Moose+and+Friends

__Moose__: Jonathan Samarco __& Friends__: Amanda Isaac, Amanda Elko, Sarah Park = = =Current Event Questions=

Amanda Elko - What are the Northern Lights?

Northern lights are produced by collisions between electrically charged particles from the sun that enter the earth’s atmosphere. They are called the Northern Lights because their lights are seen above the magnetic poles of the northern and southern hemispheres. In the south the lights are known as ‘Aurora australis’ and in the north the lights are called ‘Aurora borealis’. The most common colors of the Auroral are pale green and pink. The Northern lights appear in many different forms, such as scattered clouds and patches, arcs, and shooting rays that light up the sky with a mystic glow. Scientists from NSAA recently sent a rocket into space through the Northern lights to study how the lights can affect signals from GPS satellites and other spacecraft. [|Northern Lights] = =

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 Pestalotiopsis microspora is the only known fungus that is currently known to be able to survive solely on polyurethane. Polyurethane is a thermoplastic polymer that is used for padding and insulation in furniture, clothing and packaging. This polymer is used in common household items such as garden hoses, balls and buckets. The fungus can do its job of breaking down plastic items in an oxygen-free environment like the bottom of a landfill. By devouring plastic, this microbe eliminates waste at a faster rate than it would take for it to decompose naturally. This discovery was made by three Yale students who went to the rainforest in Ecuador to student fungi and bacteria. [|These Fungi Love Plastic!]=====

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Tsunami - from Japanese word meaning harbor wave. Tsunamis are enormous waves caused by an underwater disturbance; earthquakes and volcanic eruptions under the sea. The energy from the disturbance cause an initial wave, which splits into two, one heading out to sea and the other toward the shore. As a result, large and strong waves form which raises the sea level and causes mass destruction inland. The waves do not increase in height, however, as the storm travels inland and the depths of the ocean floor decreases the waves increase to higher heights causing mass destruction. The tsunami waves’ speed depends on the depth of the ocean and could reach speeds of jet planes, up to 500 miles per hour.=====

Websites on Tsunamis
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Amanda Isaac- Why is a sharks skin rough and how does this characteristic give sharks an advantage?

A shark’s skin is rough because it is covered with millions of microscopic, tooth like bumps called denticles. Scientists have found that the rough sharkskin helps reduce drag. Drag is a force in the direction opposite to an animal’s movement which slows an animal down. The sharkskin also increases thrust. Thrust is a force in the direction an animal is moving, and it helps swimming and flying animals overcome drag. With both of these denticles give the shortfin mako shark (used for this study) and all other fish an interesting balance and somewhat of a boost while swimming against the water’s density.

[|Speedy Sharkskin Article]
== = Chapter Content Questions: =

Q: Are the constant changes and inconsistencies in science beneficial?
**A:** Yes, changes are one of the most important strengths of science in that the entire scientific body of knowledge is subject to new evidence or new ways of interpreting data. Often times, people discover that there are better ways to make observations such as using new technological advances, which may reinforce a theory or provide a correction to an existing theory. These changes can only improve and expand the knowledge of science. : media type="youtube" key="NofPfy6eehc" height="315" width="560"
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**Q: Besides simply listening and speaking what other ways can students communicate what they have learned?**
A: Oral reports, charts, graphs, reports(papers/writing), demonstrations, videos, dramatizations...(using visual aids.)

**Q: How are learning centers beneficial to a classroom?**
A: :Learning centers re-enforce a previous lessons objective and allow for more practice, promote cooperative learning among students, excercise social skills and problem solving, allows students to work at their on pace as well as help manage time, they are fun and ** E ngaging**.


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**Life Science: Vegetative/Reptiles**
Reptiles: Amanda I. & Jon

** Q: What are the major characteristics of reptiles? **
A: Reptiles are vertebrates (have a backbone, yes; even snakes!) Reptiles have scales, lay eggs, have ear holes instead of ears, have four legs or no legs, are cold-blooded. media type="youtube" key="CLtkB60JRkY" height="315" width="420"
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** Q: What does it mean to be cold-blooded? **
A: Cold-blooded animals' body temperature depends on and reglates accoring to the outside temperature.

Vegetative Reproduction: Amanda E. & Sarah

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A:Many people think that only seeds produce new flowering plants. However, some of the most useful and interesting ways to grow new plants are through the natural reproduction of roots, stems, and even leaves!======

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A:The main purpose is to increase and mutiply the number of plants in a more rapid way. It also helps to keep more desirable plant charateristics as well as prevent the extinction of certian plant species. ======

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Q: **What is light energy?** ==**Light energy is the only visible form of energy. Light energy is the energy produced or given off directly from the sun causing the growth of plants and the existence of most life forms. Light travels in a straight line until it strikes an object. Light can be reflected by a mirror, refracted by a lense, or absored by an object. The majority of light-energy waves are non-visible and exist at different wave frequencies than visible light.** ==

==**Light is a product of intense chemical reactions taking place inside the sun. Hydrogen atoms fuse together to produce helium atoms. Light forms a considerable part of the total energy released because of the fusion reactions taking place inside the Sun. **==

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