Skipper - Peter
posted by barefootin' @ Monday, August 28, 2006
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Whales and Dolphins of the Hebrides Tobermory, Isle of Mull, Scotland
Earthwatch Institute engages people worldwide in scientific field research and education to promote the understanding and action necessary for a sustainable environment. We believe that teaching and promoting scientific literacy is the best way to systematically approach and solve the many complex environmental and social issues facing society today.
| 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. |
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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 |
Monday, August 28, 2006
Bulletin Wall in the Media Center at Snively Elementary.
Classroom activities about Dolphins and Whales
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Killer Whales
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Classroom activities on using the Metric System and related conversions
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For the computer to do the conversions, check out Onlineconversion.com.
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Celsius and Fahrenheit
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Kilometer and Miles
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Nautical
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
Scotland, GMT and Florida, EST
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 ESTTimezones
Phases of the Moon
Day, Month, Year = Month, Day, Year
They say 8th day of August 2006. We say August 8th, 2006.Geographic Equivalent Vocabulary
Ben = mountainBroch = 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
Vocabulary Equivalents
Cheers = Good-day, Good-byeSounds of Dolphins
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.
Press Releases
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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