Week 4 Module

1. Explain: What new learning have you taken from this module?

I found the video clip “Contemporary Land Issues Regarding Mauna Kea” very educational. I never take the time to stop and think about the cultural impact that science has on locations around the world. It is easy to overlook the cultural value of land when you want to use it for another purpose. I am very glad to hear that the university decided to set aside land that would not be disturbed.


The video clip “Volcanoes in the Infrared” was very fascinating for me to watch. I had no idea scientists were currently using this technology on volcanoes. I am often so busy I do not read up on how scientists are using technology today. I think showing students technology helps spark their interest in class. 

2. Extend: How can/will you use this week’s resources and/or others in your community in your lessons?

The video clip “Living on the Coast” is amazing! This video will be perfect for cultural awareness standards. My students can relate to the three cultures shown because they also live on the water, and depend on it for food. I love anything that students can relate to, and they take away so much from it. Another great connection with their video is the fact that I grew up in Massachusetts. I will be able to talk about my own experience, and what I saw when I visited New Bedford.

The video clip “1964 Alaska Earthquake” is great for my students because they can relate to it. They really enjoy watching and reading about anything that happens here in Alaska. My students can also relate well to the portion of the video that shows the tsunami. Living on the water it is so important for them to be aware of the danger of a tsunami. 

3. Evaluate: How useful, insightful or relevant are this module’s information and resources for you?

The resources on tsunamis are very useful to me because I teach about them in two different levels of science. In one on my classes I taught about tsunamis about a month ago. I wish I had these video clips then. Three of my students where having a very hard time understanding the concept of a tsunami. I love having any resource that can show concepts visually. I have found that a picture, or video clip, is worth a thousand words.

The measuring tool on Google Earth is very useful to me. From the standpoint of teaching, but also in my own life. I have often wondered how far teacher housing is from the school. I have heard some estimates, but never knew an accurate measurement. Sometimes I am taken back by how easy things are with modern technology. With two clicks of a mouse I can measure distance anywhere around the world. That is just crazy. 

Image taken from Google Earth

3 Colleagues

The first site I went to was “Dan Adair Blog Site”. I thought it was wonderful that he posted “The Electromagnetic Spectrum Song”. I used this song with my students last year and would have never guessed other teachers used it.

The second site I went to was “Doug’s Explore Alaska Blog”. I really like how he talked about this lesson being a reminder of the power of the tectonic plates. So many things are changed, created and destroyed by their movement. It is easy for me to forget how much energy they have because I don’t see their effect first hand very often.

I agree with Tracy about how important it is to teach our students about what to do in an emergency. On her blog “Explore Alaska” she gives some examples of different lessons that would help students if they were in an emergency situation. 

Week 3 Module

1. Explain: What new learning have you taken from this module?

Image taken from "On the Yukon River"

The most fascinating thing I learned from this module was from the video “On the Yukon River”. I had no that in central Yup’ik the word for fish is the same as food. I have not had much exposure to central Yup’ik so I unaware of how important fish are to them. This really shows how important it is that the fish population is kept healthy and safe.

2. Extend: How can/will you use this week’s resources and/or others in your community in your lessons?

The “Richard Glenn: Inupiaq Geologist” clip is amazing for many reasons.  First, it is a wonderful example to share with my students. Many of them want to leave the island for college, however, the want to return when they are done. I see the conflict in them whenever we talk about what they will do after high school. Should I go away to college, or should I keep my traditional ways? Richard Glenn does both of these things. He earned a college degree and is still able to take part in his culture. This will show my students a real person who did both.

Second, this clip also covers ‘career skills’ standards for my students. Here is a scientist who is making money, making a difference for his people, and enjoying his job. This career choice is realistic for my students.

Third, I love the quote he ends with when discussing western and Inupiaq approaches: “Is there a conflict there? I don't think so. I think they are just two flashlights shining down the same path.” Another wonderful example of how western science and traditional knowledge can work together, and are both valued. The more my students hear this, the better!

3. Evaluate: How useful, insightful or relevant are this module’s information and resources for you?

I think the “Teachers’ Domain” video clips are wonderful for my students. My earth science class started plate tectonics last week. I showed them “Plate Tectonics: An Introduction” and “Tectonic Plate Movement in Alaska”. Both videos gave wonderful visuals for my students and I believe seeing the clips helped them understand the concepts. One of my students asked me to see “Tectonic Plate Movement in Alaska” for a second time.  

3 Colleagues

The pictures on the site “Cultural Connections in Earth Science” are beautiful. I really enjoyed seeing them. It is always nice to be reminded of the amazing colors and landscapes that are out there. Janet also commented on the fact that the central Yup’ik work for food and fish are the same. She stated she likes Teachers’ Domain and wishes she had know about it before. I completely agree with this and I have shared the site with staff at my school. It is a wealth of resources!

On the “chenalakesfarm” site Tracy mentions an idea for a project where the students create a circular sequence map. I think this is an amazing idea and I will use it in my life science class. I am always looking for ideas to connect my student’s lives and science. This could be a great poster project to create and hang up in the class. 

The third site I choose to visit this week was “Explore Alaska!: Alaska Native & Western Perspective”.  In his entry Dave writes about taking his class out to explore the landscape and different types of rocks. I also really enjoy taking the students out and see the natural examples all around us. 

Week 2 Module

1. Explain: What new learning have you taken from this module?  

Before I read “Traditional Knowledge Systems in the Arctic” I had no idea there was a definition for “traditional knowledge”. I have heard and used the phrase very frequently without ever stopping and thinking about it.  Was my understanding of traditional knowledge accurate? Is it a term I used the wrong way?  I am very relieved to find out the definitions matched what I believed tradition knowledge to be.

2. Extend: How can/will you use this week’s resources and/or others in your community in your lessons?  

I love the Traditional Native Knowledge and Western Science Venn diagram and have posted it in my classroom. I feel it is very important to let students know that their traditional ways are just as important and valued as western science. The Bering Strait District gives common exams to all of the sites. One exam question is how do native ways of knowing compare to western science. This diagram is a wonderful visual for my students.

In two of my classes we are starting astronomy in about three weeks. The Nova clip "Galileo: Sun-Centered System" is a perfect anticipatory set for starting an astronomy unit. I think it is very important for students to know ideas about the universe change, and much of what we are talking about is theory. It was not long ago people believed Earth was the center of the universe.

3. Evaluate: How useful, insightful or relevant are this module’s information and resources for you?

When I was doing my student teaching I had a small introduction to Google Earth in one of my classes. It has always been in the back of my mind, but I never really paid much attention to it. After reacquainting myself to Google Earth I remembered how wonderful it is. One of my goals for this weekend is to install the program on the high school laptops so I can use it with my students. It was so much fun exploring, and I am sure my students can have fun while learning. On a side note the images of my parent’s farm house were taken on the day of my wedding. If you look closely you can see the arch laying down in the grass. 

Image taken from Google Earth

3 Colleagues

The first blog I went to was Science Explorations. I really enjoyed reading this blog because she talked about what the word holistic means. Holistic is another word that I have often heard, but never took the time to figure out exactly what it means.


The second blog I read was Explore Alaska with Alison.  She also takes her students outside to use nature to teach science. However, it must be very hard not to have a lab to fall back on. I admire that she is still able to teaching engaging lessons. I am sure her students appreciate it. 


The third blog I read was Explore Alaska. I really liked how she talked about cycles as common ground between native and western ways of thinking. I had never made this connection before and I believe it is a good way to introduce different types of cycles to my students in the future. 

Week 1 Module

1. Explain: What new learning have you taken from this module?  

The Teacher Domain site is a new tool that was introduced to me this week. So far it looks like a great too. I also learned some new things about blogging. I am sure they will help me start my new blog off right.

Teacher Domain

2. Extend: How can/will you use this week’s resources and/or others in your community in your lessons?  

I have never heard of Teacher Domain before. From what I have seen so far this site is going to be a wealth of resources. I often spend a lot of time on youtube looking for clips that will be good anticipatory sets. This site looks like I could easily find clips that would be good for that. My students love looking at clips, it doesn’t matter what the topic. I see myself using this resource very often in class.

3. Evaluate: How useful, insightful or relevant are this module’s information and resources for you?

I feel this weeks information will be very useful to me. Anything that gives me easy access to things I can use in the classroom is wonderful. I find myself spending a lot of time looking for clips my students will be fascinated with and that will hook them into the lesson. Having a new site to look through is always welcome. The major reason I wanted to take this class was to have new material I can use in the classroom. My students love seeing new things and anything I can show them that is educational and fun is wonderful.

My favorite place

Photo by Doug Peeke

If I could spend time anywhere it would be at my parent's farmhouse. It is very special to me for many, many reasons. First of all, it is where my husband and I were married this past summer.  My parents, who just celebrated their 31^st anniversary, were also married there. When I was a child my grandparents lived in the house. I spent much of my childhood running in the fields and enjoying the fireflies at night. The farm is located in a small town in Massachusetts. Fields surround the house and my mother has a beautiful garden there. Summer time brings wonderful fresh vegetable and sweet smelling flowers. Autumn beings leaves that change brilliant colors and wonderful pumpkins. Overall words cannot describe how much I love spending time there, and the found memories I have of the place.