...I guess that’s how nature works “eat or be eaten“

Feb. 20-24, 2012

Last week in our general science class we had an outdoor activity and we have to observe

and count the organisms living in our designated area.  The area assigned to our group was

the garden in front of the office so each one of us made sure to do our work quietly and to

behave.  

Everyone was busy doing their work, identifying and counting the different organisms in their areas.  Well the most common organism that can be found almost everywhere were ants and “ants” was on the top of almost everyone’s list of organisms.

Some of us had difficulties in counting the organisms so we just estimated them. While we

Are  doing our activity I saw my classmates looking at something , the expression in their

faces show great amazement so I went to check it out and when I came to see it I saw our

teacher in general science holding a folder and a plastic drinking cup together and in

between those are the trapped caterpillar and bee.  She put it on the bench for us to see it

better, we saw the bee attacking the caterpillar. Although it was quite interesting to watch the bee attack the caterpillar I also felt sorry for the caterpillar because it was so helpless, but I guess that’s how nature works “eat or be eaten “.  

When the caterpillar was finally dead the bee was trying to lift it but the caterpillar is too heavy to be lifted  and there’s a plastic cup covering them that’s why the bee can’t get out. Everyone was scared to accidentally topple over the plastic cup because it was the only thing preventing the bee from escaping and if the bee escapes it might sting us. Someone tried to move the  plastic cup and the bee dropped the dead caterpillar then began flying around inside it tried to knock over the plastic cup that’s why everyone ran away from the bee afraid that it might escape and sting them.

I think that this is such a nice activity it was nice for us to go out for a change of environment

and since it was hot in our classroom I enjoyed the refreshing wind outside.  I look forward

into doing something like this again  Thank you Ms. Montemayor .

Trip to Nature

       Box #      Instructions:

1                                  Wow the air is so fresh sit for a while and feels it.

2                                  There is a butterfly follow it on square 9

3                                  Look at the big trees they’re all around jump two steps

4                                  The sun’s ray is very hot go under the big trees in square 3

5                                  Do not move a lion’s roar seems so near

6                                  Sprawl on the ground covered with mosses , lichens and wild plants

7                                  Now there’s a lake with very clear water you will be entertained with different fishes , snails , and some crabs stay and miss one turn

8                                  There are some ants and spiders go back to square 6

9                                  The wind is blowing very fast go to square 20

10                               Do not play twice , do not argue it’s safer to stay here

11                               Move fast  you are approaching a very refreshing view of a forest jump to square 25

12                               There are many predators here turn to square 35

13                               There are many wild plants stay here don’t worry the place is safe

14                               Not even grass can survive here go back to square 13

15                               The place is rocky be careful you might fall. Oops!

16                               The place is very cold

17                               Where your hat the sun shines brightly go to square 38

18                               There are birds living on the trees count the nests until you reach square 30

19                               This is a grassland beware of biting insects jump to square 28

20                               Stop! It’s dwelling with wild animals miss one turn

21                               There are rocks of different colours and designs admire them.

22                               There is a river with fishes stay and watch them swim you will miss one turn

23                               I can hear the sound of a wild boar seek refuge to square 18

24                               There are cactus plants around some are tall and some are dwarf visit another place by going to square 25

25                               There are germinating young plants do not harm them go to square 37

26                               The rain gently falls go under the big umbrella trees around you

27                               There is no vegetation here go to square 31

28                               The place is very cold wear your sweater

29                               There are mists on the grass try to wonder how they are formed you’ll miss one turn

30                               Danger sounds of snakes abound miss one turn

31                               There’s the sea wonder how it gained it’s saltiness stay and miss 2 throws

32                               Earth worms fill the place wet go to the next square

33                               There is a little pond with tadpoles next time you come here frogs will be jumping all over the place leave them and go to square 36

34                               You’re near the top of a cliff and below you can see vegetation move up 3 steps to see it better

35                               You are already tired seat and relax miss one turn

36                               Sea shells are scattered around pick up sum and bring them as you move one step forward

37                               Stay here for a while watch the sun as it sets

38                               Don’t be in a hurry relax

39                               It’s a safe place ducks chickens and other fouls are in the area

40                               Congratulations! You’re trip to nature is over till your next journey  

From Nitrogen, To Nitrogen...

Feb. 6 – 10, 2012

Last week in our general science class  we’ve studied about the different cycles in ecology

such as the water cycle , the carbon , oxygen cycle . and the nitrogen cycle.   Our teacher 

told us to present about one of the different cycles and make a story about it . So she went

around and assigned what cycle  would belong to each group. We were hoping that we’d get the water cycle  since  it’s so easy and we’re already very familiar about that cycle since

we’ve been studying about it since elementary.  The cycle that got assigned to us was the

carbon , oxygen  cycle  . Even though we didn’t get the cycle that we want we still did our

best to make a presentation about the cycle that was given to us.  

During the day of the presentation when we presented ours I think it was ok but I also think that it was quite hilarious .  I enjoyed watching the other group’s presentation I think the stories that they’ve come up with were quite interesting. I also noticed that I understand the cycles better because there’s a story in it.  After all the presentations, our teacher  discussed about the different cycles that have been presented. 

The cycle that took my interest the most was the nitrogen cycle because it amazes me how the atmospheric nitrogen  from the atmosphere  gets into our system.  Our teacher told us that the cycle goes like this:  

From the atmosphere the atmospheric nitrogen  will go down to land either by lightning or rain, then once it’s on the ground nitrogen fixing bacteria which live in legumes will turn the nitrogen into a useful substance for plants such as nitrates and nitrites.  Then the plants will absorb the nitrites.  After the plants have absorbed the nitrites, humans will eat the plants and that’s how nitrogen will be included in our system.  

But since it’s a cycle we need to return the nitrogen into the atmosphere  so when we die decomposers will break us down into ammonia, this process is called as ammonification  then ammonium shall again turn into nitrites by the help of nitrifying bacteria, and this process is called nitrification, then once it returned into being a nitrite denitrifying bacteria  will turn the nitrites back into atmospheric nitrogen and the cycle goes on.