How are climate, terrestrial ice and Alaskan indigenous cultures all connected?
Explain:
WOW!! Out of 1000 drops of water 972 are in the oceans and inland seas! What a remarkable statistic. It really puts the oceans in perspective, and boggles my mind that we know so little about oceans when they are the majority of Earth. The amount of ice in Antarctica also surprised me.
These facts about water reminded me of an Ocean 7 Essential Principles poster I saw. It was beautiful and made me stop and think, so I copied the text to tuck away for future use. The principles were:
1. Earth has one big ocean.
2. The ocean shapes the Earth.
3. The ocean influences Earth’s climate.
4. The ocean makes Earth livable.
5. The ocean supports a diversity of life and ecosystems.
6. The ocean is connected to us and we are connected to it.
7. The ocean is largely unexplored.
Once again the theme of connectedness is empathized. I never fully realized just how interconnected and fragile our planet is until this last module. Facts were building as I read the modules and my schema was being developed, but I just never really thought a lot about how everything is really just one big system. When one part is disturbed it has a ripple effect throughout the system.
It seems only man goes about obliviously thinking all is well when in fact the Earth is shaking her fist and sending all sorts of warning signs that it isn’t well. I can see why stewardship is such a big component in organizations and education today.
Cultural Connections:
The Traditional Tlingit Country map with the tribes, clans, and clan houses is an incredible resource. It lays out the organizational structure of the Tlingit people and reaffirms that Native knowledge is passed down through language. When the language is lost, the heart of the culture goes with it.
The melting permafrost poses a real problem as lakes disappear. New species encroach on traditional species causing the landscape to under go change. It was very disheartening to see the trees leaning over due to melting permafrost. Waterfowl that depend upon the lakes and bogs to exist are in danger because nesting and feeding grounds are no longer there due to melting permafrost. The picture book If You Were a Wild Duck Where Would You Go came immediately to mind as I reflected upon this module.
The “positive feedback loop” is actually a “negative feedback loop” when the effects are considered. I applaud Arctic Village because they are trying the solar panels as an alternative energy source. Any alternative energy source is expensive whether it be wind, water, or solar sources but they should be considered well worth the investment. Thirty-five million dollars yearly in Alaska alone to fix the melting permafrost problems can go along way toward alternative energy.
Melting permafrost solutions are in the works, but they are costly and not a full scale solution. This link looks at the Trans Alaska Oil Pipeline sinking and how a snow machine might be the answer.
Extend:
We as teachers really need to make students aware of what is happening to Earth's surfaces and climate. Kids want to help and they believe they can make a difference so getting them involved makes sense.
This was a terrific module! I have bookmarked many of the sites and I have an idea forming in my mind of how to use the information gleaned from this course. My tentative idea is to buy cheap pull-down window shades and have students create murals on them of ways they and their families can help Mother Earth in her struggle to be healthy. They can even hang things on the murals with captions like, "If you see this throw it away."
Technology:
A book, old fashioned technology, that discusses the role of being a steward.  |
| A great site for kids and stewardship |
Another miracle of nature just keeping us humble!
Creating Inquiry:
A Habitat Made By Me! This is a link that provides instructions for making an eco-column. I've done this one and kids really love it. I have found that white clouds work better than goldfish since their urine isn't so acidic.
Three Colleague:
• Lila Lee Little blog on Atmospheric Systems was very interesting. Her site Biomagnification in Lake Ontario was also something I would use with students.
• Kevin Hamrick I liked his voice. I could relate to what he was saying in Module VII. It does seem like we are having warmer winters and the weather doesn't seem nearly as cold as when I was young. I remember one winter in McGrath the thermometer hit -72ºF at the airport - and we still went out and played!
• Doug Armstrong I loved his pictures and I especially enjoyed his pictures of the ice melting in the glasses.
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