Michael bikes from Haines to Skagway.
Craving motion, forces, earthquakes and explosions ... see Winsor.
For some great links to information about native cultures, visit Kristen.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Week 4: Cataclysmic Events
Explain: I once heard, "Why is it that humans love to build on flood plains and earthquake faults?" This is so true. It is almost as if us humans, with out big brains, crave cataclysmic events. This week as I read through the module, I spent some time thinking about how major geological features such as volcanos, earthquakes and tsunamis influence our culture. I don't have any first hand knowledge of Alaska Native cultures. So, I'll look at it from the perspective of the culture in Palmer, Alaska. On a bigger scale, Americans love to Hollywood-ize these topics with movies such as Volcano, Dante's Peak or Tremors. As a resident of Palmer for the past discontinuous 26 years, I think or hope, the folks and youth of Palmer are more educated about earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis and the such, simply because we encounter them on a regular basis. As the module said, these events effect our lives causing road damage and flight cancelations.
The West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center is located in Palmer. I would hope that all Palmer High graduates have toured this facility.
As I was growing up in Palmer, the 1964 earthquake and tsunami were still fresh in the minds of many residents. I remember hearing older folks talking, "Where were you during the quake?" and sharing stories. Evidence could be seen in many nearby communities such as Portage, Valdez, Seward and even closer to home in Knik Arm.
The West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center is located in Palmer. I would hope that all Palmer High graduates have toured this facility.
As I was growing up in Palmer, the 1964 earthquake and tsunami were still fresh in the minds of many residents. I remember hearing older folks talking, "Where were you during the quake?" and sharing stories. Evidence could be seen in many nearby communities such as Portage, Valdez, Seward and even closer to home in Knik Arm.
Damage from 2002 Denali fault earthquake
Extend: I am not currently teaching earth science, the course that covers these topics, but I have in the past. I would use the Google Earth measurement tools and marking hot spots activities in earth science. The images that can be created in Google Earth are amazing and unlimited, allowing for students to focus on a geographic area they are interested in.
Evaluate: Once again the materials in this module are very usable. I appreciate that the videos are up to date, not outdated and ancient like most of the free materials I receive. The topics of this module are captivating to students. Of course you could spend months on each topic individually, but when time is restricted the materials in this module hit the most important points.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Week 3: Three Colleagues
Monday, October 18, 2010
Week 3: Landscapes of My Life
Explain: My parents moved to Alaska when I was nine years old. I remember a thoughtful moment when I went to college in Idaho and realized that the landscape of Idaho did NOT include such exciting things as earthquakes, volcanos, extended/reduced daylight and glaciers. (At least not in the quantities I was used to.) From the perspective of a child or young adult, your landscape is what you are used to. It is what you take for granted.
Extend: As I look at many modern and traditional Native cultures, I often think, "Wow. How do they do that?!" I suppose it is all what you are used to. Your landscape is your tradition.
While watching one of the TD video clips about plate tectonics I saw a clip about the 1964 earthquake. Below is a picture of my father-in-law standing in a crack created during the 1964 earthquake.
Evaluate: I spent quite a bit of time getting lost in the Teachers Domain website. I found more quantum mechanics videos and articles and also some interesting clips about bacteria ... the other topic I'm teaching this week. The more I explore, the more impressed I am with TD. Could someone please tell my why my school district PAYS for learn360.com when this is FREE?!?!?
Extend: As I look at many modern and traditional Native cultures, I often think, "Wow. How do they do that?!" I suppose it is all what you are used to. Your landscape is your tradition.
While watching one of the TD video clips about plate tectonics I saw a clip about the 1964 earthquake. Below is a picture of my father-in-law standing in a crack created during the 1964 earthquake.
Evaluate: I spent quite a bit of time getting lost in the Teachers Domain website. I found more quantum mechanics videos and articles and also some interesting clips about bacteria ... the other topic I'm teaching this week. The more I explore, the more impressed I am with TD. Could someone please tell my why my school district PAYS for learn360.com when this is FREE?!?!?
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Week 2: Three Colleagues
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Favorite Place - Out on the trails!
Lost Lake Trail (near Seward, AK)
Pioneer Peak (near Palmer, AK)
Crow Pass
Kesugi Ridge (Denali State Park)
One of the things I love about being a teacher is having time in the summer to be out on the trails. I enjoy hiking alone, or with my husband (Crow Pass) or with my dad (Mat Peak and Pioneer Peak), or my kids (Kesugi Ridge), or my dogs (Lost Lake). People ask if I will ever leave Alaska and I tell them there is still so much for me to see here. Getting above treeline, giving my legs and lungs a good workout, it gives me a feeling of peace, satisfaction and accomplishment. Love it!
Monday, October 11, 2010
Week 2: Birthplace Landscape
Charles City, Iowa during 2008 flood
I was born in Charles City, Iowa. The town surrounds Cedar River in rolling hills full of farm land. The area has periodic floods, adding nutrients to the soil.
View My Saved Places in a larger map
Cedar River flowing through Charles City
Week 2: Connections
The mystery of the electron ... and my driving record.
This year, for the first time, I am teaching high school chemistry. We are just starting the quantum mechanics unit. (see String Theory video on TD String Video) The experienced chemistry teacher was lecturing to my students about the misbehaviors of the electron. First it is a wave, then a particle, then a wave. Sometimes they disappear and reappear elsewhere. Powerful minds like Einstein and Stephen Hawking struggled with these seemingly unexplainable phenomena. I never guessed that physicists and mathematicians could be the ones spouting theories of time travel and multiple universes. I had thought of the stereotypical physicist as having logical, black and white, even inflexible or uncreative personalities.
Many Native American cultures are, and have been, comfortable telling stories that include time travel, multiple universes, etc. They are ok with ignoring the how and why things happen in exchange for a better understanding of what is happening. Isn't this just exactly what the chemistry teacher said about the behavior of electrons? He said, "Don't try to understand why electrons can do this, or how it works, just accept that is does."
I find this to be an excellent example where there is a huge overlap of traditional native knowledge and western science. Even if Native cultures are not teaching about electrons, it is their way of teaching and attitude toward knowledge that I feel is parallel.
And ... it may also explain why, all too often, when I make a right turn onto a road I look both ways, pull out onto the roadway and then discover a vehicle coming up on me fast, honking and making it clear to me that I should not have pulled out in front of them. Golly, I swear I looked and noone was coming. I guess that car just appeared out of nowhere, instantaneously, like an electron.
This year, for the first time, I am teaching high school chemistry. We are just starting the quantum mechanics unit. (see String Theory video on TD String Video) The experienced chemistry teacher was lecturing to my students about the misbehaviors of the electron. First it is a wave, then a particle, then a wave. Sometimes they disappear and reappear elsewhere. Powerful minds like Einstein and Stephen Hawking struggled with these seemingly unexplainable phenomena. I never guessed that physicists and mathematicians could be the ones spouting theories of time travel and multiple universes. I had thought of the stereotypical physicist as having logical, black and white, even inflexible or uncreative personalities.
Many Native American cultures are, and have been, comfortable telling stories that include time travel, multiple universes, etc. They are ok with ignoring the how and why things happen in exchange for a better understanding of what is happening. Isn't this just exactly what the chemistry teacher said about the behavior of electrons? He said, "Don't try to understand why electrons can do this, or how it works, just accept that is does."
I find this to be an excellent example where there is a huge overlap of traditional native knowledge and western science. Even if Native cultures are not teaching about electrons, it is their way of teaching and attitude toward knowledge that I feel is parallel.
And ... it may also explain why, all too often, when I make a right turn onto a road I look both ways, pull out onto the roadway and then discover a vehicle coming up on me fast, honking and making it clear to me that I should not have pulled out in front of them. Golly, I swear I looked and noone was coming. I guess that car just appeared out of nowhere, instantaneously, like an electron.
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Week 1: Getting Started
Hello! I'm just getting started with my blog for the class Explore Alaska! Alaska Native and Western Perspectives on Earth Systems.
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