Category: Earth Science

Review: Natural Disasters

10/21/2016

Natural Disasters... they happen all the time. Wild weather, wild water, wild temperature extremes and more. Do you want to help your children understand them?
Here's a book that will help: The Ultimate Interactive Guide to Natural Disasters.

What you get:

48 page fact book
27 x 20" poster
3-D Volcano Model to Assemble
Spinning Tornado Model
Coil bound hardcover
Full colour pages

What Did I Discover:

Clearly presented information
Simple drawings to help explain systems such as water and weather cycles
21 chapters
Coil binding so it lays flat
Maps and diagrams
Tables
Cut outs
Excellent explanation of the global impact
Introductory sections for each new disaster

Intriguing Factoids to Whet Your Curiousity

Did you know that sometimes when lightening hits sandy ground it can turn solid?
Storms are named so,we know which major storm is being talked about as there can be more than one happening at once
Can you imagine a heat so hot it can melt roads?
There is a lake under the glaciers called Lake Vostok. Scientists investigate.
Sandstorms change the colour of the sky.
Cenotes, in Mexico.

What do I think?
This book would be excellent to let children read alone, or use as a spine for a larger study of natural disasters around the world. Little tidbits just begged to be studied more, for instance, I want to teach my lad more about the Cenotes in Mexico. This book is a great introduction to how the world works in regards to natural disasters.

The Ultimate Interactive Guide to Natural Disasters

Author: Ian Graham
Illustrations: Simon Morse and Simon Taylor

Pages: 48
Publisher: SilverDolphin

Reviewed for: Raincoast Books

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Fostering Independent Learning With Apologia, a Review

9/5/2016

For the past few weeks my son and I have been studying astronomy with Exploring Creation with Astronomy, 2nd Edition sent to us by Apologia Educational Ministries. My son and I started doing this wonderful science program, meant for students in K-6 together, but gradually my son is starting to work independently.

Apologia was gracious enough to send me a complete set of the Exploring Creation with Astronomy, 2nd Edition. That set includes:

Let me walk you through my lad's and I approach to Apologia.
First we checked out the table of contents. We noted there was 14 lessons, which meant we didn't have to be in a hurry to finish the course, we could easily be done in 14 weeks, or longer if we got distracted by life. :)

I talked with him about how eventually I thought he could work through a lesson all on his own and about how we were going to work towards that.

Lesson One and Two we would do completely together, lesson one doing all the elements called for so he could make an informed decision about what he REALLY needed to accomplish.

We then noted how each lesson (and chapter) follows each other closely.

Each lesson is broken into four daily assignments, "MOM, that means I can decide to do two one day and then I have a day free right?" What can you say, but sure lad? :)

Readings and activities and a "what do you remember section".

So we worked through lesson one, noting how closely the workbook follows the textbook. We saw the full colour pictures, and noted how clearly then set out the activities in the textbook.

We noted the lapbook elements, which admittedly aren't my son's highlight, but he asked if he could write the information without having to make them. And I agree, the point was to remember the information, they were just trying to make it a more interesting way of doing it. He did make the odd element thought.

I do need to tell you about the giggles and conversations we've had. One of the activities called for us to have three people minimum and since we didn't have the third person we decided the cat Milo could be the sun. Boy oh boy, talk about a confused cat. :) He kept turning his head and looking at us, especially since each time the earth revolved around the sun the cat got a pet. But add in the earth also rotating as it revolved and oh my...the giggles that ensued.

It made for fun times and good conversations, like why doesn't the earth get dizzy, what do you think keeps the earth from getting all wobbly? All these questions keep a boy coming back for more you know?

In Lesson two my lad decided not to do the lapbook element (as in making it, but he did write out the required knowledge). He started to get a good idea about how the lesson would progress, and he chose to combine two steps into one. We made a pinhole camera so we could clearly see the sun, and one of the questions asked was, what happens if you make the hole bigger or smaller? it called for using different pieces of tinfoil which my lad thought was wasteful. So he made a modification.

It was rather funny though, one of the books my son really likes is the Warrior Cat series and at one point there was an eclipse which scared all the cats. So as my lad was playing around with this pinhole viewer, he added an element where the sun was blocked....It was funny. How did you feel mom, where you like the cats and all scared when you couldn't see the sun Huh mom???? :)

By Lesson Three my lad was confident enough in his abilities to work through one section while at gramma's, and then did the "do you remember" part independently. I have to admit, we aren't going through the book quickly. We are averaging 3/4's of a lesson a week since it's technically still summer holidays here. We'll be starting Lesson Four this coming Tuesday, my lad has already determine that he'll do the first part at gramma's on Tuesday and then two parts on Thursday and one on Friday.

Part of his planning is a request that I do some of the reading while he works on his copywork. The copywork is provided in print and cursive. My son prefers to work off the print, but writes it in cursive.

I need to mention the junior notebooking option, we looked through it and my son chose to do this book even though it has more writing. The junior workbook for this science curriculum for homeschools, has less writing, shorter copywork and pictures to colour. It's a simpler version for younger children.

The clear concise text, the ample room to write and questions that followed the text, all help my lad in his quest for more independence in his work.

I suspect, that by the time we are at lesson seven my lad will be taking more control of how he works through this science curriculum. Exploring Creation with Astronomy, 2nd Edition has proven to be a timely addition to our homeschooling this year and we will be finishing this book. It'll be our science go to. :) It's working well to teach my lad that he can work independently. He's thought about using the MP3 cd for the reading portion, but at this point doesn't see the need to do so. It's great to have it, for days you don't feel like reading, or if you have a less than confident reader.

I have to admit, when I opened up my package and saw this note included, it made me think...wow... what lovely people. I bet they have great customer service. Isn't it nice to get notes like this with your orders?

Various members of the crew have been working diligently with Exploring Creation with Astronomy, 2nd Edition by Apologia Educational Ministries. There is also an additional science kit you can purchase to go along with this course. It is not mandatory, it is just an exciting optional purchase to help complete experiments both in the book and in addition to it. You can find that kit here. To read what other TOS reviewers have to say, click the image below.

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Co-op Classes: Earthquakes

4/14/2016

I've developed a reputation for doing hands-on interesting classes with my co-op, having this reputation isn't always a good thing.... means I need to think about what I want to do!

This time around I wanted to do hands-on STEM type stuff but didn't really have a clue about what I really wanted to do with it. Week two has me doing earthquakes.

What types of Earthquakes are there? Four Kinds

A tectonic earthquake is one that occurs when the earth's crust breaks due to geological forces on rocks and adjoining plates that cause physical and chemical changes.
A volcanic earthquake is any earthquake that results from tectonic forces which occur in conjunction with volcanic activity.
A collapse earthquake are small earthquakes in underground caverns and mines that are caused by seismic waves produced from the explosion of rock on the surface.
An explosion earthquake is an earthquake that is the result of the detonation of a nuclear and/or chemical device.

If you want to know more about how earthquakes form check out this page.

What kind of faults are there?

Normal faults form when the hanging wall drops down. The forces that create normal faults are pulling the sides apart, or extensional. (Divergent)
Reverse faults form when the hanging wall moves up. The forces creating reverse faults are compressional, pushing the sides together. (Convergent)
Transcurrent or Strike-slip faults have walls that move sideways, not up or down. (Transform)

Check out this site to see an easy way to demonstrate. This site talks a bit more about the different types of faults.

What are the levels of earthquakes?

Shallow fault earthquakes

A fault is a break in the rock beneath our feet. Shallow fault quakes occur very close to the surface. . Because shallow fault earthquakes are so near the surface, even small ones cause a lot of damage from shaking.
Subduction zone earthquakes

The largest earthquakes ever recorded are subduction zone earthquakes. They can last several minutes. Subduction zone shaking can occur along the whole subduction zone. In the Pacific Northwest, these major quakes seem to occur every few hundred years. These earthquakes can also cause huge waves— tsunamis—.
Deep earthquakes

Deep earthquakes occur in the subducting ocean slab, deep beneath the continental crust. In the Pacific Northwest, deep quakes start about 50 km (30 mi) beneath the surface. Large ones have shaken the Pacific Northwest in 1949, 1965, and 2001—about every 30 years. (source) (also here)

How are earthquakes measured?
The Richter scale is used to rate the magnitude of an earthquake -- the amount of energy it released. This is calculated using information gathered by a seismograph.

The extent of damage is rated on the Mercalli scale. Mercalli ratings, which are given as Roman numerals, are based on largely subjective interpretations. A low intensity earthquake, one in which only some people feel the vibration and there is no significant property damage, is rated as a II. The highest rating, a XII, is applied to earthquakes in which structures are destroyed, the ground is cracked and other natural disasters, such as landslides or tsunamis, are initiated. (source)

Some Activities we are going to do.

See how FOLD mountains are made because of the earth moving.
Earthquake waves.
This on-line seismic simulation.
Watch a seismic shadow simulation.
Build towers to see how well they survive our shake Table.

If I was doing this for a longer period of time I'd make this seismograph.
I thought this activity looked cool but couldn't figure out how to make it.