Don't Stare At It Too Long

Can you tell what this is a picture of?

The Impacts Of Change On Our Environment

Consider the impacts on the environment of changing new trees, lumberyard scraps, and recycled paper products into pulp and pulp into paper and paper products.

Is this process causing more damage to the environment than helping it? Explain how and provide details.

What is the process that is involved in changing new trees into pulp and pulp into paper products? Is it harmful to the environment?

Are we really saving trees by recycling paper?

http://sciencefocus.com/qa/recycling-paper-bad-environment
http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/7447
http://www.cwac.net/paper_industry/index.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bleaching_of_wood_pulp#Environmental_considerations
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5731899_chemicals-used-paper-recycling-mills.html

Consider the impacts on the environment of changing petroleum into plastic, and plastic into everyday items such as rulers and soft drinking bottles, some of which end up in landfills and some of which are recycled into clothing rugs.

What is the process that is involved in recycling these products? What are the types of changes? Explain the details involved.

Does recycling these products cause more damage to the environment than good?

What are some new items that these materials are being recycled into?

http://www.eia.doe.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=oil_home-basics

What are the impacts that chemical and artificial food preservatives have on humans?

What are the chemicals we should avoid?

Where else can we find these chemicals being used aside from in our food?

What are some of the better alternatives in food preservatives? List examples.

How can we replace the artificial and chemical preservatives that are being used?

http://www.foodadditivesworld.com/preservatives.html

http://www.foodadditivesworld.com/articles/harmful-preservatives.html

http://www.foodadditivesworld.com/articles/food-additives.html

Recycling paper, cardboard, plastics and organics can keep materials out of landfills for a longer period of time but is the recycling process worth the harm it does to the environment?

Describe in detail the process that plastic and paper undergoes in a recycling plant?

What types of chemicals are being used in the process of recycling plastics and paper?

By recycling paper are we really saving trees?

What sort of harm do recycling plants do to our environment?

 

http://www.kstatecollegian.com/recycling-process-is-harmful-uses-toxic-chemicals-1.1574731

http://www.livestrong.com/article/159591-the-negative-effects-of-recycling-paper/

http://www.brighthub.com/environment/green-living/articles/74374.aspx

http://discovermagazine.com/2009/jul-aug/06-when-recycling-is-bad-for-the-environment
http://sciencefocus.com/qa/recycling-paper-bad-environment
http://www.ehow.com/list_7281370_chemicals-used-recycling-steel.html

The Polar Bear Debate

 For those of you who are "hunters" here are some links that might strengthen your argument: The significance of Polar Bear Hunting read until the first section titled Cultural Significance.

Also look at Polar Bear Hunters See Their Culture Melt Away, for a better understanding of how important polar bear hunting is to the Inuit culture. Read until the heading Canada Weighs Protection.

Also try the Wikipedia site. Look under Indigenous People.

For our “tourist” supporters check out Destination Churchill and how tourism is important to the town.

Also there are some facts about the polar bears themselves found here.

Take a look towards the bottom here to see how much money tourism brings to the town.

Read how tourism helps the polar bears here.

"Conservationists" look at Wikipedia under polar bears on how tourism is affecting the ecosystem.

Read the bottom heading here titled Polar Bear Conservation to see if tourism is really necessary in Churchill.

Check out WWF- Polar Bear Conservation to get a better idea of polar bear protection.

Read the bottom of the article Polar Bears in Churchill article to see how the Churchill people used to treat their polar bears.

See the polar bears migration route and the location of Churchill here

The "people of Churchill" should look at the article in which we read in class here. You will find actual incidents when polar bear scares took place.

Learn here how avoid bear attacks. They're dangerous!

See how much of a safety issue polar bears can be for Churchill at Polar bear attacks.

Nine Dots

Imagine the pattern of dots below drawn on a sheet of paper.

Your task is to join all nine dots using only four (or less) straight lines, without lifting your pencil from the paper and without retracing the lines.

Hint: Think "outside the box."

Save That Energy.

There are all sorts of ways to reduce our carbon footprint. Read Create an Energy Efficient Home to look for ways to save energy around your home. Look at Teach the Family to Recycle and Decrease Your Family's Disposable Waste to find out more ways in which we can reduce our waste and keep our planet healthy. Why should we reduce, reuse or recycle our waste? Find out at least one way in which we can reduce our carbon footprint. Write your findings in the comment's section or bring your answers to class.

The Power Of Green

 

For those of you who are thinking of becoming members of the Green Team, write out your reasons in the comment section. Your answers may include statements like; why you think saving the environment is important, ways in which we can reduce and reuse instead of just recycling, why the Green Team is important to Mary Fix and how it can better ourselves and our community. Also include anything else you feel is related to the importance of being Eco-friendly.

Composting... It's Too Easy.

We have already discussed the importance of composting in class. Read Composting 101 and Using Compost to further find out why we should compost and how we can use it. Write down your answers in the comment section or bring them to class for discussion.

Manage Your Waste

Finding out what should be placed in your blue bin to be recycled can be confusing at times. Every plastic has the recycling logo on it but not all items can be recycled. Look at Waste Management to find out what items can be placed in your blue bin to be recycled and what can't. Write out you findings because they will be discussed in class tomorrow.

Rome-ing Around Ancient Civilizations

If you're interested in learning about what a Gladiator had to wear before a battle or what the Romans did in their daily lives; then BBC Kids- Roman Civilization is a great site. Learn about mad emperors, lavish lifestyles and the fate of the city Pompei.

Go to BBC Kids- Roman Civilization and help solve the murder mystery of a Roman merchant. You are given until dawn to solve the crime and find the perpetrator. Use your sleuthing skills to solve the case; was it murder, suicide or illness?

Thanks to the BBC History website, everyone has the opportunity to learn about the great Ancient Civilization of Rome that lasted for almost 400 years.

After viewing some of the links, comment on what you thought was the most interesting? Also, share anything else you may have found that others might want to check out.

Brain Teaser

What gets wetter as it dries?

How Many Faces

How many faces can you see in the image?
Seven is good, but if you can see 10 you are doing better ...

Farming Fun!

Hi everyone,

Here is the link to play 3rd World Farmer. A thought provoking game where, as a farmer in an impoverished country, you must do your best to survive in order to create a better opportunity for your family's future.
Unfortunately, an advertisement must finish playing before you can access the game. Wait for the Play Game button to load at the bottom right hand corner then click on it.I hope you all enjoy it. After playing the game, can anyone think of why it can be difficult for a person to make a living as a farmer in a 3rd world country? Post your comments.


For Parents: Although the 3rd World Farmer simulation takes place in a country other than Canada; the gaming experience still presents cultural and economic challenges for the player related to the Ontario Curriculum. The gaming tasks are very similar and somewhat comparable to farming life in Canada. This is relevant to the Grade 6 overall expectations of identify, analyse, and describe economic and cultural relationships that link communities and regions within Ontario and across Canada.

Welcome To Your Very Own Class Blog!

Hello and welcome,
This is a blog designed for Mrs. Patten's class. Here, you and your fellow students can share ideas and thoughts about anything related to your school work. If you find anything on the internet that other students might find helpful or just plain interesting, feel free to post it. Start commenting on our blog by clicking on the "Comment" link, to share your thoughts. Use technology as a tool to help better understand things and complete your work in a more creative way by using the web. Not sure how? You will...



For Parents: This is a place where students can begin to learn the benefits of digital networking and communication. This is just a microcosm of how technology is advancing and being utilized in the academic world. Feel free to participate with your children as they engage in their adventures of learning on the world wide web.
Thank you and enjoy!
Mr. Sorrenti