of a sudden became sailing ships that came back over here to pick up more goods. >> europeans bring beautiful textiles and sophisticated farming tools tore both native americans and settlers. >> and that helped them grow more food, helped them become more settled helped them trade more goods. it's all about trade here. >> tall ships would come in and take them across the atlantic or other parts of the globe. this part of new york is really where the city began. >> we had a wonderful natural harbor where ships could easily get in and out.

one of those places. the street is so wide here because it used to be an inlet from the east river where ships would come in and unload their goods. >> reporter: new york gradually becomes the nation's portal to the world. this allows the country to develop and grow. ironically, that same growth leads to a loss of space for incoming ships. >> if you look at it, it's kind of got a pyramid shape because when this was once open to the water ships would just come right in here. >> reporter: to compensate for the loss of natural docks, piers are built projecting into the river. >> these rivers keep getting more narrow as manhattan keeps getting wider. these are the oldest buildings in the neighborhood. they date back to about 1811, about 200 years ago. those were four or five-story-tall buildings, and in the early 1800s these are the skyscrapers of the day. they're the most enormous buildings you that would have seen here in new york in 1811. >> reporter: but as trade continues to expand, so do the buildings. today new york's skyline reflects its stature as a thriving center of business and

trade in a modern world. and as for the seaport where it all began with just a few hundred sailors -- >> right now we see about 10 million people annually. it's a very busy place, and people are always, you know, shopping for something. >> reporter: the goods may be different, but the focus remains the same. fortunately, elements from those early beginnings remain with us for the future. >> so what you've got now is historically preserved, it's on the national register of historic places. >> reporter: stepping from the past to the present at the south street seaport, for "teen kids news" i'm erika. >> this report is brought to you by warner brothers pictures. welcome to the 100th anniversary of jevlystone! [ cheers ] >> full speed ahead, booboo! >> okay. ♪ all right, all right, all right ♪ >> looking good, yogi. >> reporter: that's yogi, the picnic basket-stealing bear, and his trusty sidekick booboo.

>> a unusual brown bear. >> brown bear? >> yeah. one that talks. those are so rare. >> none that i can think of. >> name's yogi, wears a hat and a tie? >> doesn't ring a bell. >> i think he's standing on the roof trying to steal your lunch box. >> i smealll pb & j. here we go! >> reporter: this rambunctious twosome bounds onto the big screen in 3-d. >> nice day for a pic-a-nic. >> and they're stirring up trouble in the park for ranger smith. >> this is the most advanced pic-a-nic basket stealing technology ever invented. >> wow. >> it missed! >> yogi! >> bears avoid people not running around stealing their food. >> reporter: dan aykroyd stars as the voice of the lovable

yogi. and justin timberlake brings the pint-sized booboo to life. >> when i was approached about doing the voice of boo boo, i don't know that they -- i don't know that they were ready to handle my boo boo skills. >> yogi bear. a brown bear commonly found in north america and alaska. weighing up to 1,800 pounds. brown bears are also the national animal of finland. >> boo boo, i don't think you have to narrate. >> but i liked where you were going with it, boo boo. i was hooked. >> really? >> yes. now try to film some flattering angles if you know what i mean. pic-a-nic baskets may be delicious on the lips but they're a lifetime on the hips. >> when you go in to do the voicework, you really sort of feel like you're acting out as a small little half-size bear. >> you do come up with some good plans, yogi. >> that's because i'm smarter than the average bear. >> reporter: and you can be smarter than the average kid by

checking out "yogi bear" in theaters starting december 17th. for "teen kids news" i'm elizabeth. that wraps up our show, but we'll be back with more "teen kids news." >> thanks for joining us. and have a great week. ♪ ♪ >> write to us at info@teenkidsnews.com. >> on behalf of everyone here at

"teen kids news," we want to give a special thanks to all of our military overseas and all the navy ships at sea. >> here's a shout out to t.r. newswires for including "teen kids news" on their big screen newswires for including "teen kids news" on their big screen in times square, new york city.