Is The Ocean In The Shell?

Introduction

Have you ever went to the beach and picked up a large seashell. When people find large seashells they tend to put the seashell to their ear to listen to the "ocean." What they think is that you can hear the ocean from inside the seashell. Is this true? Younger kids may think the ocean is actually in the shell. Another myth is people think it is the sound of your blood pumping. Others think it is the sound of the air flowing through the shell. Scientists proved both of these thoughts wrong. They did some experiments and came up to the belief that the sound comes from the echo of the noise in the air around you. Some people still don't believe that. 

Why I Chose This Topic

I also always like to listen to the ocean sounds in the shells whenever I see one. When I was younger I used to think that some how in a magical way the ocean and the shell were connected by some sort of string. I used that logic till I found out it was not actually the ocean I was hearing. The reason I chose this topic is because of that. I new you didn't actually hear the ocean, so I was wondering what you hear when you put the shell to your ear.

Closing 

Many people have different theories as to what the noises you hear in a shell are. Do you agree with the scientists or one of the myths? Or do you have your own theory. Whatever you think is true share with me. Write it in the comments!

Thanks!

Here is where I got my info

http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/can-you-really-hear-the-ocean-in-a-shell/

Do Zebra Stripes Have a Purpose?

Introduction

When we see a zebra we can obviously see it because of its stripes. The stripes are very vivid and easy for a human eye to catch, but is it the same with different animals? A zebras main predator is a lion. It is known that lions are color blind. They can only see black, white, and shades of gray. If they see a deer with dark brown fur in a plain with light yellow grass, they will see the deer as black and the grass as white so it is easy to spot for them. However if they see a black and white zebra it can blend in with the grass or anything else the are hiding in.

My Opinion 

I think it is better for zebras to have stripes. First of all their number one predator can not see them that much. They won't get attacked as often because the lions won't be able to see them. If they are standing in very high grass the lion will definitely not see them. If they are standing in the open they have a much larger chance of being see. Second of all they look very cool with stripes. Without stripes they would not be as exciting to see. They would some what look like horses. Horses are also pretty but then two animals would look alike and neither would be unique.    

Closing 

I love all kinds of animals like zebras. Many animals have something different about them that keeps them safe. Your challenge is to research one of your favorite animals and find out what they use or have to keep them safe. If you find anything write it in the comments below! Thanks!

Here is where I got my information
http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-do-zebras-have-stripes-2/  

Are Their Huge Ears For Hearing?

Introduction

Have you ever seen an elephant? Well if you haven't there is a picture of one on the right hand side. What do you notice? I know the first thing I notice is its huge ears! When I see the huge ears I think elephants have great hearing, which could be true but that's not only what their used for. Elephants are very large so they must get very hot. What do they do with this extra heat you may ask. That's another purpose for their ears. Elephants have a blood vessel in their ears. When there temperature rises higher then it's supposed to, the extra heat comes out of their ears. 

My Opinion

Elephants heat comes out of their ears. Well when humans get too hot they sweat. Instead of heat coming out of our ears we sweat on our bodies. Which do you think is better? Would you rather sweat or have heat come out of your ears. Sweating is a normal thing for humans. Heat coming out of elephants ears is a normal thing for them. So if heat were to come out of my ears it would not feel normal. I would rather have what humans naturally have. 

Conclusion

Elephants are very interesting animals. You can find many facts about them. Your challenge is to research facts about elephants. If you find something cool share it with me. Write it in the comments!

Thanks!

This is where I got my info

http://wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-do-elephants-have-big-ears-2/

   

Edgar Allan Poe

Introduction

Edgar Allan Poe was born on January 19, 1809. He died on October 7, 1849. He was born in Boston Massachusetts. Edgar Allan Poe was inspired by different types of literature and diverse writers. He writes about things that happen in his personal life too. Did you that know that Edgar Allan Poe loved cats. He wrote a couple of different poems or short stories based on cats. Another interesting fact is he was athletic. He was into swimming. He swam about 6 miles in a river. He also loved to hike in the woods.

A Dream Within a Dream

Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow --
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.

I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand --
How few! yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep -- while I weep!
O God! can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?

              -Edgar Allan Poe

 This poem is saying a lot. I think what Edgar Allan Poe is trying to say is that a lot of times we think of fantasies and things that are probably not going to happen and forget they are just dreams. All the things we think about and wish could happen are just dreams. I like this poem because it's about how everyone has dreams. Not even the most famous people on earth have everything. We all have dreams. To me this poem shows that. I relate to this poem because as I said before everyone has dreams. We all dream to have something we don't have. I think Edgar Allan Poe was not very happy when he wrote this. At the end there are many exclamation marks to emphasize that he is yelling He wanted his dream to come true. 

About The Poem

This poem uses some repetition. For example he says "O God" two times to emphasize that he is yelling. He also rhymes in this poem. It gives the poem rhythm and a beat. With out the rhyming it would not flow as easy as it does with the rhymes.  He uses some personification too. He says "Yet if hope has flown away." He is giving the impression that hope can fly. If this poem had none of these things it would not be as interesting. Also I would not have understood it as much. I would not have known the mood because the poetic techniques help show the mood.

                                                      

Closing

Edgar Allan Poe was a great poet. You should read a poem by him. I have put the link to a poem by him down below. When you are done reading the poem think about what it meant to you. What did you think the authors purpose for writing it was? Write your ideas in the comments!

Thanks!

http://poestories.com/read/totheriver

Is Technology a Huge Part of Your Life?

Introduction

Are you constantly on any of your electronic devices? Well you should know that they could affect your brain. Studies show that technology over load can affect the brains ability to store information. In addition you can get very distracted from something that your doing because you are using an electronic. The average teenager owns up to about 4 electronics. Imagine using these all at the same time, many people do it.  Are electronics always a bad thing though? Think about it, if we didn't have electronics the world would not be the same because people use electronics to communicate over long distances, you can search anything you want on Google in a couple of seconds, and people can learn how to do many things from YouTube. 

Communication 

Many people use electronics to communicate with others. For example some kids call there dad or mom who are away over seas or some people use it to talk with their relatives when they can't go see them for a while. You could also use Facebook to communicate with others. If you forgot your homework you can ask someone on Facebook or you can text them. Communication is very important. Imagine having to drive all the way to a different country just to talk to one of your relatives. Or write a letter and wait for it to get there which could take weeks. Without electronics, fast communication would not exist.

The Internet 

Electronics are used to search up things they need to know in seconds. If you need to find out information on a topic for a project in school just search up whatever you need to find out on Google. 99.9% of the time your going to find what you need. If people want to find out how to bake something they can search up the ingredients online. If you want to find out what a word means just search it. Electronics are a quick and easy way to go online and search what ever you need or want to know.
                        

YouTube 

Many people use electronics for YouTube to learn how to make something. There are so many things you can learn from on YouTube. From school based activities to making something fun. For example you can learn how to make a specific type of project in school or like how I learned how to make rainbow loom bracelets from a video in YouTube. YouTube is also great for parents. You want to learn how to repair something that broke, just search it on YouTube. Or you can see a step by step video to learn how to cook your favorite type of food. YouTube is a great and easy way to learn to do many things.

Conclusion

Electronics are great and make a easier life style. You can communicate with others, search anything you want in seconds, and learn many things from YouTube. Instead of having to go look in the library or write a long letter that will take forever to reach where you want it to go, we have these amazing pieces of technology.  Imagine living in a world without electronics. That would be hard for me but not impossible. How about you? Could you live without electronics. Make sure to give a reason why. Post in the comments below. Thanks! 

The 48th Super Bowl!

Introduction

Did you get to watch the big game on Sunday, February 2, I did. It was the Seattle Seahawks against the Denver Broncos. It was quite the game to watch. Starting in the first quarter the score was 8 to 0 Seahawks in the lead. In the second quarter it was 22 to 0 Seahawks in the lead. Third quarter was 36 to 8. The Broncos finally got 8 points. For the last quarter it was 43 to 8 with the Seahawks in the lead. It was a good game but Seahawks clearly won.

                               

 My Opinion

I believe that in the games prior to the super bowl both the teams did very good. Then they came to the super bowl. The Seahawks must have practiced really well and watched exactly how the Broncos played because they were not letting them do anything. The Seahawks were trying really hard and by the third quarter it was 36 to 8 so many people just stopped watching. Many of the Broncos fans must be very disappointed. I like both the teams but me and my friend were taking and agreed we wanted the Seahawks to win. I do think both the teams are good and deserved to be in the super bowl.

Question of The Week

As I said above I was rooting for the Seahawks but did like both teams. Which team were you rooting for? Which team did you think deserved to win? The super bowl is always fun to watch and I always enjoy it. I hope you enjoyed this years super bowl too!  

The Amazing Inventor Steve Jobs!

All About Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs was born on February 24, 1955. He unfortunately passed away on October 5, 2011. He is 56 years old. He was born in San Francisco California to Joanne Schieble and Abdulfattah Jandali. When he was just a little baby his parents gave him unnamed up for adoption. He was then adopted by Clara and Paul Jobs and named Steven Jobs. As a boy Steve Jobs and his father would work on electronics in their garage.Steve was very interested in the electronics and working with them became his hobby. While he was in elementary school he was so smart and tested very well. Because of this he was asked to skip to high school, but his parents declined. Soon he got older and made his way to Homestead high school. Soon after he started high school he met a man in college Steve Wozniak. They became partners very soon because they were both interested in technology and electronics. They worked together and made new things. He started taking creativity classes and came up with new ideas and ways to make things. Later on he got older and he started the Apple company. He also married a women named Laurene Powell and had children named Lisa Brennan Jobs, Reed Jobs, Erin Slena Jobs, and Eve Jobs. He lived with his wife and Reed, Erin, and Eve. Lisa lived with her mother because Laurene Powell was not her mother. Steve Jobs had her with another women. He was a private man and did not give much information about his family. He loved them and cared for them.

Major Accomplishments

1. Created Apple

2. Overcame Cancer

3 Interesting Facts

1. In elementary school he was a prankster. 

2. He went to Reed college but dropped out after 6 months.

3. At age 13 he called Bill Helwet and got a summer job at HP.

Quotes

" Things don't have to change the world to be important." -Steve Jobs. I chose this quote because not everyone can change the world. Its one out of a million people that actually get the chance to shine and change the world. So what ever your doing does not have to change the world as long as its good and you work hard at it then it is important. " Its not a faith in technology, its faith in people." -Steve Jobs I chose this quote because he is saying that there are no facts about how good technology is. You can't say this is the best technology in the world as a fact because people are always going to have a different opinion. So they don't depend on the technology they depend on the peoples opinions. The last quote I chose is, " You know my main reaction to this money thing is humorous, all the attention to it because it is hardly the most insightful or valuable thing that's happened to me." - Steve Jobs. I chose this quote because Steve Jobs was very wealthy but he did not need money to be happy. He worked very hard and became something big because he put his heart to it not because he wanted to have a lot of money.

Accomplishments

Steve Jobs was a very successful man so he had many achievements. One achievement he had, his biggest, was creating Apple. I chose this accomplishment because he worked very hard to get what he wanted. That is a great lesson because you are not going to be something big by sitting around and doing nothing. He had some ideas about the company and thought very hard about it. He dropped out of college and used all his free time inventing electronics. He soon wanted to make a company. He made the company in 1976. Apple started off small and got bigger and bigger because their devices were so good and convenient that everybody wanted them. Apples devices became some of the best in the world. Apple is now a very successful company and it is very popular. Another accomplishment he had was he survived through Pancreatic Cancer. I chose this accomplishment because it shows that just because people are very famous and wealthy does not mean they live perfect lives. He had a cancer tumor but he still worked hard. He still tried his best in everything. He did not want to have surgery at first. After a couple of months of having it he finally decided to have the surgery and he was all better. Steve Jobs had many achievements like the ones above because he always worked hard and tried his best.

Conclusion

Steve Jobs was very smart and tried really hard. Those were the two reasons he was so successful. He was one of the lucky people who got to change the world. He did it in a great way. He created some of the best technology world wide. People around the world use Apple products. I learned so many things from him, I hope you did too. 

Sources: http://www.biography.com/people/steve-jobs-9354805?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Jobs
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/s/steve_jobs_3.html