Global Warming!

Global Warming!

Here's a simple cartoon showing Global Warming. I had wanted to show this in class but apparently the video didn't work.

Enjoy the video! It shows the concept of Global Warming in an animated way.



BUT DO TAKE NOTE: HOW DO WE STOP GLOBAL WARMING?
Can we just put ice cubes into the ocean?

OF COURSE NOT!

There are many causes of global warming that includes pollution, deforestation and the process of burning. We can help reduce the impact on global warming in various ways that we had discussed in class.

Try to recall them now~

Mdm Yan

How Do Mosquitos Breathe?‏

How Do Mosquitoes Breathe?‏



Huiling volunteer to put this information in the class blog to share with the class! :)
Sweet of her to find interesting Science materials!

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How Do Mosquitoes Breathe?‏

The mosquito breathes with spiracles.

Spiracles are small holes on the sides of the bodies.

This is an adaption because th spiracles help the mosquito breathe,

because air flows into the holes and tubes carry the air to

different parts of the body. The abdomen has eight pairs of spiracles (16 spiracles).


More information on this interesting website:
http://www.hww.ca/hww2.asp?id=414


Information obtained from http://www.makalapa.k12.hi.us/Makalapa_Folder/HTML/adapt&survive/ca/mosquito.html

Shark!

Well, an interesting question brought up today in class by David!

Sharks have nostrils but they use gills to breathe in oxygen instead. So...
What's the use of having nostrils then?

Check out the answer below !

Nostrils

You use your nose to breath and smell, but the shark only smells through its nostrils. And its olfactory sense is extremely sensitive: It can detect less than one part blood per million parts seawater. Typically, sharks following a scent will weave back and forth through the water like hounds on a fox hunt, holding to the odor's strongest concentration until they find its source.

Gills
Sharks breath by passing seawater over their gills, which harbor tiny filaments that comb oxygen out of the water and shuttle it to the circulatory system. (The gills also get rid of waste products such as carbon dioxide.) Some sharks actively open and close their mouths, pumping water over the gills; others simply leave their mouths open and keep swimming. This is called ram-jet ventilation.

Zakariah's Comic Strip~

This comic strip is done by ZAKARIAH~ Cool, isnt it?

Click on the image to enlarge.




This comic strip is done by ZAKARIAH~ Cool, isnt it?

Can whales live on the shore?

Check out the link.

http://www.straitstimes.com/Video+News/World/STIVodcast_5019.html

SIX whales have died after beaching themselves again not far from they were released in Western Australia.
They were among 11 survivors of a group of 80 whales which became beached along the coast of Western Australia on Monday.


So~ Can whales live on shore?

No, whales cannot live on the shore for an extended period. They are marine mammals.

Whales like Dolphins need for their skin to be wet all the time, also in water they are basicly weightless and their physiology is such that when out of water for extended periods of time they become very tired from just the incredible effort it takes just to expand and contract their lungs.

Hand Foot Mouth Disease

Information is taken from the Health Promotion Board.

Hand, foot and mouth disease

Mouth and thumb

Ulcers in the mouth and on the thumb.
(Photograph courtesy of KK Women's and Children's hospital)

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) is caused by the Coxsackie virus and Enterovirus 71. The throat and tonsils develop small ulcers while the hands, feet, and diaper area are affected by a rash with characteristic vesicles (very small blisters). This is usually a mild illness with the rash healing in 5 to 7 days.

Hand Blisters on the palm and fingers. (Photograph courtesy of KK Women's and Children's hospital)


HFMD is spread from person to person by direct contact with the nasal discharge, saliva, faeces and fluid from the rash of an infected person. Both adults and children can be affected, but young children below five years are particularly susceptible.

Symptoms

* fever
* sore throat
* ulcers in the throat, mouth and tongue
* headache
* a rash with vesicles (small blisters, 3-7 mm) on hands, feet and diaper area. The vesicles are typically on the palm side of the hands the sole side of the feet and very characteristic in appearance
* loss of appetite


Feet Blisters on the soles of the feet.
(Photograph courtesy of KK Women's and Children's hospital)
Treatment

There is no specific treatment for the infection. Symptomatic treatment is given to provide relief from fever, aches and pain.

Treatment with antibiotics is not effective and is not indicated. Acetaminophen can be used to treat fever. Aspirin should not be used in viral illnesses in children under age 12 years.

Salt water mouth rinses (½ teaspoon of salt to 1 glass of warm water) may be soothing if the child is able to rinse without swallowing. Ensure an adequate fluid intake because swallowing may be painful. Extra fluid is needed when a fever is present.
HFMD in Singapore

HFMD is present all year round in Singapore. Outbreaks do occur in childcare centres, kindergartens and schools. HFMD became legally notifiable on 1 October 2000. Although usually a mild disease, it has been associated with fatalities usually due to complications involving the heart and nervous system.
Advice for parents

Parents are advised to consult a doctor early if their child has symptoms of HFMD. They should also be alert to any change in their child's normal behaviour, e.g. irritation and sleepiness. Should they refuse to eat or drink, have persistent vomiting or drowsiness, parents should bring their child immediately to hospital.
Prevention

Children should be kept away from crowded public places (such as schools, preschools, play groups, markets and public transport) if they show signs of infection. Family members are advised to follow good hygiene practices, including frequent hand washing, to limit the spread of the infection.

Class Food Web!

I'm quite impressed with what the students came up with during Science period today.

Well Done! Proud of my pupils!

Food Web done by each of my 39 pupils in class... :)

Battle at Kruger Park

Red Tide Algae

Background
Algae are vitally important to marine ecosystems, and most species of algae are not harmful. However, under certain environmental conditions, microscopic marine algae called Karenia brevis (K. brevis) grow quickly, creating blooms that can make the ocean appear red or brown. People often call these blooms “red tide.”


Red tides occur throughout the world, affecting marine ecosystems in Scandinavia, Japan, the Caribbean, and the South Pacific. Scientists first documented a red tide along Florida’s Gulf Coast in fall 1947, when residents of Venice, Florida, reported thousands of dead fish and a “stinging gas” in the air, according to Mote Marine Laboratory. However, Florida residents have reported similar events since the mid-1800s.

Tortoise Beetle

Common Name: Tortoise beetle
Scientific Name: Varies
Order: Coleoptera

Description: Adults are broadly oval to round and nearly convex in shape with some sculpturing of the surface and the edges broadly expanded. They are green-gold with purple mottling and about 1/4-inch long.

A few related species have similar metallic appearance and may feed on different host plants. The golden tortoise beetle, Charidotella sexpunctata bicolor (Fabricius), is brilliant brassy or greenish-gold in life. When disturbed, the color becomes orange with black spots. The metallic coloration is lost completely in dead specimens, leaving them a dull reddish yellow color. They also are about 1/4-inch long.

Larvae of both species are spiny along the sides and have hook on the end of the abdomen. Larvae may carry fecal material on their back, which helps camouflage them and deter predators and parasites.

Life Cycle:
As is characteristic of the family, the larvae and adults may be found on the same host plant. There are multiple generations per year.

Habitat and Food Source(s):
This beetle and the larvae feed on foliage of anacua in south Texas; while other tortoise beetles feed on sweet potato and related plants.

Pest Status:
Although the tortoise beetle is not considered a pest, the golden tortoise beetle occasionally may be a pest on sweet potatoes.