☆ Serena ☆
Who are in the picture above?

The pupils at a school were dressed into their head master, Peter Sadler as a memorable treat for him.

Why are they doing this?

Because their head teacher was going to leave after his 18 years of organizing this school.

Where did they made this big surprise?

At a school in the Midlands ~ St Mary's Primary.

When did this happened?

This happened on the last day of Mr. Sadler at his school.

What did he see that made him jump?

In front of him stood students that were dressed with beards saying goodbye. Thanks goodness he saw the funny side because students will be in trouble for dressing as their head teacher.

What did he say about that special surprise?

"It was a wonderful joyful assembly - a lovely way to end the week."

Link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_7690000/newsid_7697000/7697020.stm
☆ Serena ☆
Who saved the what?
A dog (left) saved the kittens in a cardboard box.(right).

Where did the dogs saved the kittens?
It happened in Australia ~ a burning house.
What:
When did this happened?
October 26, 2008
Did anyone stay behind?
Yeah~ Leo stayed to protect the kittens as the building began to burn down.
If he is stayed, did he have a chance to escape too, like the others?
Yes, he did. The fire fighters found him and helped them to safety.
Was he hurt during the time inside the house caring for the kittens?
Leo was hurt and he is having medical treatments.

Most of all, they were safe and brave (especially Leo)!

LINK:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_7690000/newsid_7692000/7692052.stm?ls
☆ Serena ☆
Group =(S(andra).S(tephanie).S(erena).)

We, as a group are going to research on the relationship between an Ocelot and a prairie dog, and also some information about these two animals.

Where can I find information?
I can find information for my research project on the internet, books, dictionaries, encyclopedias, stories, news articles, magazines, posters, and asking others.

What are the best resources to start with?

The best source to start with is by using paper printed ones. That's because you can get a lot of information from all the thousands and thousands printed works. If you have found everything you have and wanted to research more, then you'll use the internet.

Why is it better to get information from a book or an online Encyclopedia than finding a site through a search engine?
Because the encyclopedia was proved that it has all correct information so that everyone can learn. Whereas the other websites, people might make them up and write the false information. Also the encyclopedia has a lot of information to reference from.

What resources could you use?

I could use wikipedia, and other encyclopedias
to do my research from. Maybe I can ask a scientist!

Which ones provided the most valid and detailed information?
Ocelot = San Diego Zoo Animal Bytes
Prairie dog = San Diego Zoo Animal Bytes

Below are some other sites we went to, to do our research:
Ocelot:

Prairie Dog:

What made the provided resources better than doing a search engine search?
That's because then it'll be easier then searching into a lot of websites and trying to figure out if it was the true information.

☆ Serena ☆
Who is this article talking about?
It talks about this escaped female hamster named Fudgie.

What was the duration of her "escaping" event?

It had a run for eight days before returning to her cage.

Where was she during the eight days?

She had gone down exploring a hole in the kitchen floor.

What did people use to try and get her out?

Fire crews used a camera and a vacuum cleaner to find Fudgie ~ but couldn't have her to come out.

When did she came back?

Then one day, she came back to the cage after the exhausting life underground.

How do people know she came back?

This is because, Zoe's dad, saw Fudgie in her own cage when he was about to set out for work.

How do the family feel?

The family was relieved that they found Fudgie at last!

Link:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_7680000/newsid_7688600/7688667.stm

☆ Serena ☆

Who are mentioned in this article?

The goats are!

If the goats are mentioned, what is this all about?

This is all about the action of rescuing goats.

When did this occurred?

It occurred on October 23, 2008

What happened there?

Rescuers were trying more than 2 hours to descend a 60 meter cliff to safe the animal and lead it back to where there's safety.

Why:
The goat couldn't free itself.

Where are the goats needed to be rescued?

The goats are needed to be rescued at Great Orme, in Llandudno.

What had helped the animal survive after the rescue? How long had it been up there?

The animal survived by eating small patches of grass here and there on rocky ledges without getting injured. It had been there for 2 weeks already.

Who spotted it first?

The fishermen near the Welsh coast spotted it first and then found out that it couldn't be freed.

Who were involved in rescuing the goat?

Mountain rescuers /RSPCA/and the fishermen were involved.

LINK:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_7670000/newsid_7678700/7678795.stm
☆ Serena ☆
  1. http://supportblogging.com/Educational+Blogging
  2. http://www.masternewmedia.org/independent_publishing/blogging-how-to-blog/guide-to-publishing-first-blog-20071104.htm.htm
  3. http://carlodramaqueen.edublogs.org/how-to-get-started/
  4. http://www.albion.com/netiquette/corerules.html
  5. http://edorigami.wikispaces.com/The+3+i%27s+of+internet+safety
  6. http://lifehacker.com/software/top/special-lifehackers-guide-to-weblog-comments-126654.php
  7. http://carlodramaqueen.edublogs.org/leaving-comments-how-to-leave-a-comment/
  8. http://students2oh.org/
☆ Serena ☆
After I went and reviewed my tasks, I found that I really learned a lot. Because I never really looked deep inside the definitions of words that are used every time while thinking. And those words include... Skills and knowledge and the understanding of ideas.
I remember that I asked my family, friends, and classmates on what they think each words mean to them and I found it so interesting that if I have found a larger amount of people to survey, I would surely love to.
I also went and think carefully of the ways I learn new things and that includes learning how to operate a new software. Most of all, the Bloom’s Taxonomy of Thinking Skills really shocked me on how thinking skills are presented this way. Studying how people learn and breaking it into parts did puzzle me a lot but it can help me understand more...
☆ Serena ☆

~ Blogging ~
  • Why and how do we blog?
To know why we blog, first you'll need to know what is a blog.

We blog to improve ourselves by getting comments from others about your post like reading and getting reflections/responds/perspectives. It is also another way to communicate with people around the world, and in order to do that, it is to do a lot reading & writing. It can be educational that are blogged by students, teachers, administrators, experts, and others. In this way, we can have a better chance to explore the work while getting feedback from the readers.
  • Getting started...
Go to the place where you create blog posts and start to jot down ideas and scribble the whole thing in the text.
  • Good Netiquette...
To have good Netiquette is to act properly while you're online.
  • Internet Safety
Be aware of your usage of internet and be sure that it's safe! Don't expose your personal information for anyone you don't know.
  • About the ways you comment...
Give a comment with politeness and be friendly. Don't change your topic and give your good thoughts. Tell them what they need to improve.

Be sure that you do the things you are suppose to do!

☆ Serena ☆

Question: In math and science, why is it more important to have a clear explanation than to have the "right answer"?

Answer: In math and science, having a clear explanation than the right answer because...
1. You can show what you think.
2. To explain your reasoning.
3. To show that you tried.

You need to understand what you are doing before you even try and get the answer right.




☆ Serena ☆

Who: It's the "ice".

When: Now

Where: Arctic

What: The Arctic Ocean is gradually becoming warmer and less salty then before. Due to the highness of he temperature now, the sea ice are melting.

Why: These effects are made by the fact of global warming that is now occurring.

Link:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_7670000/newsid_7675400/7675401.stm

☆ Serena ☆


Active learner = Yes~ I was ready to learn and see what the steps are needed to be done. No ~ I just sat there, looking tired and staring at the tube for observations that could be written down.
Person of high character = Yes ~ I helped my group members by preparing the goggles and other equipments for them and I also put the things away when our project was finished.
Communicator contributor = Yes ~ I put the things back where they belong after using them. I provided observations I noticed and passed them onto one of my partners, so she can write them down.
Effective communicator = Yeah ~ I communicated with my group to see if we did the right thing and if I missed out something. No ~ When we're about to finish the lab, we just took whatever stuff and put them away, almost not communicating with each other.
Critical thinker = Yes ~ I looked carefully at the tube and see if there's any qualitative observations to write down. I also tried ways on why there was no recording of the temperatures on some people's logger pro. No ~ I didn't think that we need to wear goggles before Ms. Smith told us to because they might harm our eyes.
☆ Serena ☆

Who: People under 16

When:

Now

Where:

Around the world

What:

Children were taking risks on fireworks and messing with some that are illegal. Firefights said that fireworks are dangerous because of the sudden explosion. Children under 18 (United Kingdom) were not allowed to buy fireworks.

Why:

-They would be breaking the laws.

- A firefight said that in the year 2007, above 500 people (under the age 16) were hurt by taking risks with the fireworks.

- The fireworks can explode as quick as lightning as soon as they're lightened.

- If you are older than 16 and have a special license, then you can only buy any kind of fireworks in Northern Ireland.

LINK:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_7670000/newsid_7670100/7670113.stm
☆ Serena ☆

Hey!! Have you ever learned a skill, a piece of knowledge and an new idea, then you used them in another useful situation?
Well, I do!
1. When reading magazines, books, newspaper, finding information about a famous person (etc...), I often find interesting vocabularies that might become useful in some essays, reports, speeches, and other huge projects. > Understanding and applying
2. I play soccer, and when I learn how bounce the ball with my head, lap and my foot, then during some sport activities and we compete, it may be useful. > Understanding and applying
3. Looking at the news happening to the world made me create posts on my blog and share with my class and others about warnings, new inventions and discoveries, etc... This way we can social and chat about news. > Understanding and applying
4. I have sketching classes before, and the teacher showed me the techniques in sketching so next time I will be able to draw better on posters and projects that needs drawing. >Understanding and applying

Did you notice that points 1 ~ 4 have this = ">Understanding and applying"? These 4 four points need to be understood and can be applied in other situation.

To understand is to really know what you are reading and doing. Get the things inside your head and understand the concepts.
To apply is to make use and using your knowledge you have understood in another situation.
Just note that, to understand and to apply, first you'll need to remember what you've learned!!!

If you find something useful for future use, write it down, take notes, or remember it inside your head! Even if you think you won't need it, it may still become a very useful skill, knowledge, or idea.
☆ Serena ☆

Who: We, people

When: Everyday during our life...

Where: Anywhere you feel like... :)

What: Playing loud music for less than an hour can damage our hearings for 5 years. The loudness should be at the level which someone else can't hear your music when you have earphones on...

Why: Playing music with headphones could let people have a harder time to hear, when you get older. This is because, deep inside your ears, there are tiny hair that helps you to hear the sounds. If it vibrates too much, It may damage those hairs and may not become better.

Sound expert, Prof James Bridges provides some tips:

- keep the volume down

- use them from 1~2 hours (no more than that)

- don't push the earplugs too far inside your ears.


Link:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_7660000/newsid_7666500/7666581.stm
☆ Serena ☆

Who: Scientists and experts.

When: (Last updated) October 8, 2008

Where: Near Japan

What: Scientists today think that they have found a type of fish that lived the "deepest" so far.

Why: They caught 17 weird looking snailfish on film that was almost 5 miles under the Pacific Ocean (near Japan). These researchers were excited about their new discovery, because old specimens that are kept in museums are the only examples of organisms that live in such depths until now.

About the snailfish:

- live in total darkness (near-freezing temperatures)

- feed on thousands of tiny creatures like shrimps.

It is really interesting that new organisms were found and maybe there are more to discover...

Link:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_7650000/newsid_7658400/7658435.stm
☆ Serena ☆
Who: People

What: People fear that the biggest glacier in Europe (8,000 square kilometers and the deepest point ~ 900 meters thick) is melting quickly as days past.

Experts said that the melting rate is about a meter a year, because due to the rising of temperatures and less amount snow fall.Warnings had been spread around that these gigantic glaciers are melting and that will cause sea levels to rise, which may produce bad floods in different parts of the world.

On the other hand, this event may also give benefits to Iceland, because then warmer temperatures mean that crops farmers planted can grow longer.

When: They could disappear within 100 years.

Where: Vatnajokull, Iceland

Why: This is because of the pollution we made and are still producing large amounts in every seconds you sat in front of the screen reading this article!

This is certainly something we should think about and we should all make a difference!!

Link:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_7650000/newsid_7655900/7655928.stm

☆ Serena ☆
Where: In Africa
When: On Friday
Who: Shot a lion taking down its prey.
What: One of the 24 hour cameras captured a shot of a lion taking down a prey. It is the first time this kind of event had been captured on live webcam. It caught camera shots on animals that includes lions approaching zebras, young hyena, hippo at sleep and a bat-eared fox. Wonderful length of film of a hyena's den.
Why: Exciting unique experience of camera films.
Link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7651951.stm
☆ Serena ☆
A polar bear

Who: American Experts and Polar Bear, Charly.

When: Tuesday

Where: California and the Seaworld Marine Park in America

What:

A 12-year-old polar bear named Charly is also in the hearing tests.

He's trained to respond when hearing a computer-generated tone. If he did done it well, in return there are rewards. And the rewards are food includes fruits, fish, and fat.

The trainer of Charly is called Mike Price and he said: "He very much enjoys the game. When I'm setting up equipment he gets really excited."

Why:

- Scientists are working on testing a polar bear's hearing.

- They are finding out if the melting of the Arctic ice is affecting the bear's hearings.

- They are worried that the noises we human created would scare the bears and make them think that the areas aren't suitable for them.

- They are finding out how sensitive the bears are to the noises.

Solution:

Scientists found that the bears are a lot more sensitive to the sounds than we are.


Link:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_7640000/newsid_7644300/7644397.stm
☆ Serena ☆
Oh no!! Have you ever had a problem when there are too many websites you bookmarked on the computer and you couldn't find what you want?

I have!! So what I'm going to tell you is that, there is a way of sorting your bookmarks. And it is by using tags on a social bookmarking site called Delicious. When you bookmark a page you really like, it's only tied onto 1 computer. What if you used another persons computer and you need your bookmarks and tags? So, that's what it's good about the Delicious Social Bookmarking website. Using this website, it makes tagging more useful, fun and it's social. What social means is that, it is public and others can see what you tagged. You can also see others and find information you need and the websites that interests you. This is how you create a steady stream of social connection of benefits. Tagging is the solution of this gigantic problem.