A STRANGE TURTLE STORY

About two years ago, I had one of my turtles escape from its tank during the summer. I had kept the tank in my yard so the turtles could enjoy the sunshine. Somehow, the lid to the tank was not on correctly and one of the turtles figured out how to get out. I thought she was lost for good.

Just the other day, my neighbor, Sally, said she had something to show me. I went next door to her yard where she lifted a big piece of black plastic that she kept over some leaves. Under the plastic was a turtle. I checked it out. It was a female, like the one I lost. It was about the size of my turtle and it appeared to be a red-eared slider, the kind of turtle I had.

So for two years, the turtle has been able to ADAPT to the environment in our Brooklyn backyards. She probably feasted on plants and dug down into the soil during the winter to keep warm. I think it's pretty amazing that she was able to survive on her own. We call this RESILENCE when something is able to succeed despite difficulties. Now the question is....do I just let her continue her life in the wild, or scoop her up and put her back in a tank. WHAT DO YOU THINK? LET ME KNOW. Signing off, Ms. Seitz

URBAN NATURE CLUB BEGINS MAY 5, 2009

Thank you to all the students who applied to the Urban Nature Club. Twelve students from the fourth grade have been chosen. Our first project will be planting a school butterfly garden and sprucing up the other gardens on the school property. We will keep a nature journal of our work, observations, discoveries and thoughts. We will also try to have the garden open during lunch periods once we post the rules of the garden on the garden gates. I'm really looking forward to being in the great outdoors with each of you!

FOURTH-GRADE SCIENCE DAY A HUGE SUCCESS

Thank you to all the fourth-graders who came out for science day and brushed up on their scientific skills and knowledge of science. We enjoyed making a literal "food chain," tested our knowledge with Quiz Boards, created awesome things with recycled materials, investigated gadgets for simple machines, worked with inclined planes, discovered what objects conduct electricity, and more. We even made our own Quiz Boards to take home. You are all AWESOME!

LANDFORMS-FIFTH GRADE

Bryce Canyon, Utah

Last summer I drove with my family from New York to California and back again. This is called a cross-country trip. We visited many wonderful places, especially out West where there are magnificent landforms, like the ones I've included here.

As part of our landforms unit, you will create an island out of clay and include six different landforms. You will then label the landforms. Next you will create a travel brochure for your island, explaining the landforms on your island and how they were formed. This project will be due in early May.

Grand Canyon, Arizona








Devil's Tower, Wyoming












Zion National Park, Utah

Some More Strange Animals

Check this creatures out. Do you think any REALLY exist? Ms. Seitz

NAME THAT ANIMAL!

Hi kids! My father-in-law recently sent me some very strange animal photos. They look real, but alas, these animals do not exist in the real world. (I guess someone was having a little Photo Shop fun.) So, take a look at these photos and let me know what you would name each of them. Don't stop there. Be creative and describe their ecosystem, diet, behavior and any other characteristics. Can't wait to read them. Bye for now, Ms. Seitz

Electricity is Hot!

Fourth-graders are currently learning about magnetism and electricity. We recently created some circuits using D-cells, wires, motors and light bulbs (components) and learned that the tiny wire inside a light bulb that makes it light up is called filament. It's made of a metal called tungsten. Tungsten is used because it stays solid at very high temperatures. Also, all the air in a light bulb has been sucked out to make it work. If air wasn't removed, the wire would burn up instantly. Electricity flows through the filament causing it to heat up. This heat makes the tungsten glow. As the filament heats up, it gives off light. The tungsten slowly vaporizes, or turns into a gas.When a light bulb “burns out,” it is because the filament has vaporized. The black film on the inside of a burned-out lightbulb is resolidified tungsten vapor (gas). Wow, huh?