busy brains at sea

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 30 Jun 2012 02:57:00 +0000

Story: A Zumba Friend

Eunice Sun considered herself to be a girl luckier than most. After all, she didn't have to go to school, like other kids her age. She was traveling around the world on a sailboat with her parents. At 9 years old, Eunice had already seen and experienced many rare and special things that most people never would.

She had seen a cherry-red, lop-sided moon, big as a mountain, rise inch by inch up out of the ocean, late in the still night.

She had seen a pod of dolphins, hundreds of dolphins, leap and splash and flip and twirl and dive and race all around her boat for a whole afternoon. She had snorkeled with a sea turtle and watched a water spout pick up a piece of the ocean in the shape of a tube and bring it up to touch a cloud.

Eunice was a lucky girl alright, but sometimes she felt lonely, too. She knew that most kids her age spent time doing things with other kids. But there were no other kids on Eunice's boat, just her parents. The Suns were a close family. Eunice enjoyed doing lessons with her mom every morning and fishing with her dad after lunch. But Eunice still longed to have a friend her own age to play with and tell secrets to.

One day the Suns sailed their boat, Luna, into the Mexican harbor of Guaymas, in the state of Sonora, Mexico. From the anchorage, Guaymas looked like many of the other harbors they had been to. It had an industrial center where large freight ships would dock to load or unload stores of grain or rice.

It had another dock for the local fishing fleet of pangas. Here, there was always a flurry of activity going on: fish boats whooshing by day and night, activities on the malecon, music wafting from the central plaza.

The old church and the shops could be seen resting at the bottom of the mountains, with box-like houses of the neighborhoods spreading out from there, climbing up the hills.

One day, Eunice's parents announced to her that the family would be staying in Guaymas for a while, at least through the hurricane season. They needed a safe harbor in which to shelter during the months of unstable, dangerous weather. This made Eunice start feeling lonely again. What would she do for months in a port? And who would she find to play with?

Then one day something extraordinary happened.

It began as an ordinary Monday. The Suns had spent the hottest part of the day working on projects and relaxing below decks where it was cool. As the sun began to descend, the breeze picked up, beckoning them outside. Sliding open the hatch, Eunice heard lively music rising from the central plaza. There was an excitement in the beat, playfulness in the melody. Eunice looked at her Mom and Dad. Mr. Sun smiled and gave her a wink. "Let's go", said Mom. The three of them headed off toward the plaza in the direction of the music.

When the Suns got to the plaza, they saw a curious sight. The plaza was filled with people of all ages. The people were standing shoulder-to-shoulder in rows, moving together to the music. They were following the movements of a man and a woman dancing on a roughly made stage. Everyone was moving in time together. Everyone was smiling the same broad smile.

Eunice watched with wide eyes. Wow! What was this group dance all about? It looked like great fun! The music was completely alive and inviting. Then suddenly her face fell. She felt herself to be outside of all this excitement. She was just a stranger watching. She wasn't part of this fantastic thing, but she longed to be.

Then a movement caught her attention. A girl, around Eunice's age, with long black hair and big brown eyes, broke off from the row she was dancing in. She walked right up to Eunice with a smile.

"Quieres Zumba?" said the girl.

"What?" said Eunice.

The girl smiled again. "Zumba", she repeated. "Es un baile. Quieres Zumba conmigo?"

Eunice had been practicing Spanish for months. Now she searched her memory and realized that the girl was telling her Zumba was some kind of a dance. It was probably a way in which people exercised and had fun at the same time. Eunice looked up at her parents, but their smiles told her all she needed to know.

"Si, si!" said Eunice. "Yo quiero Zumba contigo. Mi nombre es Eunice."

"Hola, Eunice. Mi nombre es Angelica. Vamonos!"

The two girls disappeared into the crowd of dancing people, giggling as they went. They danced until the night cooled and the music stopped. The two met every day after that, just as the sun was sinking behind the hills and the music filled the air. They were Zumba Friends. Now and forever.

Venn Diagrams_Whale Sharks

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 20:02:00 +0000

Hola, Amigos! We're in the Mexican town of La Paz, near the southern tip of the Baja penninsula. It feels very far away from our home in Seattle, Washington. There are many differences. For example, in Seattle, February is a cold, gray month with rain and snow. In La Paz, February is sunny and warm. In Seattle,people generally speak English. In La Paz, people speak Spanish. In the waters around Seattle,there are salmon and rockfish. In the waters around La Paz, there are rockfish, too, but there are also manta rays and whale sharks!

When I'm comparing two things, I might make a list of the qualities of each:

Seattle La Paz
cold warm
rainy/snowy sunny
speak English speak Spanish
salmon/rockfish whale sharks/manta rays/rockfish

Venn Diagrams
Sometimes a drawing can help you organize your thoughts. A Venn Diagram is a drawing that helps you visualize how two things are the same and how they are different. It is a drawing of 2 circles that intersect in the middle:

Each circle represents the qualities of one of the objects. Where they intersect, those qualities are things they have in common, or that are the same for both.

Say you wanted to compare an apple and an orange. Those two things are different in some ways, but they are also the same in other ways. Here's a Venn Diagram that helps you see at a glance how they compare:

Let's practice more comparing with a Venn Diagram. But first, let me tell you a story of two kids in La Paz who got to see a whale shark! Even though they both got to see the whale shark on the same day, their experiences were quite different.

Manny, Magdalena, and the Amazing, Terrifying Whale Shark

Once upon a time in La Paz, Mexico, there lived 8-year-old twins named Manny and Magdalena. Manny and Mag,(as she was sometimes called by her brother) were the best of friends. They did nearly everything together, though they often had completely different experiences.

Manny liked to do everything fast! He got bored easily and could never wait to get onto the next adventure. He played hard: running, jumping, and yelling.

Sometimes his impulsive, wild behavior was dangerous. Occasionally, he or someone he was with got hurt.

Magdalena was an inquisitive girl. She loved to explore things deeply and she had the patience to spend hours reading, researching, or practicing something that she was interested in.

One day Manny and Magdalena's parents told them that on the following weekend, the family would be going on a special outing across the bay to see a pod of Whale Sharks! The twins were so excited! Manny started jumping up and down on his bed, pretending to dive into the water. He made a play spear gun out of a broom stick and immediately went on a "hunt" for dangerous whale sharks.

Mag wanted to know more about the whale sharks. She went right to her computer to look up pictures and facts about these beautiful, exciting creatures. She found out some surprising things:
First, she found out that whale sharks are not whales at all. They are the largest species of shark, measuring up to 60 feet in length and weighing over 27,000 pounds! Whale sharks can be as big as a school bus!

Even though they are part of the shark family, whale sharks don't hunt prey. They don't attack animals or people. They don't even have teeth to bite and chew meat. They are filter feeders, who swim with their wide mouths open to get nutrition from plankton, krill and small squid that float in the sea water.

In fact, whale sharks are docile, friendly animals. They spend most of the day swimming slowly and lazily near the surface of the water. They can be shy or skittish, if there is loud noise or splashing around them. But occasionally, when people swim quietly and gently around the whale sharks, they will allow people to get close enough to touch them!

Manny didn't do any research or reading about the whale sharks. So on the day of the outing, Manny and Magdalena had very different expectations about what they would see: Manny expected to encounter vicious, man-eating killer sharks. He brought along his play spear gun. When the family's skiff pulled into the whale shark anchorage, Manny leaped into the water with a huge "SPLASH!", ready to fight.

But when a whale shark began to swim near, Manny screamed in terror. All this commotion frightened the whale sharks. They swam away from the noisy, splashing boy.

Magdalena knew from her research that the whale sharks were gentle creatures that could be easily frightened. She put on her snorkel gear and quietly slipped into the water.

She barely made a ripple. And after a few minutes, a huge whale shark swam near, curious about her. Wow! She could hardly believe it as the enormous whale shark came closer and closer. He was a magnificent creature! Mag put out her tiny hand and the whale shark let her pet him!

Afterwards, when Manny and Mag compared their experiences with the whale sharks, they were amazed to realize how different the experience was for each of them.

Here's a Venn Diagram showing some comparisons of Manny and Mag's experience with the whale sharks.

Click on Venn Diagram to enlarge image.

This diagram is incomplete. Can you think of more things you could write in each section of the Venn Diagram?

Busy Brains Challenge:

Print or copy the Venn Diagram above. Add one or more items to each section of the diagram. Look back through the story to find differences between Manny and Mag and also, similarities.

Here's how to share your answers with other Busy Brains:
1. First, click on the title of this post.
2. Go to the bottom of the post and click on the words "Post a comment". (Hint: It is easiest to sign in as "Annonymous". You can write your first name as part of your comment.)

Come on! It's easy and fun! You'll be able to see your answer posted with the other answers on the next Busy Brains posting!

Making Inferences_ A Story

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 19:31:00 +0000

Well, friends, if you've been following ANNA's journey from Washington State, down along the western coast of the United States, you'll see that we have finally crossed the Mexican border. Here, the weather is warmer and the palm trees grow in abundance. So many fun and interesting things have happened along the way! I've enjoyed all the different ports we've visited.

Even when I'm travelling, I never stop reading and writing. Today, I'd like to teach you about another skill that smart readers do. It's called "inferring". Inferring is using clues in the story, along with what you already know in your brain, to figure things out.

Authors use words to paint a picture in our minds, but they don't tell us everything. As smart readers, we have to use clues from the story and what we already know to infer (or figure out) other information that is important to the story.

For example, read this sentence:
Mr. Price had to duck his head to fit through the doorway.
I didn't describe Mr. Price, but from the sentence, you could infer that Mr. Price must be very tall. Additionally, I didn't say that Mr. Price is a man, but the title, "Mr." gives you a clue that he must be a man.

Try some more. What information can you infer from each sentence?
The children jumped up and down on Christmas Day.
-How do the children feel?
-Why do you think they are they jumping?

My neighbor's yard has a swingset and toys in the yard.
-What could you tell me about the family next door?

Grandma came in the door shaking her umbrella and wiping her boots.
-What is the weather like? How do you know?

Amy hid the peas under her mashed potatoes.
-Do you think Amy enjoys eating peas? What gives you a clue?

The policeman put up his hand and blew his whistle.
-Why is the policeman putting up his hand? What is he doing?

Jake had to stay home from school and rest in bed.
-Can you make 2 statements about Jake?

Did you use your brains and clues in the sentences to infer things about each sentence? Great job!

Here's a story I've written for you about a woman who decided to travel down the coast in her boat, just like we are doing on ANNA. As you read the story, make a picture in your head. At the end of the story there will be some questions that you can only answer by inferring. Give it a try!

Nonni Brown and the Warbler
On the windy coast of Washington State, in a seaside town called Indigo Cove, there lived a woman with a long silver braid down her back. Her twelve grandchildren called her Nonni Brown. And after a while, so did everyone else in the small, friendly town. Nonni Brown's home was a pale yellow cottage that she built with her own hands. That is, her own hands and the hands of many friends helping.

Her cottage had ocean cliffs in the front and green, shady woods behind. Nonni Brown had two favorite things that she loved to do at home: one was gazing out upon the vast, powerful ocean and the other was studying the many different species of wild birds that came to feed on the berries and seeds in her lush backyard.

There were wild woodland birds of all kinds: wrens and sparrows, goldfinches and chickadees, warblers and nuthatches, swallows and vireos and more. In the spring, Nonni Brown took care to cultivate the berries, bushes and plants that her bird friends most liked to eat. By summer, her backyard was alive with plump, twittering, happy birds that kept her company from sunrise to sunset.

Many of the birds were summer friends. They arrived with the warm breath of summer; played, ate, and raised their chicks during the long, warm days. With the first chill of autumn, she could tell by their nervous chirping that the seasonal birds would soon be gone. Birds like blue-headed vireos or chipping sparrows never stayed through the cold winter. They would leave every fall, flying thousands of miles to Mexico or South America where the weather stayed warm in the winter. Every autumn they would leave and every autumn Nonni Brown would feel sorry to see them go.

She looked out to the sparkling ocean waters beyond the cliffs and thought, "Someday I should go south, too." You see, Nonni Brown was, among other things, a fine sailor. Many days when the weather was warm and the breeze was fresh, she would hop in her cozy but sturdy boat and sail among the waves all day. Nonni felt perfectly at home in the black-hulled wooden yawl she named "Sugar". For years she worked on the boat, keeping it tidy and seaworthy. And through all those years she kept wondering about her traveling bird friends. What new things did they see on their journey to far away lands? What great adventures did they have along the way? What interesting companions would they meet?

One crisp, clear day when the leaves began turning to gold and red, Nonni noticed the seasonal birds in her backyard beginning to sing their excited autumn songs. She felt the familiar sadness creeping upon her. But at that same moment, Nonni said to herself, "This time, I shall go, too."

Nonni spent the next several days preparing her boat, Sugar, to set sail. She checked all the lines and the sails, stocked up on food and water, and made her boat cozy for living. Then she plotted a course on the chart that would take her boat south, like the birds. South down the formidable coast of Washington, south past rocky Oregon, south along the golden California coastline, south into colorful Mexico, and south still.

It was a perfect sunrise when Nonni and Sugar turned the corner out of Indigo cove, heading south. The light on the waves seemed to beckon to Nonni: Come offshore! Come and play!

Nonni made her course a line about 40 miles offshore, roughly paralleling the coast. She sailed where the ocean swell got bigger, but gentler. Sugar, with her sails up, glided happily over blue rolling hills of sea water. Nonni sailed all day and into the night. When she got tired, she would sleep lightly for short periods at a time. She was sharply attuned to the sounds Sugar made as she sailed happily along. When the wind shifted, or the seas changed, Sugar would gently rattle the rigging or flap a sail to let Nonni Brown know that her attention was needed.

Days passed. Nonni and Sugar sailed on without seeing another person or another boat. They were so far from land, that they couldn't even see the cliffs anymore, or the beach. Nonni began to feel a little sad and lonely. "I wonder if I'll ever see my bird friends again. How I used to love watching them in my green backyard!" Just then, a fluffy, yellow Warbler flew a circle around Nonni's boat, then landed right on the deck! How could it be? What would a warbler be doing out here on the ocean? Nonni could scarcely believe what she was seeing. But suddenly a thought struck her that made her laugh out loud. "Of course! You're flying to your southern home; Mexico or Panama! You must be getting tired, since you can't stop on the ocean--Warbler's can't swim! Come, Warbler. Rest here on Sugar for as long as you like!

But the warbler was a wild bird. She wasn't used to being near people. She walked in circles around Sugar's decks, keeping a wide distance between herself and Nonni Brown. Her chest was beating rapidly. She watched Nonni with her sharp, black warbler eyes. She chittered nervously. She shook her feathers as if she might take flight at any instant. But the warbler didn't leave. She was tired from her long flight over the ocean waters. She needed to rest.

Nonni Brown continued her activities just as before, but she took care to move gently, so as not to frighten the warbler. She hummed a slow and quiet tune. After a long time, the warbler
's chest beat more evenly. She hopped closer. She fluttered to the side of the cockpit, closer to where Nonni Brown was guiding the tiller. She nestled in behind a coiled rope. For a while she kept a nervous eye on Nonni Brown, but eventually, exhaustion overtook her. The warbler closed her eyes, allowing herself to sleep.

All through that day and into the night, the warbler stayed close to Nonni's spot at the tiller, but she wouldn't come any closer. Then, just as Nonni leaned sideways to check her compass heading, the warbler hopped right up onto Nonni's head! Nonni didn't scream or jump. She laughed quietly and continued sailing the boat. By the time the warbler finally flitted off of Nonni's head, Nonni had nearly forgotten she had been wearing a warbler!

The two friends continued in this way for two days. Then on the third day, as the sun began to rise over the horizon, the warbler hopped over to the railing, chirped a tiny song, and flew off ahead of Sugar's path through the water. Nonni watched the warbler go until it seemed to disappear into the lightening sky. But she wasn't sad this time. She knew she'd be seeing many of her friends soon, in the warm places they spent their winters.

Nonni put her hand on her head and smiled. "See you soon, Warbler", she said. "Come on, Sugar! Let's go find our friends." And they did just that.

Busy Brains Challenge:
Try answering these questions from the story.
Hint: You will need to use the skill of inference to answer the questions. Explain what information helped you figure out the answer.

1. Is Nonni Brown a teenager or an older woman?

2. Why did Nonni Brown plant berries and bushes in her backyard?

3. What season was it when the leaves in Nonni's backyard began turning gold and red?

4. Why was Nonni sad when she heard the birds singing their autumn songs?

5. Why did the warbler keep away from Nonni when it first arrived on the boat?

6. Do you think the warbler felt different about Nonni after a while?

Here's how to share your answers with other Busy Brains:

1. First, click on the title of this post.
2. Go to the bottom of the post and click on the words "Post a comment".

Come on! It's easy and fun! You'll be able to see your answer posted with the other answers on the next Busy Brains posting!

Flying Fish_ Poem Forms

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 00:57:00 +0000

Out in the ocean, far from land, birds and other sea life become more scarce. But one amazing and silly creature that lives far from shore is the flying fish. The first time you see a flying fish, you don't know quite what you're looking at: It appears to be flying fast and low over the waves, like a sea bird, but on closer inspection you notice that it is actually a fish!

Flying fish have developed an ingenious way of fleeing from their predators: They leap out of the water and use their large, wing-like fins to "fly" several meters away from a pursuing enemy! It is remarkable to see.

The problem for the fish comes when it doesn't see a boat that is traveling in its path. Just as it leaps to escape its enemy...splat! The fish lands on the deck of a passing boat! When we're making ocean crossings, I wake every morning to find one, a few, or several flying fish scattered on the deck. I have counted as many as eighteen fish on deck!

Flying fish are superb and clumsy at once; I love them. Later in this blog entry, read a poem I wrote about flying fish.

Busy Brains love to write poems!
Poems are fun to write. Some poems rhyme. Others follow a form, regarding the number of words or syllables in each line. Haiku is an ancient type of poem that follows a form of syllables. There are many variations on haiku, but the most common form is a 5-7-5 syllable haiku. Here is an example:

Black cat turns his back
ears back to check that you know
you're being ignored
by Josh, age 15

Another type of poem that kids enjoy writing is a cinquain poem. In a cinquain poem, the form refers to the number of words in each line. When written out, a cinquain poem often looks like a Christmas tree, because the words in each line steadily increase until the last line. A cinquain poem is written: 1 word, 2 words, 3 words, 4 words, 5 words, 1 word.

Here's an example of a cinquain poem:

Autumn

Colorful leaves

Red, orange, gold

Pile the leaves high

Run fast and jump in

Crunch!

by Katelyn, age 7

One of the best things about poems, is that as a writer, you're not bound to the same rules of grammar that you are when you write a paragraph. You're free to experiment with different forms of writing. You can even invent a new poem form. Why not?? Since I'm currently traveling around on my sailboat, I decided to invent a new kind of cinquain poem that I call a "Sailboat Cinquain" poem. Here's how it works:

The top part is the same as a regular cinquain poem (1 word, 2 words, 3 words, 4 words, 5 words, 1 word). The bottom part makes it a "sailboat" cinquain (5 words, 4 words, 3 words). Have fun trying one of your own!

Here's an example of a Sailboat Cinquain poem I wrote about flying fish:

Splat!

Flying fish

Hit the boat

Flipping, flopping on deck

Thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen fish!

Pity

They can't aim any better

Exquisitly soaring and flying

Until they...splat!

Busy Brains Challenge:
Try writing a poem yourself! Write a haiku (5-7-5 syllables), a cinquain poem (1,2,3,4,5,1 words), or try a "sailboat" cinquain poem (just like a regular cinquain poem, but finish with 5,4,3 words to make the bottom of the sailboat form).

Here's how to share your answer with other Busy Brains:

1. First, click on the title of this post.
2. Go to the bottom of the post and click on the words "Post a comment".

Come on! It's easy and fun! You'll be able to see your answer posted with the other answers on the next Busy Brains posting!

Fascinating Seabirds_ Searching for Facts

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 21:44:00 +0000

Here on the west coast, we are lucky to see so many interesting creatures, on land and at sea. There are a great many species of seabirds; all are fascinating to watch. The different types of seabirds nevertheless share certain characteristics. For example, nearly all seabirds have a waterproof outer layer of feathers covering a dense layer of down. This helps protect the bird from getting wet and cold. Seabirds also have webbed feet which help them move easily through the water. Additionally, seabirds have special salt glands in their heads to strain out the large amounts of salt they ingest in the water they drink and the food they eat. Some birds live nearly their entire lives soaring over, or swimming in the ocean. They return to land only for breeding.

There are four basic feeding strategies for birds that feed at sea:
1. Surface feeding
2. Pursuit diving
3. Plunge diving
4. Scavenging

The surface feeders skim the water looking for food.

When they see something near the surface, they scoop it up in their bills.

Pursuit divers go after fish or other food under the water.

They dive down and use their wings to swim after creatures they can eat.

The plunge divers fly high above the water looking for fish swimming under water.

When they spot a fish, they plummet head first, like a rocket, into the water in pursuit of their prey.

Scavengers are birds that take food from other animals, or find food that has been left.

Of these basic types of seabirds, I'm especially intrigued by the plunge divers. Some examples of plunge diving birds are:

Blue-footed boobies

Kingfishers

Terns

Gannets

One of my favorite plunge divers is the Brown Pelican.

Brown Pelicans can dive from up to 70 feet above the water, directly onto a swimming fish!

Their skulls have a special bony plate near the front, allowing them to withstand the heavy impact of such a hard dive.

As they hit the water, pelicans open their large gullets, (the pouch of skin under their chin), and in pops the fish!

Busy Brains like to search for fascinating facts!

When I'm interested in a topic, I go to the library or to the Internet to learn more. This can be fun to do, if you know how to search effectively. It's important to know some basic guidelines for how to search for information, otherwise, you'll be aimlessly wandering through books, files, or websites without ever finding what you want.

Here are a few tips:

If you go to the library, you need to first find the section of the library that has what you're looking for. The library is organized using a system of numbers, called the Dewey Decimal System.

The numbers begin at 0 and continue through the 900s. The basic categories are:

000 Generalities

100 Philosophy

200 Religion

300 Social Sciences

400 Lang

500 Science and Math

600 Applied Science

700 Art

800 Literature

900 Geography and History

Now, within each these basic categories, there are more specific subtopics. For example, let's look at the

subtopics within the 500 category, Science and Math:

500 SCIENCE AND MATH

500 Science Experiments

510 Mathematics

520 Stars, Planets, Astronomy

530 Physical Science- force & motion, electricity, magnetism

540 Chemistry, Atoms & Molecules

550 Volcanoes, Earthquakes, Weather

560 Dinosaurs, Prehistoric Animals

570 Forests, Deserts, Mountains, Oceans, Evolution

580 Plants & Trees

590 Animals & Insects

Each "decade number" between 500 and 590 represents a smaller subtopic. So if you wanted to look up facts about your favorite sea bird, like I did, you would first go to the 500s, then look in the 590 section

because that section has nonfiction books about animals and insects. In the 590s, you'd find a special section of books about birds.

The Internet is another way to search for information you're interested in.

But be careful! There are many sites on the Internet that are inappropriate for kids, so it's best to do your Internet searching with a grown-up.

A key to finding what you want on the Internet is in using the right "key words". First go to a search engine, such as Google. Then type in key word(s) that are important to your topic. For example, to find information about my favorite sea birds, I typed in key words like: ocean, birds, pelican, plunge divers, etc.

Busy Brains Challenge:

Choose a favorite animal. Use the library or the Internet (with an adult's help) to research some interesting facts about your animal. Share something new you've learned with us!

Here's how to share your answer with other Busy Brains:

1. First, click on the title of this post.

2. Go to the bottom of the post and click on the words "Post a comment".

Come on! It's easy and fun! You'll be able to see your answer posted with the other answers on the next Busy Brains posting!

September 15, 2011- Adding Tens + Ones, Reading A Map/Table

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 03:19:00 +0000

We've been sailing down the coastline of three western states: Washington, Oregon, and now California. Since the wind and waves can be formidable along the Pacific coast, we plan our journey from port to port. We can usually travel between 50 and 70 nautical miles (nm) in a day, that is, arriving in a port before dark. For longer passages, we sail non-stop through the night, taking turns sleeping or being on watch.

With a map and a table of distances, one can plan a trip and estimate how long the trip will take.

Busy Brains love to do math!

Adding Tens:

Adding tens (decade numbers) is easy. For example, if you know the "partners" of 7, then you can easily figure out the partners of 70, just by adding a 0. Look:

5 + 2 = 7

50 + 20 = 70

Try some yourself!

3 + 4 = 7

30 + 40 = ___

3 + 3 = 6

30 + 30 = ___

7 + 1 = 8

70 + 10 = ___

Great job! Can you make up some more tens problems on your own?

Other mathematicians prefer to "count on" to find the answer. Here's how you might count on with ones to find the answer to the problem 5 + 2 = ____:

Write the number 5, followed by two dots (to represent two more ones).

5 . .

You would say "five", then count on 2 more ones. (Five, six, seven). The answer is 7.

"Counting on" by tens is nearly the same. Here's an example, solving the problem 50 + 20 = _____:

Write the number 50, followed by two sticks (to represent tens).

50 / /

You would say "fifty", then count on 2 more tens (Fifty, sixty, seventy). The answer is 70.

Try some more!

40 / / / (Hint: Say "Forty", then count on three more tens)

30 / / /

20 / / /

60 / /

Did you get it? Nice work, mathematician!

Below is a map of a coastline, similar to the ones we have sailed recently. The table of distances shows how far it is from one point to the next. Can you read the table? How far is it from Vido to Seal Point? Put your finger under the box that says "Vido to Seal Point". Now move your finger across to the Distance column. The box says 20 nm. That means it is 20 nautical miles from Vido to Seal Point. Try some more:

Find the distances.

Seal Point to Cape Azul is _____ nm.

Cape Azul to Point Pelican is _____ nm.

Point Pelican to Pharoah Head is _____ nm.

Pharoah Head to Maiden's Leap is _____ nm.

Great! Now practice what you've learned about adding tens to answer these questions:

How far is it from Vido to Cape Azul? (Hint: Look at the table. Add the two numbers. 20 + 40 )

How far is it from Seal Point to Point Pelican?

How far is it from Cape Azul to Pharoah Head?

How far is it from Point Pelican to Maiden's Leap?

Wow! Nice work, Busy Brains!

Here's a new challenge for you:

Add 3 or more numbers from the table. For example, How far is it from Vido to Point Pelican? (Hint: You have to add 3 tens numbers. 20 + 40 + 30).

Submit your equation to the Busy Brains site. It will be appear on the next posting!

Here's how to share your answer with other Busy Brains:

1. First, click on the title of this post.
2. Go to the bottom of the post and click on the words "Post a comment".

Come on! It's easy and fun! You'll be able to see your answer posted with the other answers on the next Busy Brains posting!

August 22, 2011- Sequence Terms and Knot Tying

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 03:05:00 +0000

Today, the Strait of Juan de Fuca has strong winds and dense fog. It would be uncomfortable and possibly dangerous to take the boat out there today. So instead, we will stay safely anchored in the port of Sooke, on Vancouver Island. A smart sailor has to be patient, waiting for the weather conditions to be right for traveling.

While I'm waiting, I often work on my writing so I can become a better writer. Learning to use "sequence terms" can help make your writing more clear and organized. Sequence terms tell the order in which something happens. They help the reader picture how something happened in their heads.

For example, when you brush your teeth, which do you do first: wet your tooth brush, or put paste on the tooth brush?

When you get dressed, what order do you do these things (number them):
( ) Put on my shoes.
( ) Put on my pants.
( ) Zip the fly.
( ) Tie the laces.

When I practice writing in my journal, I do it in this order:
1. Put my journal and a pen on the table.
2. Think of an idea I want to write about.
3. Open my journal to a blank page.
4.

What do you think I might do next? Did your brain come up with ideas like:
sketch a picture
make a list
write some sentences

Great job! You're getting the idea of writing things in a logical sequence.

Some useful sequence terms are:
first
next
then
last or finally

Put these sentences in order. Watch for sequence terms. Read it aloud to make sure it makes sense.

Eating A Bowl Of Cornflakes
Next, pour the cornflakes into the bowl.
Finally, gobble the cornflakes with a big spoon!
First, get a box of Cornflakes, some milk, a bowl, and a spoon.
Then, pour milk over the flakes.

Did you get it? Nice work, Busy Brains!

Busy Brains love to learn new skills!
Today, let's practice a skill that is fun, useful, and will improve your dexterity. When you read the directions below, notice the use of sequence terms.

Tying A Bowline
Sailors use many different ropes or "lines" to do their work on board. Depending on the purpose of each line, various knots may be used. Probably the most common and useful knot for a sailor is the bowline (pronounced, "BO-LIN"). A bowline is a strong, versatile knot for tying a line around a fixed object. It's easy to learn, with a little practice. Let's try!

First, make a counter clockwise loop near the end of the line (about a foot from the end). Sailors call this free end of the line the "bitter end".

Next, loop the bitter end around the object you want to tie the knot onto.

Here's the fun part: Imagine the bitter end is a silly, nervous rabbit. Make the rabbit pop OUT of his hole.

Then, make the rabbit run AROUND the tree trunk (the long end of the line; that is called the "standing end").

Then, make the rabbit jump back DOWN into his hole.

Finally, pull the ends to tighten the knot. You did it!

You can use this knot to pull a wagon, take Teddy for a walk, tie a scarf around your bed post, etc.

Busy Brain Challenges:
1. Write directions for how to do something, using sequence terms such as: first, next, then, finally. Share your directions with us! It will be in the next blog posting.
2. Practice tying a bowline knot. Then teach it to someone else. Tell us who you taught and/or what you used your bowline for. We'll get to read your answer in the next blog posting.

Here's how to share your answer with other Busy Brains:

1. First, click on the title of this post.
2. Go to the bottom of the post and click on the words "Post a comment".

Come on! It's easy and fun! You'll be able to see your answer posted with the other answers on the next Busy Brains posting!

Aug.16, 2011- Questioning

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 02:27:00 +0000

Hello, Friends!

Welcome back to the "Busy Brains at Sea" website. Our journey began a couple of weeks ago when we left our home at the Shilshole Bay Marina in Seattle, WA. We'll be sailing south to Mexico, then on to Central and South America. But first, we have traveled north to Canada to "shake out" any last minute problems we might discover with our trusty boat, Anna.

Today, let's practice a skill that strong readers use whenever they read.

Busy Brains love to read!

Questioning:

Strong readers use their busy brains to wonder and ask questions while reading. It helps us check for understanding. Read this sentence:

The tiny dog whimpered for help under Farmer Jackson's clay flower pot.

I'll bet your busy brains are popping with questions already! Did your brain ask questions like this:

I wonder what kind of dog it is?
Is it a puppy?
Why is it whimpering? Is it scared?
How did it get under the flower pot?
Is it trapped?
Who is Farmer Jackson?
Is he a mean man, or a nice man?

Wondering and questioning are important for helping us understand what we're reading. Try it with the sentence below:

The children leapt to their feet when Miss Beale entered the room.

What questions come to your mind from reading this sentence? Can you think of 3 or 4 questions? Great job!

Now let's read a short story about a little girl and her boat. Remember to let your brain wonder and ask questions while you're reading!

The Perfect Name

Once upon a time, a little girl with three names lived by the sea. When she was born, her mother, her father, and her tia could not agree on what her first name should be. So they gave her all three names. She became: Rosita Anita Rosaria Perez.

The family lived on the shore of a tiny, turquoise inlet next to the sea. When she was eight years old, her father built Rosita a small but sturdy sailboat of her very own. She painted it red and yellow, orange, blue, and green. But when it came time to name her sailboat, Rosita Anita Rosaria could not decide. Her father said, "Give it a name of strength. Like Valor, or Protector." Her mother said, "Give it a name of beauty. Like Serenity, or Wind Dancer." Her tia said, "Give it a name of hope. Like Happy Days or Endless Journey." The three of them argued through the day and into the night, but they could not agree on the best kind of name a boat should have.

Rosita Anita Rosaria knew that she had to find just the right name for her special boat. The next day, she packed a lunch and some water. She told her family she was going to take her little boat for a sail across the inlet. When she came back, she would know the boat's name. Her family knew Rosita was a good sailor and a strong swimmer, but they said, " Take Pepita with you. She will keep you safe." Pepita was Rosita's trusty little dog and most loyal friend.

All afternoon, the two friends sailed back and forth across the tiny inlet. When the wind picked up, the colorful boat slid, dipped, glided, and swayed among the waves. It reminded Rosita of the mambo dancing she loved to do at fiestas and on holidays. When the boat leaned into the wind, slicing the surface of the water, she held Pepita tight, laughing. It was a thrilling, exciting ride, like when her father swung her in the air to dance the salsa. The tiny boat was dancing, in a way, too. The wind and the waves were the music.

That evening, Rosita Anita Rosaria Perez told her family she had chosen a name for her special little boat. The boat had helped her find the name. She named her boat Mambo-Tango for the way it danced happily on the water and for the way it made her feel free and wild, like when she danced. Everyone smiled because they knew she had found just the right name for her boat.

Names are important to us. To a sailor, a boat’s name has special significance. Our boat is named “Anna”, honoring our grandmothers who were both named Anna. Grandmothers are caring and protective. We trust our boat to protect us and keep us safe as we venture into the open sea.

Busy Brain Challenge:

Have you ever named something that was important to you?

A pet?

Your bike?

A favorite stuffed animal?

A doll?

Tell us about something you named and explain why you chose that name:

1. First, click on the title of this post.
2. Go to the bottom of the post and click on the words "Post a comment".

Come on! It's easy and fun! You'll be able to see your answer posted with the other answers on the next Busy Brains posting!

Welcome!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 05:59:00 +0000

'Busy Brains At Sea' is the website of Mrs. Catherine Ian-Frese, an elementary school teacher who is currently travelling internationally with her husband on their sailboat, ANNA.

During her travels, Mrs. Ian-Frese shares her discovery of new places, curious animals, and interesting people through these blog postings. She will challenge the inquisitive learner with questions, problems to solve, or prompts to respond to. Kids can post their responses by clicking on the post title, then click the 'Post a Comment' link, just below the post.

About the links:
Kids can see where the sailboat, ANNA, has been and can follow her progress by clicking on the 'binocular icon' on the sidebar.

For those interested in contributing to the charity that I'm supporting this year, click on the sidebar icon: 'Help A Kid Today!'.

Click on the 'Subscribe to Busy Brains updates!' button to automatically get free updates to 'Busy Brains at Sea', as soon as they are posted.