363.34 Natural Disaster Preparededness: You Better Practice A Lot!

A friend sent me this link (might be re-thinking that relationship after this experience.) It's a game, but not like checkers is a game; more like chess is a game...for masters!

Stop Disasters! A simulation game for all kinds of natural disasters...wildfire, flood, tsunami, earthquake, hurricane. You are given an amount of money and time to strategically buy resources that will protect lives and lessen the economic impact.

I failed miserably when I played with the tsunami...yes, that is what they said "failed miserably." I did better with the flood...only a few lives lost, but it would not have been a pretty community because I put up every safety measure possible. This time I was awarded a medal. I took a picture of it, but lost the screen shot in all the confusion...you will just have to believe me!

Great for the classroom. Background information and teacher plans included. FAQs include the suggested age of 9-16. Timing would work with class periods (provided procedures and practice were done ahead of time.)

Would be a great collaboration project... and then pit one team against an other.

ISDR (International Strategy for Disaster Relief) is the sponsoring agency.

551.5 Winter Weather in Texas: Never a Dull Moment!

I had an opportunity to do a 1200-mile circle around part of Texas about a week ago and got to see the effects of weather in several ways...the terrible effects of drought in central Texas, the wild winds of the West Texas Plains...and the freakness of a hailstorm that happens when a cold front meets warmer air coming up from the Gulf! Earlier this school year, we got to experience a little snow at home in Houston. Take a look at what I ran into coming down off the Caprock between Post and Snyder! NO...it is not snow...it is hail and thank goodness it fell about a hour before I passed thru the area...or my cute red car may have been pelted and dented!

551.72 Snowflakes: Generate you Own Pile

Those of you who live with snow day in and day out for several months a year...forgive me. One more fun activity generated by the excitement of our recent snowfall.

Make-a-snowflake image generator. Use virtual scissors to cut out your own creation from a piece of virtual paper...and no mess to clean up! Possibly the cleverest part of the whole activity is watching the computer take the "paper" and magically fold it for perfect snowflake cutting! ( Hey, simple pleasures...what can I say!)

You save them or upload to the gallery...which contains thousands and thousands of entries. That is my one contribution at the top of the post. And below is an Animoto slideshow where I pulled samples from the gallery for your viewing pleasure.

551.45 Coastline Views: Effects of IKE

U.S. Geological Survey, a part of the Department of the Interior, has a series of before and after photos of Bolivar Peninsula at Crystal Beach that clearly show the effects of Hurricane Ike on the area. They say they will be adding some more.
If you are unsure as to the power of a hurricane...these photos will clear up any confusion you may have. Amazing!

551.552 IKE Update

I am lucky.

After a brief time in the dark, I have power.

After a day of little or no trickle, I have water...in the pipes where it should be, and none where it shouldn't be.

I was prepared.

Water in the bath tub.

Full tank of gas.

Foodstuffs that required no cooking or refrigeration.

It amazes me that people do not make these simple preparations

I am lucky.

My new home is safe. I worked my way thru a jungle of downed pines and oaks. No water damage. No broken windows.

I am lucky.

I wasn't living there yet so my car was not in its assigned spot to be crunched by the cover that got smashed by the huge pine that came down. Or parked out front...where another huge pine would have made a pancake of my pretty red Ford. (pictures to come once my phone starts acting properly!)

My friend was not so lucky, but is ok.

I am grateful.

My district is closed for 2 more days due to power outtages and damages.

I am anxious.

I am lucky.

Photo: Flickr Creative Commons uploaded by .stephweiss

Photo: Flickr Creative Commons uploaded by Daniesq

551.552 IKE: Preparing & Practicing Patience

Spent all day finishing the preparations for the effects of Ike upon my daily routine AND my impending move. Hardest part for me is trying to anticipate what things might be like this time tomorrow.

Did four loads of washing...it might be awhile before electricity becomes available. Need clothes to wear...and don't need to have to think about washing at the same time I move!

Cleaned out the refrigerator of all potential future science experiments...again based on the idea of no electricity being available. AND filled up every available vessel with water to make blocks of ice for the little freezer. Will keep the cooked meats and little bit of milk another day or so. Or I can put it on my head and pretend I'm cold!

Then I planned moving projects that can be done without much light. Yes, I have lots of flashlights and plenty of batteries, but I live in an apt with only three "windows"...great for protection against the angry elements, but means when the lights are out, it is pretty much a cave in about three-quarters of the place! Got my boxes arranged, found tape and scissors and markers. Ready...set...

Checked on the new place...battened down the hatches...locked the door...said a little prayer...and came "home."

Communicated with all the family and friends...assured everyone I was off the roads and ready to hunker down. Remembered to undo the garage door so my car would not be held hostage...in case the power was out longer than the roads impassable.

I know the media is doing its job, but continuous coverage on ALL the local channels ALL day and night...2 days prior to Ike's arrival. Ok, I know, picky, picky, picky.

I also know that not one drop of rain yet and the storm surge is already higher than many Gulf coast veterans remember. And they just reported that the bayous up here in my area are already rising from same said surge. WHERE is all the rain gonna go when it comes??

Oh, oh, first flicker of the lights...

I am lucky. I have very little worry about. I live about 50 miles inland and around 50 ft above sea level. My first hurricane was Alicia. My worst experience was tropical storm Allison who came and stayed...forever! There have been some other near misses that interrupted life for awhile. But I have never lost my house, my livelihood or someone dear to me. I am lucky.

Gonna go now. Turn off the computer. Disconnect it in case things go whacko in the night.

See you on the other side...hopefully soon and all intact.

BE SAFE. Hang on!

Visual courtesy of ABC-Channel 13

633.5 A "C" of Texas Snow

First day of December, winter in Texas...you have to agree it DOES look like snow!

My kind of snow...no melting, muddy mess and no shoveling required.

A week ago there had been "real" snow throughout the area...I missed it (and all the problems associated with it) but did see a few snowmen "puddles" in several yards!

004.716 Web Cams: Take a Look at the World

Over the last couple of weeks I have come across several web cam experiences while doing a little research and watching the boob tube. I tend to forget about web cam sites...there are hundreds now.

Thought you might like to see the ones that came up on my radar screen recently. They can sure be a help with animal studies, weather, and geography...and I know you can come up with all kinds of reasons to check them out and use them with your students and your own viewing pleasure!


This morning CBS Sunday Morning did a feature on The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. Female elephants are brought here to live out their lives in groups, with "best friends," and plenty of acreage. They have both Asian and African elephants who were circus performers and zoo residents. Thoe oweners set up the cameras so that we could watch the animals, but not disturb them in this comfortable habitat. There is a series of lessons that you can use along with video footage.


The National Park Service has a series of web cams throughout its parks for a variety of reasons. The ones noted on this map also record weather statistics. Included is information on how to use the information in lessons about air pollution, acid rain, and ozone issues.

Additional web cams (without air quality info) include Yellowstone, Glacier, and Yosemite.


Around ten years ago, I discovered the africam series of web cams and they helped turn me into the internet junkie I can be at times. most of the cams are trained on water holes where you can watch a virtual parade of animals pass by.

On the same site are a couple cams in North America...the Bald Eagle cam and the Osprey cam.

Also included at this site is a cam of the pyramids in Egypt...not the most exciting cam site unless you are into sunsets BUT they have some things helpful to students and one is a visual comparion chart of how large things are in relation to the pyramids...fun way to present point of view, big and little, or compare and contrast.

And take a look at this...a mashup of web cam photos and YouTube video technology! What a fun way to talk about Africa and its animals! There are more videos...check the blog here.

004.67 Web 2.0: Interesting Explanation

Web 2.0...The Machine is Us/ing Us

I hope you can see this! If you can't at your current location, please check it out from a different location some time soon! It is a great introduction to the power and usefulness of YouTube. But more importantly, if you have trouble explaining (or understanding) the power of the Web, this could help solve the problem!
It is making the rounds in various blogs so you may have already seen it.

I tried embedding the video in the manner that I have seen at other blogs, but it was too much technology for me to take in all at once. It was more important for me to share the information with any interested readers than have a "slick" presentation at this point. I will learn the "proper" method shortly and will be glad to pass it forward.

551.57 Clouds

Unscramble clouds at The Space Place.
Learn what different clouds look like and do puzzles all at the same time.
A fun way to learn some science!
Comes from our friends over at NASA...there are bunches of other things there too!

598.47 March of the Penguins

Part of any extended visit home by Younger Daughter is often used for a mini-marathon of movies and this Thanksgiving was no exception, thanks in part to the bargain DVD bins at Target and Wal-Mart on Black Friday. We got some great $3.00 deals.

The most delightful and heart-warming movie was The March of the Penguins, a National Geographic / Warner Independent Pictures c2005 presentation so beautifully narrated by Morgan Freeman. I am in love with emperor penguins and the stark beauty of Antarctica.
If you have not seen this movie, buy, rent, borrow, or even find it on cable TV (I think the Hallmark Channel is currently showing it.) Here is a sample of what you will see. And remember, it was humans who endured the harshness to capture this beautiful story. Here is the director's thoughts on the adventure.

I checked the district catalog and there are several books I will be borrowing for my winter break reading. I want to learn more about these amazing creatures.

If you are working a lesson around any of this, here are some support materials including some more video that you may find useful.

Yes...Happy Feet is on my radar screen for my next big screen experience!