Posting Results...

Posting Results...


These are some of the news I've gathered so far. Thought it might be helpful for you to know who are in the same school as you. If not, at least know where your friends are ....

6D

Shimin -- Woodgrove Sec
Cherlynn -- Woodgrove Sec
Shahrul.R -- Woodgrove Sec
Diyanah -- Woodgrove Sec
Huiling -- Riverside Sec
Zakariah -- Riverside Sec
Hairul -- Riverside Sec
Kayla -- Riverside Sec
Rini -- Marsiling Sec
Priya -- Marsiling Sec
Khalisah -- Marsiling Sec
Melvin -- Chung Cheng (Yishun)
Shanna -- Chung Cheng (Yishun)
Eunice -- Chung Cheng (Yishun)
Atikah.O -- Sembawang Sec
Izzul -- Sembawang Sec
David -- Fuchun Sec
Annabella -- Fuchun Sec
Athirah -- Fuchun Sec
Suzy -- Admiralty Sec
Atikah.M -- Woodlands Sec
Sean -- Christ Church Sec
Kamarul -- Christ Church Sec
Junxing -- Sembawang Sec
Zainah -- Deyi Sec




6C
Sze Han -- Woodgrove Sec
Si En -- Woodgrove Sec
Yi Jian -- Woodgrove Sec
Junwen -- Woodgrove Sec
Priscilla -- Evergreen Sec
Ying Ru -- Sembawang Sec
Qianfei -- Canberra Sec
Raihan -- Admiralty Sec
Daniel -- Woodlands Sec
Nabil -- Fuchun Sec
Farid -- Fuchun Sec
Natasya -- Chestnut Drive
Rifdee -- Riverside Sec


6K
Amanda -- Fuchun Sec
Zhirou -- Northview Sec
Ayuni -- Admiralty Sec
Iffah -- Woodlands Sec

Announcement!

Announcement!

Primary 6D students!

Please bring your Arabian Nights Storybook to return it to me.

Help to sms your friends to bring it~ Pass the word around!

Only Shimin brought it during release of PSLE results...

Bring it on that day when you are coming back to get your secondary school posting!

PSLE Results

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1019947/1/.html

PSLE results to be released on Thursday
Posted: 23 November 2009 1215 hrs


SINGAPORE: The Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) results will be out on Thursday.

Pupils can get their result slips from their schools from noon on November 26. Eligible pupils will also receive their option forms to select their secondary schools.

With the PIN contained in the sealed option form, parents can submit their child's secondary school options online via the Secondary One Internet System.

The system is accessible 24 hours a day through the MOE Secondary One Posting website, starting from noon on Thursday. Application closes at 3pm on December 2.

Alternatively, parents may also submit their child's secondary school options through their child's primary school.

The Secondary One posting results will be released on Tuesday, December 22. Pupils are to report to their secondary schools on Wednesday, December 23, at 8.30am

Group Photo

Can't resist posting these group photos again! :P

Annoucements!

Announcement!

Primary 6D students!

Please bring your Arabian Nights Storybook to return it to Ms. Lai~~~

Help to sms your friends to bring it~ Pass the word around!

BBQ @ Casablanca Condo

BBQ @ Casablanca Condo




We had a fun time there ~ Lots of food, cooking and of course, setting up the charcoal for fire... *grins*

Wish you all the best in your secondary school and see you all next week! :)

Graduation Day!

P6 Graduation Day!

The last performance by the P6 students.

Do watch the videos of the dance performances by

1) Aiman, Raihan, Danish, Rifdee, Cheryl, Iffah
2) The P6 prefects, Daiwang

and of course!

Our Project Runway Models: Rini, Karthii from 6D and Natasya, Syakir from 6C :)

Not forgetting the best dressed award!

Deiva, Izzul and Nabil!!!!!!!!

P6 Prefects Retreat

As appreciation to the P6 prefects who had worked hard during the years, we went out for our Prefects Retreat at the Southern Ridges!

A long, tiring but certainly fun walk!

Visit to City Hall Area

Visit to City Hall Area

This is part of the P6 post exams activities. We went to Esplanade, Fullerton Hotel, Victoria Theatrea, Asian Civilisation Musem, etc ~

:)

Project Runway

Project Runway

Thanks to the girls that helped out so much for this Project Runway.

Many Thanks! :)

Visit to National Museum

Visit to National Museum

Attention!

Attention!!!

If you changed the address of your blog, please do tag and leave the link in the tagboard so I can edit the template and make the changes.

Let the class blog be a place for your class to be linked up, regardless of which secondary school you will be going to.

I need lots of scotch tape and materials that can be used for the Project Runway tomorrow!
Those who see this blog entry, please do try bring some materials that we can use~

Thanks!

Mdm Yan

Project Runway

Task: For your graduating project, you will be embarking on a Fashion Design Experience. You will learn more about the 60s fashion trend from the National Museum and attend a workshop on researching and designing an outfit. You will then create an outfit and each class will select the best 2 outfits to be showcased during the Graduation Concert.

Group Criteria: A maximum of 7 group members, with a minimum of 2 members from the opposite gender

Design Criteria: You have to design an outfit with a “green” theme (recycled material, old clothes, etc)

Roles

1) Model
• He/She should be someone who is energetic and is able to bring out the style of the outfit

2) Outfit Designer x 2
• He/She should be someone who should be rather good in Art and is able to design the ‘look’ for the outfit’.
• He/She will discuss with the group on the choice of materials/fabrics/accessories.
• He/She will also have to submit the design on A3 Drawing paper.

3) Outfit Maker x 2
• They are the ones who will construct the outfit and bring the design to ‘life’ for the model

4) Vodcast Editor
• The whole process of your group’s designing will be recorded with the use of a video camera.
• The Vodcast Editor is the main person putting together the whole process in a film (Not more than 5 minutes for the whole clip using Windows Movie Maker).
• He/She should be someone who is proficient with the use of MP3/Digital Camera/Windows Movie Maker.
• He/She will work together with the Presenter for the interviewing/filming process.
• At the end, your group should have a video to show us how the group worked together to produce that outfit.

5) Presenter
• This person should be eloquent and will work together with the Vodcast Editor to interview the group members.
• He/She will also be the one explaining to the audience the inspiration behind outfit/materials used, etc.

Hurray!

PSLE IS OVER!!!!!

Monkey Disturbs 2 Tigers

Laugh & Relax!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQBIR4SmIZw
Click on link to see bigger video.

The Stars in the Sky

The Stars in the Sky

Adapted from Carolyn Sherwin Bailey, Kate Douglas Wiggin, and Nora Archibald Smith

This old English tale reminds us that the higher we reach, the longer and harder we have to try.

Once upon a time there was a little lass who wanted nothing more than to touch the stars in the sky. On clear, moonless nights she would lean out her bedroom window, gazing up at the thousand tiny lights scattered across the heavens, wondering what it would be like to hold one in her hand.

One warm summer evening, a night when the Milky Way shone more brightly than ever before, she decided she couldn't stand it any longer — she just had to touch a star or two, no matter what. So she slipped out the window and started off by herself to see if she could reach them.

She walked a long, long time, and then farther still, until she came to a mill wheel, creaking and grinding away.

"Good evening," she said to the mill wheel. "I would like to play with the stars in the sky. Have you seen any near here?"

"Ah, yes," groaned the old mill wheel. "Every night they shine in my face from the surface of this pond until I cannot sleep. Jump in, my lass, and you will find them."

The little girl jumped into the pond and swam around until her arms were so tired she could swim no longer, but she could not find any stars.

"Excuse me," she called to the old mill wheel, "but I don't believe there are any stars here after all!"

"Well, there certainly were before you jumped in and stirred the water up," the mill wheel called back. So she climbed out and dried herself off as best she could, and set out again across the fields.

After a while she sat down to rest in a meadow, and it must have been a fairy meadow, because before she knew it a hundred little fairies came scampering out to dance on the grass.

"Good evening, Little Folk," said the girl. "I'm trying to reach the stars in the sky. Have you seen any near here?"

"Ah, yes," sang the fairies. "They glisten every night among the blades of grass. Come and dance with us, little lass, and you will find as many stars as you like."

So the child danced and danced, she whirled round and round in a ring with the Little Folk, but though the grass gleamed beneath her feet, she never spied a single star. Finally she could dance no longer, and she plopped down inside the ring of fairies.

"I've tried and I've tried, but I can't seem to reach the stars down here," she cried. "If you don't help me, I'll never find any to play with."

The fairies all whispered together. Finally one of them crept up and took her by the hand, and said: "If you're really determined, you must go forward. Keep going forward, and mind you take the right road. Ask Four Feet to carry you to No Feet At All, and then tell No Feet At All to carry you to the Stairs Without Steps, and if you climb that —"

So the little girl set out again with a light heart, and by and by she came to a horse, tied to a tree.

"Good evening," she said. "I'm trying to reach the stars in the sky, and I've come so far my bones are aching. Will you give me a ride?"

"I don't know anything about stars in the sky," the horse replied. "I'm here only to do the bidding of the Little Folk."

"But I come from the Little Folk, and they said to tell Four Feet to carry me to No Feet At All."

"Four Feet? That's me!" the horse whinnied. "Jump up and ride with me."

They rode and they rode and they rode, till they rode out of the forest and found themselves at the edge of the sea.

"I've brought you to the end of the land, and that's as much as Four Feet can do," said the horse. "Now I must get home to my own folk."

So the little girl slid down and walked along the sea, wondering what in the world she would do next, until suddenly the biggest fish she'd ever seen came swimming up to her feet.

"Good evening," she said to the fish. "I'm trying to reach the stars in the sky. Can you help me?"

"I'm afraid I can't," gurgled the fish, "unless, of course, you bring me word from the Little Folk."

"But I do," she cried. "They said Four Feet would bring me to No Feet At All, and then No Feet At All would carry me to the Stairs Without Steps."

"Ah, well," said the fish, "that's all right then. Get on my back and hold on tight."

And off he went — kerplash! — into the water, swimming along a silver path that glistened on the surface and seemed to stretch toward the end of the sea, where the water met the sky. There, in the distance, the little girl saw a beautiful rainbow rising out of the ocean and into the heavens, shining with all the colors.

At last they came to the foot of it, and she saw the rainbow was really a broad bright road, sloping up and away into the sky, and at the far, far end of it she could see wee shining things dancing about.

"I can go no farther," said the fish. "Here are the Stairs Without Steps. Climb up, if you can, but hold on tight. These stairs were never meant for little lassies' feet, you know." So the little girl jumped off No Feet's back, and off he splashed through the water.

She climbed and she climbed and she climbed up the rainbow. It wasn't easy. Every time she took one step, she seemed to slide back two. And even though she climbed until the sea was far below, the stars in the sky looked farther away than ever.

"But I won't give up," she told herself. "I've come so far, I can't go back."

Up and up she went. The air grew colder and colder, but the sky turned brighter, and finally she could tell she was nearing the stars.

"I'm almost there!" she cried.

And sure enough, suddenly she reached the very tiptop of the rainbow. Everywhere she looked, the stars were turning and dancing. They raced up and down, and back and forth, and spun in a thousand colors around her.

"I'm finally here," she whispered to herself. She had never seen anything so beautiful before, and she stood gazing and wondering at the heavens.

But after a while she realized she was shivering with cold, and when she looked down into the darkness, she could no longer see the earth. She wondered where her own home was, so far away, but no streetlamps or window lights marked the blackness below. She began to feel a little dizzy.

"I won't go until I touch one star," she told herself, and she stood on her toes and stretched her arms as high as she could. She reached farther and farther — and suddenly a shooting star zipped by and surprised her so much she lost her balance.

Down she slid — down — down — down the rainbow. The farther she slid, the warmer it grew, and the warmer it grew, the sleepier she felt. She gave a great yawn, and a small sigh, and before she knew it, she was fast asleep.

When she woke up, she found herself in her very own bed. The sun was peeking through her window, and the morning birds sang in the bushes and trees.

"Did I really touch the stars?" she asked herself. "Or was it only a dream?"

Then she felt something in her hand. When she opened her fist, a tiny light flashed in her palm, and at once was gone, and she smiled because she knew it was a speck of stardust.

Text copyright © 1995 by William J. Bennett
Illustrations copyright © 1995 by Michael Hague
Taken from http://www.enotalone.com/article/5512.html

The Story

The Tortoise and the Hare

Aesop

We win many of life's rewards by learning how to hang in there and work till the very end.

A hare once made fun of a tortoise. "What a slow way you have!" he said. "How you creep along!'

"Do I?" said the tortoise. "Try a race with me and I'll beat you."

"What a boaster you are," said the hare. "But come! I will race with you. Whom shall we ask to mark off the finish line and see that the race is fair?"

"Let us ask the fox," said the tortoise.

The fox was very wise and fair. He showed them where they were to start, and how far they were to run.

The tortoise lost no time. He started out at once and jogged straight on.

The hare leaped along swiftly for a few minutes till he had left the tortoise far behind. He knew he could reach the mark very quickly, so he lay down by the road under a shady tree and took a nap.

By and by he awoke and remembered the race. He sprang up and ran as fast as he could. But when he reached the mark the tortoise was already there!

"Slow and steady wins the race," said the fox.

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The purpose of using this particular name for this blog is to encourage students to really work hard for examinations, especially for the current 2009 batch of students who will be taking the PSLE very soon. It's my wish and my dream for this year to see that all of my students do make it to secondary school and continue their life journey without any regrets in life later on.

You have heard the story about the hare and the tortoise many times...

You have understood the moral behind the story...

So do!

Remember we do only have 2-3 weeks left before the final examinations.

Till then, remain focused and persevere!

It's been quite some time since I last posted.

Here are some photos featuring Aiman and Fadhli! They won a competition! So this is them and their trophies! :)

NDP Celebration 2009!

NDP Celebration 2009!

Some Photos for the Day!



6C Performance!!



6D Performance!!!!!! Wow!! Great dancers and great rappers!!!



Thanks for all the hard work! :)

Enjoy the holidays!

An Apple a Day keeps the Doctor Away.

Taken from Channelnewsasia.com

Two more H1N1 flu patients admitted to ICU
By Pearl Forss, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 26 July 2009 2146 hrs

SINGAPORE: Two more people were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on Sunday after coming down with H1N1 flu infections.

The first is a 61-year-old man with heart problems. He had cough, sore throat and running nose for a week, and was transferred to ICU because of breathlessness.

He is currently on a ventilator and in a critical condition.

The second patient is a 14-year-old boy who has asthma and epilepsy. He was warded after two days of fever, and three seizures.

He is currently on a ventilator and in a critical condition. Earlier this week, a 13-year old boy with epilepsy died after being infected with H1N1 flu.

There are currently a total of 10 H1N1 flu patients in ICU.


Some thoughts about H1N1 in Singapore. . .
Recently, there were many pupils who were down with flu, fever and sore throat. I'm glad that students who were unwell the previous week are back in school! Staying healthy is a MUST during this crucial period where my students are taking Prelims soon. Hopefully, the flu virus saga will end soon. :)

19 more days till Prelims. Endure! Persevere!

Never Give Up.

Mdm Yan

Birthday PPT Slides

Something done by Rini, Shimin, Lydia and Khalisah! Proud of my students always!

Thank U ~ !

Well! Indeed was I surprised when I realised that the class had something planned for today. It was nice to have people to celebrate birthdays together, especially with my students from 6D ,6C and Mrs Chow.

Thanks to all the presents and food!
1) Cards from Priya, Huiling (Sticked them on my desk)
2) Pointer (I'm going to use it in class) and Keychain (Keychain is with my school's wallet) from Shimin, Junxing, Eunice & Cherlynn
3) Chocolate from Lydia (Going to eat it all!)
4) Box and Bears from Huiling (I displayed them on my desk)
5) Special thanks to Rini whose mother helped to cook the sumptuous food of Bee Hoon, Nuggets & Hotdogs
6) Hugs to Mrs Chow for buying the delicious cake!

I'm glad that many of you stayed back to celebrate both Daiwang and my birthday together!
I hope everyone got to eat something nice today!

My wish for this year is for ALL of Class 6D and 6C pupils to graduate together, happily into secondary schools!

34 days left till Prelims~ We've got to work hard together~ as a class and strive for the best till the day of PSLE.

Cheers! And Happy Birthday to Daiwang and me~

P.S I know what you did after I left -.-

P6 Health Checkup

Students taking off their shoes and socks for health checkup!


Shy...


Boys were playing the game of concentration... No photos taken. Next time maybe. :)

Multi-Disciplinary Day!

Multi-Disciplinary Day!

Photos for Multi-Disciplinary Day posted! Do view the full album~~

It's a tiring day but definitely FUN! Thanks to ALL who helped in one way or another! Happy Memories! :)

See U all back in class tomorrow! Cheers~

Mdm Yan

SA1 2007 Answers

SA1 2007 Booklet B~

Hi all! :) It's the long weekend but please do not forget to complete the Maths Booklet B.

Kindness Poster

Kindness Poster

Swine Flu

Swine Flu

David showed me a video about Swine Flu which I think it is important to share with the class.

This was taken from MOH (Ministry of Health)

"As of 30 April 09, there are no human cases of Mexican swine flu in Singapore. There have been 22 cases in total referred for further medical assessment. Of the 22 cases, 19 cases have been tested negative for Influenza A. 2 tested positive for usual circulating seasonal strains of Influenza A and 1 is pending laboratory investigations."

Here's the video given by David.



Thanks Wang!! :D

Most importantly, wash your hands before every meal and cover nose with a tissue when sneezing.

Cheers! Enjoy the long weekend BUT remember to revise for SA1!

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.

WGPS Sports Day Photos!

6D has fantastic runners!

Al-Hakim got two tropies and a medal! Congratulations!

Here's the photos taken!



I didn't get a chance to use the camera when the race was on~ So Shanna took charge of the camera! Nice photos!

New Blogskin

*Yay*!

Finally revamp the blog! Have to recall some programming stuff....

*sighs*

Backswimmer

Backswimmer




Backswimmer

These bugs swim upside down on or near the surface of the water, with their legs up!
What they look like:
Backswimmers can be recognised by their curved back, a broad 'keel' on the abdomen, large eyes that occupy most of the head, and long, hairy hind legs for swimming.

Size:
Up to 11 mm long.

Where they live:

Backswimmers are found throughout Australia in still and slow-flowing ponds, rice fields, canals and rivers. They spend most of their time in water but can fly from pond to pond.

What they eat:

Backswimmers eat smaller aquatic animals, including bloodworms and aquatic larvae. They are predators (stalking other insects), with sucking mouthparts.

Giant Water Bug

Bryan took the effort to send this article about Giant Water Bug! Thank You Bryan!





GIANT WATER BUG
The Giant Water Bug is one of the largest insects in the U.S. and Canada. Giant water bugs are approximately 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) in length. Some species grow as long as 4 inches (10 cm). Because it often turns up under street lights and porch lights, it is also one of the most asked about insects. It is commonly mistaken for a beetle or even a cockroach. Alternate names include toe biter because they can deliver a nasty bite, and electric light bug because they are attracted to lights.

Habitat
Clear, freshwater streams and ponds, preferring those with aquatic vegetation. Giant Water Bugs like slowly moving water, especially where there is emergent vegetation such as cattails. They usually grab hold of a plant near the surface, and stick their short breathing tube out of the water to allow them to breath while waiting for prey. With their powerful front legs they are able to grab other bugs and prey as big as small fish, frogs and salamanders. They pierce their prey with their sharp beak and secrete enzymes that dissolve the body tissues, thus allowing them to suck up the resulting liquid.

Life Span
One year or longer

Diet

Larvae eat small aquatic invertebrates, while adults prey on any small animal they can handle, including insects and other aquatic invertebrates. They also hunt vertebrates such as tadpoles, salamanders and small fish. Grasping and holding prey with their powerful forelegs, giant water bugs thrust their sucking mouthparts into their prey. Many Giant Water Bugs are kept in zoos, where they are fed crickets

Ambush Hunters

Giant water bugs are ambush hunters, lying motionless and waiting for their prey. Predators of giant water bugs include birds, fish and other aquatic predators. When sitting motionless, giant water bugs resemble dead leaves. This allows them to hide from both potential prey and possible predators. However, their best defense is to escape and hide when alarmed.
Adult giant water bugs capture larger prey species by using their clawed front feet and chemicals which are injected into the body of the prey. The enzymes turn the prey’s insides into liquid, which the giant water bug can suck up.

Identifying Characteristics

The Giant Water Bug has piercing, sucking mouth parts, and a short, pointed beak on the underside of the head. The other distinguishing characteristic is the fact that the wings overlap at the hind end of the abdomen, forming an X like pattern. Other than that, the sheer size of the insect and the unusual shape of the front legs help identify it.

The Giant Water Bug is found throughout the northern United States and Canada, wherever there is standing or gently running water. Giant Water Bugs are active all year, but are most commonly seen in the late summer and early fall. At this time of year the adults are leaving the shallow ponds at night to look for deeper bodies of water where they can remain active throughout the winter under the ice. They are often attracted to lights such as porch lights, where people find them the following morning.

Although not really dangerous, the Giant Water Bug can give one a nasty bite. One person described the bite as very painful, causing the finger and whole hand to swell up dramatically, to the point where they lost all use of the hand,and remaining thus for about two weeks. If you are going to handle this insect, it should be done with care.

Giant Python in Indonesia

The Truth About Your Heart

The Truth About Your Heart

Text by Sarah Ives
Illustration: heart with dumbbell and "Valentine's Special: The Truth About Your Heart"

An average human heart "pumps iron" by beating 100,000 times a day.

Illustration by Sharon Davis


This Valentine's Day, millions of people will exchange heart-shaped gifts of all kinds, from candy to cards. But did you know that the human heart does not actually look like the typical valentine shape?

National Geographic Kids spoke with heart specialist Robert DiBianco to learn more about this important organ.

According to Dr. DiBianco, the human heart is about the size of a fist.

"Because [the heart] is a muscle with lots of blood supplied to it, it looks red like meat," he explained. "In people who are overweight ... the heart looks yellow because it is covered with yellow fat."

In the United States children are taught to place their hands over their hearts when pledging allegiance to the flag. Most people have heard that the heart is on the left side of the chest. In reality, the heart is in the middle of the chest, tucked snugly between the two lungs.

But what does the heart actually do?

DiBianco explained that the heart is a pump that pushes blood throughout the body. The heart moves blood by expanding and contracting (getting bigger and smaller).

"Each living part of the body needs blood to live, and that's why it's important for the blood to go to different parts of the body," DiBianco said.

When you're exercising, it takes your blood about ten seconds to get from your heart to your big toe and back. In fact, a kid's heart has to push blood through about 60,000 miles (96,560 kilometers) of blood vessels—that's long enough to circle the Earth two and a half times!

All that pumping takes a lot of effort. To push blood, an average heart beats a hundred thousand times a day. That means that in a lifetime, the average human heart will beat more than two and a half billion times.

Because the heart is so important, the American Heart Association reminds people that they need to treat their hearts with care. Exercise and healthful foods can help the heart do its job.

This Valentine's Day, heart-shaped gifts will be everywhere. Maybe that's why February is also American Heart Month!

Taken from http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/Stories/SpaceScience/Truthaboutyourheart

Down with Fever

Not feeling too good today. Fever and Sore Throat.

Here are the photos...