Hot Cocoa Co. - Charity Fair Project Blog

A Picture of our Product

Summary

The charity my group choose to support and present about is called the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation. BBRF gives grants to scientists to allow them to further their research. They have given over 5,000 grants. According to charity watch, 92% of the money BBRF receives goes to the actual case, which is research about treatment options, prevention, the cause of brain disease and disorders and more. The other 8% goes overhead. I also learned that 1 in 3 people in the US live with a mental illness. Also, 20 to 30 % of teenagers will experience one episode of major depression before reaching adulthood. My group sold homemade hot cocoa mix in jars with marshmallows, crushed candy canes, and peppermint bark.

Backwards

In what ways have you gotten better at this kind of work?

Compared to last year's charity fair. I think I improved a lot. For one, this year my group and I completed every aspect of the charity fair in a timely manner. Unlike last year, Is wasn't staying up the night before finishing up my board with my group. I also think the product that I created turned out better. This year the product I created was definitely better quality and more worth the money. When we taste tested our product, it tasted great. 

Inwards

What was especially satisfying to you about either the process or the finished product?

One thing especially satisfying about the finished product was how our presentation during the charity fair went. I think our group did a really great job and tried our best. We really took into account what feedback we got during our practice presentations in class and practiced a lot. After the presentation, I felt really proud of how we did and also relieved that we got it over with.

Outwards

What the one thing you particularly want people to notice when they look at your work?

One thing I particularly want people to notice when they look at my work is the effort we put into decorating our jars. Though you probably can't tell through the picture of our product or even just looking at it. It took a lot of error and trials. Each jar is brushed with gold glitter lined with a different colored ribbon based on the flavor of the hot cocoa and wrapped around with a hand drawn tag. It took us an especially long time to make the tags because on each one we had to untie the already made know (which took awhile for all of them), put on a bell, and retie it an appropriate length for the jar.

Forwards

One thing I would like to improve upon is ...

I thing I would like to improve upon is thinking more ahead before we do things considering our product. Doing this would have saved us a lot of time. This is because when we put the glitter on the jars, we just placed the jar upside down and dripped glue with glitter in it on the bottom of the jar and down. The glue ended up drying around the top part of the jar where the cap would screw on. We had to take out this glue because it made the jar messy looking and hard to screw and unscrew. If we thought about it before we did it and covered the top part with tape, then this problem would have never occurred. We could have just peeled off the tape and the glue on it.

Weekly Blog 12/2/16: The Lyrebird

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7401/9319608165_3f2561260d_b.jpg

Summary

There are two species of lyrebird: Albert's Lyrebird and the Superb Lyrebird. These two birds are very similar, (the Superb Lyrebird is slightly larger). The lyrebird is best known for its beautiful tail and ability to mimic sounds. They have long claws, large sturdy feet, strong legs and a strong sense of smell. The Lyrebird is mainly found the rain forest regions of Australia and can live up to 30 years in the wild. Their main predators are dogs, cats, and foxes. I based my superhero off the Superb Lyrebird giving her the ability to mimic voices.

SP2: Developing and using models

I developed a model when I worked on drawing a picture of my superhero, Lady Lyra. I drew and colored a detailed drawing of my superhero so I could visualize who I'm creating and figure out exactly how she looks like. Drawing a model of my superhero also helped me make sure what I imagined my superhero to look like actually resembled the animal I based it off of (The Superb Lyrebird).

XCC: Structure and Function

The unique structure of the Lyrebirds vocal organ is what allows it to mimic all kinds of sounds (function). Out of all of the songbirds, the lyrebird's syrinx (a bird's vocal organ) is the most complexly-muscled. The more developed the structure of the syrinx is, the wider variation of sound can be produced. This is what gives the lyrebird it's extraordinary ability to mimic other sounds.

Project Blog: Human Body System 2.0 11/18/16

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f5/GERD.png

Summary

Acid reflux or GERD is an extremely common digestive disease. In fact, every year there are more than 3 millions cases of it in just the US. It occurs when stomach acids slip past the LES and irritate as well as burn the lining of the esophagus. One of the most obvious symptoms of acid reflux is heartburn. Overtime, acid reflux can even lead to esophageal cancer which has to cure. By adding in a "Goose" muscle, acid reflux can easily be prevented. The "Goose" muscle is a strong smooth muscle that contracts from the top to bottom. This muscle is located just above the LES. It has two functions, to help push food down (especially when food gets stuck in the esophagus) and pushing acid out of the esophagus when acid refux occurs. Thanks to its strength, and toughness food and acid can easily be pushed down the esophagus without it being burned.

Backwards Looking

How much did you know about the subject before we started?

Before we started, I didn't really know much about the esophagus itself (other than the basics) and acid reflux at all. In addition to that, I never realized heartburn was a symptom of something rather than a condition. However, I knew that heartburn was caused by stomach acids burning the esophagus but I didn't realize that was called acid reflux. The only thing I knew about acid reflux was that it was somehow connected to heartburn. I had also never heard the term GERD. 

Inwards Looking

What does this piece reveal about you as a learner?

Our group's presentation shows that I enjoy learning and presenting information in fun and engaging ways. For me, it was really fun to present our information to the class in a funny but informational skit. I also think that it was an interesting way to get and keep the audiences attention. As for the design brief and essay, it reveals that I include a lot of detail when writing. I noticed after our group completed the components that we wrote two pretty lengthy pieces of writing. 

Outwards Looking

Did you do your work the way other people did theirs? In what ways did you do it differently? In what ways was your work or process similar?

Though we completed the design brief and essay pretty similarly to other groups, when it came to the presentation, things were pretty different. Half of the groups presented live and another half created videos. Our group fell into the first category. However, we were the only group that created and acted out a skit. While other groups took a really factual approach, we also focused a bit more on how to engage the audience without making them bored. As for our work process, I also noticed how we drew a lot of different diagrams to help us visualize and figure out what exactly we were writing about and creating. We even color coded them. As far as I could tell, none of the other groups were doing that while creating their pieces.

Forward Looking

One thing I would like to improve upon is...

One thing I would like to improve upon is our presentation. Though I was happy with it, I feel like it could have gone smoother if we practiced it enough to not need scripts. Since we didn't know our lines that well, we often had to look down at them and read to a bit to remember what we were supposed to say next. By improving our presentation, we would be able to better engage d teach our audience.

 

Weekly Blog 11/11/16 - Human Body 2.0

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/Hiatal_Hernia.png

Summary

At the bottom the esophagus there is a bundle of muscles called the LES. The function of the LES is to prevent stomach acids from flowing up the esophagus. However, when the LES doesn’t close all the way or is open too much, acid reflux can occur. Every year, there are about 3 million US cases of acid reflux. It is extremely common especially in ages 19-60+. Acid reflux is when some of the stomach’s acid content flows back up the esophagus and burns as well as irritate the lining of the esophagus. Though the main symptom of acid reflux is heartburn (a burning sensation in your chest), it may also include bitter taste, discomfort in upper abdomen, dry cough, belching, and nausea. The most common cause of acid reflux is a stomach abnormality called a hiatal hernia which occurs when the LES and upper part of the stomach moves above the diaphragm. The diaphragm is a muscle that separates the stomach from the chest and helps keep acid in the stomach. However, if you have hiatal hernia, acid can move up your esophagus and cause acid reflux. A severe case of acid reflux is known as G.E.R.D.

SP1: Asking questions and defining problems

I defined problems when I worked with my human body re-design 2.0 team to identify a problem in the digestive system that we could fix. The problem we identified was acid reflux in the esophagus and stomach. I then asked questions like "What is the original design of the esophagus and how can we improve it?", and "Why will re-designing the esophagus be beneficial?". However, the main question my group and I asked and are trying to answer is "How are we going to re-design the esophagus and what will be the outcome?". Our group is still in the process to trying to answer that question.

XCC: Structure & Function

The esophagus is a tube connected to the pharynx and mouth that goes down to the stomach. The main function of the esophagus is to move food and liquids from the mouth down to the stomach so it can be digested. In order to be able to do this, however, it needs to have a specific structure. It is lined with a moist pink tissue called mucosa, which allows the food and liquid smoothly run down the esophagus. In addition to that, there are two bundles of muscles in the upper part and lower part of the esophagus. The upper bundle of muscle or UES (upper esophageal sphincter) serves the purpose of preventing food and liquids from going down your windpipe and ensures that they are going down the correct tube. The lower bundle of muscle or LES (lower esophageal sphincter) serves the purpose of preventing stomach acids from going up the esophagus and causing acid reflux. However, malfunctions happen.

WAC: Is it healthier to be a vegetarian or an omnivore?

          Is it healthier to be a vegetarian, or an omnivore? For the past centuries, people have been arguing over that simple question. And though a majority of the world's population is omnivorous, there are still lots of compelling cases explaining the benefits of having a vegetarian diet. Due to the fact that vegetarian diets are found to lower the risk of chronic disease linked to animal fats, strengthen your bones, and improve glycemic control in the bodies of diabetic people, being a vegetarian is healthier than being an omnivore.

          Vegetarian diets will reduce the risk of certain diseases linked to animal fats such as obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and hypertension making your body healthier overall. Why does this happen? Well, as explained in the article (Is it healthier to be a vegetarian or an omnivore?) by Sencer, with more plant-based foods in your diet, you will consume more phytochemicals which will reduce the risk of specific chronic diseases by getting rid of unhealthy fats in your body. Since animal products are generally high in those unhealthy fats (cholesterol and saturated fats), consuming animal products is essentially increasing the amount of cholesterol and saturated fats in your body making you unhealthier.

          Vegetarian diets will also strengthen your bones and improve the healthiness of your bones overall. This is due to several reasons. For one, since meat has high renal acid levels, when you consume any meat your body will have to neutralize the high renal acid levels caused by the meat. Your body does this by "leaching calcium in your bones", as stated in the article (Should people become vegetarian?) by ProCon.org. The calcium used to neutralize the renal acids is no longer useful for the body and is then passed on into urine and lost. By not eating meat, you can reduce the amount of calcium lost in your bones making them stronger overtime. There is also many forms of healthy vegetarian calcium sources including dark greens like kale, collard greens and spinach as well as tofu and fortified cereals.

         Eating meat increases the risk of getting type 2 diabetes. We know this because in 2004, through a peer-reviewed study Harvard researchers found that consuming meat increases the risk of having type 2 diabetes in women. Another study conducted in 2002 proved that eating processed meat increased the risk of it in men. If your diet consisted of no meat at all, you wouldn't have to worry about any of this. In addition to that, a vegetarian diet rich in whole grains, nuts, legumes and soy proteins will even help improve glycemic control in people who already have diabetes.

          Some people may argue that our bodies absorb a higher percentage of the iron (an essential mineral for your body) in meat than in vegetarian sources. This is actually true, the body absorbs 15% to 35% of the heme iron in meat and 2% to 20% of the non-heme iron in vegetarian sources. However, the lack of iron in a vegetarian diet can easily be fixed by consuming more non-heme iron filled vegetarian sources including leafy greens and beans. In addition to that, studies have found that the heme iron found in red meat is linked with an increased risk of rectal and colon cancer. "A vegetarian diet provides a more healthful form of iron than a meat-based diet." wrote ProCon.org in the article (Should people become vegetarian?). Though you can argue that vegetarians absorb less iron from vegetarian sources, the pros of eating non-heme iron outweighs the cons.

         Like I stated earlier, being a vegetarian is healthier than being an omnivore. This is due to how meat increases the chance of getting type two diabetes, vegetarian diets will strengthen your bones, and vegetarian sources provide a healthier form of iron for your body. Despite how most of the world's population is omnivorous, hopefully more people can see the benefits of being a vegetarian and change their eating habits for the better.
       


          

Human Body 2.0: The Immune System

The Immune System

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9c/Organs
_of_the_Immune_System_by_AIDS.gov.jpg

Basics

Function:

The immune system protects your body from bacteria, viruses, and poisons you might encounter every day. They keep you healthy by attacking unknown and foreign invaders in your body and going after cells that creating in your body that might able to endanger your life.

Organs:

The major organs of the immune system include:  Bone Marrow, Thyme, Lymph Nodes, Spleen, Appendix, and Tonsils.

BONE MARROW: Bone Marrow is extremely important to the immune system. This makes sense considering ALL CELLS in the immune system is originally produced by Bone Marrow. They are formed in a process called hematopoiesis. Bone Marrow also creates natural killer cells, immature thymocytes, red blood cells, and more.

THYMUS: The thymus is divided into two lobes. Its function is to produce Lymphocytes T-cells and B-cells as well as dispatch them to secondary organs. Basically, its purpose is to initiate antibody formation and create Lymphocytes (or white blood cells).

LYMPH NODES:  Lymph nodes are bean-shaped clusters of lymphatic tissue. There are about 500-700 of them spread out within or bodies. Their function is to capture cancer cells and bacteria that are traveling within the body in something called the lymph fluid.

SPLEEN: The main function of the spleen is to recycle old red blood cells and stores white blood cells. In addition to this, the spleen also helps fight certain types of bacteria that cause pneumonia and meningitis.


APPENDIX: The appendix is a thin 3-4 inch long tube that hangs off of the cecum (the end of the large intestine). Its function is to inform the lymphocytes exactly where they have to go to attack infection. It also a enhances the large intestine's defenses to a larger vareity of foods and drugs.

TONSILS: Your tonsils are the two lumps of tissue on either side of your throat. Their job is to trap viruses and bacteria that you might breathe in. 

Interactions With Other Systems

The immune system works with the circulatory system but helps all body systems.

Circulatory System

The circulatory system provides all transportation needs for the immune system. For example, when the immune system identifies some bad cells, it then tells your circulatory system to send some lymphocytes (white blood cells) over to deal with the problem.

All Other Ones!

The immune system constantly patrols and gets rid of harmful cells, viruses, and bacteria in all of the organs and tissue in the body. They protect, watch over, and aid ever system in the body making sure they are safe.

Analogy: The Immune System is Like 
A Mall Security System

https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5005/5244135658_e0daeba08f_b.jpg

The immune system is like a mall security system because...

• someone in it watches over the entire building through cameras and looks for burgulars or people that might do harm just like how the immune system looks for cells, virusis, and bacteria that might do harm in the body.
• when a burglar is found, security guards are sent to the location to get rid of them and are informed by someone through walkie talkies similar to how in the immune system when something harmful is found the appendix tells the circulatory system to send over the white blood cells to get rid of the harmfull things.

If the immune system was a mall security system, then the person watching the security camera's would be the appendix since they are what inform the lymphocytes and security guards about where the problem is. The security guards would be the lymphocytes or white blood cells since they both do the actual job of fighting the invaders. The bloodstream that the white blood cells travel through would be the many passages throughout the mall while the security camera's themselves would be the appendix and white blood cells since they are the organs that look for and find the invaders.                                                                        

Structure and Function: Tonsils

The functions of your tonsils is to trap bacteria and virusis you might breath in. They are the first line of defense in your immune system. How does the structure of it help it perform these functions?

1. You have two tonsils located on both the right and left side of your throat. The location of the tonsils make sure that they are able to easily capture as much germs as possible in the air that you breathe in. If you only had one tonsil, it wouldn't really be able to efficiently capture the bacteria, and viruses.
2. The tonsils are also squishy and flexible instead of hard and stiff. This also allows them to more efficiently capture air since it can cover more area if it is flexible. In addition to that, it's flexibility allows air to more easily travel down your windpipe.

The location as well as flexibility of the tonsils allow them to efficiently perform their function.

Sources:

http://www.immune-system-expert.com/immune-organs.html

http://www.biology4kids.com/files/systems_immune.html

Weekly Blog 10/16/16 - Mitosis

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/43/Mitosis_diagram.jpg

Summary

Mitosis is a phase in the cell cycle. There are 6 stages within mitosis. It all starts at interphase, where the cell grows and develops. The next stage is prophase. In prophase, the chromosomes condense, spindle fibers form between centrioles, and the nuclear membrane dissolves. During metaphase, the spindle fibers get attached to the chromosomes which gets pulled into a line along the center of the cell. In the fourth stage, anaphase, the centromeres split and the spindle fibers pull the chromatids until they reach the opposite poles. In the fifth stage, telophase, the chromosomes uncoil, and a new nuclear envelope forms, the spindle fibers also disappear. During the 6th and final stage, cytokinesis, the cytoplasm of the cell completely splits in half creating two whole cells. Mitosis is the process of cell division.

SP2: Developing and using models

I developed a model when the class created a mitosis flip book. To develop the model, I had to draw each stage in six different squares and individually cut each of them out. There were about 36 squares in total. The amount of times I had to fill in a square helped imprint the information into my brain. I used the flip book to help myself visualize the whole process of cell division so I can better understand what's happening inside me right now.

XCC: Systems & System Models

Cells make up tissues which make up organs which make up systems which make up organisms. In your body, different systems such as your circulatory, respiratory, digestive, and skeletal help you function and live. All of these different systems work together to create you. In order to function properly, you need all of these different systems or parts. Each system can be broken down into cells. In fact, within a cell are a ton more parts called organelles. The organelles work together to help the cell function so you can ultimately function also. For example, the cell membrane protects inside of the cell and monitors what will go in and out of the cell. Without the cell wall, harmful substances would enter hurting the other organelle and cell as a whole. In conclusion, your body is a big system with many smaller systems and parts inside. All of these parts and systems work together to ensure you are functioning smoothly. 

Weekly Blog 10/8/16 - The Cell Cycle

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2f/Animal_cell_cycle-en.svg/1000px-Animal_cell_cycle-en.svg.png

Summary

There are four phases of the cell cycle: G0, G1, G2, and M. M stands for mitosis. There are 6 stages in mitosis: interphase, prophase. metaphase, anaphase, telophase, and cytokinesis. During mitosis, cell division occurs. The cell goes through all 6 stages in order for that to happen. The third statement in the Cell Theory states that all cells come from pre existing cells. Mitosis is how that happens.

SP6: Constructing explanations and designing solutions

I constructed an explanation of how cells come from pre-existing cells when I completed a gizmos and worksheet on the cell cycle. To answer and design solutions to the questions of the papers, I had to experiment and gather information through the gizmos by doing several things. First, I had to adjust the gizmos by following the instructions on the top box. Then, I had to experiment, read, and observe the information, graphics, and text.

XCC: Structure And Function

In an experiment, we proved how water and liquids travel in and out of a cell's membrane. In a cell, things often need to be transported in and out of the membrane (the function). Because of this, the membrane has little holes or pores that allow that function to happen. It's semi-permeable which means it acts like a barrier to most (but not all) molecules. This structure allows the function to happen. Things can be transported through osmosis, diffusion, and more. For example, in osmosis the solvent either moves in or out of the cell to even out the ratio of solvent to solute. To visualize this, we put an deshelled egg in some sort of liquid. After a period of time, you can see if the water was isotonic, hypertonic, or hypotonic, depending on the size of the egg. In order for osmosis to happen, the structure of the cell and membrane has to be semi-permeable and allow water to go through. CO2, O2, and H2O are one of the few types of molecules that can go through the membrane. 

Weekly Blog 10/2/16: Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/Photosynthesis.gif/553px-Photosynthesis.gif

Summary

Both cellular respiration and photosynthesis include these basic reactants and products: Oxygen (02), Glucose (C6H12O6), Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Water (H2O). In photosynthesis, the reactants are carbon dioxide and water. Once sunlight is added, the two reactants re-arrange and transform into glucose and oxygen. Since oxygen is just a by-product, it is released into the air. Glucose, however, is turned into energy through cellular respiration. In cellular respiration, oxygen and glucose transforms back into carbon dioxide and water. Energy is also created. First, the oxygen goes into the mitochondria while the glucose stays outside in the cytoplasm. In the cytoplasm, the glucose splits into two pyruvic acid molecules which then creates a bit of energy. Next, the two pyruvic acid molecules move into the mitochondria and react to the oxygen producing carbon dioxide, water, and lots of energy.

SP6: Constructing explanations and designing solutions

I constructed explanations and designed solutions when I completed two Gizmos Labs on photosynthesis and the cell energy cycle. To construct explanations and design solutions to the packet, I had to think about the information I found by experimenting in the labs. By evaluating that information, I was able to come up with and test several of my hypothesis on what was going to happen next in the lab and why. For example, a few of the questions asked me to form a hypothesis on what  think are the reactants and products of photosynthesis. Since I know what the reactants and products of cellular respiration are as well as how both processes use the same basic ones, I should be able to from a hypothesis.

XCC: Systems and System Models

The system I am identifying is the cell energy cycle. In this system, there are 2 parts: photosynthesis and cellular respiration. In class, we studied about how photosynthesis and cellular respiration work together. The reactants of photosynthesis are produced by cellular respiration while the reactants of cellular respiration are produced by photosynthesis. Both of the two processes depend on each other to create enough of their reactants so the process and cycle can continue on. In addition to this, both of the two parts require the same basic molecules. These molecules are carbon dioxide, water, oxygen, and glucose.

Macro Molecules - Weekly Blog 9/25/16

https://www.cuteness.com/article/evolution-geckos

Summary

There are four types of macromolecules: carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. These four macromolecules are the main building blocks of life. Carbohydrates provide energy for your body. They're basically just sugar. The monomer (simplest form) of carbohydrates is saccharides. Examples of carbs include bread, rice, and pasta. Lipids are fats. They store energy in your body. The monomer is fatty acids and some examples include oil and wax. The next one, proteins, are what make up all of your vital body parts. Some body parts made of proteins include your muscles, heart, skin, and eyes. The monomer of proteins is amino acids. The final macromolecule is nucleic acids. Nucleic acids are your DNA and RNA. They hold the instructions for your bodies organelles to perform their functions. The monomer is nucleotides.

SP2: Developing and using models

I developed and used models when I created an informational foldable on the 4 different types of macromolecules. My model organized the information I previously took notes on and helped me better understand what my notes meant. I also had to include things that weren't in my notes in my foldable. This included 5 examples of each macromolecule. By transferring the information from my notebook to a neat foldable, I was able to go over all the information I wrote down and remind myself of what I learned about the previous day.

Cross Cutting Concepts: Systems and System Models

Our body is really just one big system made up of smaller systems, made up of smaller systems inside those systems. Within all these systems, there are parts that work together so the system can function correctly. Every type of macromolecule plays big role in the human body. For example, without carbs, our body wouldn't have any energy. Without lipids, our body wouldn't have a place to store our energy. Without proteins... our body wouldn't exist. And without nucleic acids, our body wouldn't know how to function. The point is if our body didn't have even one of these types of macromolecules, we would cease to exist. Everything in our body is there for a reason.

9/18/16 Cell Wars Project Blog

Summary

In the Cell Wars Project, students picked organelles to represent during Cell-Land's new "election", forming groups of 3 and 4 for the project. The project consisted of three elements, posters advertising our candidates awesomeness, smears and replies about why you should vote our organelle for president and a video containing information about your organelle. I personally, would vote for the Ribosome. This is because of several reasons. For one, their group created a highly entertaining, informational, and an easy to understand video. Their idea was unique and definitely got their point across about why the Riboome is the right candidate. Also, they created hilarious posters as well as mini ones that they pinned to their shirts for more advertisement.

Backwards Looking

How much did you know about the subject before we started?

Before this project, my only knowledge on organelles and cells was from the unit we did in 5th grade (also on organelles). In 5th grade we also studies cells but didn't go into as much detail on the organelles themselves. I remember researching the chloroplast. Also, due to the fact that I haven't really learned much about cells recently, a lot of the information I had previously learned was forgotten. In addition to that, this year I learned about more organelles including the E.R, peroxisomes, and cytoplasm. 

Inward Looking

What did/do you find frustrating about it?

While creating my groups video, we ran into a multitude of problems. For one, Powtoon didn't allow any actually editing for voice overs on the actual program. Because of this, I had to edit the audio for each slide on Wevideo separately. In addition to that, I also had to convert the audio on Wevideo into an Mp3 file to be able to import it into Powtoon. Because of this, I had to do a lot more work than I might of had to do if I checked to see how voice overs worked ahead of time in Powtoon.

Outward Looking

Did you do your work the way other people did theirs? In what ways did you do it differently? In what ways was your work or process similar?

Unlike other groups videos, my group created a Powtoon animation. Most of the other groups created an actual filmed video. However, there a few groups that also created animations. Their animations differed from my group, however, by the application they used and the plot of the whole thing altogether. A similarity I noticed between other groups work was how lots of people were filming newscasts for their video. Either their video was a newscast or it included one. My groups video also included a newscast. However, we just used one to introduce the story line of the whole thing. 

Forward Looking

One thing I would like to improve upon is ...

One really important thing that I know I have to improve upon is time management. This year, despite the fact that it has just begun, I've noticed that I tend to finish a large portion of my project usually last minute. This is because I tend to work slowly and take my time wile doing parts of the project. One solution, I have found is to set small goals while i'm working. Not goals for the day or period, goals for the next 20 minutes or something. For example, while i'm working I might tell myself, "by 5:35 I want to have this much completed" or "I want to have 5 lines written down."

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Cell Wars 9/11

One of my group's posters

Summary

Whenever you work on some sort of project, it is important to make sure that you check

Peroxisomes 9/4/16

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/Peroxisome.svg/2000px-Peroxisome.svg.png

Summary

Within the cell, peroxisomes carry out several different tasks. One of their main jobs is to break down the hydrogen peroxide within the cell. H2o2 is a by-product of different enzymes in the cell, created by their activity. Since it is deadly to the cell, it needs to be rid of quickly. That's where the peroxisomes come in. The hydrogen peroxide ends up inside the peroxisome which contains an enzyme called catalase. In the presence of catalase, h2o2 will be broken down into oxygen and water. Other tasks that the peroxisomes carry out include digesting fatty, amino, and uric acids as well as digesting alcohol.

SP7: Arguing With Evidence

I engaged in an argument with evidence when I smeared other organelles in the cell war Edmodo campaign. To do so, I had to argue about why my group's organelle should become president of cell-land and provide solid evidence to convince others. For example, in one smear I made, I created a meme about the ribosome and why people believe the cause of Alzheimers Disease is related it. In addition to creating an entertaining meme, I had to do research on the cause, provide a brief explanation explaining what I am trying to tell others, and provide an informative source. Without evidence, my smear and meme would have no meaning. 

XCC: Stability and Change

The other day, while I was mountain biking I noticed how I was seeing more deer than usual. This reminded me of the deer, food, water, shelter, and mountain lion activity that we did last year in science. I figured what I saw was a real life example of the game taking place in Alum Rock Parks ecosystem. From what I have observed, I believe that the system there isn't stable. This is because of how many deer I saw. If the population of deer is increasing right now, it is probably because there is more resources for them and less predators like mountain lions. I also remember that in the game, when we graphed out the data that we found, the population of deer jump from really high to really low on a yearly basis. Right now, the population is probably in its high time. The reason why the population of deer changed like this was because of the resources. When there wasn't enough, deer were killed off in large quantities which left few deer. The few deer then had more than enough resources so they reprooduced in vast quantites and so on and so on. To make the population stable, I would recommend experimenting with the amount and combination of resources and predators to see what works best.

Cell Wars 8/26/16

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d8/Plant_cell_structure-en.svg/1280px-Plant_cell_structure-en.svg.png

Summary

The Cell Theory is made up of three parts. One, all living things are made up of cells. Two, Cells are the most basic form of living things. And three, all cells come from cells. You know something is living if it respires, needs nutrition, grows, and reproduces. Cells are made out of things called atoms. They make up everything in the whole entire universe. Inside cells are things called organelles such as the nucleus, mitochondria, chloroplast, and the vacuole. The organelles present in plant and animals cells however, vary. Our bodies have trillions of cells.

SP6: Constructing explanations and designing solutions

I constructed explanations with my classmates when I participated in a class discussion on cells. We tried to figure out what makes something alive. I also constructed explanations and designed solutions when I worked on solving a worksheet and finding the odd one out in a list. I had to work together with my table group and look for patterns in order to find which item listed was the odd one out. After I found it, I explained to the class which item I thought was odd and explain why I knew.

Cross Cutting Concepts: Patterns

When solving the worksheet given out in class. I had to look out fro patterns and similarities between the listed items. I also have to try to figure out what differences they each had in order to find the odd one out. Based on my knowledge that all living things have cells, I was able to find the odd one out by asking myself which items were considered living and which weren't. Scientists Mat Thias Schleiden and Theodore Scwann both were able to come up with the fact that all living things have cells by noticing a re-occurring pattern in their studies. All plants and animals have cells. This was how they were able to come up with part of the cell theory.

Multiplier

This week I was a creator because I contributed to the class discussion and answers the question of my classmates.

Weekly Blog 5/22/16 - Nutrition

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/MyPyramidFood.svg/2000px-MyPyramidFood.svg.png

Summary

In order to stay healthy, people have created food guides like food pyramids (shown above), percentage food plates, graphs, and more. A healthy balance of different food categories is essential for leading a strong life. You can learn about the foods you are eating by reading the nutrition label. The nutrition label includes some information such as a number of servings and calories. Speaking of calories, what are they? Calories are a unit of measurement. They measure the amount of energy the food may give you. One calorie is equivalent the amount of energy required to heat up 1 kilogram of water 1 degrees celsius. Also, there are two kinds of calories. Big and small. A big Calorie (with a capital C) is 1000 small calories.

SP4: Analyzing and interpreting data

I analyzed data when I watched videos and read articles about food nutrition, labels, serving sizes, and more. Once I did this, I created graphs and wrote about the data I had just learned with my group. Our class created a document together showing data we all knew. We each had to work together to list healthy and unhealthy foods.

XCC: Energy and Matter

We discussed energy when we talked about calories. Calories measure the potential amount of energy some food will provide when consumed. Food is one of the things that give humans energy. Unlike plants, we can't photosynthesize and create our own food. A small chain of a events or system happens when we consume food. After we eat food, our body takes the available nutrition from the food to create energy. After that, we can use the energy to do whatever.

Multiplier: Learner

This week I was a learned. I asked questions about food serving sizes to learn more as well as get answers. I was able to get answers by reading articles, watching films, and listening to my classmates.

Weekly Blog 5/15 - The Food System

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/v24wT16OU2w/maxresdefault.jpg

Summary

Within the world, there is a food system. A system is something made up of several components that work together to complete one or multiple tasks. In the food system, there are the people that make the food, prepare the food, sell the food, eat the food, throw away the food, etc. It's like a chain of events that lead up to two possibilities. In order for the store to be able to sell the food, the food has to have been grown and transported previously. If any steps were taken out of the system (or chain of events) everything would be different. Once the food gets to the eating stage, then it can either be thrown into landfills and the garbage, or used into a different way (composting, feeding others, etc.). 

SP6: Constructing explanations and designing solutions

This week I constructed explanations when I organized a list including the steps food goes through. I had to think about the order and why that order would make sense. I also had to explain how food might get wasted during that step. I designed solutions when I created a poster about the strawberries. Once, we ran out of room for writing, as a solution, our group adjusted the papers and made more room for our words. 

XCC: Systems

Like I mentioned earlier, we have a food system which includes several steps leading up to the disposal of food. Though the order of steps can vary depending on the type of food, a general outline my be ordered as production (growing), harvesting, sorting (throwing away bad and keeping the good ones), washing, packaging, transportation, retailing, home storage, cooking, eating, and disposal. All steps and components are dependent on each other. If one step was taken out, the whole food system would change. For example, if we didn't throw away "ugly" foods while sorting, a lot less food would be wasted. America would have much less food waste. This completely changes the outcome of the system.

Multiplier: Initiator

This week I was an initiator. While we were working on our food systems poster wth our group, I was asking questions about the strawberries and the process. I asked questions like, "Would this happen because of this? What do you think?".

Project Blog 5/8/16 - Temperate Grasslands (The Great Plains)

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/62/Picketwire_Canyon.jpg

Summary

In this project, we had to research a biome and create a trifold as well as a model. The trifold and model both included information n your specific biome. My group was assigned the temperate grasslands. We decided to specifically research the Great Plains. The Great Plains are mainly located in Central America. However, a few other main temperate grasslands are located in Africa, South America, and Eurasia. The dominant plant is grasses. There are few to no trees in this biome. As for animals, there is very low diversity. Some common animals are bison and pronghorn. In the summer, temperate grasslands are very hot, in the winter, they are dry. The climate and weather there are very harsh and rough. Another interesting fact about temperate grasslands is that they have extremely fertile soil. In fact, it actually has some of the most fertile soil in the world. Unfortunately, due to the soil, a lot of the land is being taken over for farming leaving less room for actual wildlife. 

Backwards Looking - What process did you go through to produce this piece?

During this project, we had complete several steps. The first one being research. Our group spent about 1.5 weeks of research. Each group member was assigned a different area of research. The next step was organizing our research so we could print it and attach it to a board. When that was done, we printed it out and worked on our board. While a few people were working on the board, then the other members would work on our model. From there, we just finished each component for the project. 

Inward Looking - What did/do you find frustrating about this?

One thing I found frustrating was how my group never completely finished our model. We weren't able to create all plants to attach to our model. Another thing I found frustrating was how my group didn't always work as productively as we could have. For example, one person might not bring some certain material when they were supposed to. The final thing that made this project a bit harder to complete was the fact that one of my group members were often absent during that time. 

Outward Looking - In what ways did your work meet the standards for this assignment? In what ways did it not meet those standards?

In our trifold, our group met the standards for all the information required. We neatly typed it out, cut it and pasted it onto the board. The trifold was nicely completed. As for what didn't meet the standards, our model was missing a few key components. Though our model did resemble a temperate grassland biome, it did not include all the plants and animals mentioned on our board. It was missing many different plants. Both hazardous and edible.

Forward Looking - What would you change if you had the chance to do this piece over again?

If I had the chance to do this piece over again, I would set harder deadlines. That way, my group would be able to finish all parts of the project and meet all the standards. I would spend less time making the model or trifold look nice and more time working on the animals clay figures as well as plant figures. I would also use a more sturdy box for my diorama. Halfway through the project, our diorama snapped in half. We had to problem solve and fix the edges as well as redo our river.

Weekly Blog 5/1/2016 - The Great Plains

http://d.fastcompany.net/multisite_files/coexist/imagecache/1280/poster/2013/05/1682173-poster-1280-bison.jpg

Summary

Temperate grasslands are located in many different places. A few of the main grasslands, however, are located in the United States, Africa, Australia, and Eurasia. The Great Plains is temperate grassland located in central North America. Within the Great Plains live many different animals such as bison, pronghorn, white tailed deer, and foxes. All of the animals in the plains have had to adapt to the weather, climate, and geography of the plains. For example, drought is a normal yearly occurrence even though it does not affect the wildlife too much. Many of the plants are able to live on. A majority of them are also available year round. There are also many rivers that pass through there like the Mississippi, Missouri, Republican, and Saskatchewan. Rain season is primarily during spring. The climate in the Great Plains is extremely diverse. Summer brings droughts or heavy rain, spring brings rain and thunderstorms, and winter brings thick blankets of snow.

SP2: Developing and using models

I developed models when I worked on creating a tri fold board to show the information my group and I had found. After researching, we worked on organizing our data. Our group also started planning out our diorama. We gave each other tasks to complete and materials to bring so we can all create a model. I used models when I looked at other models (whether in picture form or from other classmates) to help me figure out what my model might or should look like. It helped to have something you can reference to or get ideas from.

XCC: Stability and Change

The Great Plains changes as well as stays the same in many different ways year round. For example, one thing that stays the same is the population of bison year round in the Great Plains. Bison are one of the few animals that do not migrate during the winter. Other animals, however, do. One thing that is constantly changed is the weather and climate. As i mentioned earlier, the type of weather is constantly changing by season. Like the Bison, many plants stay year round in the plains. They have adapted to the harsh climates. 

Multiplier - Wanderer

This week I was a wanderer. I know his because I spent lots of y time finding resources for information and sharing them with my group. I also made a page full of correct citations to give credit too the websites we used. 

A True Hero

The Journey of the Bottle

        12 years. It had been 12 years since he left. Iskander sat in the corner thinking about his son. 12 years ago, Wira, Iskander’s son, had left his father to join the army. Though Iskander had not heard from Wira since 2 years after he left, the fact that he lived in a poor secluded village had not prevented him from hearing about what a legend his son was becoming.  Wira was now a respectable soldier, a hero even. Just like his namesake. 8 years after Wira left, Iskander had sent out a scroll in a  bottle in hopes that it would reach his son.

     4 years after the bottle was thrown out to sea, in the present day, it was found by an old fisherman named Jamba, as he caught it in his net. Jamba opened the bottle and read the scroll inside, only to find that it was for none other than the hero Wira. Jamba set out to find Wira, though it was not all that hard, as Wira’s name was known far and wide. On his mini journey, Jamba encountered a marksman who had recently seen Wira, and so he took the bottle and set off. When the marksman found Wira, he was looking out to the ocean. The marksman tapped Wira’s shoulder as he dropped the bottle at his feet. He then left. A minute after the marksman left, Wira realized that someone had dropped something. Wira bent down and picked the bottle up. Wira opened the bottle. There were a few words on the outside of the note. They read: To my little hero. Wira, curious, unrolled the scroll. It read: My dear son Wira,”. A tear fell from his eyes as Wira realized that it was from his father. He read on. “If you are reading this, then this letter must have reached you. I don’t know how much time has passed, Please, come home. I have missed you greatly ever since you left, and worry for you every day.”  Since he left for the army, especially because of his growing popularity, Wira was unable to contact anyone, nor was he able to travel. In the first time since 12 years, he was finally permitted a break. After reading the scroll, Wira decided to set out and find his father. Alone, as he had no one else to travel with, he set off to the dock to rent a boat. Wira had no experience with boats, and so he had trouble picking one. While he was deciding on which boat he should take, he met up with a sailor. The sailor immediately recognized Wira as the Great Hero, and asked if he could be of assistance. Wira told the sailor about the bottle, his father, and everything else that had occurred in the past few hours, including his need for a boat. After hearing Wira’s story, the sailor offered to escort him. “It would be a great honor for me if you allow me to escort you,” the sailor said. Wira, grateful to the sailor, thanked him and accepted his offer. Realizing that he did not yet know the sailor’s name, he asked the sailors name. The sailor responded, saying that his name is Kusama. Kusama asked Wira where he would like to go, with Wira responding Indonesia. Based off of the currents in the route from Africa to Indonesia, Kusama chose a compatible boat. Wira asked Kusama how he knew which boat to take, to which Kusama replied that he based it off of the currents. Although Wira was well educated, he had not learned much about oceanography. Wira explained this to Kusama as he asked for an explanation of how currents work. And so, while they stocked the ship, Kusama explained that “Ocean Currents and driven by wind, salinity, density, and change in temperature.” Wira, still having a slight bit of trouble, said “Sorry to trouble you this much, but I still don’t understand it all that well. How does Wind, Salinity, Density, and Temperature change affect the currents? To this, Kusama replied “Salinity is amount of saltiness or dissolved salt in a body of water. Density is the measure of mass in something. Wind affects water because it moves the surface of the water. Temperature change affects currents because it causes the masses of different water areas to change.” Wira, now able to completely understand the topic, thanked Kusama, who replied that it was his honor. They finished stocking up on food and supplies, and set off on their journey. During their journey, Wira was responsible for the sails, while Kusama steered a boat. Several days later, they finally reached Indonesia. Wira’s father lived in a small village near the coast. The village was poor, as well as all of its residents. Iskander lived on the outskirts of the village, away from the other houses.

     Wira and Kusama walked to the village, as there was no form of transportation in that corner of the country. Once they reached the village, everyone greeted Wira with pride and joy, even preparing for a feast in the evening.  Kusama had departed, wanting to see more of Indonesia. Wira asked about his father, but no one knew much about him. According to the villagers, he barely ever showed up in the village. Not since 6 years after Wira left. Hearing this worried Wira greatly, and so he rushed to their house. Once they reached the house, Wira opened the door, only to find his father lying in bed, looking terribly ill. Wira asked his father what had happened, and he told Wira that he had fallen ill 6 years after Wira left. Wira, of course, ran to get help, coming back with the village medic. The medic checked on Iskander, and even identified his illness. The illness, unfortunately, had been seen before, but none of the victims had survived so far. There was no cure for this illness. Wira was devastated by the news. His father, whom he had not seen for the past 12 years, was on the verge of death. Wira was determined to save his father, and so, once again, he set out, seeking a cure. Wira asked around in all of Indonesia, but had no luck. Finally, just as he was about to give up, he ran into Kusama. Kusama saw the solemn look on Wira’s face and asked what was worrying him. Wira explained his father’s situation to Kusama, who asked to see his father.

     They had reached Wira’s home. Kusama began to ask the medic about Iskander’s conditions, recognizing the illness. Kusama spoke to Wira, and said that there was a cure for the illness back in Africa. And so, as quickly as possible, the two stocked up their ship once again, and traveled back to Africa, bringing along Iskander, as if they took the time to travel there and back, the condition would worsen to a truly incurable state. Several days later, they once again reached Africa. Wira stayed back on the boat along with his father while Kusama brought a medic who could cure the illness. Weeks later, after many times of taking medicine, Iskander was finally cured. Kusama and Wira left to Indonesia once again, and a feast was prepared in celebration of Iskander’s health and Wira’s homecoming.

     About a month later, suspicious people had come to the village looking for Wira. A new war had started, and without Wira, the army was sure to lose. It was a war between Africa and Britain. The agents of Britain had arrived on orders to assassinate Wira. In the dead of night, they set Wira’s house on fire. They woke up immediately, but as the house was made of straw, it was too late. The entire house was collapsing. Wira attempted to run out along with Kusama and Iskander, but he tripped. Just as a flaming chunk of ceiling fell upon Wira, Iskander pushed him out of the way, burning under the rubble. His last words were “Wira, Run!” Wira was shocked. He ran towards his father in a desperate attempt to save him, but Kusama pulled him away, as Iskander was already dead. They ran out together, surviving.

      In the following days, Wira had marched into battle and achieved victory. The same week, Iskander’s funeral was held. All of Africa and Indonesia was present. It was a funeral for not only Wira’s father, but also a hero. A hero who had died saving the Hero of the Land.

Weekly Blog 4/10/16 - Ocean and Wind Currents

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cc/Ocean_surface_currents.jpg

Summary

If you look at an ocean current map then compare it to a wind circulation map, you will find that the two look extremely similar. This is due to the fact that the two concepts affect each other. Wind, along with salinity, density, and temperature are all attributes that create and influence ocean currents. Wind, in particular, impacts the surface of the water. That will cause the ocean currents to travel in the same direction as the wind causing the two to look especially similar. One difference is that wind travels on both land and bodies of water while currents do not. In the northern hemisphere, currents travel clockwise. In the southern hemisphere, currents travel counter-clockwise. 

SP2: Developing and using models

During the course of the previous week, I developed and used models to illustrate the relationship between wind circulation and ocean currents. One model consisted of herbs floating in a container filled with water. Two people in each table used straws to blow towards the water in opposite directions. One blowing from the east, and another from the west. This created circular movements within the water. By watching, developing, and using the model, I was able to visualize and better understand why and how the concept worked. 

XCC - Cause and Effect

One cause and effect relationship I was able to identify is present in the stock market. Whenever a business  starts doing really well or really bad, the value of the companies shares changes. While the  value changes, people begin to sell and buy shares. The stock market is one gigantic example of a huge cause and effect relationship.

Multiplier

This week I believe that I was a mutant learner. This is because I continued to think of questions and find answers through analyzing models, graphs, tables, and maps. I was abe to gain knowledge through the different representations and worksheets I completed as well as saw.

Weekly Blog 3/2716 - Ocean Currents

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cc/Ocean_surface_currents.jpg

Summary

About 71% of the Earth's surface is covered in water. Most of this water is from oceans. Ocean currents are created by density in different bodies of water and wind. While the denser water sinks, the thinner water will rise creating a pattern.  In the northern hemisphere, ocean currents travel clockwise whereas, in the southern hemisphere, the currents travel count-clockwise. The earth rotates west (counter-clockwise) which affects the movement of the currents. Without the earth's rotation, the ocean currents would just travel in the direction towards the equator. Image opening a set of double doors, the right door is the northern hemisphere while the left door is the southern hemisphere. When you open them, the right door goes right (clockwise) while the left door swings in the opposite direction (counter-clockwise).

SP2: Developing and using models

I used models when I planned different routes across the world. My group and I looked a globe model of the world. The model helped us visualize the longest distance we would be able to cross without backtracking our steps on different continents as well as the ocean. I developed models when I drew my own map of the world on a paper. This was to study latitude and longitude lines. as well as geography to further understand the ocean and such. One thing I learned was that all the oceans on earth are connected. The Pacific, Atlantic, Indian etc. oceans aren't really separate oceans, they're parts of one huge body of water. 

XCC: Stability and Change

One thing I noticed is that over time the earth is constantly changing. Scientists believe that approximately 300 million years ago, all of our continents were connected in a sort of supercontinent called Pangaea. Over time, it started breaking apart making the earth we know now. However, one thing that constantly stayed the same is the fact that there is only one actual ocean. During Pangaea, There was one huge body of water (besides lakes, rivers, and etc.) All our oceans are technically still one big body of water.

What is the time scale for this system to remain stable or change?

The system of earth's changing geography takes a long time to change. The earth gradually shifts after earthquakes and such though it takes a veeerrryyy long time. If Pangaea was formed about 300 million years ago and it started breaking up 175 million years ago, that means Pangaea stayed the same slowly moving for 125 million years. As you can see, the geographical changing of the earth is a very slow process.

Multiplier - What type of learner were you this week?

This week I was a creator mutant. This is because I was studying the globes and communicating the information I found to my group. While some people in our group contributed to finding data, others analyzed the data together and wrote down our answer.

WAC - Who killed the fish in the Gray Bay?

3/14/2016

Dear Gray Times Editors,

          This letter will address fish kill problem going on in the Gray Bay. I am pleased to be able to tell you I have discovered the true culprit of the fish kill. Due to the knowledge I have gained over the past few weeks, I can now say for certain that the killer was in fact Golf Course owner.... SANDY TRAPP!! As you know, as of five years ago fish have been continuously dying off at a rate of a thousand per year. I have been conducting experiments and researching to find the cause of this problem. The data which I have received from the fish autopsies has confirmed my suspicions. Out of the 50 fish they tested, 21 were killed by insufficient amounts of oxygen in their waters. Sandy Trapp is responsible for this problem due to 3 important reasons. She has been asking her employees to add absurd amounts of water and fertilizer in the grass, fertilizer contains phosphates which cause chain reactions killing fish, and the fish autopsy proves that most of the fish died from oxygen loss .Now to explain what phosphates, fertilizer, and oxygen depletion have to do with each other.

          With the help of some special techniques, I have uncovered evidence proving that Sandy Trapp's Golf Course water drainage is full of phosphates. Our evidence came from a classified digital source. I found that Sandy Trapp and one of her employees have been found reasoning over the use of fertilizer and water. Sandy first spoke to concerning browning grass at the eighth hole. "It looks like some of the grass out by the eighth hole is turning a little brown. Let's step up the fertilizing and watering around here" he/she suggested. Please note, the employee has asked for his or her identity to remain confidential. Continuing on, the employee replied to Sandy telling her that the water was probably from a dog that slipped past security and peed on the grass. He/She told her the grass would return green naturally. The employee said, "We're already using more than enough fertilizer, and watering too much, in my opinion, I don't 't know where all that water goes". In other words, the employee respectfully declined Sandy's suggestion. This conversation ended with Sandy telling Anonymous that the grass must be kept green at ALL times. She told her employee to forget about the dog and just add more fertilizer and water. The use of the quotes above has been permitted. 

          Fertilizer contains phosphates which are killing fish in the Gray Bay. But how do phosphates kill fish? Well, fertilizer contains substances called phosphates which promote plant growth. By watering the grass too much, all the extra drainage will wash up into the nearby waters affecting plant life since phosphates are mixed in with the drainage. The phosphates will cause algal blooms. Algal blooms are large outbursts of algae plant life. Even with all the fish in the water, there will still be some algae left uneaten. The algae will rot attracting bacteria. The bacteria will eat the rotten algae and deplete the oxygen in the body of water. Without oxygen, fish can't breathe or survive ultimately killing them and decreasing their population. 

         Like I mentioned earlier, scientists have been conducting fish autopsies on different bodies from the Gray Bay. 14 of the fish died from oil-related reasons, 8 from chlorine, 7 from unknown and a whopping 21 from oxygen loss! Out of the 50 fish, 42% of them died. Let's connect some dots shall we? Hmmm, lots of fish are dying from oxygen depletion. Phosphates cause oxygen depletion. Sandy Trapp uses lots of fertilizer in her grass. Which by the way contains phosphates, the things that cause oxygen loss. Which did I mention, fish are dying from? See the connection between these three points yet? Anyway, this piece of evidence clearly states that Sandy has something to do with the death of those 21 (and counting) fish. In the fish autopsy, it stated in the report, " 21 of the fish had clamped fins which indicate that they died from not enough oxygen". Even with all this evidence, people can easily claim that the phosphates in the water aren't coming from them. Let's confirm once and for all that Sandy is for sure, in charge of this mass fish murder. 

          During an interview, Sandy told the reporters "The Golf Course is on the other side of the hill,
and our water doesn't even drain into the pond! Besides, we already know who's really guilty. It's the killer cow patties and the dirty sock juice from the laundry! ". This makes sense, at the cattle ranch they have to feed there coews with grass right? That menas they also use fertilizer. The phosphates could have easily been from them. Right? Wrong. Though phosphates from the cattle ranch makes sense, I have proof that it isn't from them. A team of scientists have conducted an experiment .
that tests the level of phosphates in certain water samples. They tested 3 different water samples, all of which were from possible suspects living around James Pond (the place where the phosphates are  coming from). By placing an indicator in the water sample, you are able to see if the water has high or ok levels of phosphates. If the sample changes color, then your water has too many phosphates. The only sample that changed color was the .... Golf Course. that proves that the phosphates are coming from Sandy. Also, if you remember correctly, during her chat with her employee, the employee talking about how she didn't know where their draiage went. If they didn't know where their water drained into, how did she know that it didn't drain into James Pond?  Time to review all of our newfound information.

          We know that Sandy Trapp puts excessive amount of fertilizer and water in her green grass. Fertilizer contains pohphates. A chemical that promotes plat growth leading to the death of fish. in the recent fish qutopsy, 21 out of 50 fish died from oxygen loss. Oxygen depletion claimed the lives of most fish tested. Sandy Trapp puts uses deadly fertilizer. Fish are dying due to phosphates and fertilizer in James Pond. The Golf Course is located right next to James Pond. Hmmm. Even better, our experiment shows the Golf Course is the only place near James Pond with too many phosphates in its drainage. All this evidence clearly points to how Sandy Trapp has been killing fish just by producing her green grass. One solution I suggest is to invest in artificial grass.. This way, the grass will always be green, they don't have to spend as much time taking care of it, Sandy wont have to hire people to water her grass, and she will save money by not having to buy fertilizer. Even their water bill will go down drarastically. Not only will artificial grass benefit the Golf Course in so many ways, it will also save the lives of fish in the Gray Bay.

Weekly Blog 3/13/2016 - The Gray Bay

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/47/Water_pollution_fish_kill.jpg/1024px-Water_pollution_fish_kill.jpg

Summary

As of 5 years ago, fish in the Gray Bay have started to die off. This is due to several reasons such as chlorine, low pH levels, sediment, and phosphates in the water. Chlorine gives fish chemical burns. It will burn the fishes gills. The chlorine is let into the water by the water slide. One interesting fact is that the water slide opened up at the same time the fish started dying. The second contributor to the death of the fish is low pH levels. The lower the pH level, the more acidic the water is. Water with too much acid can prevent fish from reproducing as well as kill them. Acid rain is causing the acidity in the water. Phosphates causes things called algal blooms. With too much algae in the water, fish wont be able to consume it all so a lot of it will rot. The bacteria will then eat the rotten algae and multiply. With so much bacteria in the water, the germs will cause oxygen deprivation which will kill the fish. As you can see, the murder of all this fish in the Gray Bay is caused by many different factors.

SP3: Planning and carrying out investigations

I planned out investigations when I read different files about Phosphates. I had to read these files so I could understand the meaning of my data that I collected from the experiment I was about to do. I carried out an investigation when I conducted experiments to find the culprit of the Gray Bay fish kill with my table group. In this phosphate investigation, we measured the phosphate levels in water drainage from the Gold Course, Small Town, and Cattle Ranch. We found that the place where the phosphates in the James Pond water was coming from was the Golf Course. 

XCC - Cause and Effect

One cause and effect relationship I noticed during class was the chain of events that occurred in the gold course leaving phosphates in James Pond. The events started with a dog. When the dog started peeing on the grass in the golf course, the green grass turned brown. Because of this, the owner of the golf course, Sandy Trap ordered her employee Mo Lawn to add more fertilizer and water to the over watered and fertilizered grass. After that, Mo Lawn did as she was told. However, that caused the excess water to drain into Jame Pond. Since fertilizer contains phosphates, an algal bloom occurred in the Pond creating lots of algae. At first, the algae will increase the population of fish. Even with lots of fish, they wont be able to eat all of the algae so the algae will rot. Like I described earlier, bacteria will come and so on. As you can see, by peeing on the grass, the dog has apparently killed several fish. This example of cause and effect is extremely long.

Explain how this relationship helps you "take over the world" - Habits of mind (extra credit)

This relationship demonstrates how small actions can lead to big problems. It teaches me that whenever a do work, I should always be careful and pay attention to even the smallest details to make sure everything is right. When you are ignorant to problems, it may lead to harder problems. Another thing I learned was that I when I solve problems, I need to think of the effect it will have on everyone. For example, Sandy Trap did solve her browning grass problem. The bad part is that she caused another problem by acting hastily. You won't be able to take over the world if you don't pay attention to everything and think about something before you do it.

Multiplier - What type of learner were you this week?

This week, I think I was a creator mutant. This is because I contributed to the class discussions and review of what we are learning about in the beginning of every class period.

Weekly Blog 2/28/2016 - Rivers

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a5/Ob_u_Barnaulu.jpg

Summary

There are many rivers in the world. Sadly, a vast number of rivers are constantly being polluted. This is due to things like oils spills and littering. In the lower section of the Ob, people have been using the river as a place to dump oil. This has caused severe pollution in the river hurting the plants and animals that rely on the river for a habitat. Another commonality I found in many rivers is that they are often being used as a way to produce electricity. For example, people build hydro-electric dams among rivers. Though producing clean energy is a good thing, this can also cause erosion problems. Many different cultures rely on rivers for things like fertile land (peat soil), fish, and water. Because of this, protect rivers should be a priority of many. Not only do rivers provide resources for us, but they also help us economically. While I saw other river presentations, I noticed that many (if not all) of the rivers are or were in some point of time used for transporting goods or tourists of some sort.

SP8: Obtain, evaluate and communicate information

I communicated my findings about the cultural, economical, and environmental significance of Ob river when I presented my groups river documentary to the class. My river documentary was about the Ob river. I also showed others my groups map and model. I obtained information when I watched the presentations of the other groups. After each presentation, I had to write at least 3 facts about the river I just learned about in my notebook. Many of these rivers had several similarities. Like how I mentioned earlier that most of the rivers are being used as a transportation route.

Cross Cutting Concepts - Systems & System Models

The system I have identified is the Ob river system. The different parts of this system is the water, plants, and animals. The plants and animals depend on the water and each other for food and a home. Everything in the system works together to ensure that every part of the system is safe. A river is a system because it has many different things living in it. It even provides food and resources for people living around the system. This is one way the river system can connect to another system. 

So, how does this river system connect and affected other systems? One way that river systems are connected to others systems are through tributaries. Because of tributaries, the water is able to spread to new places where a new system will be made. Different plant and animals will depend on this new system. The Ob river system has over 1900 tributaries, it is connected to over a thousand different rivers all around Russia. The Ob also produces fertile land. Fertile land is an essential part of our system. The human system, we need fertile land to grow food. This is how two systems can depend on each other for different things.