Emma's8thgradepage

2009-05-15T14:24:00.000-07:00

This blog, if you have been reading it, has been my

companion throughout my year of documented learning.

We have studied clear out to different galaxies and then all

the way back to the center of our Mother Earth.And this blog

has stayed with me. Well, now it's time to part. So what

has our year looked like? Take a look.

Our first unit was astronomy. The great unknown....

well kind of unknown. We learned about the great life

of stars, like our sun. Other galaxies so far away it's

unimaginable. Black holes that suck everything in.

Other solar systems and our own. The Gas Giants

and the terrestrials like our own wonderful Earth. Oh,

what a wonderfully amazing place we live in. The part

I loved most was the lunar cycle. What the phases

are called and eclipses. I also loved learning about the

Big Bang theory. How amazing right?

Take a step out of our solar system right back into our Earth's atmosphere. All of the layers protecting us from the sun's violent rays and heat. I personally found this subject kind of boring and dry. I know that if we didn't have these layers, life on Earth would not exist but I found astronomy far more interesting. I did like learning about how the atmosphere shields Earth like a life giving blanket. Providing us with oxygen and protecting us from radiation for the most part. I also enjoyed learning about the different types of fronts. I enjoy watching weather come in from my window. A great view up the pass. Big thunderheads dark and heavy with sweet rain, thunder, and lightning.

Next, we studied geology. What a contrast from the great, vast universe. Learning exactly why and how volcanoes erupt. Plate tectonics. Fault lines, why there are earthquakes. I found many parts of this unit very interesting. I really loved learning about Pangaea. The thought of all of these separate continents together. The proof that all of the continents were together. What would it be like if the continents had stayed together? Would we have a more peaceful world with less pollution or a war plagued planet? A thought to ponder.

Our Mother Earth is a constantly changing planet. Weathering and erosion are the reasons our planet is always changing. I found this a dry unit as well. It was just something that I had some knowledge about already. I did enjoy learning about the different types of weathering. Chemical: acid rain. Acid from plants. Mechanical: movement of animals. Freezing and thawing. Just interesting to really look into how rocks are broken down. Our amazing, ever changing Earth.

What makes Earth so unique and life giving is the fact that is has water in it's liquid form. Providing life on Earth with delicious water. But only 3% is fresh water. I found this section somewhat interesting but very important. We must educate ourselves about the need to help people get fresh water that don't have a clean supply and protect the water we do have from pollution. It is our life source.

So I will leave this blog post as a final thought. I will leave it for others to discover and maybe learn from. I will check it every so often. But here is the final addition to my year of Earth Science. Enjoy.

-Emma Z. B.

My blog

2009-05-06T07:52:00.001-07:00

This blog, if you have been reading it, has been my companion throughout my year of documented learning.

We have studied clear out to different galaxies and then all the way back to the center of our Mother Earth.

And this blog has stayed with me. Well, now it's time to part. So what has our year looked like? Take a look.

Our first unit was astronomy. The great unknown.... well kind of unknown. We learned about the great life

of stars, like our sun. Other galaxies so far away it's unimaginable. Black holes that suck everything in.

Other solar systems and our own. The Gas Giants and the terrestrials like our own wonderful Earth. Oh,

what a wonderfully amazing place we live in. The part I loved most was the lunar cycle. What the phases

are called and eclipses. I also loved learning about the Big Bang theory. How amazing right?

-Emma Z. B.

Where in the world does our water come from?

2009-04-30T07:25:00.000-07:00

Where does our precious drinking water come from? Well, heres what I have found out.

In Colorado Springs, 75% of our water comes directly from snow-melt from the Continental Divide. This snow-melt is first melt snow-melt, which is extremely pure. The snow-melts that occur on the Continental Divide primarily happen on the western slope. The eastern side is where we get our water. Quite a few years ago, water systems were created to provide water to the Colorado Springs area. This was vitally important because Colorado Springs is one of the few cities that does not have a river that runs through it. The consumers of the water of Colorado Springs, many of these people are first time users which means that most of the water has not been primarily treated and consumed. This also means that our water is pretty much free of chemicals and pollutants. So overall, those of is who live in/near Colorado Springs are really lucky.

Water Cycle

2009-04-22T07:42:00.000-07:00

What is the water cycle?
The water cycle is a continuous pattern where water moves through the environment.
Does the water cycle have a beginning or end?
No because a cycle is like a circle with no beginning and no end.
Starting with a puddle on a sunny day, describe how water might move through the water cycle and eventually fall back as rain.
On a sunny, summer day a little puddle has no chance in staying on the ground. The sun will heat the water causing it to evaporate. This evaporation then condenses in the clouds. The clouds will soon become too full of precipitation to stay up. The water soon falls as rain cooling the hot day off with a nice thunderstorm. Creating another puddle...

Annotated Biblyography

2009-04-21T20:55:00.000-07:00

http://www.biologie.uni-hamburg.de/b-online/e55/55a.htm

From this website I got information on exactly what acid rain does to plant life, though very abbreviated. Some information I got was how acid rain affects needles and leaves, young and small plant buds and shoots, damage to bark and wood, and how it affects plant growth. Also, acid rain travels quickly, spreading the blessing of acid rain to everyone. I used this by describing acid rain's effect on plant life.

http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0215471/acid_rain.htm

This website provided a wealth of information on acid rain and its affects on plant life. I learned that acid rain can prevent a plant from going through photosynthesis. Also that it allows gas to take the place of water in the plant, causing it to die eventually. Acid rain also strips away valuable minerals and nutrients from the soil while leaving high amounts of aluminum, which is harmful to plants. I used this information by giving a more in depth explanation of what acid rain does.

http://www.epa.gov/acidrain/effects/forests.html

I learned that thicker soil has a higher chance of standing up to acid rain. This ability is called buffering.Thinner soil has a lower chance. Damage to the leaves creates a higher risk of the tree sustaining injury. Acid fog and acid clouds can sometimes cause more damage because the acid is more concentrated. Acid fog and acidic clouds bathe the leaves in acid moisture, leaving them extremely exposed. I have used this info to provide extra info about acid rain.

http://www.essortment.com/all/acidraineffect_rqmz.htm

This website basically refreshed my memory about life science and how all living things a connected. So if an animal on the lower end of the food chain is affected by acid rain, whatever depends on that animal will also begin to suffer. Also animals that live in or around water are greatly affected, as well as those who live in trees being affected. I used this info to provide information on how acid rain also affects animal life.

Acid Rain Comic Group #2

2009-04-21T20:52:00.001-07:00

Acid Rain Group #2

2009-04-21T07:41:00.001-07:00

Essential Questions

2009-04-16T07:14:00.000-07:00

Q. What, specifically about your topic, are you going to research?
A. How acid rain affects forests and forest life.
Q. What conclusions did you come to? What do you recommend average citizens do to make a difference? Be specific. This is the main part of your assignment.
A. http://www.biologie.uni-hamburg.de/b-online/e55/55a.htm
Evidence of acid rain in forests is: damage to needles(yellowing, and later dropping),damage to buds and young, small shoots, damage to wood and bark, and effected growth. Acid rain travels over many miles very quickly, distributing the low pH level rain around.
http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0215471/acid_rain.htm
Acid rain destroys the waxy substance the covers the leaves, allowing the toxic rain to seep into the plant. When this happens, the acid rain changes to gas, though this gas takes the place of water, not allowing the plant to take in carbon dioxide. Preventing the plant from performing photosynthesis will cause the plant to eventually die. Acid fog and acid vapor also damage the forests because they have the same effect as acid rain, though acid fog and vapor make it harder for the tree to stand up to the cold. Causing the tree to eventually die, just like the acid rain. Acid rain also damages the nutrients of the soil in which plants grow. It takes valuable nutrients from the soil while leaving a lot of aluminum behind, which can be harmful to plants.

http://www.epa.gov/acidrain/effects/forests.html

Thicker soil has a higher buffering capacity. Buffering is the ability of soil to neutralize some levels of acid rain. Thinner soils do not have as high of ability to buffer. Acid rain doesn't kill trees directly, instead it weakens the tree by damaging the leaves. Creates a higher risk of injury to the tree is also created by acid rain. Acid rain dissolves and carries away useful minerals and nutrients before the plant is able to use them. Acid rain is bad enough but acidic clouds and fog are more acidic than acid rain and bathe the leaves and needles in acidic moisture, stripping away essential nutrients. Leaving foliage more exposed to environmental threats like cold winters.

http://www.essortment.com/all/acidraineffect_rqmz.htm

Because all living things depend on each other in some way, acid rain doesn't affect just one type of living thing. If an animal lower in the food chain is killed off, the species depending on that animal is also affected. Animals that live in or around the water(waterfowl, fish, otters,beavers) also begin to die. Birds also may begin to dwindle because their habitats are diminishing. And birds who feed on fish are affected.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Until the amount pollution is cut down, acid rain will always be a problem. Some things we can do to are be open to alternative energy sources, repairing damage that we have created, reducing the amount of fossil fuels that are being burned and a number of other things. Increasing the use of solar panels, though they are only reliable when it is sunny most of the time. A way we can help repair damage that we have helped create is adding limestone to lakes and rivers. Norway and Sweden have used this method successfully. We can also conserve our resources(turning lights off when no one is using them, car-pooling, public transportation, and walking) We also must recognize and accept our part in the problem and find out what we can do to help the situation.

Q. What would happen if, worst-case scenario, nobody listened to your recommendations?
A. Our Earth will always be plagued by acid rain. The condition will become more severe, killing more plant life, limiting good air for breathing. And damaging and polluting bodies of water limiting good water for animals and people.
Q.What would happen if, best-case scenario, everybody listened to your recommendations?

A. We will be able to slow down the damage that this problem of acid rain is creating. Increase the growth of plant life, increase the of water not affected by acid rain. Most of all, we will hopefully be able to change the way people feel and think about our Earth.

Penny and Water Drop Lab

2009-04-13T19:06:00.000-07:00

Procedure: Each person in our class was given a water dropper, a penny and a cup of water. After reading the lab we started working. We had to predict how many drops of water would stay on the penny before over flowing.
Prediction: I predicted it would take five drops of water.
Outcome: In reality, it took 17 drops. I heard that some people got to forty, but my partener made it to twenty-five. I was honestly very surprise. I would have never guessed a penny could hold that much water.
Explanation: The reason that the water was able to saty on the penny was because of surface tension. Surface tension is the act when a puddle of liquid contracts into the smallest possible area because of unequal cohesive forces near the surface.

images.encarta.msn.com/.../ pho/t040/T040777A.jpg

A letter home about the Greenland Ice Caps

2009-03-30T07:48:00.000-07:00

Photo of Icecaps
Dear family,
My ship has arrived in the Greenland Ice Caps. I wish you could see the wonders of this place for yourself. As we sit on our ship, we hear the gigantic pieces of ice falling into the ever moving ocean. Sister, you wouldn't believe some of the wildlife wonders here. Before we moved ashore, we would occasionally see a ringed seal surface it's head and look at us curiously. And then hastily dive back under.

Then we sailed our ship carefully to the shore, because of high chance of hitting a large piece of ice. We arrived to shore, and began unloading our gear. Though it is late spring, the conditions are still snowy and cold. But the light is beginning to return after, what I have heard, a very cold winter. I go out to have a look, and after just upon leaving the camp, I come upon a beautiful Arctic fox. Upon hearing me, she (I'm assuming because of her size) looks at me and quickly turns tail, retreating to a small hole. I have noticed that the farther we travel north up the coast, the vegetation and animal life becomes more scarce. Though some of the plants we have come upon are, sulphur-colored buttercup, alpine foxtail, and nodding lychnis, all wildflowers that have been able to adapt to this harsh climate.

As you know, because of the problem of our changing climate, these ice caps are diminishing at an alarming rate. From my friends aboard the ship, I have learned that these waters drain into Europe. If the ice caps continue to melt, the continent of Europe may become colder because of these cold waters draining onto the land.

Apparently, Greenland has been found out about having oil. Many people would like to drill here. How sad, don't you think? In the southern parts of Greenland, we sailed by cities with hotels. Tourist attractions.
People are also a contributing factor to why these ice caps are diminishing.

I miss you all very much. I hope to be heading home soon.

Much love,
Emma

Earthquakes

2009-01-22T08:00:00.000-08:00

1) Most earthquakes tend to occur in the Ring of Fire on the Pacific Plate.
2) Earthquakes tend to happen here because of the volcanoes, the plates are the most active here.
3) The Ring of Fire
4) An earthquake that happened closest to Manitou Springs in the past week was one that happened 101 miles out of Fort Collins, CO on January 15th, 2009. It had a magnitude of 3.2 so people would have felt it. Compared to a magnitude 1, this magnitude 3.2 has about 20 time the magnitude. And comparing the energy released this magnitude 3.2 released about 32,768 times the energy of a magnitude 1.
5) The earthquake researched was an earthquake in the Hindu Kush Region, Afghanistan, with a magnitude of 4.5.

6) These are the main steps to protecting yourself in an earthquake. First, stay inside and cover neck and head with arms while standing in an empty corner or doorway, or under a table or desk. If you're outside get to an open area free of trees, power lines, buildings and signs. If you're in a car pull over and stay inside until the shaking ends. Next, if you're in a public area, like a store, get out of the way of shelves or objects that may fall and crouch, covering head and neck. But don't run for the door. If an earthquake begins while you're in a theater or stadium, stay in you're seat while getting below the back of the seat.

Fronts

2008-12-05T07:30:00.000-08:00

COLD FRONTS occur when a rapid moving front of cool air runs into a slow moving mass of warm air. Because the cool air is denser, it stays below the warm air, causing the warm air to rise. As it rises, it becomes cooler, cool enough for water vapor to condense into a liquid form. This causes a cumlonimbus and cumulus clouds to form. Usually causing abrut weather changes such as thunderstorms and severe winds.

WARM FRONT occurs when slow moving warm air and slow moving cool air collide. Warm air rises over over the cool creating clouds. Dry air will create scattered clouds and humid air will create showers of rain. Because this is a slow moving front, fog and clouds may remain for days.

STATIONARY FRONTS occur when a front of warm and cool air meet but don't have enough room to move. These fronts can create snow, fog, rain, and clouds. They also remain in an area for days.

OCCLUDED FRONTS occur when a warm mass of air gets caught between two cool air masses. The denser air sinks under the warmer air, the dense air pushes the warm air upward. The two cooler masses meet in the middle causing the warm air to be cut off from the ground. The warmer air cools and condenses which may cause rain and snow.

2008-12-02T08:05:00.001-08:00

Voyages

2008-11-20T07:21:00.000-08:00

Travel time: 13 days
Direction travelling: West
Were you successful? yes
How many attempts? Two
How were you successful? I made the voyage from San Francisco to Sydney in 13 days
What winds did you take advantage of or compete with during your travel? Trade winds

Travel time: 15 days
Direction travelling: South and then East
Were you successful? yes
How many attempts? I believe three or four
How were you successful? I finally made from Lima to Cape Town
What winds did you take advantage of or compete with during your travel? Prevailing Westerlies

Travel time: 9 days
Direction travelling: North East
Were you successful? yes
How many attempts? two
How were you successful? I travelled from Havana to London
What winds did you take advantage of or compete with during your travel? Prevailing Westerlies

Atmospheric Factors Affecting Climate

2008-11-18T07:44:00.000-08:00

Click here to view my paper.

Photochemical Smog

2008-11-04T07:52:00.000-08:00

Photochemical smog is the brown haze that develops over sunny cities. It forms when hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides interact with sunlight. Many causes of this smog are man-made. Such as burning fossil fuels, keeping houses warm during the winter, power plants and other man-made actions. In London, winter of 1952, it got very cold. In order to keep houses warm people burned coal as the main fuel. The smoke and fog mixed with the humid air. This made it hard for the smoke to disperse. 4,000 more people died during that time of year than was expected. This smog can cause impaired respiratory functions, rubber and fabrics to deteriorate, and damage plants, causing a shortage in crops. We can all help this problem by using alternative energy resources, driving fossil fuel burning cars less, turning the heat down at night, and turning off appliances when they aren't being used.

Earth's Atmosphere

2008-10-29T07:15:00.000-07:00

There are many ways that Earth is so different from other planets, but one characteristic that sets it apart from others: its atmosphere. Our atmosphere surrounds our Earth like a heating blanket. It shelters us from harmful radioactive rays from the sun. Also it protects us from meteors. Most anything that tries to enter the atmosphere,like meteors, will burn up before hitting the surface. But if any meteors do make it in the evidence is quickly covered up because of our changing climate and weather. The moon doesn't have an atmosphere which is why it is marked so heavily with craters. Because the atmosphere shields us from extreme elements, it creates a planet that is suitable and has all the necessities for living things. It keeps it warm enough to provide liquid water. Another necessity that the atmosphere provides is oxygen. All plants and animals need oxygen to survive. They take in the oxygen and use it to release energy from their food. Our Earth's atmosphere protects us and makes it possible to survive on Earth.

Space Exploration

2008-10-08T07:37:00.000-07:00

Summaries

2008-10-07T07:27:00.000-07:00

During space exploration, NASA uses Atlas rockets to launch probes into space. When launching probes into pace there are three different stages; first, Atlas, second Centaur, and the third the payload is released. NASA began in 1958, NASA's mission was to explore space. This required human space fight. Missions helped NASA understand living and working in space better. NASA hasn't completely completed their mission but they have advanced it. New technology, planned for International Space Station, a floating robot. This invention will assist astronauts in space by being able to alert them to potential problems. It can also reach remote parts of the ship. Though many people believe that money would be better spent somewhere else. But NASA helps the economy by creating job opportunities, economic growth, and taxes. NASA has given us a better understanding of Earth by giving us basic knowledge about our universe. It also inspires humans to push boundaries and explore unknowns.

Moon Phases, Eclipses, and Tides

2008-09-29T13:57:00.000-07:00

Seaons

2008-09-21T13:40:00.000-07:00

On planet Earth, certain parts experience season change. Colorado is one of them. Planet Earth rotates on an axis of 23 degrees. As it rotates it also revolves around the sun. As it rotates, different parts of the Earth tilt toward the sun. During the summer months in the Northern Hemisphere, the suns rays hit directly on that part of the Earth. The equator has the same amount of sun year round, which is why it is called the tropics. During winter months, the suns rays hit the sun at a slant, so the surface doesn't heat up as well because the rays aren't as direct. In spring and fall the rays, though not as direct, are enough to heat the Earth while not as efficiently as the summer months.

Voki

2008-09-21T13:35:00.000-07:00

Get a Voki now!

Zoom

2008-09-14T18:49:00.000-07:00

Definition zoom: to focus a camera or microscope using a special lens that permits the apparent distance of the object to varied.
Zoom did just this, except with a book. The book started with a picture of colorful designs. It kept on zooming out until whole new pictures developed with a few quick turns of the page. As the book went on, my inferences became more accurate because I had started to get the gist of how the image would zoom, and what new image may occur. The book Zoom has a lot to do with perspective because when looking at the pictures you may think that you have the perspective figured out and decided. Unfortunately for you, when the page flips the perspective and image change.

Everyday you go out, you will have a different perspective on the day. You may look over to the right of your house and spy your grouchy old neighbor. "Grouch" you may think. That day passes without much thought of Grouch. When you come home that day, your mom tells you about Grouch. You find out that her husband died and her children never come to visit. BAM! Perspective change! Instead of feeling resentment toward her you feel sorry fro her. Decide to be kinder to her. Though this example doesn't fully relate to me, I have had similar perspective changes. Like, I have disliked people occasionally because of first impressions. After learning facts my perspective toward them either changes for the better or worse depending on what facts I have learned. Learning facts are an important tool to a change of perspective. As well as hearing someone else's perspective and their reasons.

In the science an extremely wide range of scientists may be interested in the data I have gathered. One example could be a microbiologist, who studies diseases. They would use a very up close view of the medium they are working with because how small it is. On the other end would be perhaps a geologist. They would use broader perspective because the geograpghy of a region is obviously much larger than cells of a disease. As our science class begins studying Astronomy, there are multiple reasons that it will be important to be aware of perspective. One reason is because the planets and stars are so very far away we will need to learn how to judge their true approximate size. Another reason is there are so many unknowns when we look at the universe. What other surprises might other galaxies hold? We know not, so we need to be sure to keep an open mind and perspective.

Perspective is important in everyday life but especially when we are studying the natural world.

Enigma Box

2008-08-29T07:33:00.000-07:00

Scientists use many skills when performing experiments. We had to use some of these skills when Mrs. Casey was showing us the Enigma Box. One skill was observing. The class had to observe the experiment, how much water was poured into the box, and when the water began to flow. To observe means to gather information by using one or more of the senses. We also had to infer what exactly made the water flow and why. Perhaps there had been a small creature inside the box that would drink the water and then of course, pee. Or maybe it all had to do with the pressure inside the box. When you infer you explain or interpret the thing you're observing.

Today in class, Mrs. Casey brought out a black rectangular box to show the class. This particular box had two holes on the top; one small and one larger. She then went to pour in 470mL of water in about 100mL incriments. At 470mL, water began to drip, then flow steadily out of the bottom from a rubber tube.

I think that there is a valve at the bottom of the box. As soon as there is enough water in the box, the valve will release the water. I think this because the flow begins in a drip then a steady flow.

Though Mrs. Casey said that all our inferences were good, none of them were quite right. What really happened was that there was a tube on the inside that made a loop. Once the water level reached the "overflow" point of the loop, the water would begin to flow. It would not flow before that because water obviously cannot flow uphill.