Science Class Response

My favorite class activity we did so far this year is the Owl Pellet Lab. Before doing this lab, I didn't really know what an owl pellet was. I never really heard of it before. After I heard we were going to do this lab, I asked my friends what it was and the way they described it led me to believe it was just extra waste. I then learned otherwise.

When I found out what an owl pellet was, I wasn't to enthusiastic about digging through fur and bones. After starting, I realized how interesting was. I never knew how much a skeleton could tell me about what and owl eats. I really enjoyed putting the owl pellet together. I hope I get to do another exciting activity like this again this school year.

Science - Current Event (2)

The Saiga, one of Asia's most craziest animals, is also one of the most endangered. Scientists are trying to protect these Saiga Antelope in Mongolia's Gobi Desert by attaching high-tech GPS collars to them. The scientists attached them to 8 of these animals already. This GPS collar will help the scientists keep track of all the people. Millions used to live on this planet 15 years ago but today, only a few thousand are left to survive. Poachers (illegal hunters) kill them and use their horns for medicine. If these animals die off, the deserts will be empty.

I think this is a good plan. They can come up with a better one as time goes by but for now, scientists need to do all they can to keep these animals alive. The tracking device will help scientists keep track of the Saiga and they will be able to know where they are.

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/Stories/AnimalsNature/Saiga

Science - Current Event (1)

Are Wolves the Pronghorn's Best Friend?

This article is about how wolves help pronghorn's survive. It is about a new study by the Wildlife Conservation Society about the decline in another species. This species is the pronghorn. There research told them that wolves actually help the pronghorn's survive. This is because the wolves kill and eat coyotes who eat pronghorns. (Wolves don't eat pronghorn's because it is not sufficient for them because they are so big. In the article it said, " It would be like trying to feed an entire family on a single Big Mac.") There was a research done over a three-year period in Grand Teton National Park. What they did was they radio collared more than 100 fawns in areas with no wolves and areas with wolves. They found out that only 10 percent of fawns survived in areas without wolves and 34 percent of the pronghorn fawns survived in areas with wolves. In 1995, wolves were reintroduced and as a result, the pronghorn population increased by 50 percent. As a result, there are now less then 200 animals in Grand Teton National Park ( Part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem).

I believe that this affected the whole ecosystem. Since there are more pronghorns around, the animals that eat the same food as the ronghorns will not have a sufficient amount of food to eat because they will be out numbered by these unique North American animals that resemble African antelope. I don't think this is right. It is not fair that the other animal populations got reduced because of the pronghorns. I think that the pronghorn population should be reduced. This would also mean reducing the wolf population. Basically, I think both the Pronghorn and the Wolf population should decrease.

Source: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/03/080303145300.htm

Literature - Thought for the Weekend - 10/30/09

At a movie theater which arm rest is yours?

The Right One.

Literature - Bullying (Man's Inhumnity to Man)

We all know bullying is wrong but we all do it anyway. Each and every person has bullied someone at least once. It could be as simple a s name-calling. Everyone has done that in their life. We always have assemblies and speeches about bullying and how it is really bad but after those speeches, we don't actually take action. I mean, we would probably stick up for our friend is he or she needed it but most people probably wouldn't stick up for someone every time they see someone getting bullied if they don't know the person. No matter how many assemblies and speeches people have on bullying, it is probably never going to stop. For example, in Slake's Limbo, Slake always gets picked on because he is an easy target and is poor. Another example how Robert always gets picked on because of his appearance in the book, The Wave.

Literature - Summer Reading Question

What sort of person do you imagine the author of the novel to be?

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

I imagine the author of the book to be a very adventurous person. The way the she wrote the book and the details she added makes me believe that. The author is also creative because how she ended the book was really interesting and smart.

Welcome Scientists

My favorite subject is science because I am just very interested in that subject and I have liked it since I was little. I like to read a lot but I never had a favorite book. I read books all the time that I love a lot and always remember but out of all of them, I don't have a favorite book. My favorite food to buy in the cafeteria is a chocolate chip cookie! On the weekend when all my chores are done, I like to spend time with my family or be with friends. If I won a free airline ticket to any place I wanted, I would go to Paris because I have always wanted to go there since I was little. My favorite color is Sky Blue. I already have a pet which is a dog named Toby. If I could get another pet it would be another dog. I don't know what I would name him or her because I would have to look at the dog before naming him or her. This year, if I work hard enough, I hope I get good grades on everything.