Assignments
Week of Oct.27, 2014Saturday, October 25, 2014 at 3:03 am
Mrs. WhiteGreetings 5th graders,
Please continue reading non-fiction from this site. Add to your reading log by writing the title of each article and the author. Click on the vocabulary words and read the definitions and examples. Click on the geography links to study the maps related to places mentioned in the articles. You are required to have the first 2 articles on this page on your reading log by next Monday
and you will take a short quiz.
"Smart" Spray On Bandage Reports Healing Progress By Lighting Up
Bandages are crucial for repairing skin wounds; they cover up areas of injury, prevent infection, provide protection and generally help speed up the healing process. But In this world of "smart" technology, these all-important healers appear somewhat antiquated.
Why Little Penguins At Australia's Phillip Island Sport Stylish Sweaters
If you happen to visit the Penguin Foundation at Australia's Phillip Island Nature Park, you may encounter an unusual sight - Little penguins waddling around in brightly colored turtleneck sweaters. Unfortunately, it is not because the flightless birds are trying to establish a new fashion trend, but because they are victims of oil spills. Confused? Read on!
No Step Goes Wasted On This Soccer Field
The kids that live at the Morro da Mineira slum in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro love to play soccer on the nearby community field. However, thanks to constant power shortages, they could rarely extend their games beyond sunset. Now, thanks to some innovative thinking and extraordinary technology, the young players will be able to use the field all night long if they wish, provided . . . they keep running!
Say Goodbye to Peanut Allergies!
Peanuts! Who knew they could be such a hassle? As the world’s leading cause of food allergies, the tiny members of the legume family sure are a nuisance for the intolerant, resulting in reactions that range from minor skin rashes to life-threatening anaphylaxis. Even worse, according to experts at FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education), the incidences of peanut allergies have actually tripled in the last fifteen years!
Beggar Turned Millionaire Returns To Repay 21-Year-Old Random Act Of Kindness
In 1993, 17-year-old He Rongfeng and his two friends left their village and made their way to Taizhou City in China's Zheijang Province, to look for work to help support their struggling families. Unfortunately, jobs were not easy to come by, and the trio were forced to resort to begging.
World's Elite Triathletes Battle It Out At Hawaii's Grueling Ironman World Championships
There are over twenty Ironman competitions held around the world. However none compares to the original one that takes place in Kona on Hawaii's Big Island during the second weekend of October. Now in its 36th-year, this grueling event that is dubbed the "World Championships", is considered the most prestigious Ironman race. That's because while the Hawaiian event is no different from any other Ironman challenge in terms of distance, the natural environment makes it the toughest of them all.
Caltech Researchers Believe Tiny Sea Animals Are Big Drivers Of Ocean Currents
The fact that ocean currents, which move the waters and help mix-up varying temperatures, salinity and nutrients, are caused by tides and winds is a well-documented fact. Now some researchers from the California Institute of Technology believe that the zillions of small marine animals that live deep inside our oceans also play a big role in the churning of the waters.
Video Of The Week - Nikola Tesla Portrait "Painted" With Electricity
Serbian scientist Nikola Tesla is known for many brilliant innovations. However his biggest contribution to the world was the invention of the alternating current without which, we would not have electricity in our homes today! It is therefore only fitting that as a tribute to the brilliant man, American artist Phil Hansen decided to create a portrait of him using just electric sparks.
Diwali, India's Glittering Festival Of Lights!
India is known for many colorful and fun festivals. But none are as popular as Diwali, a festival that spans over five-days and extends across many cultures and beliefs. It is therefore not surprising that the ancient observance, which is also referred to as Deepavali, (row of lights) is the biggest and most eagerly awaited of all Indian celebrations.Current Events for October 16, 2014Thursday, October 16, 2014 at 1:44 am
Mrs. WhiteWelcome Fifth Grade LEAPERS!I hope you enjoy looking through these various articles to find topics that are interesting to you. These should help you with adding non-fiction minutes to your reading log. Be sure to write the title of the article on the reading log each time you read. "Reading is breathing for the mind."Enjoy,Mrs. White
"Listening Tree" Brings Back The Fun Of Discovering New Music
Thanks to services like iTunes, Spotify and Pandora, most people have given up the quest of discovering new music and instead chosen to depend on ready-made playlists or recommendations made by others. Now thanks to the "Listening Tree", music lovers can re-discover the pleasure of unearthing their own musical gems.
Why 21st Century Classrooms May Soon Have "Standing" Room Only
Love to sink into your chairs and relax when you get to school? Then you will not be thrilled to hear that schools all over the world are seriously considering swapping out conventional desks for ones with no seats at all - Yes, that means you will be encouraged to stand through those already excruciatingly long, math and science sessions! But before you get all nervous, there will be movable stools available for those that are unable or unwilling to stay on their feet for the entire school day.
The World's Deepest Pool Is Scarily . . . Deep!
If you like to showcase your superior diving skills you may want to check out Italy's Y-40 Deep Joy. As the name indicates, the depth of this newly opened pool extends down 40 meters (131-feet) - the height of a 12-story building or nine double-decker buses stacked atop each other!
Marvel Superheroes Come Together To Help "Stomp Out Bullying"
Many of Marvel's superheroes know how it feels to be bullied. Hence it is not surprising to hear that this October, the biggest and bravest of them are coming together to commemorate National Bullying Prevention Month, with a series of variant covers on their comic books.
Clever Coral Trout Recruit Eels To Catch Elusive Prey
Your average fish has probably never been thought of as the smartest of creatures, but new research from UK's Cambridge University suggests that underwater dwellers like the coral trout, could probably teach humans a thing or two about clever alliances and teamwork.
MIT's Robotic Cheetah Gets Ready To Take On The World (And Usain Bolt)
At first sight, MIT's recently unveiled "Cheetah", may look like an assortment of gears, batteries and motors, but watch it in action and you will soon be reminded of its spotted namesake that also happens to be nature's fastest land predator. Though the robot cannot attain speeds of 60 mph like the real cheetah, the researchers believe they can bring it to race at least 30 mph making it the world's fastest quadruped robot and also, the fastest human (if it were one), since it would easily outrun Usain Bolt's maximum speed of 28 mph!
Hello Kitty Begins Her 40th Birthday Celebrations By Declaring She Is Not A Cat!
This is a big year for Kitty White or as she is popularly known, Hello Kitty. That's because on November 1st, 2014, the perpetual 3rd grader will celebrate her 40th birthday! And while she is not shy about revealing her age, Ms. White sure has been keeping a big secret from the world - she is NOT a cat!
Four-Year-Old Norwegian Toddler Sleepwalks Three Miles To Nearby Town
When toddlers have bad dreams, they usually run to snuggle up with their parents. Not Thea Helena Robertsen! This four-year-old Norwegian toddler decided to deal with her nightmare by sleepwalking, not just to the kitchen or the neighbor's home, but an astounding 5km (3-miles) - all the way to the next town!
Video Of The Week - Kitesurfers Establish New Guinness World Record In Spain
On Sunday, August 31st, 352 kitesurfers made their way to the pristine beaches of Tarifa, a small town on the south coast of Spain, to attempt a new Guinness World record for the largest en masse kitesurf, over one nautical mile.
Yay! Simultaneous Solar Flares Create Beautiful Auroras But No Disruptions
Last week, scientists waited in anticipation for two massive solar flares that were scheduled to hit the earth's magnetic field on September 11th and 12th, respectively. While the outbursts were not expected to be as powerful as the ones experienced in 2012, it was the back-to-back occurrence that had experts concerned about the damage they could cause to our satellites, electric grids and GPS systems.
Tire-Makers Turn To The Humble Dandelion For Rubber
Dandelions have long been considered a nuisance weed by most gardeners. However they, along with the rest of the world, may soon start treating the annoying plant with the respect it deserves. That's because the white milky sap of their taproot contains particles of rubber of such superior quality, that Dutch biologist Ingrid van der Meer, refers to dandelions as the future of road transport.
Why 99-Year-Old Lillian Weber Sews A Dress A Day
If you are like most people, you probably do not recall the last time you performed a random act of kindness even for a family member, leave alone complete strangers. But that is exactly what 99-year-old Lillian Weber has been doing every day, since 2011.
Scientists Use GPS To Solve The Mystery of Death Valley's 'Rolling Stones'
Death Valley National Park in California's Mojave Desert is known for many things - Its extreme temperatures, varied altitude that ranges from 282ft. below sea level to 11,000ft. above, beautiful rugged terrain and most of all, 'rolling' or 'dancing' stones. The phenomenon whereby large boulders, some weighing as much as 500 lbs, move several hundred yards in a straight line or zigzag patterns, has confounded experts for years.
Massive Dreadnoughtus And Alien-Like Spinosaurus The Latest Dinosaurs To Create Waves
Though dinosaur finds are revealed on a fairly regular basis, very few result in as much excitement as the latest two. On Thursday, September 4th, a team of scientists led by Kenneth Lacovara, an associate professor at Philadelphia's Drexel University unveiled the Dreadnoughtus schrani, which they believe is the biggest known land animal to have ever inhabited Earth. While dinosaur fans were still digesting the facts, on September 11th, came news of the re-discovery of the Spinosaurus aegyptiacus, the only known semi-aquatic dinosaur.
Will Scotland End Its 307-Year-Old Union With Britain?
On September 18th, the residents of Scotland (16 and older) will head to the polls to say Yes or No to the question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?". The answer to this simple question will decide whether Scotland will become the world's newest independent nation or, continue its 307-year-old alliance with Britain.Current Events for October 16, 2014Thursday, October 16, 2014 at 1:37 am
Mrs. WhiteHi Fifth Graders!I think all of you will agree that your reading goal is to read more non-fiction, so I'm helping you with this goal.You are REQUIRED to read the first three articles on this page:1. Nobel Peace Prize winner article2. Carbon Neutral City article3. Mad Minutes help with becoming a math whiz articleThese will need to appear on your reading log before next Thursday. You will have a short and simple quiz to make sure you've read these! There are many other articles here that you are encouraged to read and post on your reading log. Enjoy reading non-fiction,Mrs. White
Pakistan's Malala Yousafzai and India's Kailash Satyarthi Win Nobel Peace Prize
On October 10th, 2014, the Nobel Committee announced that this year's Noble Peace Prize would be awarded to two extraordinary individuals that have dedicated their lives to fighting for the rights of others - 17-year-old girls' education activist Malala Yousafzai, and 60-year-old children's activist Kailash Satyarthi. So what inspired the two to devote their lives to these worthy causes? Read on to find out . . .
A Peek Inside The World's First Carbon Neutral City
As the world becomes more aware of the risks of climate change and the importance of sustainable energy sources, individuals and communities are increasingly taking measures to reduce their carbon footprint. Some are building "passive homes", to take advantage of natural sun and wind patterns, while others are installing solar panels or windmills, to power their homes. But never before has there been an entire "green" city - one that relies solely on renewable energy sources and smart design elements, to eliminate its carbon footprint.
Guess What? Acing Those "Mad Minute" Tests Could Make You A Math Whiz
The next time you are asked to test your math computational skills with the dreaded "Mad Minute" test, do not groan and moan! According to Stanford scientists, it is the mastery of these basic facts that will help transform you into math whizzes, as you grow older! And given that they have peeked inside the brains of elementary school-age kids, adolescents and adults, they should know.
Wingardium Leviosa! British Artist "Levitates" Covent Garden's Historic Market Building
First there was the invisibility cloak created by scientists from the University of Rochester and now, this levitation of a section of Covent Garden's historic Market Building in London! And though it may appear to be the work of wizard extraordinaire Hermione Granger, this is no magic spell - just a clever illusion, created by 30-year-old British artist and designer, Alex Chinneck.No Step Goes Wasted On This Soccer Field
The kids that live at the Morro da Mineira slum in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro love to play soccer on the nearby community field. However, thanks to constant power shortages, they could rarely extend their games beyond sunset. Now, thanks to some innovative thinking and extraordinary technology, the young players will be able to use the field all night long if they wish, provided . . . they keep running!
Russian Fisherman Catches Fish With "Human Teeth"
A Russian fisherman out on a routine fishing trip on the Northern Dvina River is making headlines across the world, thanks to his unusual catch - a fish with a full set of teeth that eerily resemble ours. 50-year-old Aleks Korbov who revealed his find on September 29th, said that when he first pulled the fish up, he thought it was a common bream, a freshwater fish that is prevalent in the river.
Video Of The Week - Potato Chip Bags Double Up As Flotation Devices
While most of us are just resigned to the fact that potato chip bags contain more air than snack, some South Korean college students decided it was time to show manufacturers that consumers were well aware of the fact, and were not too thrilled about it.
Super Crystal Could Allow Mere Mortals To Be "Aquaman" (Or Woman)!
Here is some good news for the fans of DC comics superhero "Aquaman" - Thanks to its namesake "Aquaman crystal" they too may soon be able to swim deep into the oceans without lugging around heavy air tanks. That's because the man-made chemical compound which was unveiled by a team of researchers from the University of Southern Denmark on September 30th, has the capacity to absorb as much as 160 times the amount of oxygen that is in the atmosphere. According to the scientists, a spoonful of the substance could store all the oxygen that is present in a normal-sized room.
Google's Young Scientists Are Out To Change The World
Since 2011, Google has been challenging innovative teens aged 13-18 from all around the world, to use their technology and scientific know-how to transform the world into a better place. Contestants are categorized into three age categories (13-14, 15-16, 17-18) and five semi-finalists are selected from each. The fifteen youngsters are then flown to the company's headquarters in Mountain View, CA, to present their ideas to a group of judges, who select a winner from each category, one of whom is also declared the overall winner.
Hong Kong's Student Led "Umbrella Revolution" Gains Steam
The city of Hong Kong is known for many things - Its thriving economy, reputation in the financial markets, unique currency and most importantly, its ability to remain detached from all politics. However all that changed on September 28th, 2014, when tens of thousands of residents took to the streets calling for "true democracy", marking the start of what is being called the "Umbrella Revolution" thanks to the images of protestors using the parasols to shield themselves against the police pepper spray.
Can Aerial Gondolas Alleviate New York City's Traffic Woes?
For the residents of Manhattan's surrounding boroughs that commute to the island, congestion is a way of life, especially during work hours when subways and bridges are jammed with people. That is the reason New York-based developer City Realty, is proposing the construction of high-speed aerial gondolas as alternate transportation between Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.
Norwegian Adventurers Visit Nineteen Countries In Twenty Four Hours!
Most people don't manage to visit 19 countries in twenty-four years, leave aside 24 hours! But three young Norwegian men have proven that where there is a will, there is a way especially, when the motivation is to shatter a Guinness World Record.
Finally, An Invisibility "Cloak" That Can Be Available To All!
When J. K. Rowling conjured up the invisibility cloak to help her star wizard Harry Potter escape from sticky situations, she would have never guessed that scientists all over the world, would start scrambling to create a real one. Over the years, there have been numerous attempts. However, they all entail the use of super expensive materials and involve complicated methods, which means they are of no practical use.
Making Sense Of The Ebola Virus
Every few years, a new pandemic hits the globe and sends shivers down everyone's spines. The latest one making headlines is the Ebola virus, that has infected 6,263 people and caused 2,917 deaths in five West African countries, since the latest outbreak began in March 2014. So what is this disease that scientists have yet to find a cure for, and how do people catch it? Read on!The World's Deepest Pool Is Scarily . . . Deep!
If you like to showcase your superior diving skills you may want to check out Italy's Y-40 Deep Joy. As the name indicates, the depth of this newly opened pool extends down 40 meters (131-feet) - the height of a 12-story building or nine double-decker buses stacked atop each other!
Newsflash: Girls Can Play Baseball Too!
While Jackie Robinson's achievements as the first African American major league baseball player are well documented, very few people know about Ila Borders - the first female pitcher in integrated men's professional baseball and the first woman to win a men's professional game in the independent leagues. Nor do they know about the 17 girls that have played in the 68-year history of the Little League World Series. But thanks to 13-year-old pitching phenom Mo'ne Davis, that has all changed.
Star Soccer Players Sport Some Sweet Rides
A month ago, only avid soccer fans knew who Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar da Silva Santos Jr. were. However, thanks to the just ended FIFA World Cup, the trio have become household names, and rightfully so - After all, Messi was instrumental in getting Argentina to the finals, and Brazil's dismal performance against Germany and the Netherlands highlighted just how important Neymar is to the country's success in soccer. Though Ronaldo did not quite live up to the lofty expectations, he did score one of the two goals in Portugal's final game against Ghana and made a crucial assist in their match against the United States.
2014 World Cup Soccer Goes Hi-Tech
Soccer, or 'football' as it is referred to in most parts of the world, has been played for over 150 years. While the rules of the game have remained fairly constant since the sport was conceived, the technology on and off the field is becoming increasingly sophisticated.MIT's Robotic Cheetah Gets Ready To Take On The World (And Usain Bolt)
At first sight, MIT's recently unveiled "Cheetah", may look like an assortment of gears, batteries and motors, but watch it in action and you will soon be reminded of its spotted namesake that also happens to be nature's fastest land predator. Though the robot cannot attain speeds of 60 mph like the real cheetah, the researchers believe they can bring it to race at least 30 mph making it the world's fastest quadruped robot and also, the fastest human (if it were one), since it would easily outrun Usain Bolt's maximum speed of 28 mph!
Video Of The Week - Dancing Traffic Light Improves Safety
First there were the "piano stairs" that encouraged people to exercise, then came the "bottle bank" that transformed an ordinary recycling bin into a gaming arcade and now a dancing "red man" that made waiting at a pedestrian crossing, fun!
ISIS - The New Threat To World Peace?
On the eve of the 13th anniversary of the September 11th, 2001, terrorist attacks, President Obama declared a new war on terror. However this time his target was not our age-old enemy al Qaeda, but a group that goes by one of three acronyms: ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham), ISIL (Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant ), or simply, IS (Islamic State). So who is this new terrorist organization that has the world on edge? Read on . . .
Special "Texters" Lane In China Draws Attention To Worldwide Cell Phone Addiction
While people are constantly being reminded to put away their smartphones when driving, there are very few warnings when it comes to being engrossed in them whilst walking. Now the Chinese city of Chongqing has come up with a novel way to highlight the issue, by creating a special 'texters' lane.
Always Craving Chips And Cookies? Blame It On Your Gut Bacteria!
Always craving junk food? Now you can blame it on the millions of bacteria that live in your gut - At least that's what some researchers from UC San Francisco, Arizona State University and University of New Mexico, have concluded after reviewing the latest scientific literature about microbes. According to Athena Aktipis, one of the authors of the study, which was published in the journal Bio Essays in mid-August, these microscopic organisms are extremely bossy and have the power to influence not just our food cravings but also moods and overall well-being.Join Class
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