Here's a riddle: What's something kids love to collect but doesn't take up space in their room? Trivia! If your kids are like most, they're fascinated by factoids and offbeat information. So why not make a trivia game of exploring the new town?

You'll help get your kids focused and interested in their new community with this moving game. It will encourage them to dig into the past, get a reading on the present, observe, talk to new friends and neighbors, and rev up their imaginations too. Print out these simple suggestions for creating "The Ultimate Trivia Guide" to your new community to share with your children (great for younger kids as well as teens).

Like any game, put the emphasis on fun. There is no right or wrong way to put together this guide. It's all about getting to know what's awesome, astounding, conspicuous and intriguing about this new place your family calls home!

What will kids need for this project? They can create the guide on the family computer or using paper and markers. A disposable or digital camera will give them the option of adding photos. If you have a family camcorder and let your children use it, they can shoot a video guide as an alternative. Your trivia collectors also will need opportunities to gather information by observing and visiting places in the new community. But chances are, you'll be doing that anyway!

What's cool about your new community? Here's a fun way to find out! Create the “Ultimate Trivia Guide” to your new town. You can use it to wow your old friends with amazing factoids about your new zip code. And you'll be able to show new kids you meet that you're already in the know on your new neighborhood.

Here are 20 ideas of what to look for in this around-the-town trivia game. You don't have to include everything on this page. These are only categories to get you started. You'll also find tips on where to find the facts about your new community and how to turn it all into a "best seller."

Trivia Topics The community: • Famous residents • Celebrity visitors • Natural wonders • Must-see sights • Booming businesses • Little-known facts • Unsolved mysteries • Claim to fame Local teen scene: • Music • Fashion • Sports • Entertainment • Sayings • Food • Cars Your new school: • Alumni athlete who made it to pro • Local band that made it big • Academic awards • Team records • Cool places teams or clubs travel to		Trivia Sources • Observation (your own and others) • Web sites on your community and school • Brochures on local attractions • Travel guide books that describe your community • Local history museum • Monuments and memorials • Local cemeteries (for famous former residents) • Signs and plaques • New friends and neighbors who've lived here a while • Local library and newspapers

Putting Your Guide Together

Choose your topics, get your answers and then decide to how to "publish" your guide. If you use your computer, it will be easier to e-mail to old and new friends. Your guide can be a simple listing of fascinating facts you've learned. You can use the headings like "Must-See Sights" and "Natural Wonders" to break your guide up into chapters.

Add some photos (prints, digital or scanned images) to the pages too. A picture is worth a thousand words when you show your first celebrity sighting of the town's most-famous resident; the sign that says your community is the ______ CAPITAL OF THE WORLD; the house that's said to be haunted; or the awesome mountain or lake outside your front door!

Think about creating the "Ultimate Trivia" slide show on your computer, with photos, fascinating facts and music. Or grab the family camcorder and take your audience on the "Ultimate Trivia Guided Tour" of your new community, explaining what's incredible about each stop you make.

What else can you do? It's up to you! Just have fun getting to know your new community. Then treat your family and friends (and your parent's CENTURY 21 representative, too) to your creative genius!