Compare the Trees

Here are palm trees like you see at home in Florida.

Here are pine trees at the Arctic's Edge.

My challenge to students is:

How are the palm trees different from the pine trees?

Guess What We Saw!

Yes, we finally saw a polar bear. Hurrah, hurrah! My challenge to students is: Why do polar bears have white fur?

Here is a picture of a polar bear that we saw! Compare the top polar bear to this one. The picture at the top was taken in the winter. The bottom picture is in the fall. How is the polar bear's environment different in winter?

What Has a Long Slender Neck?

We were lucky to see these Tundra swans swimming in a lake. Our guide was surprised that these swans had not flown South for the winter. You can identify these swans by their black bill. How many swans do you see in the picture?

Find out why the Tundra Swans are often called "Whistling Swans." Click on the link below:

http://www.kwic.com/~pagodavista/schoolhouse/species/birds/tundswan.htm

Migrating Birds

We saw a flock of migrating birds. My challenge to students is: What does "flock" mean?



Here is anteresting fact. Oak Hammock Marsh, home to thousands of migrating birds, was designated as Canada's best outdoor attraction by Attractions Canada 2000.

My challenge to students is: What does the term migrating mean?

Look What We Saw in the Tundra!

Here's my photo of an Arctic Hare that we saw in the tundra today. He let us get very close before hopping away.

Find out why an Arctic hare will rise up on it's hind feet. Click on the link below!

http://www.saskschools.ca/~gregory/arctic/Ahare.html

Here's How We Bore Trees in the Arctic!

Click in the link below and the click slideshow to see how we bore trees.

Picasa Web Albums - Audrey - Tree Coring in a Nutshell

Here's Our Earthwatch Team

Here is our Earthwatch Team. Today we spent in the forest tundra boring trees. I can see how doing research is sometimes tedius for scientists. I have great admiration for them.

Notice we have good protection to scare away the polar bears. My challenge to students is:
What do you think the polar bears are waiting for in Churchill?

Arctic Forest Sees Hi Tech!

Our Earthwatch team worked all day in the forest boring trees. I had fun using an iMac. What I did was log data about each tree that my team members provided me. My challenge to students is: What does the term log mean in my sentence?

What happens to plants when permafrost melts?

Whether more plants grow or die as permafrost melts depends. The kind of plants and where the plants are located makes a difference. For example, some areas get more water as melting permafrost pools into puddles, streams, ponds or lakes. The covered vegetation would die, but new aquatic plants may likely start to grow.

See How Our Earthwatch Team is helping Scientists

Check out how we helped scientists record data on trees in the forest. Click on the link below and then click on "slideshow."

Picasa Web Albums - Audrey - Tree Coring in a Nutshell

Polar bears are out there somewhere waiting for snow so that the water freezes to ice. Right now they are roaming around in search of food. My challenge to students is: Why do you suppose this sign is posted outside our building?

How do our temperatures compare?

Today we spent outdoors learning how to record scientific data. I had to dress warm. I wore my ski jacket, ski pants, wool hat and socks, and mittens. My challenge to students is: Can you tell by what I am wearing if the temperature is warm or cold?
The temperature in Churchill was 47 degrees today, and windy. What temperature is it in Tampa?

Fantastic Day Ended with an Unbelievable Light Show!

To see our first day in photos click on the link below, and then click "slideshow."

Picasa Web Albums - Audrey - Fantastic Day Ended with a Light Show!

Now check out this link to find out more about northern lights in Churchill:

http://www.lazybearlodge.com/northern_lights.php

My challenge to students is: What are northern lights?

Smooth Landing in Churchill

Greetings from Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. I am now at the Churchill Northern Studies Research Center. Our Earthwatch Team had fun sharing travel stories, and tonight we met with the scientists for a briefing. The weather was mild today, but a chilly 37 degrees tonight--no snow yet!

I hope to see a polar bear while I am here. Every October and November, polar bears congregate in the Churchill area to await the return of the sea ice and access to the seal hunting grounds. My challenge to students is: Why do polar bears hunt seals?

Join My Visit to the Capital of the Canadian Province of Manitoba

Click on the link below to find out how I spent my day in Winnipeg.

Picasa Web Albums - Audrey - Saturday in Winnipeg

Did you know that Winnipeg is the largest city in Manitoba?

My challenge to you is: About how many people live in Winnipeg?

640,000 or 64 or 6,400

test for school web site

Picasa Web Albums - Audrey - view of my pond

This is a test to find out if we can see this photo album on our school web site.

video test

Where in the World is Ms. Adair Going?

I am very excited to be an Earthwatch team member with 9 other U.S. educators who also received Fellowships to participate in this expedition "Live from the Field" Climate Change at the Arctic's Edge. We'll be staying at the Churchill Northern Studies Center in Churchill, Manatoba, Canada. Click on the link below to see the map. Then my challenge to students is: Will I have to fly north or south from Tampa, FL to get to Churchill, Manitoba, Canada?

http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Churchill&state=MB#a/maps/l:::Churchill:MB::CA:58.769119:-94.167953:city:Manitoba/m::11:58.230145:-95.068598:0::/io:0:::::f:EN:M:/e

Welcome to My Blog Greenway School!

Welcome to my blog Students and Staff at Greenway School!
I hope you follow my expedition and make comments and ask or answer questions. I'll be at the Polar Bear Capital of the World on September 21 through October 1. On October 2nd, after my Earthwatch Expedition to study Climate Change at the Arctic's Edge, I'm going to be in Winnipeg to visit Greenway Elementary School. I'm so glad our schools will connect. Here's LaVoy Exceptional Center's website:
http://www.sdhc.k12.fl.us/schools/School_Info.asp

Here's what the front of LaVoy looks like

Here is the website for Greenway school in Winnipeg, Canada:
http://www.wsd1.org/greenway/

For students at Lavoy, here's what the front of Greenway school looks like:


For the students at LaVoy, my challenge to you is: Where is the Polar Bear Capital of the World?

How are arctic birds different than those in warmer climates?

A bird that I hope to see in Churchill, Manitoba, Canada is the Willow Ptarmigan. In the summer these birds have dark brown or black striped feathers, called plumage. They change their color by growing white feathers for the winter months to camouflage themselves by blending into their surroundings. This bird is different from birds in warmer temperatures. Just click on the link below to see the difference. You will see how the Ptarmigan has feathers on its feet.

http://www.hickerphoto.com/ptarmigan-8033-pictures.htm

My challenge to you is: Why do the Willow Ptarmigans grow feathers on their feet?

Birdwatching can be fun!

Here is my video test from Sunday afternoon. Have you ever tried to video yourself and talk at the same time? Ha, ha. Believe me, it is really tricky and I definitely sound a bit disconnected! You'll agree, I am sure. Anyway, have some fun birdwatching as you look at the video.

Did you see the aquatic bird in the background by the pond? Here is your challenge: What's that water bird's name?

Directons on how to make comments

Here is how to answer my questions, ask questions, or to make comments:

Click on “comments” (in blue print).
Type your answer, question, or comment in the box.
Type your first name. (Please do not type your last name.)
Then type your grade or age and town. Include your country if you do not live in the U.S.
Type the “word verification.”
Click on “anonymous.”
Click on “publish your comment.”

Good job! Now you are finished. Revisit my blog often to follow our expedition and to read what others have posted. I am looking forward to reading what you have to say.

What Are Endangered Species?

Enjoy a canoe trip down the Hillsborough River with me, beginning at the Hillsborough River State Park.

Picasa Web Albums - Audrey - Scenes from the Hillsborough River

Did you know that a group of plants or animals having similar appearance are considered "species?" In addition, did you know that Florida has 111 threatened and endangered plant and animal species? What does endangered mean? Click on this link to make a discovery:
http://www.endangeredspecie.com/states/fl.htm

My next challenge to you is to discover what the endangered species are in the Arctic?

How to Join our Expedition

Welcome to you all, especially students at LaVoy Exceptional Center.

About My Expedition to the Arctic

In less than three weeks I’ll be flying to Churchill, Manitoba, Canada. When I get there I’ll be working with scientists along with other educators to monitor climate change at the edge of the Arctic. After an orientation we’ll spend our mornings outdoors, gathering data to show how global warming is affecting the permafrost level. In the afternoon we’ll work in a lab to record our data. My first challenge to you is: What is data?

There are 10 of us educators participating from the U.S., and I am the only music teacher and the only person from Florida. The others are from CT, WI, AZ, NY and NJ. I am excited to meet them all!

I received a fellowship to participate in this Expedition which was awarded through a generous gift from HSBC (Hong Kong Shanghai Banking Corporation). It is the fifth largest company across the globe. I am very appreciative for the HSBC Climate Partnership with The Climate Group--Earthwatch Institute. No doubt this partnership will make an impact on us to combat the urgent threat of climate change. I am ready for this life-changing experience and can’t wait to share it with you.