2nd graders adapted to a small environment and crowded into one classroom to learn from underwater videographer Laura James. We were in awe from her video footage that captured local sea creatures such as ratfish, rockfish, feather duster tube worms, moss head war bonnets, sea slugs, gooey ducks, crystal jellyfish, comb jellyfish (that eat everything), lion sun star, leather star, red rock crabs, decorator crabs, dungeness crab, hermit crabs, Puget Sound king crab, stubby squid, and octopus (just to name a few). Oh, and she's seen many cetaceans too! The octopus were rather fascinating. We learned that a mother octopus lays 50,000-100,000 eggs and tends to them for 6-9 months by cleaning them and foregoes eating and cares for them to exhaustion. She starts to get frail, her suctions start to wither and she turns color to match her malnutrition. When it's time for these wee guys to hatch, the mother swims from the den to deflect attention away from her babies so they could escape to the surface to live and grow. The mother gives herself to predators and dies. Pretty incredible and sad.
Laura James had a lot to say about how important it is to keep our storm drains pollutant-free. One new piece of information we learned today was what the #1 pollutant is. Can you guess what it is? Oil? Pesticides? Litter? Well, it's dog poop! She said that after the summer and when we get our first big storms in the fall there is something called "the big flush." There is a surge of drain water that hits the sound and it coincides when many baby seals and porpoises are born and when their at their weakest state. Recently there was a harbor porpoise that washed up on the Alki shores that had a lung infection. She believes it was the contamination of the dog poop in the water that killed it. She asked us to help pick up dog poop and throw it away if we come across any!
Laura James had a lot to say about how important it is to keep our storm drains pollutant-free. One new piece of information we learned today was what the #1 pollutant is. Can you guess what it is? Oil? Pesticides? Litter? Well, it's dog poop! She said that after the summer and when we get our first big storms in the fall there is something called "the big flush." There is a surge of drain water that hits the sound and it coincides when many baby seals and porpoises are born and when their at their weakest state. Recently there was a harbor porpoise that washed up on the Alki shores that had a lung infection. She believes it was the contamination of the dog poop in the water that killed it. She asked us to help pick up dog poop and throw it away if we come across any!
We had storm drain troopers on the loose today! Our first groups stenciled two drains on 4th including a drain right at the 4-way crosswalk section of what is known as "crazy town" on the corner of 4th and Boston. These groups were able to give us tips of what they found worked well and what didn't work so well. They were surprised by the amount of garbage they collected in the nearby area. This is garbage that will go in the trash instead of being flushed down the storm drains and out of the Puget Sound.
Whale Reports
We are working on our whale reports that will be featured during our PBL Showcase on Tuesday, June 10th. In class, each student has researched and drafted a report on a specific whale. We are now working on typing and publishing. While we have been doing a lot of work at school, home participation is encouraged! Most students have started typing their own reports at school. With respect of time, if students would like to work on formatting (choosing a specific font and adding pictures/photographs) then this is something I strongly urge you to wok on at home. Other optional additions include making a table of contents and glossary. Please let me know if you would like me to email you a copy of your child's report. Some reports will be sent home of those who are needing extra time to complete this assignment. It will need to be saved as a word doc and emailed to me to print at school.
I will also be available to help students before school on Wednesday and Thursday this week.
I will also be available to help students before school on Wednesday and Thursday this week.