Module V: Connections of oceans, climate and cultures.

Explain:  Through my travels, observations and lifes experiences I have viewed that cultures development is closely intertwined with the climate inwhich they exist.  The climate dictates what its inhabitants wear, what they may eat, the structures of their shelters and what they do for recreation.  As I am currently watching the tsunami warning in the Hawaiian Islands on CNN.COM, I recall how much more temperate and easy the lifestyle closer to the equator can be.  The clothing of islanders, or lack of, compared to that of people at higher elevations or latitudes is much more substantial.  In general people who live in much milder climates may have more exposure to a wider variety of foods, discounting Carrs/Safeway.  Even people of the Far North region of Alaska compared to the Southeast Native regions housing and recreational events display the the climates influence.

                                                                       Southeast natives plank house of Southeast

Native housing of Northern Alaskan Region

The connection between climate, cultures and oceans is also observable, first fact that the oceans cover 71% of the planet.  Oceans supply the human race with 80% of protein consumed, fish.  Thats 3.5 billion people depend on ocean for food, and that number will be doubled in 20 years. savethesea.org. 

Extend/Eval: " Culture is a set of shared attitudes, values, goals and practices that characterize a group of people."  Cultures are distinct ways people live in different parts of the world represented by their experiences and developed due to climate.  "Climate encompasses statistics such as location, latitude, precipitation and temperature conditions over a time period." en.wikipedia.org  It is apparent that change is happening to our planet and its many environments and ecosystems. This has been documented both by western scientists and Native cultures and their science methods.Dolly GArza--A Tlingit and Haida Scientist.  Many Native cultures are impacted by the climate changes.  Arctic ecosystems are changing from warming ocean currents, causing sea ice to melt.  Because Arctic ecosystms are not as diverse, we are observing more drastic change in these areas.  Decline in Arctic sea mammals, salmon population decrease due to warmer seasons and more animal species being wiped out.  The Natives are so linked to the seasons and climate for their survival, they are seeing and feeling the changes in their environment more drastically. TD Arctic Egosystems and Athatbasicancouncil, Global Surface Currents, TD.  These ocean surface currents and this site explains some of the changes occuring in our oceans.  The pollution that is being distributed through out the earth has had a profound impact.   Along with the global warming from carbon gases being poured onto the atmosphere with the oceans absorbing majority of the heat.  The burning of fossil fuels, all these are factors contributing to our earth changing and not for the better.www.nasa.gov   The point being change is happening and the delicate balance of our earths ecosystems are being affected and so are the cultures and current climates which are all connected.  So we must change our ways to help reduce the imapact we are creating so we may survive and continue.  Change is good but can be difficult for some or even accepting that it must happen.

Module IV part 1

Explain: I believe learning of cataclysmic events is quite a powerful tool of educating students in areas of geosciences and the areas of  earth's study. The study of plate tectonics to the atmosphere will enhance the knowledge of students and also teach about cultures. Native collections of sceintific activities through observations can also enhance knowledge. I have taught earth science and disasters that are associated with them using books and through experiments. I have used awesome sites as, Google Earth to access students to different parts of the globe to gain a better understanding of events and areas. I have taken students on field trips to the tsunami watch center, http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/ I realized by the reactions of my students that one of the most intriguing ways to gain their interest was to offer events from someone who has firsthand experience.The interest seems to peak when they can hear first hand accounts of such cataclysmic events. As I heard on the MSNBC news after hearing from Haiti survivors and the endless numbers of orphaned children there, the adoption of Haiti children had increased tremendously. Hearing people's tales also develops more apathy of such events.

Devistation of a Magnitude 7.1 Earthquake,
Bay Bridge Collapse

I realized by the reactions of my students that one of the most intriguing ways to gain their interest was to offer events from someone who has firsthand experience.The interest seems to peak when they can hear first hand accounts of such cataclysmic events. As I heard on the MSNBC news after hearing from Haiti survivors and the endless numbers of orphaned children there, the adoption of Haiti children had increased tremendously. Hearing people's tales also develops more apathy of such events.  I had done a full on investigation and study of earthquakes but when I told my tale of of being in downtown San Francisco during the 1989, 7.1 quake, my students seem to wake up. They became more interested in the first hand account of events. As in Native cultures and history the developed knowledge of science and the story telling is passed down orally. It has great power and impact on its students.

Downtown San Francisco Buildings, 89 Quake

Extend & Eval: To expose students to, http://www.nationalgeographic.com/, http://earth.google.com/ and other sites can show the devistation of cataclysmic events to students. It may teach them about the earth sciences that are tied to events that can be disasterious. It can help them deal and prepare for the future. That's what studyng history can do. Learning about tsunami's earthquakes and volcanos with the technological access today and learning from peoples tales of these events can be empowering, http://www.hurricanekatrinanews.org/,  http://www.tsunami2004.net/  It also brings the community, helping spirt and aid to those in need. Students can learn so much about cultures by being exposed to these events and the people who live through them.

a useful conection...

It just hit me how I could use this in class; having students googling different areas and cultures and compare and contrast the land forms and the cultures, and so many other areas...

Mod. III- part V: blogging

Looking back on my life and the many places it has taken me, I have had many opportunities to experience cultures on the four of seven continents I have been. The most beautiful and intrigueing places I have spent the most time are this great state, Alaska, and the area I grew up in, Soda Springs, California on Donner Summit. Now upon reflecting on each of these two areas I see so many similarities it is astounding, when I believed them to be so different. I find Alaska and Donner Summit to both have great beauty, are clean and both have a thrill of experiences that many never see; big skies and hugh mountains that go on forever. The areas both have extreme climates but also offer vast areas you can find yourself alone for days facing a canvas of nature.

After doing some searching I have learned that the Sierra Nevada range was once part of the ocean floor. I recall hiking in the past few years on the Summit and my nefew found a fish fossil in the rocks. (Geo. of Sierra Mnt. by M.A.Resendes) The North America and Pacific tectonic plates movement helped create this mountain range. During the last 80 million years with volcanoes and glaciers forming and melting it has helped create the jaged peaks and deep gorges of this mountain range.

Donner Summit, elev. 7085 ft. has an average snow fall of over 30 feet. It is one of the snowiest places in the U.S. Snowstorms often drop 5-7 feet in one storm. (Science News) In the 1500's C. Sierra, an explorer on first viewing called the range Sierra which in spanish translates to "Snowy Sawteeth". The people of this area has claimed this rugged area of the Sierra Nevadas and Donner Summit a recreational area. During the summers it is an escape for hiking, camping and enjoying water sports. During the winters it is a winter wonderland with all types of skiing, skating and the area hosts cabins and 2nd homes for thousands.

The southeast part of Alaska's mountains have also been formed by shifting plates and volcanoes. The pressures and melting of glaciers. Sitka, Alaska, home of the Tlinget and Haida tribes have flourished for thousands of years. They have been able to survive and coincide with ease, compared to some of their cousins in the far north. This is due to over abundance of food and supplies from the sea and land. The climate being much more milder and the land offering so much more year round without the severe winters. The land and sea offering so much with the temperate rain forest at their disposal. These Native groups have learned and taken advantage of all the sea and land has to offer. Due to the nature of this are recreational life style of canoeing, fishing and backpacking is prevelant in this area also.

These two different areas of the globe that are thousands of miles apart have shown

how the landacapes have shaped the the people and their lives who inhabit them. I feel blessed to be able to have had the opportunity to spend the longest spells of my life in these two culturally and geographically diverse areas. They hold such unique beauty and a lifestyle that I am thrilled to raise my family here. I still have ties to the Summit and take my girls back appreciate and experience all it has to offer.

Mod. II
How is everything connected, Native and Western science?

The Natives of the North have been present for thousands years and have survived off the land and sea and lived through the harsh environment. They have discovered how the environment is connected with their interaction with it. They view the energy through the spirits of the land, water, plants and animals and are all related and conneced. They see the interconnections and respect the earth its offerings. They have survived using its resources for thousands of years.
Western science has been seperate, as in studyof the atmosphere, oceanography and so on. But they are now seeing the connections of all ara of study. Scientists approach is analytical, hypothysized and tested.
These 2 groups need to combine their knowledge and understanding of the earth to gain the most wee rounded approach to the best practices of how to live and preserve the earth.

Week #2 blog response: In many ways much is connected through tecnology with the Elders and Western comers. If nothing else just the history being recorded. Some of the advantages of knowledge is more is better in this case and powerful if used properly. The Elders have figured out thinks on their own and have deep knowledge of the way of the earth and the working of things; Western comers can learn from the Elders but don't always see it that way.