Ahoy, Matey! Let's Celebrate!

 

We like to have a lot of fun around here and what better way than to celebrate "Talk Like a Pirate Day" on September 19.  Why is this great? 

Check out the top 5 reasons below:

1. Your family can learn a forign language quickly because there isn't an extensive vocabulary or difficult phonetic principles to learn.  Check out Lego.com for a Pirate Dictionary.
2. You get to wear really cool accessories and you can get a jump start on your Halloween costume.
3. You can have family movie night and watch Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl (Two-Disc Collector's Edition)
4. You don't have to wait in long lines at the Hallmark store to purchase a card.  You can simply download one from Flickr.
5. Who doesn't like a good scavenger hunt?

Seriously, this could be a fun, out-of-the-ordinary day to surprise friends, family, and students.  Check out the links below for other great ideas on how to integrate in the classroom or for activities to do at home.

• Geeky T-Shirts
• Pirates in the Classroom
• A Pirate's Life
• Pirate's Theme Page
• Pirate Map Lesson Plan
• Pirate Adventures from National Geographic
• Quest For a Pirate
• Pirates at the National Maritime Museum
• Pirates of Whydah
• Blackbeard the Pirate
• The Mystery of Pirate Ringold's Lost Treasure
• Pirate Classroom Activities
• Place Value Pirates

Have fun!  Fair Winds, Matey!

Hey Dad, How Far Is a Light Year?

After watching an episode of "The Universe" yesterday, the wheels beagn turning inside our fourth-grade daughter's head as she struggled to comprehend the vastness of space.  The conversation went something like this:

Abby: "Mom, how far is a light year?"

 Dad: "It's about 9.46 x 10¹⁵m/sec.  Just round to 9.5"

Abby:  "Okay, what does 10¹⁵ mean?  What is that little number above the ten?"

Mom:  I leave and get a sheet of paper and a pencil and proceed to write down the following:

  10⁰ = 1
  10¹ = 10
  10² = 100
  10³ = 1000
  10⁴ = 10,000

          "Abby, do you see a pattern?"

Abby:  " Hmmm...Well, it looks like the numbers get bigger."  (Abby continues thinking about things.)

Mom:  "What do you notice about the number of zeros in relation to the "floating number thingy?"

Abby:  "Oh, they match.  The number of zeros match the little number.  You're adding, right?"

Mom:  " Good, let's call the "little, floating number" an exponent.  Also, you're not adding.  Look at 10² = 100 and tell me what you think it means." 

Abby:  "Oh, it's 10 x 2.  So, the answer is 20."

Mom:  "No, it can't be 20 because I already told you it was 100.  Keep thinking!"

Abby:  "Okay, it's 10 x 20.  No, that's 200.  I get it!  It means you have a ten, two times."

Mom:  "Good, now you're on to something.  So, 10² = 100.  What does 10³ mean?"

Abby:  "100 x 3.  No, that's 300.  Oh, 10 x 10 x 10.  I get it."

Mom:  "Now, think about this one.  What does 3² mean?"

Abby:  "It's 3 x 2. So, the answer is 6, right?"

Mom:  "Abby, look up at what you discovered earlier.  Keep thinking!"

Abby:  "Oh yeah!  It means you have the number three, two times.  So, it is 3 x 3 or 9, right?"

Mom:  "Yes!  Great job!  Now, let's learn a new word.  The "3" is called the base and what was the "floating number called?"

Abby:  "The exponent."

Mom:  "Right!  So, can you explain how this would work regardless of what number you are using?"

Abby:  "Hmm... Well, the exponent tells you how many bases you have and then you multiply.  So, 4³ means 4 x 4 x 4 or 16 x 4 or 64.  Right?"

Mom:  "YES!!!!!!!"  (Shouts of joy fill the room.)

Abby:  "Dad, so let's go back to the light year problem.  Just how far is it?"

 Dad:  "Well, it's 9.46 x 10¹⁵ m/sec.  So, we have this:

1 light year = (3 x 10⁸ m/sec)(365 days)(24 hr/1 day)(60 min/ 1 hr) (60 sec/ 1 min)

Abby:  "What exactly am I supposed to do with this?  You want me to multiply all of that out?  How?"

 Dad:  He proceeds to explain the dimensional analysis and how things simplify to 9.4608 x 10¹⁵ m/sec.

Abby:  "So, that would be 9.4608 x 1,000,000,000,000,000.  Right?  Wow!  That's pretty a huge number!"

After this, I continued giving her a few problems to simplify.  She was really excited and thought it was actually "fun."  Wow!  I proceeded to tell her it does get more complicated when you start talking about negative exponents.  In true "mom fashion", I just had to show her an easy example.  So, I wrote 3^-1 = 1/3.  Again, her curiosity was sparked and we did a few more.  All in all, I feel really happy.  An educational moment presented itself and we ceased the opportunity to explore.  Carpe Diem!  I seem to be saying this a great deal lately. 

 Anyway, I feel whether you are homeschooling or in a regular classroom.  It is important to not veer away from a learning opportunity.  Did I ever imagine I would be discussing exponents with our fourth grader?  No, well, maybe.  As teachers, we should be aware of teachable moments and capitalize on them.  So what, if it deviates away from the "current lesson" or topic.  Take a chance and go with it!  Everyone may benefit in the end.

Horton Hears a Who

I recently bought our kids the "Horton Hears a Who" game made by I Can Do That games. The game is based on the classic book by Dr. Seuss and brings to life in a fun way the story of Horton. Easily played in about 15 minutes, children have to work together to find all of the clovers that have previously been placed around the house. To make things more entertaining, the person looking for the clover has to wear a Horton mask in which they have to use the trunk (not their hands) to pick the clover. Our children, ages 3-9, had a great time playing this game. Another added benefit is the game can be played without a great deal of parent involvement. Just a note: I love playing games with our children, but I also love to find games they can play autonomously. If you are interested in purchasing this game, check it out on amazon.com.

Inspired by the game, I decided to develop a novel study to accompany this classic children's book. As always, I try to find ways to make the activity span various subjects areas as well as promote critical thinking. I have provided a basic outline, but left it up to you as to how you would have the children report their findings. In our house, we are computer geeks. Our projects often include Scratch programs, KidPix movies, slideshows, digital posters and wordles.  Again, the final product is totally up to you!!

Horton Hears a Who
Novel Study
Grades: elementary

Suggested Vocabulary

yelp	search	speck	disturb
alarm	swift	breeze	grateful
racket	holler	faint	rushed
trunk	repair	nonsense	kettle
fear	clover	protect	gang

Vocabulary Activities

• Make vocabulary “flash cards.” Write the word on the unlined side of an index card and its definition on the lined side of a different index card. You will have two cards per word.
• Using your flashcards, place the words in alphabetical order. As you lay down each card, try to spell the word and use it in a sentence.
• Identify the part of speech and synonyms or antonyms for each of your words and write it on the word’s index card.
• Take your two sets of cards and divide them into “words” and “definitions.” Mix them up well and give yourself plenty of room! Lay your “words” face down in a column on the table or floor and do the same for the “definitions.” Set a timer and see how quickly you can match the word to its definition.
• Using as many words from your vocabulary list as possible, write a short story or poem about Horton. Have fun with this!

Animal Research
Throughout Horton Hears a Who, there are many animals running through the Jungle of Nool. Choose one of the following animals to explore.

• elephant
• monkey
• kangaroo
• eagle

1. Create a drawing of your animal.
2. Research your animal’s habitat and discover where your animal lives.
3. Is your animal a carnivore or herbivore? The hunter or the hunted? Research your animal’s main diet and what, if anything, might be eating your animal. Yikes!
4. Present your findings including any interesting facts about your animal that most people may not know. Be creative!!! Use your imagination!!!

Internet Resources:

• National Geographic Creature Feature
• San Diego Zoo Animal Bytes
• Cyber Sleuth
• Sea World Animal Info

Questions for Discussion
Who knew the children's book, Horton Hears a Who, could possess the power to make us ponder the nature and theory of knowledge. Philosophers have been addressing the nature of human knowledge throughout history. What is human intuition? What is knowledge? Why are we steadfast in our beliefs? Marissa Cooke addresses these philosophical questions in her online article Teaching Children Philosophy. Here, she poses great questions for discussion that introduce young students to philosophy providing them opportunities to think critically. I have included her questions in this resource.

As teachers, we are always looking for ways to challenge our students. Instead of taking the common path of posing basic questions to check for reading comprehension, I chose to take the “road less traveled.” I stumbled across Marissa’s page and found it refreshing. I thought this would be a great way to develop critical thinking as well as introduce students to philosophy. Clearly, if students can participate in a discussion initiated by these questions, they have a firm grasp on the content in this book.

I hope this activity provides you with new insight into a children’s classic.

When Horton hears the voice on the dust speak, he reasons that there must exist a person, too small to be seen, but who is definitely there. But, the other animals don’t believe him.

1. How does Horton know that this voice means there is a person on the speck?
2. Why doesn’t the kangaroo believe Horton? What justifies her belief that a person could not be on the dust speck?
3. How does Horton try to convince the kangaroo of the existence of a person on the dust speck? If you were Horton what would you say to convince the kangaroo?
4. If they didn’t believe you, what would you do?

The Wickersham brothers show up and take action to stop Horton’s nonsense.

1. Why do they consider Horton to be foolish? Is what Horton knows really nonsense?
2. What reasons do the animals have for thinking that Horton is just speaking nonsense?
3. Horton knows the truth, but how come the monkeys can’t know?
4. What do the animals think will happen if they hid the dust speck so Horton can’t find it?
5. Will that prove that to Horton that his belief is not true?

The animals have had quite enough and decide they are going to boil the speck and tie Horton up. Horton says that the Who’s can prove they are there.

1. What do the animals think they will accomplish by roping and caging Horton?
2. Why does Horton say he can do to get them to believe him that there are persons on the speck?
3. When you know something, how do you prove it to someone else? Do you have to prove to know it’s true?
4. How can the Whos prove their existence?

The Who’s try to make themselves heard but the kangaroo denies hearing anything. Finally, the Who’s try again and they are heard!

1. Why does the kangaroo tell Horton that she didn’t hear any voices and he didn’t either? Why does she think he didn’t hear any voices?
2. Just because you think you know something, does that mean everyone else has to know the agree? How do you know if somebody knows what you know?
3. The Whos are finally heard. Is hearing believing? Do you have to hear, or see, or feel something to believe it or know it’s true?
4. Give an example of something you know but that you can’t justify with your senses? How did you come to know that thing?

Extension Activities

Activity 1

The Human Ear vs the Elephant Ear
Explore the similarities and differences between a human ear and an elephant’s ear.

Resources for the human ear:

• Enchanted Learning
• The Physics Classroom
• Britannica Online

Resources for the elephant ear:

• Elephant Information Repository
• Crayola
• Animal Corner

Activity 2

The Phenomenon of Sound: Surf the Waves!
Explore how sound waves travel and understand that sound is a form of energy.

Resources:

• Discovery Education
• PBS Kids
• Bright Hub

Activity 3

Make a big bowl of popcorn and watch Horton Hears a Who. Wait a minute! Which version? Why not watch both and discuss which one captures the essence of the book.

I welcome any suggestions or feedback concerning this activity.   Remeber, “a persons a person no matter how small!”