It is already hot in Texas. Since I am a water dog, Mom and Dad got me a new swimming pool to help keep me cool. Yesterday, I had my first swim party. It was so much fun!
I love to lay down in my pool. I also like to dive for my golf ball. I can even dunk my head under water. Can you do that?
I wanted Mom and Dad to join me. They think the pool is too small. What do you think?
Monday, May 30, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Spiders are Orbiting the Earth!
There are spiders circling the earth! REALLY!!!
When space shuttle Endeavour launched yesterday, it carried some very special cargo. Two young spiders were on board. NASA calls them spidernauts.
The golden orb spiders (Nephilia clavipes) will be part of an experiment. The human astronauts want to know how the spiders will spin their webs in microgravity (little to no gravity).
Golden orb spiders build very beautiful webs. Will their webs look the same in space?
The spiders live in special boxes on the shuttle. Once the astronauts dock with the space station, they will transfer the spiders and their habitat boxes onto the space station.
Part of Endeavour's cargo also includes food for the spiders. They will eat fruit flies. Fruit flies don't sound very tasty to me, but my spider friends love to eat them!
If you would like to learn more about the spidernauts, just click here: http://solarsystem.jpl.nasa.gov/scitech/display.cfm?ST_ID=2378
By the end of the week, you can see the spiders in their new home on the space station. Just click here: BioEd Online
The BioEd site also has lessons and other activities for you to use.
When space shuttle Endeavour launched yesterday, it carried some very special cargo. Two young spiders were on board. NASA calls them spidernauts.
The golden orb spiders (Nephilia clavipes) will be part of an experiment. The human astronauts want to know how the spiders will spin their webs in microgravity (little to no gravity).
Golden orb spiders build very beautiful webs. Will their webs look the same in space?
The spiders live in special boxes on the shuttle. Once the astronauts dock with the space station, they will transfer the spiders and their habitat boxes onto the space station.
Part of Endeavour's cargo also includes food for the spiders. They will eat fruit flies. Fruit flies don't sound very tasty to me, but my spider friends love to eat them!
If you would like to learn more about the spidernauts, just click here: http://solarsystem.jpl.nasa.gov/scitech/display.cfm?ST_ID=2378
By the end of the week, you can see the spiders in their new home on the space station. Just click here: BioEd Online
The BioEd site also has lessons and other activities for you to use.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Space Shuttle News!
Dear Friends,
Today the space shuttle Endeavor launched into space. It was so exciting to see it go!
If you would like to watch the video, just click here:
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?media_id=88591351
The Endeavour astronauts have lots to do. During this mission, they will bring spare parts for the space station.
They will also install a new scientific tool. It is called an Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer. It will help us to study cosmic rays and other kinds of matter.
If you would like to follow Endeavour's mission, just click here:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html
It is hard to believe that the United States will only have one more space shuttle launch. Atlantis is scheduled to launch in July. I am trying not to be sad. I wanted to be the first dog on the space shuttle!
Today the space shuttle Endeavor launched into space. It was so exciting to see it go!
If you would like to watch the video, just click here:
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?media_id=88591351
The Endeavour astronauts have lots to do. During this mission, they will bring spare parts for the space station.
They will also install a new scientific tool. It is called an Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer. It will help us to study cosmic rays and other kinds of matter.
If you would like to follow Endeavour's mission, just click here:
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html
It is hard to believe that the United States will only have one more space shuttle launch. Atlantis is scheduled to launch in July. I am trying not to be sad. I wanted to be the first dog on the space shuttle!
NASA has some very fun space shuttle activities for you. Just click on one of the links below and have fun!
Space Shuttle Activity Book:
Space Shuttle Fact Sheet: http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/167751main_FS_SpaceShuttle508c.pdf
Space Shuttle Glider Kit:
Friday, May 13, 2011
Sad Day
We have had a very sad day. We lost one of our favorite trees. He was a red oak that was nearly two stories tall and about two feet across. Mom always called him our "grandpa tree."
Over the past few years, he has been losing limbs. When spring came around this year, the entire middle was bare. We called in a tree doctor. The doctor said that our old red oak had a canker, which is kind of like cancer in people. He said that trees are like people. They get old and sick and die.
The tree doctor said that we needed to take the tree down. He was afraid that if a hurricane came that the tree would fall on our house. Today some men came and cut down our old friend. Mom cried.
Already the squirrels are playing on the stump. But it isn't the same as having our old friend. The back yard looks so empty without him.
Dad says that we'll plant a new tree this fall. We will plant it behind the stump.
We have been reading about how trees age and why they die. If you would like to learn more about trees and why they are important, just visit one of the following sites.
Over the past few years, he has been losing limbs. When spring came around this year, the entire middle was bare. We called in a tree doctor. The doctor said that our old red oak had a canker, which is kind of like cancer in people. He said that trees are like people. They get old and sick and die.
The tree doctor said that we needed to take the tree down. He was afraid that if a hurricane came that the tree would fall on our house. Today some men came and cut down our old friend. Mom cried.
Already the squirrels are playing on the stump. But it isn't the same as having our old friend. The back yard looks so empty without him.
Dad says that we'll plant a new tree this fall. We will plant it behind the stump.
We have been reading about how trees age and why they die. If you would like to learn more about trees and why they are important, just visit one of the following sites.
http://www.opalexplorenature.org/sites/default/files/7/file/TreeAge2.pdf
http://www.projectplantit.com/Site_Downloads/Teachers_Downloads/Classroom_Poster.pdf
http://www.projectplantit.com/Site_Downloads/Teachers_Downloads/Classroom_Poster.pdf
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
La Bella Luna (The Beautiful Luna Moth)
When I was walking with Mom to the mailbox, I spied something flitting on the grass. It was a beautiful Luna moth.
Mom gently scooped the moth onto a leaf and took it into the backyard. She put it on a branch, then ran into the house for the camera. Here's a picture of our luna moth:
Luna moths have become very rare. We have not seen one in two or three years. Luna moths come into our yard because we have sweet gum trees. They like to lay their eggs on the sweet gum leaves. They lay about 200 eggs at a time.
Green caterpillars hatch from the eggs in about ten days. For the next three to four weeks, they eat and eat and eat. They like to eat our sweet gum leaves.
When the time is right, the caterpillar will spin a silk cocoon. It will stay inside for two to three weeks. When it comes out, it is a beautiful Luna moth.
Luna moths only live for one week. They do not eat when they are in the moth stage. They don't even have a mouth!
We think that this Luna moth was a female. Male Luna moths have thicker antennas than the females do.
Luna moths are very big. Their wing span is about 4-1/2 inches wide. They are one of the largest moths in North America.
For more information about Luna moths, just follow these links:
http://www.ncenvirothon.org/wild%20profiles%20set%209/mothluna.pdf
http://www.earthsbirthday.org/images/uploads/more-bugs/luna-moths-prepostquestions.pdf
http://www.bugfacts.net/images/LunaMoth-z.pdf
http://entweb.clemson.edu/k12/colorbook/05.pdf
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
We Need Rain!
I am a water dog. I love water. I like to swim. I like to play in the rain. I even like to take a bath!
Here's a picture of me after a swim that I took in Alaska. I am very happy!
When we were in Alaska last year, they had the most rainy days on record. It rained every day for 31 days!
Now, Texas is having just the opposite problem. We need rain! March was our driest on record. We only received .67 inches of rain. Normally we get 3.36 inches in March. April isn't looking any better. In fact, we haven't had a good rain since January!
When it doesn't rain, it is called a dry spell. When the dry spell lasts a long time, it is called a drought.
Droughts are hard on animals. Creeks and ponds dry up so animals can't find a drink of water. It is also hard for them to find food because plants don't grow without water.
Without rain, farmers can't grow crops. Trees get sick. Grass dies. When plants get dry, they catch fire quickly.
Everybody must help by saving water.
How do we save water? Mom and Dad take quick showers. They don't let water run unless they are using it. We never run the dishwasher or washing machine unless they are full.
They also don't give me a bath very often. We need some rain!
If you would like to learn more about saving water, check out the fun activities listed below:
http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/cicar/pdf/10_Things_Water.pdf
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/seeds/docs/everydropcounts.pdf
http://www.get2knowh2o.org/pamcanikidsbook.pdf
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/kids/pdfs/activity_grades_k-3_activitybook.pdf
http://mi.water.usgs.gov/drought/droughtfs.pdf
http://www.prep4agthreats.org/Assets/Factsheets/Drought-and-Your-Home.pdf
http://www.dca.state.ga.us/development/EnvironmentalManagement/programs/downloads/DroughtBrochureMailer07hiRes.pdf
Here's a picture of me after a swim that I took in Alaska. I am very happy!
When we were in Alaska last year, they had the most rainy days on record. It rained every day for 31 days!
Now, Texas is having just the opposite problem. We need rain! March was our driest on record. We only received .67 inches of rain. Normally we get 3.36 inches in March. April isn't looking any better. In fact, we haven't had a good rain since January!
When it doesn't rain, it is called a dry spell. When the dry spell lasts a long time, it is called a drought.
Droughts are hard on animals. Creeks and ponds dry up so animals can't find a drink of water. It is also hard for them to find food because plants don't grow without water.
Without rain, farmers can't grow crops. Trees get sick. Grass dies. When plants get dry, they catch fire quickly.
Everybody must help by saving water.
How do we save water? Mom and Dad take quick showers. They don't let water run unless they are using it. We never run the dishwasher or washing machine unless they are full.
They also don't give me a bath very often. We need some rain!
If you would like to learn more about saving water, check out the fun activities listed below:
http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/cicar/pdf/10_Things_Water.pdf
http://www.state.nj.us/dep/seeds/docs/everydropcounts.pdf
http://www.get2knowh2o.org/pamcanikidsbook.pdf
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/kids/pdfs/activity_grades_k-3_activitybook.pdf
To understand droughts better, just click on the link below:
http://mi.water.usgs.gov/drought/droughtfs.pdf
http://www.prep4agthreats.org/Assets/Factsheets/Drought-and-Your-Home.pdf
http://www.dca.state.ga.us/development/EnvironmentalManagement/programs/downloads/DroughtBrochureMailer07hiRes.pdf
Friday, April 15, 2011
Earth Day
Next Friday, on April 22, we will celebrate Earth Day. Our town will hold an Earth Day Fair. It will be a very fun day.
Earth Day reminds us that we need to take care of our planet. The first Earth Day was held over forty years ago on April 22, 1970. It began when Senator Gaylord Nelson worried that people did not know that our earth needed our help. We needed to learn how to take better care of it. Today Earth Day is celebrated all around the world.
Are you going to go to an Earth Day celebration? Our Earth Day Fair is all about learning how to help the environment. We will learn how to recycle. We will learn how to save water and electricity. We will learn new ways to take care of our planet.
When we recycle, it helps our earth in many ways. How? We have less garbage in our trash cans when we recycle. That saves room in landfills where they dump the garbage. Things made from recycled products use less energy. Recycling is a small way to make a big difference.
We found some fun Earth Day activities that will help you learn more about recycling and saving energy. You can make a difference on Earth Day and everyday! Just follow the links below:
http://www.epa.gov/region5/publications/happy/happy.pdf
http://ecokids.ca/pub/fun_n_games/printables/activities/assets/science_nature/paper_making.pdf
http://www.globio.org/info/educators/lag/GLOBIO_LAG_Earth_Day.pdf
http://eospso.gsfc.nasa.gov/ftp_docs/2009Earth_Day_Booklet.pdf
Earth Day reminds us that we need to take care of our planet. The first Earth Day was held over forty years ago on April 22, 1970. It began when Senator Gaylord Nelson worried that people did not know that our earth needed our help. We needed to learn how to take better care of it. Today Earth Day is celebrated all around the world.
Are you going to go to an Earth Day celebration? Our Earth Day Fair is all about learning how to help the environment. We will learn how to recycle. We will learn how to save water and electricity. We will learn new ways to take care of our planet.
When we recycle, it helps our earth in many ways. How? We have less garbage in our trash cans when we recycle. That saves room in landfills where they dump the garbage. Things made from recycled products use less energy. Recycling is a small way to make a big difference.
We found some fun Earth Day activities that will help you learn more about recycling and saving energy. You can make a difference on Earth Day and everyday! Just follow the links below:
http://www.epa.gov/region5/publications/happy/happy.pdf
http://ecokids.ca/pub/fun_n_games/printables/activities/assets/science_nature/paper_making.pdf
http://www.globio.org/info/educators/lag/GLOBIO_LAG_Earth_Day.pdf
http://eospso.gsfc.nasa.gov/ftp_docs/2009Earth_Day_Booklet.pdf
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