Friday, June 27, 2008

North Pole Could be Ice-Free This Summer

Here's a story that I just read today about the ice at the North Pole. How will this change our world?


North Pole Could be Ice-Free This Summer
Robert Roy BrittLiveScience Managing EditorLiveScience.comThu Jun 26, 10:55 PM ET
Arctic sea ice could break apart completely at the North Pole this year, allowing ships to sail over the normally frozen top of the world.
The potential landmark thaw - the first time in human history the pole would be ice-free - is a stark sign of global warming, according to an article Friday on the web site of the The Independent, a London newspaper.
"Symbolically it is hugely important," said Mark Serreze of the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center in Colorado. "There is supposed to be ice at the North Pole, not open water."
Last year, the fabled Northwest Passage opened as Arctic ice retreated more than ever before.
There is no land at the North Pole, but as long as anyone has looked, it has remained a giant block of ice year-round. Scientists have been watching Arctic sea ice melt more and more each year. But each summer in recent years, the amount of ice has gotten thinner and thinner. Each winter's freeze, therefore, results in a thinner pack that, this summer, could melt altogether.
"The issue is that, for the first time that I am aware of, the North Pole is covered with extensive first-year ice," Serreze is quoted by The Independent. "I'd say it's even-odds whether the North Pole melts out."
Russia and other countries, meanwhile, have been arguing over who has rights to the region's resources, including potential oil reserves.
Several studies in recent years have predicted that the North Pole could be ice-free within a few decades. Alarm has ratcheted up every summer as the ice gets thinner and thinner. In a study released June 10, scientist said the rapid meltoff in the Arctic could threaten permafrost in continental soil elsewhere above the Arctic circle in a warm version of the snowball effect.
Last summer saw a record melt of Arctic sea ice, which shrank to more than 30 percent below its average. Around the peak of the melt, in September, air temperatures over land in the western Arctic from August to October were more than 4 degrees Fahrenheit (2 degrees Celsius) above the 1978-2006 average.
"The rapid loss of sea ice can trigger widespread changes that would be felt across the region," said Andrew Slater, also of the National Snow and Ice Data Center.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Myspace Comments - Summer Vacation I hope you all have a wonderful, relaxing summer. Play and read and travel and relax. I will see you all in August. Ms. Daniel

Friday, June 6, 2008

International Fair -- Thoughts

Our biggest project for the end of the year was the International Festival. We focused on the Muslim world, and all the countries that we studied have Muslim populations. We studied China, Indonesia, Egypt, Iran, Morocco, South Africa, Syria, Ethiopia, Jordan, and Palestine. We were able to work with people from our community who actually lived in the countries we were studying, and who volunteered their time to meet with students as they did their research (thanks to the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati and The Center for American-Islamic Relations). We also had a visit from author, Freda Crane. Students prepared great displays, made foods to share from each of their countries. Each group gave a presentation about the culture and history of their assigned country. The presentations included folktales, dances, games, language demonstrations, skits, and a variety of other elements. Some student comments about the day were:
  • I learned about Palestine. I never even knew Palestine existed. The story about the Palestinian people’s war with Israel is very interesting.
  • Teamwork is key in this project. Hard work and listening to your partners are also important.
  • We now know a lot more about how to treat people from different countries.
  • I realize we are not the only ones out there. There is a lot more to explore.
  • It was cool to make food that I had never seen before.
  • If we learn more about the customs and traditions of others, the world will be a little more integrated.
  • Learning about other cultures will be helpful for traveling later – we’ll know more what to do.
  • Ethiopia is starving. They are very poor, and we need to help.
  • Always get volunteers from the audience. They love it when you include them in things.
  • It was a connection between countries.
  • I learned that you can’t judge people based on where they come from.
  • I felt like I could reach out to other cultures.
  • There are many different cultures in the world, but we can learn about them and understand them and make peace.
  • This project makes you think about the world’s opinion and feelings about wars.
  • This project was a time for us to grow and change.

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

The Mosque and Lunch

We traveled together to visit a mosque in our area. Afterwards, we went out for a Mediterranean style lunch at a local restaurant called TAZ. We had a wonderful time.



















May assignment archive

May 29, 2008 --Math 64 -- P. 30, problems 4-26 (even)Finish thank you notes for Muslim visitors/helpersScience -- log your automobile miles on the "Give your car a Break" trip log.May 28, 2008-- Science -- log your automobile trip miles on the "Give yur Car a Break" log sheet.Math 63 -- Order of operations worksheet.REMEMBER YOUR FIELD TRIP PERMISSION SLIP!May 26, 2008-- Math 63 -- correct your fraction test.Social Studies -- permission slips and money for the mosque tour and lunch at TAZ must be returned by Thursday.May 23, 2008 --Science -- write your opinion on "An Inconvienient =Truth." Support your opinion with 3 pieces of evidence or data.May 21, 2008--64 Math -- students received the fraction test back. they may choose to correct errors to gain 1/2 credit. Optional.Science -- students are to complete work begun in the computer lab concerning the environment (see my Webquest page for details). Students should write a short description of somethng that they or their family could do to reduce their ecological footprint, or conserve / protect the water supply.May 20, 2008--No homework tonight.2:00 Dismissal tomorrow.May 19, 2008 --Math -- Fraction Test tomorrowMay 16, 2008--Science -- p. 702. Describe the problem. Propose a solution. Discuss pluses and minuses of your solution.May 14, 2008 --Science (rm. 204) -- do the Discover Activity on p. 688 of your textbookMay 13, 2008--No homework tonight. If you forgot to bring your dirt for science, you can bring it tomorrow.May 12, 2008--Social Studies -- study for Chapter 13 test.Science -- bring about 1/3 of a cupful of dirt from your yard or garden.May 9, 2008--Science -- read pages 688-693. Write a list of the main ideas from each section.Dragon project portraits and questions are due by Monday.Social Studies -- complete the chapter review (pages 372-373) to help you study for the test on Tuesday.May 8, 2008--Math 63 -- decimals test tomorrow (+ - x /). You can practice with problems from your text book, beginning on p. 600 -- 602.Social Studies -- we've begun preparing for International Fair. Student groups should be making plans for costumes, cooking, and rehearsing their presentation outside of class.May 7, 2008--Math 63 -- pp. 154-155, problems 3-12, 20, 28Social Studies -- P. 369, questions 1-4. The chapter 13 test will be on Tuesday.We will begin working on posters for the International Fair tomorrow. Groups need to have poster materials here at school in order to begin working on this part of the project.Math 64 -- finish fraction multiplication page from packet.May 6, 2008 --Math 63-- p. 146, problems 12-17Social Studies -- Would you work for Henry Ford?Write a one page essay to answer this question:Become a worker. In 1922 Henry Ford offered workers $5.00 a day (double that of any other car factory) to work for him for 12 hours a day and follow his rules: no talking, no singing, no leaning or sitting, no smiling, no whispering, no drinking, etc. Men jumped at the chance to work for Ford. Write a 1 page essay about working in the factories, following all of Ford's rules. Would you take this job or not. Explain your answeresMay 5, 2008--Social Studies -- interview a parent, grandparent, or similar "older" adult about the "changes" that they can remember in their lifetimes. Write a 3-5 paragraph report about what you discover.Math 64 -- quiz on "decimal math" will be tomorrow. Practice problems can be found on pp. 600-602 or your textbook.May 2,2008 --Math 63 -- p. 143, 10-21, 26Science -- p. 93, Analyze and Conclude, 1-3Social Studies -- p. 353, Question 6 (include an illustration)Math 64 -- p. 154-155, 3-12, 20, 28, 37, 41, 42May 1, 2008--Science -- finish the traits survey (pp. 92-93)Math 63 -- p. 123, problems 3-6, 20-22, 31, 32

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Reducing Carbon Dioxide Emissions

Our 6th grade class spent the last week of school working to reduce the carbon dioxide emissions that are created by automobiles. Students tracked their travel by automobile, and kept track of alternative transportation methods like carpooling, bus travel, walking and biking. Forty -two students participated in this project for 6 days beginning on Thursday, May 29.













Here are our results:




  • Car miles -- 2329


  • Carpool miles -- 768


  • Combined trip miles -- 115


  • Bus miles (including our field trip) -- 2049


  • Bike miles -- 20


  • Walking miles -- 25


Total saved miles -- 2977 miles


Calculated CO2 emissions reduction -- 2,680.3 pounds


Results have been forwarded to the Northeast Sustainalbe Energy Association (the organization that provided the materials for this project.

Here is the text of the email response that we received from them:


Dear Sue,
Thanks for the email. It's delightful to hear that folks are finding and utilizing our resources outside of our region.
I do hope your students are proud of themselves - how impressive!
Sincerely,
Arianna

Arianna Alexsandra CollinsEducation Director, NESEA50 Miles St., Suite 3Greenfield, MA 01301413-774-6051 x.21mailto:x.21acollins@nesea.org
http://www.nesea.org/