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!