Seymour Simon's Blog, page 33

What Can I Do?

My readers love animals, and when you all write about Earth Day, you often write about the fact that you wish you could help animals. You can, if you look for opportunities in your own community. Tom and Debora Mann, who live in a small town near Jackson, Mississippi, are helping animals in their community. On most rainy nights in the spring there, dozens of salamanders try to cross a road, moving from their winter burrows to ponds on the other side, where they will mate. The salamanders can only mate once a year, so they are determined to cross that road. And unfortunately, there is traffic on that road and cars run over the salamanders in the dark. The Manns worked with local police to be sure they could safely help the salamanders. The police department has installed two flashing lights and a lower speed limit sign at the salamander crossing, and drivers get a ticket for breaking the speed limit. On rainy spring nights you will find the Manns, along with other volunteers, scooping salamanders into plastic containers, carrying them safely across the road to their breeding pond. Thomas Mann, who is a zoologist with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, would like to see the state close this two-mile stretch of highway for the salamander breeding season each year. But until that happens, he, his wife and a handful of other volunteers are out there on rainy nights, trying to make a difference. What kind of animals need help in your community? Could your local ASPCA use volunteers? Is there a wildlife sanctuary anywhere nearby? Or you could call your local Cooperative Extension to find out where volunteers are needed. Work with your family or your teacher, and I bet you will find a way to help!Photos: James Patterson/The New York TimesBe part of Seymour Simon’s celebration of Earth Day 2012 by commenting on blog stories like this one, and telling Seymour about YOUR Earth Day Promises! How are you going to make a difference for the Earth? What will you do to make it be Earth Day / every day? Each time you leave a comment between today and April 22, you will be entered into a drawing to win a free, personally autographed book from Seymour Simon. So get started by clicking "comments" below, and tell us about Your Earth Day Promises!

Your Carbon Footprint Calculator

Each one of us has a Carbon Footprint. That means that we can each figure out how much CO2 (carbon dioxide - a bad greenhouse gas) is created by the choices we make every day. How we travel, how we use electricity, how we dispose of our garbe, even what we eat adds to CO2 emissions. Are you wondering what your carbon footprint is? Click here to use the Zero Footprint Kids' Calculator, where you can find out your number. And as you answer the questions, you will learn a lot about the choices you can make to do better. Ready? Set? Click and calculate!Be part of Seymour Simon's celebration of Earth Day 2012 by commenting on blog stories like this one, and telling Seymour about YOUR Earth Day Promises! How are you going to make a difference for the Earth? What will you do to make it be Earth Day / every day? Each time you leave a comment between today and April 22, you will be entered into a drawing to win a free, personally autographed book from Seymour Simon. So get started by clicking "comments" below, and tell us about Your Earth Day Promises!

Writing Wednesday: Polar Bears and Global Warming

Good morning, and welcome to Writing Wednesday, where every week there is a new opportunity to publish your creative writing on the Seymour Science blog. This week, we are asking you to read an excerpt from Seymour Simon's book GLOBAL WARMING, research your own facts and explain in your own words the point that he is making. From GLOBAL WARMING, by Seymour Simon: Global warming has changed the feeding patterns and behaviors of polar bears, walruses, seals and whales. It may even impact their surval. Polar bears live only in the Arctic. They are completely dependent on the sea ice for all their life needs. In the winter, females give birth to cubs. The mother polar bear eats little or no food during the winter. As spring approaches, the bear family makes a run onto the sea ice to feed on seals, their main source of food. If the ice melts, their food supply will be cut off and this will impact their survival. Your assignment: Can you find facts to support what Seymour Simon is saying on this page? Use other books in your library, articles about global warming from Seymour’s blog, or other Internet sources to learn about the melting of the Arctic ice. Write a few paragraphs that use your own words and information that you have found to either argue for or against the idea that the survival of polar bears is threatened by the melting of the Arctic ice. When you are finished writing, click on the yellow "Comments" at the bottom of this post to enter your writing! Note to Educators: Today's Writing Wednesday exercise is designed to use in support of CCSS Writing Anchor Standard #1: Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.

Cool Photo: Rescued Python

This endangered, green tree python was rescued and given a new, zoo home after smugglers tried to sneak it from its natural habitat in South Africa to be sold as a pet in Germany. Illegal animal trafficking is an increasing problem for exotic animals like these snakes, because some people will pay a lot of money to have them for their private collections. Snakes are smuggled in cloth bags, and often don't survive the trip. Airport screenings are getting much tougher, and governments around the world are cracking down on smugglers, who are one of the main predators that threaten these endangered creatures. Photo: Jan Woitas/EPABe part of Seymour Simon's celebration of Earth Day 2012 by sharing your own photographs!Take a digital photo showing an Earth treasure around your school or home that makes you appreciate our planet. Click on “Send Us Photos/Video” (in the yellow bar at the top of every page) and follow the instructions to upload it to the website. We will publish your Earth Day photos and videos on Seymour’s blog, and each person or class that uploads a photo will be entered into the drawing to win a personally autographed book from Seymour Simon!

How Green are You?

If you're a new reader of this blog, you may not have seen this popular quiz. Take it to test your "green IQ"!1. WATER: USE IT, DON'T ABUSE IT a) I don't buy water in plastic bottles. Water from the tap is just fine, and I don't want to put more non-biodegradable plastic into landfills. b) I turn off the water until after I've finished brushing my teeth, and wash all the dishes in one sinkful of soapy water, rather than running water the whole time I'm washing the dishes. c) I have cut my soda consumption down by more than half. I like water better, anyway. 2. ELECTRICITY: BEING SMART ABOUT THE POWER THAT I USE a) I have replaced all the incandescent bulbs in my house with compact fluorescent bulbs. b) We are using less energy by keeping our house two degrees warmer in the summer and two degrees cooler in the winter. c) I unplug appliances when they are not in use for long periods of time. If they're plugged and even when they are not turned on, they still consume electricity. 3. TRANSPORTATION: CONSERVING ON THE ROAD a) I walk or bike rather than be driven whenever I can, and try to combine errands into one trip. b) I am writing to my local government to ask them to design car-free zones and parks that would let people get places by walking, cycling, or driving those cute, tiny electric vehicles. c) Next time my family buys a car, we want to pick a model that gets good gas mileage, and therefore uses less fuel. 4. FOOD: THINKING ABOUT THE COST OF WHAT I EAT a) I don't like vegetables, so I just don't eat any. You're not responsible for greenhouse gases generated by growing food that you don't eat! b) I only buy fruits and vegetables when they are in season so they are not flown in from tropical climates. And I try to buy produce that is grown locally, which further reduces the carbon footprint. c) Our family has "meatless Monday" every week. ANSWERS 1. While all these things help, "c" is the best answer. The main ingredient of soft drinks is water - so the big soda companies use massive amounts of water on a global basis. And, cutting down on soda consumption is good for your body, too! 2. "b" is the best answer. Electric power generation is a big source of greenhouse gases - the average home contributes more to global warming than the average car. The worst appliances are air conditioners, which use up to 1/6th of the electricity in the U.S. 3. All good answers, but "c" is the most important thing all Americans can do. By using existing technology to produce vehicles that go farther on a gallon of gas and emit less carbon dioxide pollution, Americans can save billions of dollars, reduce global warming pollution, and slash our dependence on oil. 4. You may be surprised to learn that the most effective choice is "c". Raising animals for food generates more emissions than all of the world's transportation combined. And for all of you who answered "a"....eat your vegetables, they're good for you! Classes can enter Seymour Simon’s YOUR EARTH DAY PROMISES contest! Tell Seymour what your class is doing to help take care of the Earth, and you will be entered into a drawing to win a FREE Skype session with Seymour Simon. Click here for all the details about the YOUR EARTH DAY PROMISES contest.

Little Frog Croak Moon

Did you see the full moon last night? The Native American Oto people call the April moon the "Little Frog Croak" moon, and I think that is a perfect name for this time of year. Have you heard the "spring peepers" singing yet? If you are anywhere near a pond or wetlands on a warm spring night, you will hear their thousands of tiny calls. The male frogs have awoken from their winter hibernation and are looking for a mate near a pond where they can lay their eggs. Within a matter of weeks, we'll start to see swimming tadpoles who will eventually develop legs and become full grown frogs. The Oto people recognize this life cycle, with its call that signals the hope of spring to all of us, by naming the April moon after these tiny frogs.P.S. Have you noticed an extremely bright star in the sky these last few weeks? That is not a star - it is the largest planet in our solar system, Jupiter. These are great days for skywatching!

Win a Skype session for your Class!

Did you know that classes can enter Seymour Simon's YOUR EARTH DAY PROMISES contest? A class can comment on any one of Seymour's blog entries between now and April 22, 2012 (Earth Day). When you write your comment, tell Seymour what your class is doing to help take care of the Earth. Every time a class writes a comment, you will be entered into a drawing to win a FREE Skype session with Seymour Simon. You can enter as many times as you like, so start thinking about what your class can do and get those entries in! Click here for all the details about the YOUR EARTH DAY PROMISES contest.

A Holiday Treat

Today's "Cool Video of the Week" is an animation that puts me in a holiday mood. Just looking at it makes me feel like I can smell chocolate! The video below is an example of what is called "Stop Motion" animation. Do you see the black camera on the right hand side of the photograph? It is mounted on a stand, and the animator take a photograph, then moves the pieces of chocolate on the cake slightly, takes another photograph, moves the pieces a little further, and so on. When you put all the photographs together, it seems as though everything is moving. It takes a lot of patience to make this kind of animation, but it certainly pays off. Press "Play" (below) to see it - just for fun. And best wishes to all my readers for a Happy Easter and Chag Same'ach(Happy Passover)!Be part of Seymour Simon's celebration of Earth Day 2012 by commenting on blog stories like this one, and telling Seymour about YOUR Earth Day Promises! How are you going to make a difference for the Earth? What will you do to make it be Earth Day / every day? Each time you leave a comment between today and April 22, you will be entered into a drawing to win a free, personally autographed book from Seymour Simon. So get started by clicking "comments" below, and tell us about Your Earth Day Promises!

Writing Wednesday: Butterflies

Good morning, and welcome to Writing Wednesday, where every week there is a new opportunity to publish your creative writing on the Seymour Science blog. This week, we are asking you to read an excerpt from Seymour Simon's new book BUTTERFLIES, and explain in your own words what he is saying and how he uses details to express his idea more powerfully. From BUTTERFLIES, by Seymour Simon: Throughout human history butterflies and moths have been the subject of stories, myths, poetry, art, drama and dance in many cultures. The Hopi Native Americans perform a ceremonial dance in homage to the butterfly. An Irish saying goes: "May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun and find your shoulder to light on, to bring you luck, happiness and riches today, tomorrow, and beyond." For many of us, butterflies are symbols of the wild loveliness and wonder of nature. Your assignment: Write a paragraph or two explaining the main idea that Seymour is trying to express on this page. Use your own words to express his theme. And, give examples of telling details that he uses to support his theme. When you are finished writing, click on the yellow "Comments" at the bottom of this post to enter your writing! Note to Educators: Today's Writing Wednesday exercise is designed to use in support of CCSS Reading Anchor Standard #2: Determine central ideas or themes of a text and analyze their development; summarize the key supporting details and ideas.)

Cool Photo: BUNNY!

Here's a photograph that makes me think of the beauty and wonder of Earth. This rabbit is munching on snowdrops, which are usually one of the first flowers to appear in the spring - often even poking their heads through the snow! A snow drop plant looks like three drops of milk hanging from a stem, which is where the flower gets its Latin name Galanthus, meaning "milk-white flowers."Photo: Patrick Pieul/EPABe part of Seymour Simon's celebration of Earth Day 2012 by sharing your own photographs!Take a digital photo showing an Earth treasure around your school or home that makes you appreciate our planet. Click on “Send Us Photos/Video” (in the yellow bar at the top of every page) and follow the instructions to upload it to the website. We will publish your Earth Day photos and videos on Seymour’s blog, and each person or class that uploads a photo will be entered into the drawing to win a personally autographed book from Seymour Simon!