So, about that trip down the river

I've published a few blogs for school on the trip down the river... i highly suggest you check them out since i spent way too much time trying to write them up.

You can check them out here

Radio silence

bzzzzzzzzzzzzz

i've been working over break on a lot of different things, that include:
- writing a blog for someone else (i'll post that here once it's published)
- working (wait, what?!)
- traveling back east
- getting a christmas tree
- snowboarding

So, here are some photos from those various endeavors. I'll get back into the habit of posting regularly post-holiday. So for now, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Baker yesterday = ominous

ARRRRR - pirates of the Caribbean ride

Merry Christmas Disney!

Christmas in Bellingham!!

We'll be in bellingham for the next few weeks, so come on up and visit!!

so, i lied

I am infact not going to have a meaningful post at all... probably not for a few days. Got back and had a friendly reminder (kick in the teeth) that I have a ton of work due for school by Thursday. And by ton, I mean, I spent 3 hours on 1/5th of it last night, and i still have 4/5 to go. Totally do-able, just not do-able along with a very meaningful post on the grand canyon. So, i'm sorry, I"ll have to leave that for another day.

For now, I leave you with this. it's raining outside, i'm inside, and the EALR requirement for 6-8th grade science I am trying to write a lesson plan for is:

In prior grades students learned how ecosystems change and how these changes affect the capacity of an ecosystem to support populations. In grades 6-8 students learn to apply key concepts about ecosystems to understand the interactions among organisms and the nonliving environment. Essential concepts include the process of photosynthesis used by plants to transform the energy of sunlight into food energy, which is used by other organisms, and possible causes of environmental change. Students also learn to investigate environmental issues and to use science to evaluate different solutions to problems. Knowledge of how energy flows through ecosystems is a critical aspect of students' understanding of how energy sustains life on the planet, including human life.

Ecosystems are continuously changing. Causes of these changes include nonliving factors such as the amount of light, range of temperatures, and availability of water, as well as living factors such as the disappearance of different species through disease, predation, habitat destruction and overuse of resources or the introduction of new species.

This will go well with my Lesson Plan titled: Pika Project. Kids get to measure various distances in the rock garden area, which is prime Pika habitat. They will then need to assess the impact of a warming earth on the pikas home turf and if the little guy will have to move up in elevation to stay alive. hoooray.

ugh.

home

Just got back last night from Arizona. My first step to re-acclimate was to stay up past 8pm and to sleep past 6am. The first part was successful but here I am at 6:21 very awake, and have been for about 30 minutes now. My camera unfortunately had it's last gasp this morning before succumbing to the powers of sand, so it might be a bit before i can get pictures up. I'll take some time this weekend to work on a full and legitimate trip review. But, i'll leave you with this.

To float down the grand canyon is an experience that can never wholly be explained or understood unless you touch the water yourself.