tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65056498971188541482024-03-14T01:27:44.637-07:00 Educating CreativelyUsing photographs & images to enhance student learning - Things I learned after my Education Degree and didn't know that I didn't know.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01907720893379732917noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505649897118854148.post-1605302694895152372016-02-27T12:52:00.000-08:002016-02-27T12:52:58.001-08:00Wild Orchids in Canada's North<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMFGmhnQgsu8onqTlEfljo2Z-gFq0Zd6qSyDMep1_gZZq73-soNL8lW3oEP4CZqGDfu_DQEbJ8pcE3Yz19o-jWe7y12b3kN5YXJaMBSvxJm1sCbBHBk9DW0glw1idqC-PkTr_CeHzkuVx/s1600/cypripedium_10_FreeTiiuPix.com.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEMFGmhnQgsu8onqTlEfljo2Z-gFq0Zd6qSyDMep1_gZZq73-soNL8lW3oEP4CZqGDfu_DQEbJ8pcE3Yz19o-jWe7y12b3kN5YXJaMBSvxJm1sCbBHBk9DW0glw1idqC-PkTr_CeHzkuVx/s320/cypripedium_10_FreeTiiuPix.com.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Pink Lady's Slipper</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #204162;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">We all have our favourite flowers - roses for the lovers, tulips for your Easter table, daffodils to aid cancer research. While I love them all for very different reasons, I find myself fascinated by orchids. The grocery store varieties have blooms that appear on elongated stems and last for months.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #204162;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #204162;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Thought of as warm-climate plants, did you know that wild orchids grow in northern Ontario? <em>Cypripedium acaule</em> is commonly known as the "Stemless Lady's Slipper, Pink Lady's Slipper, Pink Moccasin Flower" or just "Moccasin Flower". It is part of the <em>Orchidaceae</em> family with the <em>Cypripedium</em> genus containing about 30-50 species widely distributed across the Northern Hemisphere.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #204162;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #204162;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Cypripedium
acule</em></span> <span style="font-size: x-small;">is the Provincial flower of Prince
Edward Island. Although it is a native flower, it is
considered uncommon and endangered in many US states. <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">If the blossom is picked, the plant will not regenerate. Do not
attempt to transplant this orchid if you find one, for it will NOT survive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
Because of its attractiveness, t</span>his orchid is disappearing in the
wild.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #204162;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #204162;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #204162; font-size: x-small;">Found
on wet, moist and dry soils with some shade, this species can be
found in coniferous and mixed forests, swamps and bogs. This
species bears a single flower on a stem that is about 15 - 45 cm
tall. It has two large leaves 10 - 25 cm long at the base of
the stem. Plants that are not blooming have no stem which is
where the name <i>"Acaule"</i> comes from meaning <i>"without
stem"</i>. </span><span style="color: #204162; font-size: x-small;">Flower
blooms range from pale pink to light or dark purple. There are
also white forms of the plant and the <i>Yellow Lady's Slipper,
Cypripedium calceolus.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8ShHE9uJuzr5KJo-yK075_eMHkmGhLMOk1KtFTHafOYA7qnPMDfVshDea40Pz_O4FGjznp7m7rrSVFCSR9m4pTeiayGhjXV7mtOlG-4Gcgl7PD54YtPolXPcQWF7FHMEZwmvOqnfL708/s1600/cypripedium_15_FreeTiiuPix.com.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8ShHE9uJuzr5KJo-yK075_eMHkmGhLMOk1KtFTHafOYA7qnPMDfVshDea40Pz_O4FGjznp7m7rrSVFCSR9m4pTeiayGhjXV7mtOlG-4Gcgl7PD54YtPolXPcQWF7FHMEZwmvOqnfL708/s320/cypripedium_15_FreeTiiuPix.com.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Species known as "deceptive orchid".</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: #204162; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">If
you have a close look at the flower, there is a pouch or lip that is
folded in on itself. This forms a narrow channel-like
opening. The inner surface of the pouch has many fine hairs. </span><span style="color: #204162; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">This
species of plant is known as a <i>"deceptive orchid"</i>
that is pollinated by bees. A bee is attracted by the flower's
colour and sweet scent. It pushes through an inward-leading
slit in the front of the flower and gets trapped inside a
pouch. The agitated and trapped insect now looks for a way out
and must crawl out through a small hole in the back of the pouch
called the<i> "labellum".</i> In order to do so, the
bee must crawl under a flattened structure which are the
female reproductive parts (stigma). Pollen the bee was
carrying before rubs off and pollination is accomplished. As
the bee leaves, it picks up a new packet of pollen as it squeezes
out of the flower. If you notice a hole in a flower bloom, an
upset bee may have chewed its way out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #204162; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since
the pollen sticks to the back of the bee where it cannot access it,
bees learn that there is no nectar or pollen reward and do not come
to visit the flower again. Because this flower has such an
elaborate method of pollination, it is thought that less than 5% of
flowers are pollinated each year. In fact, it may take up to
10 years for the plant to germinate! <u>If you see one in the
wild, please do not pick the flower!</u></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<b><i><span style="color: #204162; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Did
you know...</span></i></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #204162; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">that
<i>"cypripedium"</i> from the Greek means <i>"Aphrodite's
shoe"</i> or <i>"Venus' shoe"</i> and refers to the
shape of the lip of this flower?</span><br />
<span style="color: #204162; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #204162; font-size: x-small;">If you need images of this lovely wild flower, please visit <strong><em><a href="http://freetiiupix.com/">FreeTiiuPix.com</a></em></strong> where you may download specimens </span><span style="color: #204162; font-size: x-small;">photographed blooming at Grundy Lake Provincial Park,
Ontario, in early May.</span></span><br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01907720893379732917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505649897118854148.post-60793422173461011482015-09-17T11:50:00.000-07:002015-09-17T12:00:49.500-07:00Teaching Geology - Visiting Thunder Rocks at Allegany State Park NY<br />
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<st1:placename w:st="on"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I recently visited for the first time, Allegany</span></st1:placename><span style="font-family: Verdana;"> <st1:placetype w:st="on">State Park</st1:placetype>
which is a large park within the <st1:placename w:st="on">Enchanted</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Mountains</st1:placetype> of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Western</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">New York</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">State</st1:placetype></st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The park encompasses more than 65,000 acres
of beautiful scenery and is located just north of <st1:placename w:st="on">Allegheny</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">National Forest</st1:placetype> in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pennsylvania</st1:place></st1:state>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The park is divided into two sections:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Red House and the Quaker Run Areas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Visitors to the Park can
enjoy winterized cabins, hiking, snowmobile trails, picnic and recreation
areas, bike and horse paths, camping, boating, fishing and swimming.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPLMateHI0YNLOoMibOJMx2P8cNfFlZyPqkfYZIxDPbBv-Ti1ueC1ylIk-1pI51ahPPtTEBRq1aERaS6tsLv0RUFBheZB1VnNEXap7hVgK56iTQJWSV-8FojBXzWWcWcRZ7cKQEGZy5bh/s1600/thunder_rocks_15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPLMateHI0YNLOoMibOJMx2P8cNfFlZyPqkfYZIxDPbBv-Ti1ueC1ylIk-1pI51ahPPtTEBRq1aERaS6tsLv0RUFBheZB1VnNEXap7hVgK56iTQJWSV-8FojBXzWWcWcRZ7cKQEGZy5bh/s320/thunder_rocks_15.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Large boulders within Allegany State Park known as Thunder Rocks</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">A most interesting place
within the Park to visit is a bedrock city named Thunder Rocks (called a city, because
the massive boulders are the size of houses arranged slightly apart from each
other so that it looks like there are streets running between them).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rock city is a grouping of sedimentary rocks
made up of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Olean</st1:place></st1:city>
conglomerate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The conglomerate is made
of coarse sand and white quartzite pebbles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The rocks sit on the Allegheny Plateau at 2,260 feet above sea
level.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg5EoilLavtUm-JMzdJgGDMN5mFyNA4dSKzJxGGXt_iLXnnpY4BcbeAYZkXzT1_eJaSWtphfaiFIt6TlQvrTB_tT4D_voHxQPLqfS7H-rnnSVp9ibaJsb1NIhimInWzPuql0O0MXwOvf8h/s1600/thunder_rocks_7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg5EoilLavtUm-JMzdJgGDMN5mFyNA4dSKzJxGGXt_iLXnnpY4BcbeAYZkXzT1_eJaSWtphfaiFIt6TlQvrTB_tT4D_voHxQPLqfS7H-rnnSVp9ibaJsb1NIhimInWzPuql0O0MXwOvf8h/s320/thunder_rocks_7.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Made up of huge rocks that
one can walk amongst or even climb, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Rock</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">City</st1:placetype></st1:place> is a great place to
learn about geology, although I have heard several different theories about how the rocks
got here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">At first glance, most
individuals believe that glaciers brought the rocks to this area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, geologists have discovered that this
small area of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">New York</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">State</st1:placetype></st1:place> has not been
touched by glaciers, so that is false.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Some say that they were
moved here from the nearby <st1:place w:st="on">Catskill Mountains</st1:place>
by erosion and gravity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Millions of
years ago, this area was covered by a large, shallow sea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The <st1:place w:st="on">Catskill Mountains</st1:place>
were formed to the east at this time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rock city sits on a conglomerate known as the Devonian Salamanca
conglomerate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Conglomerate rock is
individual stones cemented together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
theory is that conglomerate is being carried downhill by soil creep that has
been going on for thousands of years. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Another explanation is
that continental collision formed the elevated <st1:place w:st="on">Allegheny
Mountains</st1:place>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Erosion is
uncovering ancient Paleozoic rocks, the youngest of which are Thunder
Rocks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In short, this theory says that
Thunder Rocks are native bedrock and sit where they were deposited as sediments
millions of years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWhgD2G-47Lr9IKF_2zPcUMmLwXLD29ZHvKL7deDQhDwyyPgZ_8L00NCpDW77ZkVTRr4tRKFB7BHrYbNlu5i99eAXT2cXQ3Qjw57HkBsinCjvV3LvgIGRjwQ896fI51g-oCHSK08Yw9cC/s1600/thunder_rocks_6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWhgD2G-47Lr9IKF_2zPcUMmLwXLD29ZHvKL7deDQhDwyyPgZ_8L00NCpDW77ZkVTRr4tRKFB7BHrYbNlu5i99eAXT2cXQ3Qjw57HkBsinCjvV3LvgIGRjwQ896fI51g-oCHSK08Yw9cC/s320/thunder_rocks_6.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>Note:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Allegheny” is how the name of the <st1:placename w:st="on">National</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Forest</st1:placetype>
and mountains are spelled in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Pennsylvania</st1:place></st1:state>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">New
York</st1:place></st1:state> it is spelled “Allegany”.<o:p></o:p></em></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">And finally, there is an Iroquois legend that states that there once was a struggle amongst the guardian
spirits of rocks to see who was the strongest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They challenged each other to see who could throw the largest rock to
the top of a mountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Iroquois
tribe close by heard thunderous noises coming from the mountain. Upon
investigation they discovered the “thrown” rocks and named them “Thunder
Rocks”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p><strong><em>Teaching Ideas:</em></strong></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><o:p></o:p></span><em> </em></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>Take a field trip to the Park to visit Thunder Rocks. Students may walk amongst the rocks, but take care to discuss the dangers of climbing these high structures. Since a field trip to the Park to see the rocks may not be possible, you may wish to download images of the park and rocks from </em></span><a href="http://www.freetiiupix.cwahi.net/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>FreeTiiuPix</em></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em> to use as part of your geography curriculum studies.</em></span> <br />
<br />
<a href="http://nysparks.com/parks/1/details.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">New York State - Allegany Park</span></a><br />
<a href="http://freetiiupixscnry.cwahi.net/Allegany_State_Park.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">FreeTiiuPix-Download free images of Thunder Rocks</span></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01907720893379732917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505649897118854148.post-44614926207403964922013-09-09T13:11:00.000-07:002013-09-09T13:11:18.709-07:00Halloween Celebrations in your Classroom<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTHusgEMtiQ8KLKnhy5WxbhxBRKXGR0279ze5WGX3eeMMpXfEVhDXDj48sSR8uVAktVcs6myeDQ1tt5NzRCcEI77vAKfPL9T_YGECHfktqWeKYGXSuGViEe2x0kztBfMpwnJJ2nZ3syWT/s1600/jack_o_lantern_PNG_4_FreeTiiuPix.com.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTHusgEMtiQ8KLKnhy5WxbhxBRKXGR0279ze5WGX3eeMMpXfEVhDXDj48sSR8uVAktVcs6myeDQ1tt5NzRCcEI77vAKfPL9T_YGECHfktqWeKYGXSuGViEe2x0kztBfMpwnJJ2nZ3syWT/s200/jack_o_lantern_PNG_4_FreeTiiuPix.com.png" width="200" /></a></div>
Halloween is an annual celebration observed in a number of countries on October 31st. It is a mixture of celebration and superstition. The name "Halloween" comes from "All Hallows' Evening" which is the eve of the Western Christian feast of All Hallows or Saints. Pope Gregory III designated the first of November as a time to honour all saints and martyrs. Prior to that, it was an ancient Celtic festival "Samhain" during which bonfires would be lit and costumes worn to ward off roaming ghosts. It was believed that on this night of the year, spirits and the dead can ross over into the world of the living. These spirits could take someone into the underworld with them. In order to avoid such things, people dressed up so as not to be recognized by the spirits.<br />
<br />
Today, Halloween activities include trick-or-treating for candy, holding and attending costume parties, carving pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns, bobbing for apples, and playing pranks on people to scare them. Visiting haunted attractions and telling scary stories are also very popular. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtBalJvPnA_dWCMIFFIl0Rv-gMX45sdoufOvp25Yr40FzRS0a_xtYFq8KIt2UTSuTiwGE9CN1kuMn7V9PVfKTw12RELqoMDzY-T-z3xsYJMVONKjlB6ZDo0pYq_sHayXfKz6MzuwUBie9/s1600/halloween_grtg_2_FreeTiiuPix.com.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtBalJvPnA_dWCMIFFIl0Rv-gMX45sdoufOvp25Yr40FzRS0a_xtYFq8KIt2UTSuTiwGE9CN1kuMn7V9PVfKTw12RELqoMDzY-T-z3xsYJMVONKjlB6ZDo0pYq_sHayXfKz6MzuwUBie9/s320/halloween_grtg_2_FreeTiiuPix.com.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Happy Halloween greetings at </em><a href="http://www.freetiiupix.com/"><em>www.FreeTiiuPix.com</em></a><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Why not dress up your lesson plans with PNG images of pumpkins and Jack-o-Lanterns. Have a Halloween party and decorate your classroom!<br />
<br />
Here are some fun Halloween party ideas for your class:<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Halloween Memory Game</strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
Get some Halloween related items and place them on a tray. You should have about 15-25 small items from your local dollar store. Things like plastic spiders, eyeballs, skulls, pumpkins, mice, ghosts, etc. are good choices. If you have a large class, think about having several trays with students working in groups. Cover the trays with a cloth.<br />
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Remove the cloth to reveal the items on the tray and tell students that they are to try to memorize as many items as they can within 45 - 60 seconds. When the time is up, place the cloth back onto the tray. Students will now write down as many items from the tray as they can remember. The student or group that remembers the most items correctly is the winner. You can change up this game by playing in rounds, or changing or adding items to the tray.<br />
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<strong>Scary Story Time</strong><br />
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The object of this literacy game is to begin with a scary idea and to build upon it. This game/assignment may involve the entire class, a small group, or be used as a writing assignment for individual study.<br />
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The teacher will have idea cards to begin a story. Students will repeat the beginning phrase and add their idea to continue the story. Each student will take their turn and be given an allotted amount of time to continue telling the story - 30-60 seconds works best. The next student will repeat the last line and try to move the story in another direction. You can add atmosphere to your class by turning off the lights and have the student talking hold a flashlight under their chin.<br />
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This idea is also great for individual writing assignments. The teacher may provide several phrases as beginning lines to write a creative story. Stories may be shared in the classroom.<br />
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Story beginning phrase ideas: (Adjust as age-appropriate for your classroom.)<br />
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<em>It was a dark and stormy night when...</em><br />
<em>When the lightning lit up the night sky, I could see...</em><br />
<em>The witch laughed and in a squeaky voice said...</em><br />
<em>Peeking in through the window was...</em><br />
<em>My worst fears were coming true. Right behind me....</em><br />
<em>Out of the dark woods crawled...</em><br />
<em>The motionless figure laying on the ground suddenly...</em><br />
<em>The dogs ran in fear, for right behind them...</em><br />
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<strong>Bake Sugar Cookie Dough - Halloween Fingers</strong><br />
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2 cups all purpose flower<br />
1/2 teaspoon baking powder<br />
1/4 tsp. salt<br />
1/2 cup or 1 stick unsalted butter at room temperature<br />
1 cup granulated sugar<br />
1 large egg<br />
1 tsp. vanilla extract (use the real stuff, not the artificial)<br />
Blanched, skinless whole almonds<br />
Red food colouring<br />
Powdered sugar<br />
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Mix flower, baking powder and salt. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Gradually add the flower mixture. Wrap dough in plastic and either freeze or place in fridge until firm (about 40 minutes).<br />
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Roll dough into finger-sized logs about 3 inches long. Make three perpendicular lines with a knife's edge on the middle of the fingers to represent knuckle lines. Press a whole almond onto the tip of the "finger" to look like a fingernail. The pointed end of the almond should point away from the finger. Bake in a 325 degree oven for about 10-12 minutes. Cool completely on a wire rack.<br />
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If desired, mix a little powdered sugar and water to make a thin icing. Colour the icing with red food dye and "paint" each fingernail red.<br />
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These Halloween "finger" cookies make a fun addition to any classroom Halloween party.<br />
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Optional: I've seen green food dye added to the dough mixture. A light hint of green and you can call these cookies "witch's fingers"! Enjoy.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01907720893379732917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505649897118854148.post-11322467179942905042013-08-24T13:00:00.001-07:002013-08-24T13:00:13.282-07:00What Are Those Funny Looking Tumours Growing on Goldenrod Plants?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPDHEZapQEcAqZuQif4odnPXm7FTxpo9NKNZColZ0qfx5D0Lx7MY9HKZT8ORKtCUJ3k2pKaMgEvcARJgAESfpgpfXaucNgITVSA1EK6aX9b2BDjh4UmHBRTkUlkAN4uf7TDsWcn7-_BXb/s1600/gall_3_FreeTiiuPix.com.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPDHEZapQEcAqZuQif4odnPXm7FTxpo9NKNZColZ0qfx5D0Lx7MY9HKZT8ORKtCUJ3k2pKaMgEvcARJgAESfpgpfXaucNgITVSA1EK6aX9b2BDjh4UmHBRTkUlkAN4uf7TDsWcn7-_BXb/s1600/gall_3_FreeTiiuPix.com.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Newly formed gall on Goldenrod Plant</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have you ever noticed those strange tumour-looking bulges on some wildflowers? especially Goldenrod plants? I didn't know what these were, and your students probably don't either. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Living inside these round spheres are tiny insects! Called "galls" or "cecidia" these bulges are actually hibernation dens!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">A parasitic fly called the "Goldenrod Gall Fly" <em>[Eurosta solidaginis</em>], lays its eggs on the stem of a Goldenrod plant. The female fly injects her egg-laying tube called an "ovipositor" into the Goldenrod stem. In about 10 days, the larvae hatch and begin to eat the inside of the plant's stem. The swelling and creation of the round-shaped gall is the plant's response to the insect living inside. The larva is laid in spring and will live inside the plant for the entire summer. Sometimes galls become very big - about the size of a Ping-Pong ball!</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5hPdctz6TItBBsoPDypJSXCBWwgDDuu3hvuP-0nrO7E55pMFQiU_lUQceuD9N5ftcJogS8TKfovx3quULfX9_BwlzqCHOERSwbbuS2cn-OAGqql4EBwT7vTzRpcXVi__jotsNZwDLJZ2/s1600/goldenrod_gall_1_FreeTiiuPix.com.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5hPdctz6TItBBsoPDypJSXCBWwgDDuu3hvuP-0nrO7E55pMFQiU_lUQceuD9N5ftcJogS8TKfovx3quULfX9_BwlzqCHOERSwbbuS2cn-OAGqql4EBwT7vTzRpcXVi__jotsNZwDLJZ2/s1600/goldenrod_gall_1_FreeTiiuPix.com.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Dried gall showing exit hole.</em></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">As winter approaches, the larvae produce a chemical that prevents them from dying in the cold weather. This chemical is very much like anti-freeze. The stems of the Goldenrod plant, along with the gall, dry and become brown. Before winter, the larva creates a spring exit tunnel by eating almost to the surface of the gall. It then returns to the center where it lays dormant during the winter.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Unless eaten by predators, such as other insects or birds, the larvae turn into grubs and then adult insects that will emerge next spring. Many birds have learned to hunt for large galls in order to get a tasty meal. Some fishermen are known to carry a few galls in their pocket and use large grubs as bait.</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKw1ZmTsCREYc68dHO7RzI4au1-IJliZbGBmOHfo7jLOZjp9zBPNhIlOIb8Mw9KJ2RhEa73mBIa5sLP6yoXehzHg_L9IXsPxiY_sODlP7EQmhtSv-y7aZFbUGYPdm4YtEIJx1jg4ehyphenhyphenn2t/s1600/gall_cross_section_2_FreeTiiuPix.com.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKw1ZmTsCREYc68dHO7RzI4au1-IJliZbGBmOHfo7jLOZjp9zBPNhIlOIb8Mw9KJ2RhEa73mBIa5sLP6yoXehzHg_L9IXsPxiY_sODlP7EQmhtSv-y7aZFbUGYPdm4YtEIJx1jg4ehyphenhyphenn2t/s1600/gall_cross_section_2_FreeTiiuPix.com.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Two grubs living in a dormant gall.</em></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">There are two types of parasitic wasps <em>Eurytoma gigantean</em> and <em>Eurystoma obtusiventris</em> that steal the galls made by the Goldenrod Gall Flies. These two wasps hunt for galls into which they lay their own eggs. The <em>Eurytoma obtusiventris</em> lays its eggs inside the Gall Fly larva while the <em>Eurytoma gigantean</em> eats the whole gall fly and takes its place in the gall. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Round galls are created by the Goldenrod Gall FLY, while elliptical galls are created by the Goldenrod Gall MOTH. The moth's life cycle is much the same as that of the fly except that theie galls are more camouflaged and elongated. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It should be noted that there are other causes of galls as well which include other parasites such as fungi, bacteria, insects and mites.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong>Fun Classroom Activity</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Take your class for a walk to your local park, woodland or even hunt in the grasses alongside parking lots and shopping malls. Goldenrod grow just about everywhere. Have students search for and collect galls at various times of the year.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Look for mature, brown galls that do not have any exit holes. This will ensure that the grub is still in the gall. Cut open the galls and try to identify the insect species inhabiting its home. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">This is a great introduction or companion to teaching students about the various types of animal homes. Photographs in this category can be found at <a href="http://freetiiupixanmls.cwahi.net/animal_homes.htm" target="_blank">Animal Homes.</a> Complement your lesson plan with a slide show on this same topic at <a href="http://teacher-resource.cwahi.net/" target="_blank">Free Slide Presentations</a></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01907720893379732917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505649897118854148.post-25699245942609618322013-08-09T06:54:00.002-07:002013-08-09T06:59:47.824-07:00Using Images to Enhance Student Learning<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">It’s an animal that’s
about the size of a Loonie (that’s a Canadian dollar coin to you
non-Canadians), but sometimes it can grow to be heavier than a small
child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s usually green, but some are
also shades of brown and black.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some are
“painted” with a yellow streak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has
small eyes and flaring nostrils along with four stout legs.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Do you know what animal
I’m describing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Neither might your child
or a student.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I further continue my
description to include that on some species of this animal, its tail looks like
that of a dinosaur, can you now guess the animal?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Probably not.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">If, however, I were to
post or show you a picture of the animal I was describing, I am sure that at
any age, almost everyone would be able to identify it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps not the specific scientific name of the animal,
but you would certainly be able to identify the species.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Learning, at any age,
takes repetition. Have you ever watched a young child watch the same video over
and over until they “get” it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My aged
mother has to repeat a new telephone number many times before as she says “it
sinks into my old brain”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But repetition
of the same method of learning is not as good as being exposed to new material
or a new concept in a variety of ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just as we use our senses of touch, taste and smell to identify a food,
learning about new concept, or, in this case a new animal, is made easier by
the use of a variety of teaching methods in order to comprehend and grasp the
new idea. One of the best learning methods is visual – seeing a picture.</span></span><em></em><em></em></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Compare my talking about a
“Teasel”, to that of seeing a picture of one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A Teasel, by the way, is a genus of a flowering plant in the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Disacaceae</i> family known as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dipsacus</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s an amazing specimen of plant with
lavender flowers located on prickly heads that form on tall stems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The plant blooms on the heads in an outward
fashion resulting in what looks like a purple floral belt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The flowers continue to open blooming towards
the top and bottom of the head leaving a barren cone where the spent flowers
were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get the idea?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll bet an image would help?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></span> </div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPuJNy7xfU8eevs9-vmv6ZQ74DhP9B7_PSzKaMtbwIK6lmLpJ5Ebu36AH4LxchLDCDF-1tWxJMzMbBY-HuCpjHSL-S-uKvn_ZIHjO3DGPWvrV2Rdx7aF_00CuCf-uKh1sOZkr9NqTgb_De/s1600/Teasel-4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><em><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPuJNy7xfU8eevs9-vmv6ZQ74DhP9B7_PSzKaMtbwIK6lmLpJ5Ebu36AH4LxchLDCDF-1tWxJMzMbBY-HuCpjHSL-S-uKvn_ZIHjO3DGPWvrV2Rdx7aF_00CuCf-uKh1sOZkr9NqTgb_De/s320/Teasel-4.JPG" width="320" /></em></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
<em>Teasel (Teazel or Teazle) <br />Although rather pretty, <br />Dipsacus is considered an invasive species.<br />
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<em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_mHAH9QlayqCStTGQrfVbLfIyo1JkuxwvmLz8hyphenhyphenyVPTnMDZwj25cciSSCIT2Auut2YBOvLkK9kJlV2xBYuV03-ZuX5R2P2QS5tsC2_1CgqlPEd207fQY4FJEBcrdTyvDfXkN4TlUXhkm/s1600/Teasel-17.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9_mHAH9QlayqCStTGQrfVbLfIyo1JkuxwvmLz8hyphenhyphenyVPTnMDZwj25cciSSCIT2Auut2YBOvLkK9kJlV2xBYuV03-ZuX5R2P2QS5tsC2_1CgqlPEd207fQY4FJEBcrdTyvDfXkN4TlUXhkm/s320/Teasel-17.JPG" width="320" /></a></em></div>
<em>
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<span style="color: black;"></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Have you ever wondered where the term “<i>a picture is worth a thousand words</i>” came from?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Believed to have come from an article written by Fred R. Barnard used to promote images in advertising, the phrase affirms that a visual image can easily take the place of a lengthy, textual description.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #e1e1e1;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Educators, be they teachers or parents, are ever in search of images to enhance their lessons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, students also have a great need for photographs for school projects and assignments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Neither has much time to spend on research nor wants to expend the effort it takes to register and become a member of a website only to get access to a limited amount of free materials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paying for image resources – have you seen a teacher’s budget or a student’s allowance lately? – is usually out of the question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cutting and pasting images from your search engine’s internet image search result pages may result in your using images that are copyrighted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such usage is the same as stealing the work of others.</span><span style="color: #e1e1e1;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #e1e1e1;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;">Find good sites that offer free images, bookmark them and check often for new materials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you do find a website that offers free photographs, read the Terms of Use carefully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ensure they hold the copyrights to the images and be very sure you understand what you can and cannot do with the pictures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be aware of any restrictions or requirements there may be for you to use and download the photos.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">The animal described above, by the way, was a snapping turtle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reference to “painted” is in relation to <st1:place w:st="on">Northern Ontario</st1:place>’s wide-spread Painted Turtle species. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">Tiiu Roiser BAA, BEd.</span></i><span style="color: #e1e1e1;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><strong><em>Classroom ideas: </em></strong>Use images -- to decorate your classroom, make vocabulary flash cards, include in slide presentations, add to your handouts & worksheets, provide as a resource for your students, and as inspiration for art work. Images can help to illustrate items and sentence structure for English as a Second Language (ESL) students and may assist them in expressing their needs. Consider making a picture book for young students.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #cc0000;">To enhance your lesson plans and/or student projects, you can download 100% free images from </span><a href="http://www.freetiiupix.cwahi.net/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">FreeTiiuPix.com</span></a><span style="color: #cc0000;"> There are no gimmicks and no registration is required. Just follow the </span><a href="http://freetiiupix.cwahi.net/Terms_of_Use.htm" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000;">Terms of Use</span></a><span style="color: #cc0000;"> and download high resolution images and slide shows for use in the classroom.</span> </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<i><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">The webmaster and owner of this blog is a retired teacher currently working with young children on a volunteer basis.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although not a professional photographer, her work has been published on a variety of websites and some of her photographs are part of Environment <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Canada</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s photo bank. She has developed and maintains an educational website on which she freely shares her photographs and educational resources.</span> </span></span></i></div>
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01907720893379732917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505649897118854148.post-46074822598864154902013-08-07T21:38:00.003-07:002015-09-17T11:46:35.441-07:00Little Gobbling Larvae That Wreak Havoc Upon a Forest - The Gypsy Moth<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While photographing lichens in <st1:place w:st="on">Northern Ontario</st1:place>,
a fuzzy brown patch upon the bark of a cedar tree caught my attention. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought I had come upon the nest of a
spider.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fuzzy brown material I assumed was chewed pulp – quite possibly a
nest made of chewed tree fibres, constructed much the same way that hornets
chew plant materials for form their papery homes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the bark around the fuzzy patch was
intact – from where had the spider gotten the material from which to build its
nest?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I began to take note that a great many
trees had similar patches on their trunks and I even found some patches on
cement posts. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was no spider nest!</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiixPuBHESRft9HJIn1ngMOeojWDdIG0336EME52UpC7c5qQeljgi8ZB6ANJV7-C-ha6oHGt6y1WZIddY6ffiRuMGL7UIRjQHnLdI1GXzF3LacHTQ7jxlnim4fE0iD8Wt1f7QQLiablDA5k/s1600/moth_eggs_2_FreeTiiuPix.com.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiixPuBHESRft9HJIn1ngMOeojWDdIG0336EME52UpC7c5qQeljgi8ZB6ANJV7-C-ha6oHGt6y1WZIddY6ffiRuMGL7UIRjQHnLdI1GXzF3LacHTQ7jxlnim4fE0iD8Wt1f7QQLiablDA5k/s320/moth_eggs_2_FreeTiiuPix.com.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Egg mass of the Gypsy Moth <br />on Poplar Tree</span></em></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Thanks to the research of a Park naturalist at <em>Grundy Lake Provincial
Park </em>in Northern Ontario, I learned that what I’d discovered was actually the
egg mass of the Gypsy Moth <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">[Lymantria
dispar L.],</i> also known as the European or North American Gypsy Moth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to the Ontario <em>Hamilton Conservation
Authority</em>, the larvae of this species consumes the leaves of over 500 species
of both deciduous and coniferous trees, shrubs and plants. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The starving larva move from tree to tree and are
transported by wind currents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The Gypsy Moth was accidentally introduced to <st1:place w:st="on">North
America</st1:place> around 1868 in a failed attempt at starting a silk
industry. It first evolved in Europe and <st1:place w:st="on">Asia</st1:place>
. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The <i>US Forest Service </i>calls
them one of <st1:place w:st="on">North America</st1:place> ’s most devastating
forest pests. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The Park was grateful for my discovery and concerned as to whether or not
they had an epidemic on their hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what does a Gypsy Moth look like? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adult males are a light brown and grey colour
with a darker brown mottled pattern on their wings. The male has feathery brown
antennae and a wingspan of just under 2 inches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Females are slightly larger (2.5 inches) and are almost completely white
in colour having a few dark-coloured stripes across her wings. She has a
light-coloured fuzzy head and has a few dark markings on her wings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Females are flightless.</span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMlmx_0yKKhdWrTRZ2CzWn4ufSkbQ-hsdMPjaeoHv3g5uNvRiULSaREaG_0Uj9QJqHdLH_iVBI7LElzbSVIYvWl5Ri30rdiRDTLUR3DghME55Xhq-1vI9S1nDc9XF8mwdmM_4Uf_P92PTJ/s320/moth_eggs_11_FreeTiiuPix.com.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Round black eggs wrapped in the warmth of the<br />Female Moth's hair.</span></em></td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reproducing once a year, females usually lay egg masses from late June through August on tree trucks, but have also been known to lay eggs on rocks, etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each beige coloured egg mass that is about 304 cm long and 102 cm wide, contains about 100 – 1,500 eggs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the female lays the eggs, she covers them with hair that she pulls from her abdomen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Protected by the warmth of the female’s hairs, the eggs remain in their mass over the winter and hatch in the late spring or early summer. The hair mixture also provides protection from predators.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A hatched egg mass is lighter in colour and has tiny exit holes on the surface. The eggs will no longer be felt inside.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span> </div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As they hatch from their tiny, dark-coloured eggs, the larva are about 3
mm in size, but will grow to be about 50 to 90 mm. The larvae go through
several developmental stages and pupate in the late summer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Males emerge first and begin to search for
females.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After mating, both adults die.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span> </div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Since my discovery, I have now further learned that adult Gypsy Moths
only live about a week since they do not have an active digestive system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While they can drink moisture, they cannot
eat.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">This species of Moth is particularly destructive because it causes havoc
in a number of ways. Did you know, that one Gypsy Moth caterpillar can eat
about one square meter of foliage?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Multiply that with an infestation and entire forests can be stripped of
their leaves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Defoliation causes a tree
stress and weakens it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After about two
years, the tree can no longer produce its own energy and may die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many mature trees can be lost in this way.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">What about the nuisance of something called caterpillar
"frass"?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the large amount
of eating that they do, caterpillars also produce a lot of fecal matter, or
"poop" called "frass".<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In a large infestation, frass has been known to cover backyards, outdoor
furniture, etc. decreasing a homeowner's enjoyment and use of their land.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>How do you get rid of the Gypsy Moth?</strong> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hand picking the egg masses and spraying is
done in an effort to rid an area of these pests. While scraping egg
masses off infested trees and the removal of caterpillars and pheromone traps work to
some degree, often a biological pesticide called <i>Bacillus thuringiensis
kurstaki</i> (Btk) is sprayed over large areas. Made of a dormant
bacteria that is toxic to Gypsy Moth caterpillars, this pesticide affects only
this species and, although costly since it needs to be sprayed from the air, is
very effective.</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbUkR88LRAtejfsFI6d_PA46GK7X1V5Xf72GgP0svMwpwaAZEKcdAsm9VbW1P0_ZekxSqp0USw24NoMY2zQrOBT-171sPf7936oTn2GHUtowB7XPefb3TTUqPyjLamv6fUAhyphenhyphenxfc9CAMd/s1600/moth_eggs_16_FreeTiiuPix.com.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbUkR88LRAtejfsFI6d_PA46GK7X1V5Xf72GgP0svMwpwaAZEKcdAsm9VbW1P0_ZekxSqp0USw24NoMY2zQrOBT-171sPf7936oTn2GHUtowB7XPefb3TTUqPyjLamv6fUAhyphenhyphenxfc9CAMd/s320/moth_eggs_16_FreeTiiuPix.com.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">While taking photographs, I touched an egg mass quite a bit as I examined
and rubbed off some hairs and vigorously rolled the eggs in my palms to reveal
the black spheres.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the fact, I’ve
now learned that <u>the fuzzy hairs that protect the egg mass can cause a
serious rash if touched by bare skin.</u> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Perhaps since it was spring, the potency of
the irritant had decreased over the winter months, but luckily I did not
experience any irritation or rash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My
advice should you find a Gypsy Moth egg mass, is that you not touch it for you may
not be as lucky.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></strong></span> <span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Teaching
ideas:<o:p></o:p></span></strong></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Introducing
students to the Gypsy Moth works well with <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ontario</st1:place></st1:state>’s Elementary curriculum. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Teachers can stress how plants and animals
are interdependent and are adapted to meet their needs from the resources
available in their particular habitats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Have students think about h</span>ow
might deforestation caused by the Gypsy Moth impact on the lives of other
animals? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> t</span>he forest?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> t</span>he lumber industry? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> r</span>ecreation?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Your discussion should progress to students getting an understanding of a community as a group of interacting species that
share a common habitat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How are
communities affected by this moth?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
about a community dependent upon timber as their source of income?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Download these and other images of Gypsy Moths from <a href="http://www.freetiiupix.cwahi.net/" target="_blank">FreeTiiuPix.com</a></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. Check out the Insect Category where you can download free clip art to share what the male and female Gypsy Moth look like.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span> </div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<strong>Further info:</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2013/05/10/toronto-.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">CBC News - Helicopters to spray gypsy moth pesticide</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span> </div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="color: black;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01907720893379732917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505649897118854148.post-73120275862299671902013-08-02T16:55:00.001-07:002013-08-03T06:34:54.768-07:00Fabulous Fungi-Making Spore Prints<h3>
</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_ZtZdkvGGvlV-Bt0NZW6V0xgFE7CpzM2kdQAlS_7fJLkJlxk_Ypm73ElnBNv6HQaLacK-eTfYmBA2cIRg2jwjP4RKyrZb3D2cWUjl26feqpjl4lbj6Q21qrknUBrZAz2wKTOyeXTooVB/s1600/marasmius_6_FreeTiiuPix.com.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_ZtZdkvGGvlV-Bt0NZW6V0xgFE7CpzM2kdQAlS_7fJLkJlxk_Ypm73ElnBNv6HQaLacK-eTfYmBA2cIRg2jwjP4RKyrZb3D2cWUjl26feqpjl4lbj6Q21qrknUBrZAz2wKTOyeXTooVB/s320/marasmius_6_FreeTiiuPix.com.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Marasmius rotula</em> -<em> "Pinwheel Mushroom"</em></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have recently become fascinated by the world of fungi, the
study of which is called “mycology”.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
found some pretty mushrooms while walking through the woods, took a few shots
and then tried to identify them. That was it, my world was changed forever. I now walk with my head down, peering into the damp forest underbrush, hoping to find elusive toothed fungi like <em>Hericium coralloides</em> - the <em>Comb Tooth</em> fungi or <em>Hericium americanum</em> with beautiful white cascading hanging spines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Did you know, that fungi are organisms that are made up of
networks of tiny, microscopic “threads” which spread themselves throughout the
soil? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The individual threads are known
as “hypha” and an entire network of hypha is called a “mycelium”.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The mycelium lives in the ground throughout the year, but
when the conditions are right, the fungus will want to “bloom” in order to
produce and disperse spores to produce new fungi. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mushrooms we typically see coming out of
the ground or growing from rotting timber are actually the fungi “blooming”. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We call these visible spore producing
structures “fruiting bodies” or “sporocarps”.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3NXuZLxe2alKbfdubQhZ957adFSq5ocFelPHaDDT7-MJUR_MEQeAkQqm0rfo1WRdMc_Mokbf0xigDqt_yRF1N2xb01EyMViMNS45Qgts_zym3ojs-fDsjrM18oyV6vLgidtETYg5mRDeE/s1600/mycena_leaiana_9_FreeTiiuPix.com.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3NXuZLxe2alKbfdubQhZ957adFSq5ocFelPHaDDT7-MJUR_MEQeAkQqm0rfo1WRdMc_Mokbf0xigDqt_yRF1N2xb01EyMViMNS45Qgts_zym3ojs-fDsjrM18oyV6vLgidtETYg5mRDeE/s320/mycena_leaiana_9_FreeTiiuPix.com.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><em>Mycena leaiana</em></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Little knots of hyphae begin to form under the ground and then grow
into two parts:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the mushroom’s cap and
the stem. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the knots, called “primoridia”
get large enough, the stem and cap get pushed above the ground and become
visible to us.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Fruiting bodies grow in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and
colours. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some are quite ugly like the
dark “Devil’s Urn” which is 12 cm tall and goblet-shaped, or the cute “Lemon
Drops” which are small, bright, yellow 3 mm droplets. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are some that look like orange peels,
and the beautiful <em>Amanita Muscaria</em> with its red cap and white speckles. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some even look like underwater coral!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While the mycelium remains under the ground all year, the
visible mushroom portions live for only a short while. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A single mycelium can produce many mushrooms.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Did you know, that fungi cannot manufacture their own food
by means of photosynthesis and that they secrete an enzyme in order to digest
parts of their surroundings? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spores are produced on the “gills” that are
typically under the “cap” of the mushroom. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A mushroom will grow tall on its stalk in
order to raise its cap higher than its surroundings. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the spores are released, they fall to the
ground and are carried by breezes in the air. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The higher the cap, the further the spores can
be dispersed.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwRps65dv7aPrI7ZI2Wx5BO0pBZg7Omkv8GH9cmTRuHrxSaCQFglDBALJ5ssNUwcZOYO2k0vRKshjcxJNB0DYCg6UFyYEgX9PW5TIBkLVVt8JtFzd9340HdFl3TTZ6USg6x1TwU5SRMR3/s1600/xylaria_4_FreeTiiuPix.com.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicwRps65dv7aPrI7ZI2Wx5BO0pBZg7Omkv8GH9cmTRuHrxSaCQFglDBALJ5ssNUwcZOYO2k0vRKshjcxJNB0DYCg6UFyYEgX9PW5TIBkLVVt8JtFzd9340HdFl3TTZ6USg6x1TwU5SRMR3/s320/xylaria_4_FreeTiiuPix.com.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Identification</strong> – With photos in hand, I began to leaf
through mushroom identification books and <em>Googled </em>images for comparison, trying to put names to the specimens I'd found. What I found, however, was a whole new world and that proper identification by sight alone is impossible! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two mushrooms may appear exactly alike with
only very slight differences. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One may
have a slight indentation in its cap that you may not notice. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The <em>Lactarius</em> and <em>Russula </em>genera are difficult
to identify for even the expert fungus enthusiast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unlike the <em>Russula, Lactarius</em> mushrooms “bleed”
a latex-like fluid. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While looking
identical, one may emit a white latex from its gills while the other does not. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some species look exactly alike except for the
colour or pattern of their spores – identified by doing something called taking
a spore print. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I next learned that fungi can be grouped as Sac
fungi, Earthballs, Puffballs, Jelly fungi, Stinkhorns, Morels, Corals, Toothed fungi, Brackets, and
Boletes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spore prints may be pink, brown
or light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Herein I need to mention that
there are also slime moulds (<em>Myxomycota</em>) and lichen… but that’s a topic for another
day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Fun Classroom Activity – Making Spore Prints</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Making a spore print with your students is a great tactile
addition to your fungus lesson plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
will need: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- fresh mushrooms – picked from the field, not the grocery store; </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- a clear
sheet of plastic;<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">- </span>some type of
covering – perhaps a bowl or glass.</span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cut or pull off the stalk of the mushroom; place the cap on the
sheet of clear plastic with the cap facing down; cover over night with a bowl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the mushroom is small, a cup or glass will
do as well - I used plastic drinking glasses with my students.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span>By the morning, the cap will have released
its spores onto the plastic and you will see a colour and pattern.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A white sheet of paper works well too, unless
your mushroom specimen happens to drop very light spores in which case you will
be disappointed thinking you are seeing nothing and will assume this exercise didn't work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unless you know ahead what colour spores your mushroom will drop, use
clear plastic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Note:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A mushroom will
drop spores without the bowl being placed upon it, the bowl merely speeds up
the process.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You need to explain to your class that a mushroom’s spores
are microscopic and that normally you would not be able to see them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can see the pattern and colour of the
spores since the mushroom is releasing millions of them!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>Note:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are many
toxic mushroom “look-alikes” that resemble edible ones. You should under no circumstances rely upon my
identification of species. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not a
mycologist and have not done microscopic identification - I have added names to
images which I merely THINK resemble the species. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some mushrooms and fungi are DEADLY poisonous
and their effects do not show up until it is too late to save yourself.</em></span></div>
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<strong><em><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana;"></span></em></strong> </div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"><strong>Resources for your fungi lessons:</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span> </div>
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<a href="http://www.freetiiupix.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Free downloadable images of fungi, slimes & lichens from FreeTiiuPix</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://mushroomexpert.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> All you want to know about mushrooms from mushroomexpert.com</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.mycoquebec.org/bienvenue.php" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mushrooms of Quebec (Use translate if you can't read French)</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mushroom_cap_morphology2.png" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Identifying the shape of mushroom caps (Wikipedia)</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.rogersmushrooms.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Visual identification keys at rogersmushrooms.com</span></a></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span></em></strong> </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01907720893379732917noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6505649897118854148.post-35786401698234979842013-08-02T13:47:00.001-07:002013-08-02T13:47:10.692-07:00Welcome!<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Welcome to my rambling thoughts as I continue to expand my Teacher and Student image resource website at <a href="http://www.freetiiupix.com/">www.FreeTiiuPix.com</a>. I have shared some of my photographic experiences with others and it has been their desire that I share some of my learning adventures with the rest of you. As I come upon more things I never knew, I'll share them with you. If I add new image categories, I'll let you know. If I find some great online materials that will be helpful to you in your teaching or learning, I'll post them for you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">If you have a burning desire to know more about me, visit my "About" page at <a href="http://freetiiupix.cwahi.net/about_me.htm">http://freetiiupix.cwahi.net/about_me.htm</a>, otherwise, let's get started....</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01907720893379732917noreply@blogger.com0