Eat Breakfast to Become Smarter - It's True !

You can become significantly smarter than you already are just by having a good breakfast.

You get a better memory - your starved body is unable to provide your brain with a constant supply of glucose, and your brain is impaired. It has been proven many times that our memory is significantly poorer when we skip breakfast. Consider this – the number of hours your body hasn’t had any food when you don’t eat breakfast, is since you last had dinner, which is at least 12 hours away from lunch. Don’t you think the energy you had gotten from dinner would have been exhausted by then? This leaves your body to convert protein and fat into energy your brain can use, and a very inefficient form, causing lowered brain performance.

Thanks to becomingsmarter.com for this info.  To learn more, check out their website  becomingsmarter.com

BURIED TREASURE!!! - Practice with Maps to Earn a Reward

What if you found a map showing the location of buried treasure?   Would you know how to read the map and find those gold coins and jewelry?

Practice some map skills, turn in your results, and tell Mrs D that you “want some treasure!”  Download the US map from this location MAP and print a copy.  (If you have trouble, Mrs D can provide you a printed copy of the map.)  Use the map to answer the following questions. 

Remember – Latitude lines run east and west (left and right) on the map.  Longitude lines run north and south (up and down) on the map.

1. Find three states that extend below latitude 30 degrees N (in the contiguous US).  Circle these states and label them on the map.           
2. Find one US state that is mostly east of longitude 70 degrees W.  Draw a box around this state and label it on the map.
3. Find three US states (shown on this map) that extend west of longitude 120 degrees W.  Color in these states and label them on the map,
4. Is the location 45 degrees N latitude, 82 degrees W longitude on land or under water? On the map, mark it with an X.
5. Name the state that is located entirely between 40-45 degrees N latitude and between 90-100 degrees W longitude, and label it on the map.
6. Estimate the location for Skipperville, Alabama and draw a large dot at this location.  In the space provided below the map, record the latitude and longitude that you estimate for Skipperville.

Turn in your map with answers to all six questions by Friday, 21 October to receive your treasure!

Think Like a Scientist for Renewable Resources and EARN A REWARD

Wind Energy is a renewable resource.  In some areas of the country, large wind turbines (similar to windmills) are being constructed and used for generating electrical power.  Obviously you need windy conditions.....  in fact, scientists recommend that wind speeds be greater than or equal to 6.5 m/s (meters per second) in order for wind turbines to work well.

TO EARN A REWARD:

(1) Use this link to download a color map of wind speeds for the United States.  Wind Map for United States (If you have trouble, Mrs D can provide you a map.)

(2) Review the legend at the bottom right of the map which shows different colors for different wind speeds – remember we are looking for wind speeds of 6.5 m/s or greater.

(3) Pick out ten states where you (as a scientist) recommend installing wind turbines for generating electricity.  Mark them clearly on your map.

(4) As a scientist, why do you think these states are “windier” than other states?  Your answer should include at least three reasons (or factors) that make certain states “windier” than others.  Write down your answers on a piece of notebook paper.

Turn in your marked up color map and your paper with the answer to question 4 BY CLASS ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7th to receive an award!!

How Big? - Checkout this Really Cool Website

How big is a dust mite?  What about a red blood cell?  Checkout this great website and get a view of some pretty small objects compared to the head of a pin.  http://www.cellsalive.com/howbig.htm

When you get to the website, click on "Start the Animation".  When the animation begins, click on the blue arrows next to the word "Magnification".  You can zoom in and out and get a real appreciation of things that are just too small for the unaided eye to see.  Have fun!