Whales and Dolphins of the Hebrides Tobermory, Isle of Mull, Scotland: Pre-Expedition Thoughts

Hello, my name is Barbara Muren, Network Manager at Snively Elementary in Winter Haven, FL. I am also a Teacher Consultant with the Florida Geographic Alliance. The purpose of this site is to provide information about the project and a place to communicate Live from the Field with the students at Snively Elementary. The subjects we will be focusing on are science, geography, math, music, and technology. From August 27th to Sept. 2nd, I will post pictures and keep a journal of the daily activities aboard the research sailboat, Silurian. This is all possible through a generous grant given by National Geographic Education Foundation in support of the Earthwatch Education Fellowship Program and a grant from the National Geographic Education Foundation to promote geographic literacy through field research, technology, and collaboration. Thank You, also, to Polk County School Board, my principal, Dr. Joann McKinney, and all the teachers and students at Snively Elementary for their ongoing support. Especially Ms. Lambeth, thank you for making it possible to video conference.

Where are the Hebrides?
The Hebrides are a group of inner and outer islands off the west coast of Scotland. This link www.whaledolphintrust.co.uk is a great description of the Hebrides and also includes a map. * Use this United Kingdom Map to find Tobermory, Isle of Mull, an inner island of the Hebridean Sea. It is our rendezvous point for this project. For a real cool view, use your Google Earth program and fly to Tobermory.
What specific Whales and Dolphins are we researching?
The focus of our research includes the harbor porpoise, minke whale, bottlenose dolphin, grey and common seals and basking sharks. * Check out: HWDT for great descriptions and images.
Why are we collecting data on the Hebridean cetaceans?
The information will identify particular areas of importance or "hotspots" for cetaceans. This will provide an effective conservation strategy, the conservation of marine environment. Results: economic and social benefits to the whole region and protected areas for the cetaceans. * Check out: HWDT
Is there a specific time to do this research?
This project has expeditions running from mid April till the end of September. Moreover, the community members of the area are thoroughly involved with the research. Even visitors can fill out an online form of their exciting sightings. * Check out: HWDT

Did you know...that in Scotland... a lake is called a 'loch' and a strait is called a 'firth' and a sound is called 'kyle'?

Saturday, August 05, 2006

Pre-Expedition Thoughts

Hello all,

Only a few more weeks till the expedition. I have included links on the right side of this Web page for your convenience.

I am compiling a list of links for elementary students on Dolphins and Whales. Post your favorite one and I'll add it.

Ms. Muren

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http://www.ri.net/schools/Smithfield/dolphins2002/Studentlink.html

Play Marco Polo to learn about Echolocation
Getting Started with Dolphin Facts
The Marine Life Information Network for Britain & Ireland
Minke Whale
Enchanted Learning on Whales
The Island of Eigg - Math(5)
Facts on the Sounds of Dolphins
Which whale made that sound?

Killer Whales
Whales are air-breathing mammals like us, but they live their entire lives in the sea. Some whales jump high out of water and land on their backs or sides, making a huge splash! These jumps are called breaches.

Coloring Me | Info Book | Sound Byte | Animal Info

Celsius to Fahrenheit
Kilometers to Miles
Nautical
Scotland, GMT to Florida, EST
Day, Month, Year = Month, Day, Year
Geographic Equivalent Vocabulary
Vocabulary Equivalents

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For the computer to do the conversions, check out Onlineconversion.com.
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From C to F:
- multiple by 9
- divide by 5
- add 32
From F to C:
- subtract 32
- multiply by 5
- divide by 9
What's the temperature in your city today? Find your city's temperature and convert it to Celsius. Another, tell your friends how hot or cold your weather is in degrees. Don't tell them what scale you're using. See if they can guess.

Kilometers	Miles
1	0.6
2	1.2
3	1.8
4	2.4
5	3.1
6	3.7
7	4.3
8	4.9
9	5.5
10	6.2
20	12.4
30	18.6
40	24.8
50	31.0
60	37.2
70	43.4
80	49.7
90	55.9
100	62.1
1,000	621.0

Miles	Kilometers
1	1.6
2	3.2
3	4.8
4	6.4
5	8.0
6	9.6
7	11.2
8	12.8
9	14.4
10	16.1
20	32.1
30	48.2
40	64.3
50	80.4
60	96.5
70	112.6
80	128.7
90	144.8
100	160.9
1,000	1609.3

1 nautical mile converts to: * 1.852 km (exact) * 1.150779 mile (statute) * 2025.372 yard * 6076.1155 feet * 1 arc minute (within 0.2 percent)
Wikipedia.org

GMT = Greenwich Mean Time EST = Eastern Standard Time There is a 5 hour difference between GMT and EST. For example, 17:00pm GMT (5:00pm GMT)= 12:00pm EST
Timezones
Phases of the Moon

They say 8th day of August 2006. We say August 8th, 2006.

Ben = mountain
Broch = prehistoric round tower
Cairn = monument of rough stones
Cill = church
Dun = hill fort
Firth = estuary, strait
Glen = narrow steep-sided valley
Kyle = sound, strait
Llan, Llanfair = church, church of Mary
Loch, lough = lake, fjord
Moor = open rolling infertile land
Mull = headland promontory
Slieve = hill, mountain

Cheers = Good-day, Good-bye

Three basic categories of Dolphin sounds:
1.Pure tone whistles - A “signature whistle” is the whistle made by the dolphin more often than any other whistle.
2.Squawks known as “burst pulses” - Squawks occur in social situations – rubbing, chasing, biting, etc.
3.Echolocation or sonar “clicks” - Clicks bounce off reflective objects in their environment, and the echoes are received through the dolphins’ lower jaws. Used for navigation, locating prey and to avoid threats.
* Bottlenose Dolphin Sound clip link
* This Web page on acoustics includes great pictures of how we will listen to the Cetaceans AND sound clips of the different Cetaceans.
* Though not located in Scotland, this Web page, Whalesong.net includes cool audio from Maui and their whales, photos, and a time zone clock of their real time!
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Google Earth (from the Help section of Google Earth) http://earth.google.com
Five Cool, Easy Things You Can Do in Google Earth
Want to jump in and start having fun with Google Earth? Try any of the the following:

View an image of your home, school or any place on Earth - Click Fly To. Enter the location in the input box and click the Search button. In the search results (Places panel), double click the location. Google Earth flies you to this location. Search button
Go on a tour of the world - In the Places panel, check the Sightseeing folder and click the Play Tour button
Get driving directions from one place to another and fly (follow) the route –
Snively Elementary
1004 Snively Avenue, Winter Haven, FL
Lat 28.9 Lon -81.0 Note when typing this type 28.9,-81.0
Tobermory, Scotland @ the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust Visitor Centre
28 Main St., Tobermory, Isle of Mull, Scotland, UK
Lat 56.6 Lon -6.0
View other cool locations and features created by other Google Earth users - In the Layers panel, check Community Showcase. Interesting placemarks and other features appear in the 3D viewer. Double click these points of interest to view and explore.
View 3D terrain of a place - This is more fun with hilly or mountainous terrain, such as the Grand Canyon. Go to a location (see number 1 above). When the view shows the location, use the tilt slider to tilt the terrain. See below for further explanation.

------------- Original -
Press Release: For Immediate Release
Headline: Teacher Takes Students to Scotland on a Live from the Field Earthwatch Expedition
Contact: Barbara Muren, 863.291.5326, Barbara.muren@polk-fl.net
Date: 8/11/06
Barbara Muren, from Snively Elementary School of Choice in Winter Haven, Florida, will be joining Earthwatch Institute’s Live from the Field expedition, Whales and Dolphins of the Hebrides. Off the West coast of Scotland, Ms. Muren, four UK elementary teachers, an Earthwatch Oxford representative, education officer from the Hebrides Whale and Dolphin Trust and other project staff will be sleeping aboard Silurian, a sailboat providing research on the cetacean’s (specifically - whales, dolphins & porpoises) relative densities and distributions within the region. The word is pronounced see-tay-shun and comes from the Latin "cetus" and the ancient Greek "ketos" which means a sea monster.
Her daily experiences will be communicated with the students via a Blog, which will include a description of the project, links, lessons, a daily journal, pictures, video and audioblog. Students in turn will be able to ask questions while the research is taking place; thus, bringing science to life. This is a collaborative initiative between the UK and US to build geographic and cultural awareness as well as scientific literacy.
This is all possible through a generous grant given by National Geographic Education Foundation in support of the Earthwatch Education Fellowship Program and a grant from the National Geographic Education Foundation to promote geographic literacy through field research, technology, and collaboration. A special thank you goes to the Polk County School Board, Snively Elementary School of Choice Principal, Dr. Joann McKinney, and all the teachers and students for their ongoing support. Especially, Ms. Lambeth, 5th Grade teacher, thank you for making it possible to video conference.
Earthwatch Institute is a world leader in the field of experimental education providing opportunities in the field and on-line for volunteers to broaden their understanding of sustainability and support conservation research. No experience is necessary to be involved with this organization and there are hundreds of teams worldwide that need support. Visit www.earthwatch.org or call 800.776.0188 for more information.
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Whales and Dolphins of the Hebrides Tobermory, Isle of Mull, Scotland

Saturday, August 05, 2006

Pre-Expedition Thoughts

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Classroom activities about Dolphins and Whales

Classroom activities on using the Metric System and related conversions

Celsius and Fahrenheit

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Nautical

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Geographic Equivalent Vocabulary

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