Hi guys,
One of the questions last week was related to this wind map of the US, and I got lots of really thoughtful answers about why certain areas were, well, windier than others. As I am posting right now, the strongest winds are moving northeastward across Southern California and Texas, as well as north-eastward and south-eastward across most of the Great Lakes Region. These are also the areas that were seeing the most wind "action" whenever kids were checking last week. Why is that?
Here are your questions for the week to help you think about that:
1. What are those white areas beside Chicago, below Texas and the other "deep south" states and to the west of California? What do those areas have in common?
2. What area or areas have the strongest winds right now and how many mph are the winds moving?
Check out this link: Weather Whiz Kids: Wind
3. Using the Beaufort Scale on the Weather Whiz Kids page, what ratings would the winds in your #2 answer have? What does this tell you about the wind in that area right now?
4. What is a sea breeze?
5. What is a land breeze?
6. What is the jet stream?
7. What are your thoughts now on why the wind is stronger in some places than others?
Please email me your answers this week, like you did last week (sylvan.taylor@gmail.com). Don't forget to use complete, detailed sentences!!
Stay tuned tomorrow for an update on our turtles...
Monday, September 24, 2012
Friday, September 21, 2012
*Not an Assignment - an Update*
Hi kiddos!
This is an update, not this week's assignment. For this week's assignment, go here: Hurricanes and Monarchs
First of all, a goodbye: our turtles are moving out of their tank and joining their wild cousins in pond life! They are very excited. As some families have probably already heard, we are no longer allowed to have animals at school, so I made a call to the Winston-Salem Reptile Rescue and they assured me that our little buddies will do well in the wild! Hooray! The big move happens this weekend.
Also, I found this link that was really interesting, related to an assignment from awhile back. Several kids said that Kinsey has a 50/50 chance of having blue or brown eyes, and I disagreed with this. Based on my calculations, it's more like 75% likely brown, 25% likely blue, BUT here is a calculator tool on a website that suggests that 50/ 50 is the real probability. I am going to look into this more! For the record, her eyes are currently a dark bluish gray, but babies' true eye color isn't revealed until they are at least 6 months old.
Eye Color Link
This is an update, not this week's assignment. For this week's assignment, go here: Hurricanes and Monarchs
First of all, a goodbye: our turtles are moving out of their tank and joining their wild cousins in pond life! They are very excited. As some families have probably already heard, we are no longer allowed to have animals at school, so I made a call to the Winston-Salem Reptile Rescue and they assured me that our little buddies will do well in the wild! Hooray! The big move happens this weekend.
Also, I found this link that was really interesting, related to an assignment from awhile back. Several kids said that Kinsey has a 50/50 chance of having blue or brown eyes, and I disagreed with this. Based on my calculations, it's more like 75% likely brown, 25% likely blue, BUT here is a calculator tool on a website that suggests that 50/ 50 is the real probability. I am going to look into this more! For the record, her eyes are currently a dark bluish gray, but babies' true eye color isn't revealed until they are at least 6 months old.
Eye Color Link
Have a wonderful weekend, guys! If you haven't already emailed me your work for this week's blog assignment, please don't forget to do that.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
THE BLOG IS BACK IN ACTION!
Hi kiddos!
Thank you for being patient with me as I ease back into "the real world." As many of you, especially those with baby brothers and sisters, probably know, babies don't always agree with the grown-up notion that sleeping is for night time.
Great answers on the hurricane post! Depending on when you answered the questions, the correct hurricane name started with "M" or "N" (hurricane Michael was just getting started as the first posters posted, and then, several days later, hurricane Nadine was forming).
This week's post and questions are related to hurricanes and how they affect the migration paths of monarch butterflies. Thinking back to our studies of animal adaptations at the start of last year, you'll remember that monarchs complete their metamorphosis at this time of year and make their long journey to Mexico so that they can overwinter in the Oyamel forests.
Read this article: September 13 Monarch Update, and then answer the following questions.
Please email me your answers (sylvan.taylor@gmail.com) because everyone's answers should be the same this week. Thank you!
1. The "Image of the Week" shows a monarch that was blown to where?
2. What are two other unusual places that monarchs have been seen?
3. What hurricane seems to be blowing them off-course?
4. Look at the wind map. Where in the US is the wind the strongest now? About how many miles per hour is it blowing, and why do you think it might be stronger there?
5. Read the article, How Much Fuel do Monarchs Burn? How long can they fly during flapping flight? How about during soaring/ gliding flight?
6. How can the wind help migrating monarchs? How can it hurt them?
If you are interested in reading more about Hurricane Isaac (which was hitting Florida about the time school started), here is an article that discusses many of the effects and details of hurricanes that you guys mentioned in your work for the last blog posting: Hurricane Isaac.
If you are interested in monarchs, you may be able to find monarch caterpillars happily munching on milkweed or waiting to undergo their metamorphosis in their chrysalis right now. A great place to look is in the "weedy" area along the creek in Hanes Park and even right here in our school garden! Also keep an eye out for adult monarchs flying through on their journey South to Mexico!
Have a great week at school, guys! Remember, please send me your answers, thorough and in complete sentences, by next Monday. Everyone who responded did a terrific job with that last week! Thanks so much! I want to see 100% response this week!
Thank you for being patient with me as I ease back into "the real world." As many of you, especially those with baby brothers and sisters, probably know, babies don't always agree with the grown-up notion that sleeping is for night time.
Great answers on the hurricane post! Depending on when you answered the questions, the correct hurricane name started with "M" or "N" (hurricane Michael was just getting started as the first posters posted, and then, several days later, hurricane Nadine was forming).
This week's post and questions are related to hurricanes and how they affect the migration paths of monarch butterflies. Thinking back to our studies of animal adaptations at the start of last year, you'll remember that monarchs complete their metamorphosis at this time of year and make their long journey to Mexico so that they can overwinter in the Oyamel forests.
Read this article: September 13 Monarch Update, and then answer the following questions.
Please email me your answers (sylvan.taylor@gmail.com) because everyone's answers should be the same this week. Thank you!
1. The "Image of the Week" shows a monarch that was blown to where?
2. What are two other unusual places that monarchs have been seen?
3. What hurricane seems to be blowing them off-course?
4. Look at the wind map. Where in the US is the wind the strongest now? About how many miles per hour is it blowing, and why do you think it might be stronger there?
5. Read the article, How Much Fuel do Monarchs Burn? How long can they fly during flapping flight? How about during soaring/ gliding flight?
6. How can the wind help migrating monarchs? How can it hurt them?
If you are interested in reading more about Hurricane Isaac (which was hitting Florida about the time school started), here is an article that discusses many of the effects and details of hurricanes that you guys mentioned in your work for the last blog posting: Hurricane Isaac.
If you are interested in monarchs, you may be able to find monarch caterpillars happily munching on milkweed or waiting to undergo their metamorphosis in their chrysalis right now. A great place to look is in the "weedy" area along the creek in Hanes Park and even right here in our school garden! Also keep an eye out for adult monarchs flying through on their journey South to Mexico!
Have a great week at school, guys! Remember, please send me your answers, thorough and in complete sentences, by next Monday. Everyone who responded did a terrific job with that last week! Thanks so much! I want to see 100% response this week!
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Baby Taylor is Here!
Kinsey Madeline Taylor was born at 3:59 am September 6. She's doing GREAT and so is everybody else. Jack is a super big brother!!
I am giving you a week off from blog assignments, since we are adjusting at home and it will take me a little while to check up on your Hurricane work and respond well.
I've heard such great things about how hard you are all working at school so far this year! That's terrific! Keep it up!
Monday, September 3, 2012
HURRICANES
Hi kiddos!
I know you have been studying hurricanes so far this year, and it sounds like you have been learning a lot - and teaching each other a lot, as well!
For this week's blog assignment, I have 2 links for you to visit, "Web Weather for Kids: Hurricanes" and and article called "Weird Weather" from Science News for Kids. I'd like for you to read both pages and then respond to the questions below. You can respond right here on the blog this week, rather than emailing me. If you have a question, you can email me at sylvan.taylor@gmail.com, but all answers go here this week.
Remember, please answer everything in complete sentences - that means a complete thought with correct capitalization and punctuation. Also know that, in some cases, your answer may be similar to someone else's answer. That's okay, as long as you put your own "spin" on it.
Here are the links to the 2 articles:
Science News for Kids: Weird Weather
Web Weather for Kids: Hurricanes
Here are your questions, to answer in complete sentences after you have read the 2 articles:
1. Do you think that the "weird weather" changes described in the Science News for Kids article would make hurricanes more or less likely? Why do you think this? Try to use details from both articles.
2. Name one fact you learned from an article that you did not already know.
3. Name one thing you learned in school last week about hurricanes that was not mentioned in the articles you just read.
4. Using what you have learned about hurricane names, give a suggestion for the name of the next hurricane to occur this hurricane season.
(If you aren't 100% sure you're up to date on the hurricane season so far, you can check out the Accuweather Hurricane Page to be sure you know what's up)
I know you have been studying hurricanes so far this year, and it sounds like you have been learning a lot - and teaching each other a lot, as well!
For this week's blog assignment, I have 2 links for you to visit, "Web Weather for Kids: Hurricanes" and and article called "Weird Weather" from Science News for Kids. I'd like for you to read both pages and then respond to the questions below. You can respond right here on the blog this week, rather than emailing me. If you have a question, you can email me at sylvan.taylor@gmail.com, but all answers go here this week.
Remember, please answer everything in complete sentences - that means a complete thought with correct capitalization and punctuation. Also know that, in some cases, your answer may be similar to someone else's answer. That's okay, as long as you put your own "spin" on it.
Here are the links to the 2 articles:
Science News for Kids: Weird Weather
Web Weather for Kids: Hurricanes
Here are your questions, to answer in complete sentences after you have read the 2 articles:
1. Do you think that the "weird weather" changes described in the Science News for Kids article would make hurricanes more or less likely? Why do you think this? Try to use details from both articles.
2. Name one fact you learned from an article that you did not already know.
3. Name one thing you learned in school last week about hurricanes that was not mentioned in the articles you just read.
4. Using what you have learned about hurricane names, give a suggestion for the name of the next hurricane to occur this hurricane season.
(If you aren't 100% sure you're up to date on the hurricane season so far, you can check out the Accuweather Hurricane Page to be sure you know what's up)
Sunday, September 2, 2012
REMINDER
Hi kiddos!
Just a reminder:
I have gotten very nice blog responses from the following kiddos so far and responded to them all:
Jaelyn
Drew
Jacob
Raja
Rachel
Allie
Raquel
... and that's it! Don't forget that this IS a requirement in fifth grade and there is a BRAND NEW POST going up tomorrow. It will be related to hurricanes, which I hear you've been discussing in class lately.
I hope the year is going well so far! I miss you all and look forward to seeing you all in November. I heard you're all working hard and learning a lot! I hope that continues!
In case you were wondering, no baby yet, but I am sure she will decide to arrive very soon! I will let you all know when she does.
Mrs. Taylor
Just a reminder:
I have gotten very nice blog responses from the following kiddos so far and responded to them all:
Jaelyn
Drew
Jacob
Raja
Rachel
Allie
Raquel
... and that's it! Don't forget that this IS a requirement in fifth grade and there is a BRAND NEW POST going up tomorrow. It will be related to hurricanes, which I hear you've been discussing in class lately.
I hope the year is going well so far! I miss you all and look forward to seeing you all in November. I heard you're all working hard and learning a lot! I hope that continues!
In case you were wondering, no baby yet, but I am sure she will decide to arrive very soon! I will let you all know when she does.
Mrs. Taylor
Sunday, August 26, 2012
FIRST BLOG ASSIGNMENT FOR 5th GRADE
Hi kids!
I hope you are all ready and excited about fifth grade! I'm sorry that I'll be missing out on that exciting first day with you, but I know it will be great. Fifth grade is my FAVORITE year to teach, and I'm already planning some great things for when I return.
So far, no baby. Monday was the "due date," of course, like anything that deals with humans or any other living things, there are no guarantees! As of right now, I am planning to take Jack to his first day of preschool and then just... wait!
So, in honor of Baby Girl Taylor, who has decided not to arrive yet, here are your questions for your first blog assignment:
**I AM ADDING A FEW THOUGHTS TO HELP YOU OUT, BASED ON WHAT I HAVE SEEN SO FAR IN ANSWERS:
* Don't forget to write in complete sentences for every answer! This is one of the requirements for blog assignments & it helps me see what you understand and what you don't. This week, your answers could be very confusing if you don't write in complete sentences and correctly number your answers.
* If I ask "why," please give me your thoughts on "why."
* Read the WHOLE blog entry before you start your assignment - this week, I gave some tips and even sample answers at the end, which I think some kids missed. Some folks are even missing the last questions. Be careful!
1. When were you born, in relation to your due date (early, late, by how many days - if your parents know/ remember)?
2. What was the probability that someone would be born then - that many days early or late- according to this graph: Birth Probability Graph
3. If Baby Girl Taylor is NOT born tomorrow, when is the next MOST likely day, according to the information on the graph?
4. I have brown eyes. Mr. Taylor has blue eyes. What color eyes will the baby most likely have? Why do I say "most likely" - why isn't it definite?
Use this site to help you: Genetics Site (it seems to actually be directed at people breeding birds, but I liked the way it explained recessive and dominant traits - you will study this a bit more later this year).
If you want to take it to a more complicated level (you can just go with the basic blue + brown stuff for now), it will help you to know the eye colors of my parents and Mr. Taylor's parents:
My mom has hazel eyes and my dad has brown eyes. Mr. Taylor's parents both have blue eyes. **This is an EXTRA step, that we will study later this year. **
(Jack has brown eyes - is this to be expected?)
5. Try it for yourself - is your eye color the predicted eye color? What about any siblings you may have?
FOR EXAMPLE:
If I were to respond, these would be my answers, about myself:
1. I was born about 30 days before my due date.
2. The probability that someone would be born then is about 0.3% - that's highly unlikely.
3. If Baby Girl Taylor is not born tomorrow, the next most likely day is ______ (not giving away the answer to that one). I know because ___________________ (explain your answer).
4. It is most likely that Baby Girl Taylor will have ___________ eyes (answers will vary, depending on how "in-depth" you want to go and how you understand the information).
5. My eyes are brown. My mother's eyes are hazel and my father's eyes are brown. This means that my eye color is pretty much what you would expect. Hazel is an unusual eye color, though, so nothing there is entirely expected!
Please email your responses to me at my gmail account - sylvan.taylor@gmail.com
Using my school email at home can be tricky, and there are a lot of "spam" filters, so it is much easier for me to use my personal email. I do have a checklist where I will be keeping track of everyone's assignment submissions, and I will respond to everyone to let you know I've gotten your responses and to answer any questions you have.
You have until next Monday (September 3 - Labor Day), to submit your answers. I will post a new Blog Assignment on Monday, September 3.
I hope you are all ready and excited about fifth grade! I'm sorry that I'll be missing out on that exciting first day with you, but I know it will be great. Fifth grade is my FAVORITE year to teach, and I'm already planning some great things for when I return.
So far, no baby. Monday was the "due date," of course, like anything that deals with humans or any other living things, there are no guarantees! As of right now, I am planning to take Jack to his first day of preschool and then just... wait!
So, in honor of Baby Girl Taylor, who has decided not to arrive yet, here are your questions for your first blog assignment:
**I AM ADDING A FEW THOUGHTS TO HELP YOU OUT, BASED ON WHAT I HAVE SEEN SO FAR IN ANSWERS:
* Don't forget to write in complete sentences for every answer! This is one of the requirements for blog assignments & it helps me see what you understand and what you don't. This week, your answers could be very confusing if you don't write in complete sentences and correctly number your answers.
* If I ask "why," please give me your thoughts on "why."
* Read the WHOLE blog entry before you start your assignment - this week, I gave some tips and even sample answers at the end, which I think some kids missed. Some folks are even missing the last questions. Be careful!
1. When were you born, in relation to your due date (early, late, by how many days - if your parents know/ remember)?
2. What was the probability that someone would be born then - that many days early or late- according to this graph: Birth Probability Graph
3. If Baby Girl Taylor is NOT born tomorrow, when is the next MOST likely day, according to the information on the graph?
4. I have brown eyes. Mr. Taylor has blue eyes. What color eyes will the baby most likely have? Why do I say "most likely" - why isn't it definite?
Use this site to help you: Genetics Site (it seems to actually be directed at people breeding birds, but I liked the way it explained recessive and dominant traits - you will study this a bit more later this year).
If you want to take it to a more complicated level (you can just go with the basic blue + brown stuff for now), it will help you to know the eye colors of my parents and Mr. Taylor's parents:
My mom has hazel eyes and my dad has brown eyes. Mr. Taylor's parents both have blue eyes. **This is an EXTRA step, that we will study later this year. **
(Jack has brown eyes - is this to be expected?)
5. Try it for yourself - is your eye color the predicted eye color? What about any siblings you may have?
FOR EXAMPLE:
If I were to respond, these would be my answers, about myself:
1. I was born about 30 days before my due date.
2. The probability that someone would be born then is about 0.3% - that's highly unlikely.
3. If Baby Girl Taylor is not born tomorrow, the next most likely day is ______ (not giving away the answer to that one). I know because ___________________ (explain your answer).
4. It is most likely that Baby Girl Taylor will have ___________ eyes (answers will vary, depending on how "in-depth" you want to go and how you understand the information).
5. My eyes are brown. My mother's eyes are hazel and my father's eyes are brown. This means that my eye color is pretty much what you would expect. Hazel is an unusual eye color, though, so nothing there is entirely expected!
Please email your responses to me at my gmail account - sylvan.taylor@gmail.com
Using my school email at home can be tricky, and there are a lot of "spam" filters, so it is much easier for me to use my personal email. I do have a checklist where I will be keeping track of everyone's assignment submissions, and I will respond to everyone to let you know I've gotten your responses and to answer any questions you have.
You have until next Monday (September 3 - Labor Day), to submit your answers. I will post a new Blog Assignment on Monday, September 3.
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