Blog Review 2

Life In Alaska

This blog shows excellent concise writing. The pictures were interesting and to the point. Using Antarctica shows how valuable the ice on this continent is. The statistics explaining the amount of frozen freshwater is excellent. Bringing in the study of global warming in Fairbanks relates how Alaska is involved in climate research. The use of Google Earth as a resource is a great aid in learning about Antarctica. I enjoyed reading many blogs. I have seen what great writers there are in this course. Not a resisident of Alaska I learned much about your state. This blog was interesting and informative. After reading these blogs I know how much more I need to learn.

Blog Review 1

Berb's Blabber

I thought this blog showed excellent writing. The topics of glaciers, global warming and climate change were explained. The photographs showed much thought in their selection. I liked the Statue of Liberty photo showing what it would look like if all of the ice sheets melted. The graph was an excellent choice to show how CO2 is increasing. Using the Milankovich cycles to help added scientific evidence to why we have ice ages. Explaining how more ice cover leads to greater albedo brought out the positive feedback mechanism. The links highlighted are wonderful. I have read the book by Clive Cussler and agree it would be a good B movie. Even though the book is fiction is used present scientific ideas to create a exciting story. The blog was colorful, informative and interesting to read. I also agree there is not much we can do to change clmate. It is and will be a tragedy if we lose native cultures due to climate change. We will all feel the effects of climate change. The blog raises and excellent question is global warming natural or are humans causing our climate change?

Final Project

My final project will consist of a variety of programs. Being a retired teacher I do not have a specific group of students I am respondsible for. The classroom lessons I am developing will include both biological and physical sciences. Also the other subjects the students are taking will be incorporated into my arctic programs. The presentations will cover social studies, geography, art, music, language, literature and math. Each science lesson will have sections on the biosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, lithosphere and the cryosphere. I also will have specific science topics in chemistry, physics, biology and the geosciences. I believe that the students need to understand the relationships between the disciplines of science and the other subjects taught. I will not only be visiting schools to present to students but will also be conducting inservices to teachers and other organizations. When I return at the end of May I have been scheduled to present about the arctic to an elementary school in Clintonville, WI. This presentation will include video clips from Teachers Domain, images from Google Earth and digital photos I have taken. In the spring of 2011 I am scheduled to present to the Wisconsin Society of Science Teachers(WSST) during of science convention. My wife who has taught here the past two years and I are developing a brochure to advertise the programs being prepared. This class has shown me a large variety of digital resources at my disposal. Living in a native Inupiat village has given us a unique perspective of native knowledge and the use of western science.



GOALS:

1. To educate both students and teachers about native life in the arctic.

2. To compare and contrast traditional native knowledge of science vs western perspectives of science.

3. To create an understanding of how traditional knowledge and western science knowledge are both useful in understanding geosciences in the arctic.

4. To show how the native cultures in the arctic have adapted and survived for thousands of years.

5. To compare and contrast the native culture to our culture in Wisconsin.

6. To develop an understanding of the biosphere, cryosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere as they relate to the arctic.

7. To show how digital resources found in Teachers Domain and Google Earth can be used in the classroom for classroom lessons and student research.

8. To increase knowledge about life in the arctic.

9. To show how changes in the arctic have a greater effect on the native people who live there.

10. To educate the students of Wisconsin that our environmental actions can create dramatic changes in the arctic ecosystems.


OBJECTIVES: Each student should be able to:

I. Geography and Social Studies

a. locate Alaska on a map

b. label on a map of Alaska the major physical geographical features(mountains, rivers ect).

c. use Google Earth to measure distances between two different locations.

d. compare and contrast the size of Alaska to Wisconsin.

e. compare and contrast the different native cultures in Alaska.


II. Art and Music

a. compare and contrast native art and music to art and music created in our culture.

b. understand how natural materials are used in the creation of art.

c. compare and contrast native dancing to dancing in our culture.

III. Language
a. learn several Inupiat words.
b. learn how native authors use their culture to create childrens books.
c. understand some of the folklore of native Alaskans

The science presentations will be divided into seperate lessons involving each sphere. In each unit I will compare and contrast the arctic sphere to the Wisconsin spheres. Some examples will include the seasons, climate, plate tectonics, global warming weather patterns, arctic ecosystems and biology, and ocean science. Each lesson will incorporate lab activities, traditional knowledge and western science. Each lesson will include videos and visualizations from Teachers Domain and the use of Global Earth. Other digital resources will include web sites ranging from NASA, NOAA to you tube. My job will be to share the wealth of digital resources to my fellow Wisconsin teachers. Through my presentations I hope to educate teachers, students and the general public about life in the arctic. I want the people I reach to understand the value of the arctic as it relates to science. To show how all things are related and that the native cultures of Alaska contribute to science knowledge. I look at this project as a challenge and a mission to create a better understanding of arctic science, the native culture and how it relates to western science. I also want the Wisconsin public to appreciate the native culture and their contributions to art, literature and and folklore. This past school year has been a great adventure. Through as many resources I will increase the knowledge of the arctic in Wisconsin. The digital resources presented to me in this class will be used. Each unit or lesson will use different digital means to communicate the objectives of each lesson. Thank you Clay for your hard work to organize and prepare each weeks module. I will use your format to aid in the teaching of the arctic. I look forward to the challenge and rewards as I present about the native culture and the arctic. My adventure is just beginning.