Our earth is heating up. The climate is changing. Global warming is real. So what's happening? Fossil fuels, which are coal, gas and oil, give off greenhouse gases, such as carbon, when burnt. As the number of greenhouse gases increase, the planet becomes warmer. New Zealanders contribute approximately 8000 kg of greenhouse gases per person per year, but the world average is only 5000 kg. Ice from the North and South poles is gradually disappearing, and the Arctic area may have its first completely ice free summer by 2040 or earlier! The loss of ice affects polar bears and penguins greatly. Its their home, and it's floating away or melting. So what could or will happen? As the earth is heating up, causing ice to melt, the sea levels will rise. Scientists guess that the sea levels will rise 2 m or more. This means low lying countries, such as Bangladesh and small island groups could be partly or entirely covered by ocean, leaving 100's of 1000's of people homeless. What does all this mean for New Zealand? With the climate changing, Dunedin could get Auckland's climate, and Auckland could get Fiji's climate. This could mean New Zealand could receive more tropical storms, and an increase in tropical diseases. Western New Zealand could get more floods, while Eastern New Zealand could get more droughts. Some experts say global warming will cause: Some farmland becoming desert, coral reefs ( home to lots of fish ) to die, more forest fires, and some species of plants and anoimals to die out. All these negative consequences! You may think that you are just a person of 11 or 12; how can tiny little me make a difference? But I tell you, small changes could make a big difference over time. A good way to save the planet is to remember the three r's. The first R stands for reuse. This means to use things again when you can, like reusable supermarket bags! Set an example. It's important we get as many people as we can thinking about the environment and being eco-friendly. The second R is recycle. I'm sure that basically all of you use your green recycling bins, and that's great! Keep up the recycling! The last R is reduce. All it means is that if you don't buy too many things in the first place, you won't need to reuse or recycle them! What else can you do? You can ride a bike, a scooter or walk when you can, turn off lights when you leave a room to save power, and encourage your parents to use smaller cars, which use less fuel. Most importantly of all, find out what you can and spread the word. The future of our planet is up to you.
As I feel very strongly about this issue, I have created another blog to give tips on how we can save our planet. Please visit: http://nikkismessage.blogspot.com
Speech Reflections
Were you happy with your speech? Why? / Why not? Yes. I was very happy with my speech because I felt that I would make my audience think, and I delivered it with confidence and no stumbles. I also got a very good time - 2.54 - and I received lots of positive feedback from my class mates.
What was the most difficult part of this experience? The most difficult part was getting my time down to 3 minutes from 4.5 minutes.
Why do you think this was difficult for you? I think that this was difficult for me because I had so much to say on the subject and I thought that all of my information was important so I didn't know which bits to cut out.
What could you do next time to improve your speech? Next time, to improve my speech I could make it more interesting for the audience by raising and lowering my voice more, and saying lots of things to make my audience think. As I was 6 seconds under time, I could extend my pauses so that my message sinks in.
My Science Fair was called Sticky Bugs. Here is all the planning that went into it...
Science Fair
Sticky Bugs.
AIM: To find out which colour attracts flying insects the most.
HYPOTHESIS: I think that yellow will attract the most insects because a lot of small insects are attracted to light and yellow is a light colour.
EQUIPMENT:
coloured card,*
18 long skewers,
masking tape,
Zinc and Castor oil ointment,
and a toothbrush
(to dab on the ointment
to make the card sticky.)
COLOURS:*
white
red
yellow
green
blue
black
METHOD:
1. Tape the coloured card to the skewers - one colour for each skewer, and three cards of each colour.
2. Paint the ointment onto the card with the toothbrush to make it sticky.
3. Plant the skewers in three different parts of the garden. Use one of each colour at each location, so it is a fair test. Plant the skewers in the garden at 12:45 pm, and collect them in again at 5:45 pm.
4. At 5:45 pm, come back and record how many insects have stuck to each card / colour.
5. Repeat the experiment two more times, at the same time each day, and in the same weather conditions.
VARIABLES:
Constant Control variables - things that you will keep the same. Same places
Same colours
Same size of card
Same toothbrush
Same time of day
Same weather
Same sticky substance
Test variables - the thing that you will change/test. I will change the colour of the card (when I have 6 different colours in each set.)
Measured variable - what am I looking for? I am looking for the number of insects stuck to each card/colour.
Multiple variables - what could I also do? I could test it in different weather.....
TESTING LOG:
Friday 1 June
Tonight I cut the cardboard into squares. They are 10 cm by 10 cm. I have 9 cards of each colour = for 3 tests and 3 locations. I will place them by the feijoa trees, the passionfruit plants, and the garden by the pool which is near the tamarillo tree. Mum helped me find something sticky to paint onto my cardboard. I was going to use varnish but of course it will just dry out. Instead, I will use Zinc and Castor oil ointment. It's great because it doesn't dry out, and because it is so old, it is very sticky!
I'm really looking forward to science fair!
Saturday 2 June
Today I dabbed the ointment onto the cards and put the first set out into the garden. I took photos of the skewers in the garden. I hope I catch some insects, and if I do, I hope it supports my hypothesis.
21.06.07 This is good work so far. Remember to keep this record of work up to date right to the end. There is a big gap from the 2nd of June to now.You might like to add an entry on the Scientific Habits of Mind that you have used and the types of thinking that you have done at the different stages of this investigation. Give some examples of each.Do you have any photographs that you could add to this page? Mrs. M
Sunday 3 June
My hypothesis is looking grim today. My cards caught nothing at all!!!!! The weather was the same as yesterday - 1 shower and a small bit of sunshine, but mainly overcast.
Monday 4 June
My hypothesis is not looking too good today, either. I caught nothing on yellow. Red and green both caught two insects -the most! Blue also caught 1 insect. All my insects are sandflies! It's a pity my experiment hasn't really worked, but I think I'll have fun presenting my board!
BOARD PREPERATION LOG:
Saturday 16 June
I painted my science board silver today. It looks fantastic!
Sunday 17 June
I printed out all my typed pieces except my log, conclusion and application.
Friday 22 June
I started to draft my conclusion tonight.
Saturday 23 June
Today I printed out my conclusion after making it better. I also did my application, and after tea I glued on my heading - Sticky Bugs!!!
Sunday 24 June
Today I backed all my typing and arranged my board. I realised this log will have to go on one of the side panels instead of between my conclusion and application. But I'm happy with that!
SCIENCE FAIR REFLECTION
Why did you choose to research this topic? Because I was interested in things to do with the garden and what colours can do. I also thought that it would be valuable information for gardeners who think that insects are pests.
Which aspects of the Science Fair investigation challenged you most and why? What challenged me was my results! When I brought in my cards on Saturday night, I realised that this might not work because I had only caught a couple of sandflies. I debated over whether to keep going and hope for the best with my experiment, or change my times so that I could do it during the week - hopefully the weather would be warm!
Describe the 2 key things that you have learnt from this investigation. I have learnt that I should plan everything s0 that it would definitely work, I had to rely on the fact that the weather might change. I have also learnt to use the time I have. I was early to finish my testing, and I didn't work on my conclusion until the last minute.
How might others benefit from what you have found out? My hypothesis would possibly be correct if I repeated my experiment in warmer weather, when gardeners tend to plant their crops. If insects were being a pest, they could lay out coloured, sticky flags to trap them.
There were some great activities at camp, such as, high ropes and flying kiwi, where you ran and as your classmates ran forward with your rope (hooked over a log way up high) then you flew upwards! It was my favourite activity. I also enjoyed snorkelling. We didn't see any fish, but I liked the experience. At camp the food was great, and the staff were really friendly.
We searched in rock pools for any rocky shore creatures on the beach.
TUESDAY
On Tuesday the ferry trip was calm. When we landed on the island we had to walk 6 kilometres! It took forever! When we arrived at camp on another island (a bridge joined the two islands) we were all very tired. We got straight into the activities. Our first one was not very exciting. There was a low rock climbing wall and materials to make a collage, but that was all. Next came the high ropes. They didn't scare me one little bit. They were about ten metres high, but I knew that I was harnessed on. The first one was a log. I had 4 attempts. I can now run across it without using my hands. The second one was a two wire bridge. I had one turn. The third one was a wire to walk on with rope from above to hold on to, every metre. When I saw how high it was, I actually felt a little scared. But I told myself not to look down........and I made it! I thought that I'd try it again so I coiuld do it with confidence. And I could! Dinner was nachos. Yum!
WEDNESDAY
Good Morning! Breakfast was cereal, toast and spaghetti. Some activities we did today were snorkelling (I dived down to the bottom of the sea even though I was really scared!), flying kiwi, and survivor / problem solving. Survivor was a huge obstacle course involving tyres over a mud pond, a giant jigsaw puzzle, bosun's chair (where you had to pull a rope, to move the chair, to get your team mates from A to B), jumping up a wall, The Great Roll Of China (a huge wooden wheel that your team mates pushed to get you over to the other side) and a bucket hanging on the high end of a see-saw with holes in the bottom. You had to pour water in and try to get the see-saw to go down. (The key is to tip 6 icecream containers full of water into the bucket at the same time.)
THURSDAY
It was pouring wet. So I missed out on kayaking and rockclimbing! What a shame! Instead, we did an indoor rotation. The people in the dining room sketched with pencils and charcoal. In the museum we did brain teasers. Here's a few.
H|E|A|D = headquarters!
Ban ana = banana split!
SIDE SIDE = side by side
nme SURROUNDED nme = surrounded by enemies!
nme
HhAaNnDd = hand in hand!
chair = high chair!
______
We also played games like under - over and musical statues. In the hall, there was a pretend wedding. The girls had to make a toilet paper dress for the bride and the boys had to make a suit for the groom using newspaper.
That night was movie night. We munched on popcorn and watched 'Over the Hedge'.
Camp Goals and Reflections
What are you most looking forward to at camp? I am most looking forward to High Ropes and the flying fox. I love heights. Usually.
What are you most worried about? Nothing at all!!!
1. On camp I want to develop confidence in the ocean. When we were snorkelling, I was a little bit scared, I didn't like the ocean much, but I dived down to the bottom and had a look. However, I needed a lot of persuasion and encouragement.
2. On camp, I want to have fun and no worries.
I had heaps of fun! Everything was so simple and enjoyable.
3. On camp, I want to be a good team member. I encouraged all my team members and we worked well together, especially in Problem Solving and Survivor, where we learnt that you needed your team a lot.
Camp Evaluation
Describe your group's greatest strength...Our group's greatest strength was that everyone had a go at everything, and we all encouraged each other. Everyone tried. We hung in there. No one sat out.
What could your group have improved in? Our group could have improved in taking turns. Some people would always go first. Also, in the auctions, the same person bid every night. We could have shared the position.
Self Evaluation
1 = poor | 2 = fair | 3 = okay | 4 = good | 5 = very good | 6 = excellent
I gained confidence - 4
I joined in fully in activities - 6
I joined in fully with group duties - 5
I helped others - 5
I showed respect for others - 5
I was independent away from home - 6
I showed initiative - 5
I tried my hardest in all that I did - 6+
Activity Evaluation
1 = poor | 2 = fair | 3 = okay | 4 = good | 5 = very good | 6 = excellent
Snorkelling - 4
High Ropes - 6+
Problem Solving - 4
Rocky Shore - 4
Hall Games - 5
Survivor - 6
Flying Kiwi - 6+++*
* The Flying Kiwi
My favourite activity at camp was the flying kiwi. On Wednesday, groups 2 & 3 went to the High Ropes course. First we got a harness and a helmet. When we were ready, our instructor explained what was going to happen. Someone went first. He was the kiwi. The adults strapped him onto the rope.He had to have a second harness as well. Our instructor asked him, "Kiwi! Ready?" The kiwi said yes. Then she asked us, the wings, "Wings! Ready?" "Yes!" We were holding a rope that went around a post and back to the kiwi so when we ran forwards with the rope, the kiwi went up. "1 2 3! GO!" On 1, the kiwi ran. On 2, the kiwi ran faster. On 3, we pulled the rope. The kiwi ran.. and flew! i couldn't wait until it was my turn. Then it was. I was strapped up. "Kiwi! Ready?" "Yes!" I called. "Wings! Ready?" "Yes!" the others replied. I ran. I ran faster. I sprinted, trying to touch the cone before I was pulled up and then.. I was soaring like a bird! It was so cool! One of the best things I've ever done. Camp Menu
Back at school, we had to design a menu for camp from as list with prices. We then had to total the cost and see if we could afford it. BREAKFAST 1 Weetbix $3.50 Milk $2.65 Coco Pops $6.75 Raro $1.15 Sugar $2.45 MORNING TEA 1 Plain biscuits $2.10 Raro $1.15 LUNCH 1 Buns $3.45 Ham $2.65 Lettuce $2.00 Tomatoes $3.25 Orange Juice $2.50 AFTERNOON TEA 1 Fancy biscuits $4.45 Orange Juice $2.50 DINNER 1 Sausages (x2) $11.20 Potatoes $4.80 Mixed Vegetables $6.50 Bread $2.65 SUPPER 1 Milo $3.50 Fancy biscuits $4.45 BREAKFAST 2 Pancakes $6.75 Bread $2.65 Jam $3.20 Honey $2.65 Butter $3.75 Marmite $1.95 MORNING TEA 2 Watermelon $4.00 Raro $1.15 LUNCH 2 Grapes $13.50 Oranges $5.50 Pie (x8) $14.00 AFTERNOON TEA 2 Grapes $13.50 Apples $5.00 Bananas $6.00 Orange Juice $2.50 DINNER 2 Steak (x8) $16.00 Chicken $8.95 Lettuce $2.00 Tomatoes $3.25 SUPPER 2 Milo $3.50 Carrots $4.60 TOTAL = $188.65
Camp Thinking Hats
WHITE HAT What are the facts?
* Thursday was wet.
* We went for a run each morning.
* One morning we did Jump Jam instead.
* The bride's dress was made out of toilet paper.
* The groom's suit was made out of newspaper.
YELLOW HAT What were the good things?
* There was never a boring moment.
* I didn't get sick until the last day.
* I got to sleep in the same dormitory as my friends.
* It was sunny on Tuesday.
* High Ropes was our second activity.
* It was sunny on Friday.
* The food was delicious.
BLACK HAT What were the bad things?
* Thursday's activities were cancelled because it was raining.
* We didn't see any fish in snorkelling because it was murky.
* We had to wait ages before we could eat.
* My group never won anything in the auction.
* I got sick.
RED HAT What are my feelings about camp?
* We were very cramped when we were eating.
* The dining room was very small.
* We had to wait ages before we could eat.
* Camp was a different environment to what I was used to.
* I loved the setting of the campsite.
* I loved being close to the sea.
GREEN HAT What could be improved?
* Tables and benches lengthened.
* Bigger dining room.
* More spaced out serving counters.
BLUE HAT What types of thinking did you have to use?
* Positive thinking. We had to always be positive, otherwise, our team wouldn't work.
* Problem Solving. We had to think of many strategies, based on everybody's size, ability and strength.
* Team thinking. We had to agree on a lot.
ROCKY SHORE
In term 1, we studied the rocky shore. We each chose a living organism from the rocky shore and did an investigation. here is mine:
FOOD
* If something touches it, i.e your finger, it curls up, thinking you are food.
COLOUR
* Sea Anemones are colourful.
2. What I know and what I want to know.
WHAT I KNOW
* Sea anemones capture their food with their tentacles by enclosing it.
* They are found in rockpools.
* They can be different colours.
WHAT I WANT TO KNOW
1. How does a sea anemone eat, after the prey is trapped?
2. Where does the prey go then? What happens to it?
3. What eats sea anemones?
4. What do sea anemones eat?
5. What tidal zone do you find them in?
6. Why are sea anemones coloured when most creatures are camouflaged?
7. How does a sea anemone adapt to its habitat and what special features does it have?
3. Resources
RESOURCES
* Library books
* Internet
I USED...
* newspaper article
* www.teara.govt.nz/EarthSeaandSky/Sealife/CoralsAnemonesandjellyfish
* Nature Watching at the Beach (book)
* Seashore Secrets (book)
* The Penguin Natural World of New Zealand (book)
4. Keywords
KEYWORDS
* predator
* prey
* tentacles
* Inter tidal zone creatures
* sting
* Cnidarians
HOW WILL I PRESENT MY WRITTEN INFORMATION?
In a photo album with lots of pictures too.
7. Notes
SEA ANEMONES - INSACTINIA TENABROSA
* Sea Anemones (or SA) live in rockpools in the shade of overhanging rocks and boulders.
* At low tide, SA tuck their tentacles in.
* The common red ones then look like plums.
* They eat sandhoppers.
* Their bodies are like sacks.
* They stuff food into their mouths with their tentacles.
* The tentacles have a sting which paralyses their prey.
* A SA's mouth is the only exit of a SA, so it spits waste from it's food out of its mouth.
* There are at least 110 different species of SA, maybe 50 more.
* Most SA stay still.
* However, some SA move, they walk on their tentacles.
* Can reproduce by splitting and regenerating.
* Common red anemone - Insactinia Tenabrosa.
* Intertidal zone.
* Upside down relatives of jellyfish.
* Known as 'flowers of the sea.'
* Are not plants, they are animals.
* When taken out of the water, SA cover themselves with stones e.t.c.
* They do this to protect themselves from sun and wind.
* SA eat shrimps and plankton.
* Eating Process: paralyse prey, pull in prey, eat prey, spit out waste through mouth.
8. Q&A
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1.How does a sea anemone eat? It waves its tentacles to attract prey. Unsuspecting prey swims by. SA paralyses it and pulls it in. It then eats its prey and spits out the leftovers.
2. What eats sea anemones? Sea stars and big fish.
3.What do sea anemones eat? Plankton, shrimps and sandhoppers.
4. What special features do sea anemones have? Tentacles to attract prey and sting them, and colour to attract their prey.
5. Why are sea anemones coloured when most creatures are camouflaged? Probably to attract prey, just like normal flowers have bright colours to attract bees and other insects.
6.What tidal zone do sea anemones belong in? Intertidal zone.
7. How do sea anemones protect themselves? When taken out of the water, a sea anemone covers itself with stones e.t.c. to protect itself from sun and wind.
____________________________________________________________________
After this investigation, we all investigated starfish...
1. Deciding (Circle Map)
STARFISH
* beach
* rockpools
* echinoderm
* 5 legs
* sea
* star
* suckers
* seagulls
2. Finding (Know, what, learn)
WHAT I KNOW
* A starfish is an echinoderm.
* They take their stomach out to eat.
* You can find them in rockpools by the sea.
* They need water.
* They have a hard shell with suckers on them.
WHAT I WANT TO KNOW
* Where are a starfish's senses?
* Can starfish live in fresh water?
* How do you distinguish different kinds of starfish?
* What do starfish eat?
* How do starfish protect themselves?
WHAT I HAVE LEARNT
* Starfish have no eyes.
* Stegnatsus Inflatus cushion star is smooth, other cushion stars are rough.
* They eat bivalves, shellfish, small animals, oysters, sea urchins and snails.
WHAT SORT OF INFORMATION DO I WANT?
* Pictures
* Explanations
* Descriptions
* Facts
WHERE COULD I GO TO GET THIS INFORMATION?
* Books
* Internet
* Library
* People
3. Using (Sources)
QUESTION 1
Source: The Lifesize Guide to the New Zealand Beach (book)
QUESTION 2
Source: People.
QUESTION 3
Source: Seashore Secrets (book)
Source: Nature Watching at the Beach (book)
QUESTION 4
Source: The Concise Children's Encyclopedia.
Source: www.teara.govt.nz
QUESTION 5
Source: www.teara.govt.nz
4. Recording (Bullet points)
NOTES
* No eyes, feel with arms, mouth or underside of body.
* Starfish cannot live in freshwater. Not for long, anyway.
* Stegnatsus Inflatus cushion star - 100 mm + across!
* Stegnatsus Inflatus cushion star - orange and black or green or brown and cream.
* Common cushion star - grey blue or dull orange brown.
* Starfish eat bivalves, snails, oysters, shellfish, sea urchins and other small animals.
* Starfish protect themselves by sticking onto rocks, and also, their roughish, spiny skin.
5. Evaluating (Reflections)
I am a better researcher now because I've learnt the steps,* memorized them and completed them.
* The steps of research are
1. Deciding
2. Finding
3. Using
4. Recording
5. Presenting
6. Evaluating
Did I complete each stage of research before moving on? No.
Did I use a range of sources? Yes.
Did I acknowledge all my sources of information? Yes.
The most interesting thing I learnt was the interesting names that starfish have, e.g, Stegnatsus Inflatus!
Next time I will make sure I complete each step before moving on.
Indicate how happy you are with your finished product (1 - not happy at all, 5 - so happy!) = 4
ROCKY SHORE CREATURES
CRUSTACEANS
* Hermit crab
* Crab
* Decorator crab
ECHINODERMS
* Cushion star
* Starfish
* Brittle star
* Sea urchin
