Pull the needle out of the groove at the base of the wire loop and fit it over the double thread. Continue moving it along until it clears the folded end. At the same time, pinch the ends of the thread together tightly. At this point, it may help to set the threader down on the tabletop or your lap so you can get a better grip on the needle. Be careful not to let the needle slip back off the thread. Give the thread a gentle tug to work it out of the wire loop the same way it went in. Work the loose end out with your fingers if needed. The thread should now be running straight through the eye of the needle. Once you've successfully threaded the needle, unwind the spool to make the thread as long as you need it. If you're content with using single thread, simply tie off the loose end. You can then begin sewing as usual. That's all there is to it! Tie off the knot two to three times to make sure it's secure enough to hold. When you're done, snip the thread off the spool. This will get the excess material out of the way while you're stitching. If you'd prefer to work with double thread, keep pulling the loose end back on itself to add more length. You can then tie the thread off when you're finished making your stitches. Using twice the amount of thread creates a more durable seam, which is good for reinforcing items like torn clothing, buttons, pillows, and stuffed animals that see a lot of hard wear. Doubling up your thread is particularly useful when you're working with thread that's thin or old. Needle threaders are handy little devices, but they can take a little while to get used to. Don't worry if your first couple of attempts feel a little awkward. After a few passes, you'll be threading like a pro! By using a needle threader, even crafters who know their way around a needle and thread can cut down dramatically on overall project time.

Summary: Slide the needle over the thread. Pull the loose end of the thread free. Knot the thread around the eye of the needle. Leave the thread folded for stronger stitches. Keep practicing until you get the hang of it.

If you're a morning person or a "night owl," take advantage of that. Maximize your most productive times. If music helps you focus, use it; if it distracts you, forget it. Think about what has worked when you've been productive in the past. Did your college finals studying go better when you holed up in a silent corner of the library or when your room-mates were playing video games three feet away? " When your brain is fried and you need to step away, do it. Watch a soap opera, walk your dog, clean a few of those dusty shelves you've been meaning to get to. Expect to need such breaks and factor them into your schedule. This way you won't feel like you're wasting time while you're, well, wasting time (but in a positive way). Natural sunlight helps keep your body rhythms balanced, gives you energy, and just plain feels good. Take a walk or work by a window when you can. It breaks up the monotony of the day, relieves stress, helps you refocus your mind, and it's good for you. " As you work on a project, your mind will fill up with ideas, some relevant to the current task, some not. If you're feeling bogged down or stuck as you try to figure out a task, work on emptying your mind of distracting ideas. But keep them around just in case! Jot down your scattered ideas in a notepad (or your preferred more technologically advanced device) at the end of the day or when you're feeling mentally overloaded. Don't worry about connecting all the dots right now. This is another form of brainstorming; get the ideas out, figure out what works, what doesn't, and how they connect later.

Summary: Know oneself. Take "mindless breaks. Get out in the sun. Exercise. Do a "brain dump.

Ducks will eat frequently throughout the day. Rather than establishing a specific feeding time, allow them constant access to food. Domesticated ducks typically eat pellet mash. You can also feed your ducks chopped vegetables and worms (of any variety) as the occasional treat. You should be able to buy a good-quality poultry feed at your local pet store or farm-supply store. Do not give your ducks medicated food. This type of poultry food is engineered to be given to hens in a poultry farm to stop the spread of disease. Feeding medicated food to your ducks could harm their health. Read the labels on your feed carefully to make sure it's suitable for ducks. Typically, non-medicated chicken feed is suitable for adult ducks. Ducks need constant access to water. Not only do they drink about 1 liter (0.25 gallons) of water a day, but they also need water to help them swallow and digest their food. Provide the ducks with water in a metal dish, and place this next to a similar dish containing the ducks' pellet mash food. If the ducks have immediate access to a pond or lake in their enclosure, they will be less reliant on you to provide them with drinking water. Ducks are messy, unclean animals; they defecate frequently and, unlike cats and dogs, cannot be trained to use one specific area for their bathroom. In order to keep the ducks' shed clean and to maintain their good health, you'll need to scoop out all of the duck feces from the floor of their living area. Also, change their food and water and wash the shed walls as necessary. Cleaning the shed is even more important in the winter, since ducks will be spending more time inside of the shed and less time outside. You may need to clean the shed multiple times a day. The more ducks you have, the more often you will need to clean the shed. By providing a roomy shed with plenty of bedding material, you will be able to keep your ducks reasonably clean and comfortable.

Summary: Provide your ducks with non-medicated poultry food. Keep fresh drinking water out at all times. Clean out the duck shed daily.

The point of any swimming unit is to learn how to swim (or to improve in your swimming skills), and you won't get much out of the class if you don't participate and make an effort. Whether this is your first time in the pool or you're an experienced swimmer, get out there, participate, and have fun! Even if you can't swim, try your best. Most teachers can recognize when someone is trying and will give you a good grade for effort. High school swim unit is a great opportunity to improve your swimming skills, especially if you plan to compete in a swim club. Your swim coach is most likely a highly qualified individual who cares about his or her students and wants to help them swim better. Even if you're not a competitive swimmer and have no plans to become one, you should still obey the coach. He or she can lend a fun sense of community to the class, and swimming is a great way to stay in shape. Many high-school students are already involved in a swim team, and regularly compete in swimming or diving competitions. Learning from a coach is especially valuable if you're already a competitive swimmer. Even if you routinely swim and train at a private swimming club, your high school coach can add a sense of community and team spirit to your swimming. Focus on learning new strokes and improving your time; tune out distractions. Take your trainingeven if it's not at your normal swim clubas seriously as possible.
Summary: Try your best in the pool. Listen to the coach and follow their direction. Improve your competitive swimming abilities.