Climate Change at the Arctic's Edge with Ms. Santoro

What do you recycle?

2009-03-22T15:03:00.004-04:00

It's not just plastics, glass bottles, cans and paper that is recycled out in California. They have recycling stations like this right on the side of the road for recycling oil.

What do you recycle? Write to me and I'll post it here. You can also send photos to me at lindasantoro@comcast.net

Que reciclar? Escribir y me dicen.

Cosa riciclare? Scrivere e raccontare di me.

Que voulez-vous recycler? Ecrivez et dites-le moi.

Was tun Sie recycein? Schreiben Sie mir.

Czego recyklingu? Napisz do mnie i powiedz.

Vad vill du atervinna? Skriva och beratta.

Ano ang gagawin mo recycle? Sumulat at sabihin sa akin.

Miss Santoro

Composting in CT

2009-03-17T05:36:00.004-04:00

This is a photo of the Kirby girls (CT natives) who have put two seasons (summer and fall) of leaves and scraps of food into that big green composting bin for the winter. It comes out looking like this. Perfect for the garden in the spring. They will use this as mulch around their bushes.

This has helped them REDUCE the amount of trash they had to throw away and the mulch will help keep their bushes healthy.

Thanks for sharing your photo Mr. Kirby!

Have you ever composted? Do you do something else to help keep our planet healthy? Share your stories and photos with me by sending them to lindasantoro@comcast.net

Plastic Bags are banned!

2009-02-22T20:37:00.003-05:00

Countries around the world like Uganda and Kenya have banned the use of flimsy, plastic bags. That means it is actually illegal to use plastic bags. Cities in the United States are now starting to ban plastic bags as well. In March 2007 San Francisco was the first U.S. city to ban plastic bags.

Plastic bags can take a very long time to break down. Many people are trying to use reusable cloth bags instead now.

You might want to write to your local politicians to push for a plastic bag ban in your town. The students from Team Marine (read the blog below) actually marched around town, went on interviews with the local news and tried to get as much support as possible. Did they succeed? Find out by going onto their website: www.TeamMarine.org

COOL KIDS!

2009-02-22T20:05:00.003-05:00

I recently met the members of Team Marine out in Santa Monica, California. This is a team of high school students who are doing all kinds of things to help our planet. They had a big display of artwork they had created out of bottle caps. They even made a suit out of them!

Interested in checking out more of their work? Click on this website:

http://www.teammarine.org/index.php

If your school has a team of students working to help our planet please email me and tell me

lindasantoro@comcast.net

I'll post your story!

MORE IDEAS YAY!

2009-02-14T22:31:00.002-05:00

Here are some great suggestions from Sandy in CT

Instead of using a clothes dryer, people can use a drying rack to dry clothes

Microfiber towels can be used over and over to dry home surfaces or hands instead of using paper towels

REDUCE the amount of water you use each day by using the dishwasher instead of handwashing dishes - but make sure it is FULL when you run it

Recycling in Cairo, Egypt

2009-01-02T18:19:00.006-05:00

The zabaleen (Arabic for garbage collectors) are people in Cairo, Egypt that go door to door and collect large piles of trash. Then they go through the piles and sort everything. They recycle and reuse most of the trash they find.

This is another photo from Cairo, Egypt.

Can you tell what this man is recycling?

Write to me and take a guess.

Miss Santoro

Photos by Ryan Holland

Special thanks to Shawn Baldwin for the contribution.

Another way to reduce how much electricity you use.

2008-12-03T20:31:00.004-05:00

Here is a great suggestion for saving electricity -

Unplug all appliances and other electrical devices when ever you are not using them. It will not only save energy, it will save money on your electric bill.

Ethan, age 9, Providence, RI

Thanks Ethan!

I've seen some people write a list of how many outlets they have in each room. Just before they leave their house they look at the numbers for each room. They might keep that information posted on the refrigerator, by a light switch or in some other handy place that will help them remember it. Then they can see how many outlets they should check before they leave each day.

Holiday Tip:

This may be a tough time to try to save energy since many people like to decorate their homes with lights. If you do like to decorate, try switching to LED lights. They use less energy and don't get as hot.

Happy Holiday Season to all!

Keep writing.

Miss Santoro

Earth Friendly Art

2008-12-02T07:02:00.006-05:00

Elementary students in Japan RECYCLE many items found around their house to create art projects. The elementary school in Komaki has art shows where every piece of art is made out of recycled materials.

Send me a photo of an art project you made out of recycled household items. You can send photos to santorol@glastonburyus.org

Miss Santoro

Recycling Bottles

2008-11-22T09:30:00.003-05:00

Jeremy, age 9, from West Hartford wrote to tell me he brings water bottles to school. He reuses one bottle all week and then recycles it. He is saving up the money from his recycled bottles to buy a new game.

It's always a good idea to recycle plastic bottles, Jeremy. Thank you for writing in the comments section.

Don't forget, if you'd like to have me post a photo of something you've recycled, reduced or reused you can send it to: santorol@glastonburyus.org

I can't wait to hear from more of you!

Miss Santoro

Great Ideas from Rhode Island

2008-11-13T14:00:00.002-05:00

Mommy sent a photo of our fun cloth bags. I like using them. I also put my school projects in the picture. I love making all of the crafts at school. I hope I make more soon and can show you. At school, my teachers reuse supplies and also make craft projects that can be reused!

I was excited to use the beans from our bean/sand/water table to make maracas. I thought the teachers were going to throw the beans away, but then we made a craft. We used orange cups that can be reused when I am done shaking the rattle. I am never going to be done with the rattle, though.

My pumpkin decoration was made with toilet paper, a paper bag and cloth. We will save and reuse the decoration, but all of the pieces can be reused if you took it apart. I think it is a good idea to reuse things for fun crafts or make crafts that you can reuse! Also, shut off the TV and lights when you are done. And, make robots or toys out of old boxes before you recycle them.

Teresa, 4, RI (typed in by Mommy)

Wow, Teresa, you have so many great ideas! I hope other boys and girls can use some of your ideas to take care of our planet.

Miss Santoro (Auntie Linda)

2008-11-11T20:51:00.002-05:00

Jeffrey, age 6, from Glastonbury wrote to me to tell me that he reduces the amount of paper he uses by making sure to write on both sides before taking a new piece.

Cara, age 10, from East Hartford wrote to tell me that she reduces the amount of electricity she uses by making sure she shuts of the computer every time she is done using it.

Thank you both for writing in and sharing your ideas. I can't wait to hear about what more of you are doing.

Did you read about something on this web site that gave you a good idea? Tell me about it!

Miss Santoro

Earth friendly gifts

2008-11-01T10:54:00.003-04:00

This year instead of buying toys we are giving honorary trees in national forests for our family.

http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/hoosier/docs/plant_a_tree.htm

-Jen North Hollywood, CA

Thanks Jen! I love this idea and I'm thrilled you shared it with me and my students. It is a great gift idea for any time of the year.

More about how Churchill residents take care of our planet

2008-10-29T17:48:00.004-04:00

I recently received an email from Carley Basler. She is a research technician at the CNSC and the lady that kept an eye out for polar bears while the teachers and other scientists worked. This is a photo of her.

She explained some of the things she does to reduce the amount of trash she has. Remember, Churchill had to get rid of their dump because it attracted polar bears. Now they ship all trash and recycling out on a train. Ms. Basler composts her kitchen wastes using vermicomposting. That means that instead of throwing banana peels or apple cores in the trash she puts them in a container and adds red wriggler worms. The worms eat the food and break it down into soil. Pretty neat. Do you think she considers the worms her pets? Some of my students are familiar with the mealworms I keep as pets in my room. They aren't quite as handy as those red wrigglers though.

Do you know anyone that composts?

Ms. Basler reuses everything she can. She always reuses her cloth shopping bags instead of using paper or plastic bags. I know a lot of families in Glastonbury use cloth bags. Send me a photo of the cloth bags that you use to santorol@glastonburyus.org

One other thing she does to reduce the amount of trash she puts on the train - she keeps a fire going in the winter to heat her home and burns all paper and cardboard that is safe to burn. That way there is more room on the recycling train for things like aluminum and plastics.

I hope to hear more about what some of you are doing in Glastonbury and around the world. Look just below any of my posts for the word "comments." Click on it and write to me. You can also send me a photo of something you've been doing for our environment. Send it to santorol@glastonburyus.org

I'll be sure to post all stories and photos right here on my blog.

Miss Santoro

Get your story posted!

2008-10-27T22:59:00.004-04:00

Here are some of the recycling, reducing and reusing stories people have posted in my comments section.

I wrap presents in old magazine pages or shopping bags with nice pictures or colors. I also reuse boxes, ribbons and bows from gifts I've received. It turns gift wrapping into a fun crafty project.

Liz, Santa Monica, CA

I use all energy efficient lightbulbs in my house to conserve energy.

Lori, Vernon, CT

I now recycle all plastics, cartons, newspapers etc. for recycle day each week.

Colleen, Middletown, CT

If you would like to post a story that describes the ways you help keep our planet healthy you can simply click on the blue word, "comments" below this post. Be sure to include your first name only ( no last names) and your town and age or grade. If you'd like to send a photograph of something you've done to help our planet stay healthy, you can send it to my email at santorol@glastonburyus.org

I hope to hear from you soon and be sure to tell your friends both near and far so that we can see what people all over the world are doing to make a difference!

Miss Santoro

Technology Reused!

2008-10-23T06:56:00.003-04:00

Peter from South Glastonbury emailed me on his REUSED computer. He found a computer that was sick with viruses and fixed it.

There are certain places that can help you recycle your computer. Here is a free resource to help you recycle yours:

The Computer Recycler (based in Cromwell, CT)

Free service for Mac or PC

http://thecomputerrecycler.com/

Miss Santoro

Reducing energy and water use in Japan

2008-10-20T22:54:00.005-04:00

This is a photo I took of a toilet in Japan. If you look closely you'll see a faucet on the top of the tank in the back. People use this to wash their hands. The water is first used for hand washing and then flows into the toilet tank to be used for flushing. How clever! This is a great way to REDUCE the amount of water being used every day.

My friend Janine is traveling in Japan. Would you like to know how they reduce the amount of energy they use in Hiroshima, Japan? Visit her website http://janineinjapan.blogspot.com/

Look for the blog entitled "Energy Conservation in Japan."

Don't forget to write to me and tell me how you are reducing, reusing or recycling so I can post your story here too!

Miss Santoro

An Idea for Recycling

2008-10-18T13:53:00.004-04:00

Sarah, age 12, from Glastonbury, CT sent me this image of the printer ink containers that she is recycling. She is sending them in the mail to be recycled. She already has one in an envelope and will be putting the other one in the folded envelope to the left. Thank you for sharing your photo Sarah!

Recycle, Reuse, Reduce!

2008-10-05T11:36:00.006-04:00

Polar bears can get themselves in trouble when they come too close to humans too many times. In Churchill polar bears used to come to the town dump and rummage through the trash. This became such a problem that they had to get rid of the dump. Now the entire town of Churchill has to collect the trash and send it to another town on a train!

In an effort to reduce the amount of trash being sent and to help keep the planet healthy, the residents of Churchill are making an extra effort to recycle as many items as they can. This photo shows the recycling area in the lab at the CNSC. We recycled everything from paper to cans to batteries. The residents also reuse items when ever they can. When you reuse something you use it again. You might save paper towel rolls for an art project or use an old wash cloth for washing your car. One other thing that the Churchill residents do to keep the planet healthy is reduce the amount of water and electricity and products (that eventually make more trash) that they use. People reduce the amount of electricity they use by making sure that they turn the lights off when they aren't in a room. They turn the water off when they are brushing their teeth, and they take short showers to reduce how much water is used.

I am hoping that everyone reading this blog will make an extra effort to reduce, recycle and reuse items and energy in their homes, schools and work places.

Please write and tell me what you've reused, reduced or recycled today. You can also send me a photo of something you've recycled or reused. Send photos to santorol@glastonburyus.org I'll be sure to post them on my blog.

Miss Santoro

Last Day and Challenge for the Future

2008-10-02T10:40:00.006-04:00

Here we are on our last day in front of the CNSC logo. I spent one last morning in the observation dome and watched as the local arctic hare hopped around the parking lot. It was a cold, rainy, windy day. An arctic storm up north delayed our flight and some of us missed our connections. We were ready to go at 10am - Churchill time. Our flight left a couple of hours later. I got home at about 2 am Eastern time.

CHALLENGE: How long was I traveling?

IT IS NOT OVER. Please continue to visit this site:

This trip focused on gathering data to see how the environment in Churchill is changing due to the change in the climate. We took a close look at the trees and soil in the area. The Churchill scientists will be spending a great deal of time looking at our data and collecting future data to see how the trees and soil change as the climate gets warmer. The goal is to see how climate change may help or hinder living populations. Humans depend on the plants and animals around them. If the change in the climate starts to hurt the plants and animals then the scientists will try to find a way to keep them healthy. They are trying to keep the entire planet healthy.

Some of the things that people do can harm the planet and the different environments around the world. My future posts will take a closer look at how people are taking care of the environment. My goal is to help students, teachers and people in the community (Glastonbury, internet, world) think about what else we can do to take care of our planet.

Challenge: List some of the ways that you might already be helping to take care of the environment. List the ways that you might be able to do more to help the environment.

I would love for you to share your ideas, questions, web sites on this topic etc.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Miss Santoro

Special thanks to: HSBC for sponsoring me, Earthwatch Institute, Anna Janovicz, the CNSC staff and scientists, Steve Mamet, Dr. Peter Kershaw and Carley Basler, Audrey - our chef, Adam - the dishwasher, Sheldon - our tour guide, Glastonbury School District, the Hopewell staff, the Nayaug staff, Howard Gunther, Becky Eckert, Barbara Suida, the PACE Resource Teachers, the parents who helped their children go on the computer to be part of this interactive science trip, Karen Groves and Tammy Boyd, the Churchill Hospital staff, the warm Churchill residents,my family and friends who followed along and added great questions and comments, the other amazing teacher volunteers who made this trip so amazing and totally entertaining even when we were all exhausted, and the wonderful students near and far who made this interactive blog, web conference and satellite call a successful learning experience for us all (of course that includes Teresa and Trevor!).

: )

Other great sites

2008-09-30T23:12:00.003-04:00

If you haven't done so already . . .

I suggest that you go on the other teachers' blogs. They have so much wonderful information and a different perspective.

Click on http://www.blogger.com/profile/15176982653457793321

This link includes not only our trip, but the other trips with teachers that have been going live from the field in other locations.

CHALLENGE:

Let me know-
What you have learned.
What you would still like to know more about.
Do you think you would like to go on a trip like this? Why or why not?

Miss Santoro

2008-09-30T22:10:00.002-04:00

The team finally dug down to the permafrost layer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Photo by Mr. Wojo

It was about 65 centimeters down in the tundra area. It was deeper in the forest area.

Challenge: Why do you think the permafrost layer would be found deeper down in the forest area?

The team had to dig through a few layers of soil. In the tundra, the team found organic matter all the way down to the permafrost layer. In the forest, the team went through a layer of organic matter, sandy soil, and then sandy soil with gravel. Then they hit the permafrost layer!

Here is a photo of the different kinds of soil mixtures from the forest:

Photo by Mr. Wojo

Some of the team also got to stay inside and do data entry. It was lots of fun. We entered over 2,500 pieces of data. We found out how important it is to keep everything consistent and FAIR.

No polar bears came out today.

Miss Santoro

2008-09-29T19:27:00.004-04:00

Today I spent the ENTIRE day counting tree whorls inside the CNSC. We counted the whorls on about 250 trees! We found an especially interesting tree. It is a larch, pictured here. If you look closely at the center of the trunk you will notice that there are both roots and branches growing in the same area. This is because when the tree was born the moss around it was very low to the ground. The tree grew branches, just like trees normally do. Then the moss died off and created a layer of soil around the base of the tree. More moss grew on top of that soil. That new moss died and created another layer of soil. More moss grew on top of that. Eventually there were a few inches of moss and soil covering the first branches that had grown on the tree. The tree took advantage of the new soil around it and grew roots in those areas.

CHALLENGE: We counted the whorls on about 250 trees. Each tree had between 0 and 40 whorls. If every tree had 40 whorls, how many would we have counted? If every tree had 2 whorls, how many would we have counted?

Using the information from above - tell me ABOUT how many you think we might have actually counted.

Grade 5 questions:

In the picture of the sled dogs, was that snow falling? YES! We had only one snow fall during our stay here this past week. There was no accumulation but it was beautiful as it was falling. The sun was still out and the clouds were quite dramatic. That was when I got my photo of the rainbow.

How do they get the bears in the trap? They bait them with seals.

How did your friends get out of the Hudson Bay? LABMAN saved them!

This is a photo of him diving in.

Was the polar bear big or small? BIG. It weighed about 1,000 pounds.

Thank you for your questions! I hope you keep writing.

Miss Santoro

More answers to your questions:

2008-09-28T19:14:00.003-04:00

Did they have any "badly behaved" bears in captivity while you were there?

I had to go into town today and I was told that a polar bear was just tagged and brought to the "jail" for bad behavior, but she didn't know what that behavior was. He or she was probably just too close to people.

How often do they have to capture and release such bears?

They can capture one hundred or more each year during the times when they are on land.

Also, how long did Dr. Foo Foo and his friend George swim in the Hudson Bay?

After five minutes they wanted to get out.

We were wondeirng if it is colder in the tundra region than the forest region. You looked colder in the picture.

You are right! It was much colder in the tundra region. It is much more open to the wind. In the forest the trees help to shield us from the wind.

Did you have to practice tree coring before you did it on a real tree?

Yes, we did have the opportunity to core some trees near the Churchill Northern Studies Center before we went to our science site.

You mentioned seeing an arcitc hare and that polar bears live near Churchill. What adaptations to they have that help them survive in the cold artic temperatures?

A thick layer of fat under skin, called blubber, acts to insulate the polar bear and reduce heat loss. The polar bear also has a second, opaque eye lid which reduces glare, acting in the same way that sunglasses work for us.
They also have small, bumps on the surface of their feet which increase friction and stop them slipping while walking on ice. Aswell as this this their feet are very large in order to increase surface area to stop them sinking in the snow, much like a camels, and help their swimming capabilities.

Taken from http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_adaptations_does_the_polar_bear_have_that_help_it_survive_in_its_environment

Does Churchill have the same kind of trees that we have here?
Churchill actually has only four different kinds of trees. White spruce, black spruce, larch and balsam poplar. Connecticut has some of the same trees and many more. Also, some of the trees that grow in CT appear here as shrubs.

A better response from a CT tree hobbiest:
In response to the question if CT has the same kind of trees: Larch and black spruce are native to CT (although hard to find in the wild), the white spruce is planted in CT quite a bit (as an ornamental), and balsam poplar, although not native, can be found in CT.
Thank you Mr. K!

Do they need special adaptations to survive?
Here are just some adaptations trees need in order to survive this cold, windy, dry climate:

shallow, wide roots - because the tree's roots can't penetrate the permafrost

needles - which can be better for retaining water and help keep the tree more aerodynamic in high winds

flexibility - some trees, especially the larch, can bend in the wind and can bend rather far without breaking

Can you research other ways that trees might adapt to this climate?

Do you see evidence of animals living in the area when you are out in the forest or on the tundra?
We have seen lots of birds, especially gray jays. We have also seen plenty of goose scat and an owl pellet. I have also seen holes in trees that might have been made by insects or birds that are trying to find insects.

Miss J. found some goose scat. You can tell what an animal eats by looking at it closely. Many scientists do that to learn more about animals.

What is your favorite thing to do at the research station?

My favorite thing to do at the CNSC is to go up into the dome and watch the Northern Lights at night. Last night I just happened to wake up in the middle of the night. I looked out the window and the lights were SO BRIGHT! I snuck up into the dome to watch them. I can't take a video though, because I would need more light for my video camera.

Do lynx live in the churchill area?

Yes, but we haven't seen one yet.

How old is the oldest tree you have seen?

I have seen forests with trees that are hundreds of years old. The trees are not very tall or wide though. The rings are always very small. Why do you think that is?

How many people are with you on your adventure?

There are eleven of us that came from the United States. There are plenty of scientists up here also. Three scientists are working with us. Mr. Kershaw just arrived today. Mr. Mamet has been teaching us how to do our science work and Miss Basler is keeping us safe by watching out for polar bears as we work. There are other scientists at the CNSC that are studying polar bears, caribou, and the decomposition (rotting) of plants.

Where does Dr. Foo Foo (Poley) sleep?

In the top bunk bed. He is having so much fun!

How did you decide on the name, Dr. Foo Foo?
I asked my students to come up with names and then vote on them. I have a feeling that the name came from a book.

Can the northern lights be more than one color?

Yes, they can be many colors. There are different gases at different heights in the air that create the different colors.

Have you seen permafrost and if so, what does it look like?

We haven't seen any yet but we see lots of land forms above the permafrost, and we know it is under there. We have seen photos of it that Mr. Mamet has shown us. It can look like ice or it can just look like soil (but it would be very cold soil).

Is that insect a caterpillar and pupa?

Yes, and I am hoping that someone can look up the species. I wish I knew what it was eating at the time, but I didn't notice. That can be a clue to finding out what kind of caterpillar it is. I found the pupa in a white spruce tree though. The pupa might not even be from the same kind of caterpillar. There are teachers in Louisiana on a science expedition like mine. They are studying caterpillars and said they might try to help me identify it.

Going on a bear hunt

2008-09-27T23:06:00.006-04:00

Hi Hopewell and other schools!

I know everyone has been waiting to hear about our big day off in Churchill. Here are some of the amazing things we saw:

A big polar bear. : )

Snow geese Click on this line to see the image. Click on "open"
%7E%24ow%20geese.doc

Arctic Hare

Snow and sleg dogs

The bear "jail." When bears exhibit "bad behavior" they are taken here and eventually let go far away from the town of Churchill. Bad behavior usually involves getting too close to humans and possibly even destroying property.

Bears are caught in these traps.

We saw two polar bears today. They were both very far away. Click on the link below to see my photo. Look for the little white spot. We also saw a red fox but he was too far away to photograph. I just looked at some of these animals through binoculars. It was still so exciting!
polar%20b ear.doc

Dr. Foo Foo decided to pose with his friends Verdi and Curious George. I didn't know so many teachers were bringing friends! Dr. Foo Foo was excited that he had other animals to hang out with.

This is an inukshuk structure. To read more about them you can go to http://www.canadianencyclopedia.ca/index.cfm?PgNm=ArchivedFeatures&Params=M29

The animals decided to go for a swim in the Hudson Bay. I said it was okay as long as they wore their wetsuit. They used a ziploc bag to stay dry.

REMEMBER: These are stuffed animals that are not really alive. They do not need air in order live. We need air and it is never safe to put a plastic bag on your face.

Signs like this are found all over Churchill.

A beautiful rainbow.

CHALLENGE: Answer the following questions. Click on the blue work "comments" below to post your answers. Don't forget to include your first name only (no last names or I can't post them), your age/grade and your town.

Which photo is your favorite and why?

What is an inukshuk? Write the answer in your own words.

Miss Santoro

2008-09-27T00:23:00.004-04:00

I was SO excited to talk to everyone at Hopewell School, Nayaug School, Colchester Elementary and UCONN via our live web conference today. I wish I could have answered all of your questions. Your science thinking was GREAT! I loved talking to you about the fair testing we have been doing. We have taken hundreds of measurements to make sure that our data is accurate and represents the environment the way it is right now. Our time was so short though. Please feel free to write to me with the questions you had that have not been answered.

Today we did more sampling. That means that we took "samples" of trees and recorded data about each tree. Mr. Mamet wanted to know how tall each tree was, how many branches it had, and many more details. Here is a photo of Mr. LABMAN in the "cold lab" with Miss J and Dr. Foo Foo. The cold lab is a room with no heat. It can be very, very cold when we have to work there for long periods of time.

The teachers and scientists are counting the number of whorls on the little tree. That means that they are counting the number of branches coming off of the main trunk. This helps us to know the age of a tree. It can be challenging to count though. Thank goodness we had LABMAN there to help us.

The work went much faster.

Tomorrow we are going to take a day off from working. We are going to try to drive to a place where there might be polar bears. We'll make sure we approach that place safely though.

Miss Santoro