Habitats

Hi kids:

Here is your Science assignment:

You will select a habitat from those we studied in class, and choose a plant and an animal that lives there. Draw them on a cardboard and write information about them that describes their physical traits, what do they need to survive, where are they found, etc.

The work is to be brought on friday December 10th and it'll be your first portfolio assignment for the 3rd period.

Have fun in your research!

Love:
Ms. Toni P.

Komodo Dragon

Hi kids:
As promised, here's information regarding the great Komodo Dragon!

The Komodo dragon is a species of lizard that inhabits the islands of Komodo, Rinca, Flores, and Gili Motang in Indonesia. A member of the monitor lizard family , it is the largest living species of lizard, growing to an average length of 2 to 3 metres and weighing around 70 kilograms . Their unusual size is attributed to island gigantism, since there are no other carnivorous animals to fill the niche on the islands where they live; their large size is also explained by the Komodo dragon's low metabolic rate, that means, it takes long to fully digest and use all nutrients it gets, so it really  benefits from food.   As a result of their size, these lizards dominate the ecosystems in which they live. Although Komodo dragons eat mostly carrion, they will also hunt and ambush prey including invertebrates, birds, and mammals.

Despite their large size, Komodo dragons are fast short-distance runners. They can run as fast as 12 miles per hour for a brief period of time! However, Komodo dragons rarely chase after their prey. Instead, they are stealth predators - they hide and sit motionlessly for hours to wait for their food to come nearby. When Komodo dragons spot a prey, they ambush it by running out of their hideouts at top speed! Komodo dragons may use different attack strategies depending on the size of their prey. If Komodo dragons are ambushing a larger prey, such as a deer or a water buffalo, they attack its feet first in order to knock the prey off balance. If they are dealing with a smaller prey, such as a bird or a young Komodo dragon, they go for its neck first.
Sometimes their attack appears to be a failure, as their prey is able to get up and run away. Nevertheless, the wounded animal is not going to live long. Komodo dragons' saliva contains deadly bacteria. When Komodo dragons launch an attack and bite their prey with their flat, serrated teeth, they also pass along their saliva to the doomed animal. The escaped animal dies hours or days later from the infected wounds.

Lucky Charms December

Hi kids:
It's been a long since the last entry, but we've been working a lot on the Science Fair. By the way, GREAT JOB!!! You did excellent in your presentations. I'm really proud of you! 


Now, we have another assignment. This time, it's Lucky Charms!!  I need you to create a composition one page long. List numbers 1 to 12 will work on the following title:  New Year`s Resolutions: I promise to…

List numbers 13 to 24 will work on the following title: The real meaning of Christmas is…

You need to bring the composition written in your Composition notebook. I will receive them on Monday December 7th.

Study hard for your Period Exams!

Love.

Ms. Toni P.

Playing with time!!

Hi Kids:
Have you ever wanted to see what was it like in the past, or how is the Earth going to be in the future? Have you ever wondered how dinosaurs lived or if humans will ever reach the stars? Wouldn't it be amazing to be able to travel through time?

This is your activity today: I want you to type,  here in the blog, a little paragraph telling me what would you do if you had a time machine. You'll have till Wednesday, October  28 to post your work.

Be creative, remember that dreams can come true!!! Have fun!

Lucky Charms

Hi kids:

These are the 2 topics for Lucky Charms compositions:

a) Some of the things my family enjoys doing together are…
b)I can help protect the planet by …

List numbers from 1 to 12 will  write about the first topic ( Some of the things my family enjoys doing together are…). List numbers from 13 to 25 will write about the second topic ( I can help protect the planet by …).

The composition length will be  one  page, and I will recieve them in the classroom on wednesday October 7th.

Bye and good effort!

 

 

 

Science Homework: What traits did you get from your family?

Hey kids:
I hope you liked the pictures I just uploaded about the surging of the monarch butterfly. Aren't they great? Of course, not as amazing as observing it live as we did, but pretty close, huh?

Ok, now, let's get to our business. We are studying in class how animals can get several of their traits (characteristics) from their parents or family members. Well, you're going to search back into your family albums and reaserch with your family members to do this homework. You'll make a research about the physical characteristics that you inherited from your parents, or any other family member.  You can even show pictures of you and your relatives to see how much you look alike! The homework will be done on 1/2 cardboard and it's for wednesday.

Have a nice weekend!

P.S. They DO look alike, don't they? ;P jaja.

See you!

Nature's Triumph!

Hi kids:

As promised, I'm uploading the pictures taken the moment we witnessed the monach butterfly coming out of its chrysalis. It was really a magical moment and we're very lucky to witness it. Thank you all, PUPA SQUAD members, who helped make this possible: once again, nature triumphed!

I also have the videos of this magical moment, but I'm trying to change the format in order for it to be able to be seen in the blog. I'll upload it as soon as I have it ready.

But now, here are the pictures we took of this magnificent miracle: the miracle of life.

Enjoy!

The Miracle of Life!

Hi kids:
Iam so amazed by the events we were so lucky to witness today! The surging of a butterfly out of its coccoon! It just make us realize how wonderful and dazzling nature is and that every life is a complete miracle.

Thanks to the PUPA SQUAD.  You helped this miracle be possible.

Remember that preserving nature is preserving us too!

See you!

PUPA SQUAD

Hi kids:

I'm very happy and  proud of your work helping nature keep its balance. The PUPA SQUAD is doing a great job! CONGRATULATIONS!!!

I really hope that more students join us, so if you want to help us on our quest to protect butterfly pupas at our school, you're more than welcomed. There's plenty of work to do!

Here I add some pictures from the work done by the PUPA SQUAD today. They tagged, counted and protected 53 pupas today!!! And we're going for more! They're also keeping a record of the date we spotted them, and their evolution in metamorphosis.

Again, congratulations, PUPA SQUAD!

Learning about animals: Christmas Tree Worm

Hi kids!

As promised, here I give you information about this fantastic creature, commonly known as Christmas Tree Worm. I hope you find it as interesting as I do!

The Christmas tree worm, whose scientific name is Spirobranchus giganteous, is a small, and very elegant aquatic segmented worm ( segmented worms are those whose bodies are divided, or segmented, into different sections) . Its most distinct characteristic are the two "crowns" that are shaped as miniature Christmas tree. These "crowns " are actually used as mouths, each composed of feather-like tentacles which allow any prey  that is trapped in them to be transported  directly into the worm's mouth! Their diet consists basically on plankton.

Christmas tree worms are found in oceans, living on top of coral reefs. These animals posses extremely beautiful colors, that can go from red, orange, yellow, blue, green, and white to amazing  combinatios.

How are animals alike and different?

Hi kids:

This is your new blog project. Just, this time, here you'll only find the instructions to do it because it must be brought  to class.

You have to select 3 different  animals and either paste their pictures on a cardboard or draw them on it. Next, you're to list the similarities each animal shares, as well as the differences.

This activity will be the first Science activity for portfolio. You will have to bring it to the class on Monday, September 14th.

See you!

Ms. Toni

Reading Homework: About Black Bears

Hi guys:
This will be your first blog homework!
As you know, we're reading the lesson " Because of Winn Dixie" and we learned about a brave librarian who found herself once face to face with a black bear!

The activity I now require you to do is to read "Black Bears" ( you will find it in your Reading Book page 36) and answer this:

1. Where do  most black bears live?

2. How long are the black bear's claws?

2. What does the black bear use its claws for?

3.What are some of the colors black bears can be?

4. Which sense is used by bears to find their way back home?

5. What do black bears eat?

Once you find the answers, type them here in the blog. Write your name and list number and number each answer.

If you have any trouble typing the answers directly in the blog,  type them then using Word and bring them on Monday printed. The page must include your name, list number, date, and title: "About Black Bears"

Have a nice weekend!

Miss Toni

WELCOME BACK!

Hi:

I'm really happy to see you guys again, now as your 4th grade teacher! Some of you may already know me,since you were my students in 2nd grade.But for those who weren't,my name is Ms. Toni Porras and, together,we'll have a whole year journey through learning and so become wiser and better people.

I'm really looking forward to starting this course!

SeeYou!