Interesting things about the solar system (Chapter 2)

Hi guys,

This is additional interesting information that you might want to look at if your interested in the science behind the solar system or other planets.It is not tested for mastery review, it is for additional knowledge =)

Video that shows about the birth of the Solar System

For further information of the solar system and the universe and its studies do check out NASA ("National Aeronautics and Space Administration" of USA) exploration web at http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/home/index.html

PLANET QUEST

This is a website by NASA for finding out if there is a possibility of another "Earth"

Go to Alien Safari to know of some of the extreme micro-organisms on Earth and how they help to indicate that there are similar life forms as these may exist in other planets with similar conditions in which they thrive in, suggesting possibility of other lifeforms thriving in other planets....

Cheers!

Miss Zheng

Chapter 2: Earth our Home

Hi guys,

Here's a little song about the different planets of the Solar system which might help you remember them more easily.

There were two major questions I posed in class:

1. What causes day and night?
2. Why are there seasons?

Remember that ROTATION of the Earth is the cause of day and night, whereas the REVOLUTION and the tilt of the axis of the Earth, causes the seasons in some countries.

Here's the video I showed in class about why there are seasons, do look through it for re-cap or revision purposes.

I also went onto emphasize on the big idea of this chapter is really to point out the fragility of Earth and our impact through our human activities on it. There is no need for you to know the nitty gritty details of the size or distance of the planets from the sun but more importantly, the solar system was introduced to you in this chapter to point you to a fact that only planet Earth has the capability to support the many awesome and amazing life forms as seen in this movie trailer, Earth

This is mainly due to certain characteristics that Earth has, which are:

1. Gravity
2. Atmosphere (having high percentage of oxygen and abundance of water)
3. Suitable Temperature (between zero degrees and one hundred degrees, links back to the earlier part about the solar system and how difference in temperatures are experienced differently in different parts of the world)

At the end of lesson today, I told you the importance of why Geography is taught to you in Secondary school, I challenged you of the small little things that you can do to help minimize the negative impact we humans are having on Earth. Be it switching off the light and fans when you leave the classroom or using less of material things we might have. I also asked you to consider what YOU would do as your generation is the one already receiving some of the effects of the older generations' actions, what will YOU do for YOUR future generation?

Look at this video and think if you are the LOST generation or are you NOT the lost generation.

Chapter 1: Why and How do we study Geography?

WHY do we study Geography?

This was a question posted to you gentlemen in class and some of you pointed out that because there is only ONE Earth and we should respect and look after it.

You also said that we are studying Geography now in Secondary school so that we can understand Earth better.

I also reminded you about what you learnt in the first lesson about this big concept about the interrelationship between humans and the environment and that Geography is one important subject that looks into that and we went through this diagram in class.

KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS

http://talentedapps.wordpress.com/2009/03/

All of the above are about the knowledge that you can gain from studying Geography, I also pointed out the skills stated below that you would be learning which also be useful not only in Geography and also other subjects as well.

1. Ability to locate and acquire information
2. Using questioning techniques [Starter Questions Technique: 5 Wives (Who, What,Where, Wen Why and 1 Husband (How)] which look into cause and effects of an action.
3. And eventually for you to develop your critical thinking and decision making skills.

WAYS OF STUDYING GEOGRAPHY

There were three major ways introduced to you on how we can study Geography and they are:

1. Fieldwork (remember the simulation survey you did for Bookshop Auntie on the most popular pens that she should sell to Catholic High boys to improve her business)
2. Case studies (remember the flooding case study in Manila we did in class)
3. Media (Books, internet, newspapers, movies etc)

Chapter 1: What is Geography?

Hi 1-5 and 1-9,

Last week, we looked at Chapter 1 and got to know what is Geography. In your own words, below are the statements some of you guys wrote about what you thought what Geography was about before I met you officially to help you understand what is this subject of Geography.

1. It is the study of the Earth
2. It is about the different places in the world
3. It is about the world and countries
4. It is about land of weathers and nature
5. Position of stuff in the world
6. It is about the countries and landscapes they produce
7. It is about maps and climates of the world
8. Study of map

Excellent guesses and ideas, as there are many big ideas and concepts of Geography that some of you have mentioned are going to be taught to you during these 6 months!=)

I also showed you the following video below to ask you if you think Geography is about what the video showed.....

Well, Geography as some of you wrote is indeed about the countries and other places of the world as what the video above shows, but Geography is not only about that. In class, I liken Geography as a subject that is multi-disciplinary that involves subjects like science and maths. I also shared what I thought Geography is about to me(see below).

1. Field of study that enables us to find answers to questions about the world around us, about where things are and how and why they got there.
2. Relationship(s) between humans and the environment

At the end, there is a very important term I introduced in class and is a BIG idea/concept throughout this whole six months of study of Geography.

So do remember this, that Geography is really about the

INTERRELATIONSHIPS

or

PHYSICAL-HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS

found on earth..=)