This post is my entry to win a camera in the “Share Your Favorite Lesson Plan” Contest sponsored by Sprittibee and Academic Superstore.

********************************************************
My favorite lesson plan just happens to be one that I wrote involving our local Aquarium–Mote Marine Aquarium. It really is a very short Field Trip Day, but it is one that can take as little or as much time as one wishes, depending on how you wish to observe the animals.

For us, we choose to observe the animals via a Scavenger Hunt that I wrote. I basically looked at the map of the Aquarium and identified each animal located in its respective place, then wrote “Hunt Questions” for each animal. The goal is to find the animals in each section (just as with any scavenger hunt), but it isn’t set up as easy as it sounds.

The game is played in the one main room. They get a clipboard and the paper,which has these questions on it, and they have to go around the room finding each and every animal; naming the animal, where it can be found in the world and where it is located on the map. Then they have two questions they have to ask of the Docents.

From there we move on to the Interactive Shark Theatre; which is a giant screened in room with a computer based game. The goal of the game is to become the Ultimate Predator: A Great White Shark. You start out as a single-celled animal and then move up the food chain in a progression of either surviving by avoiding detection or by eating your way to the top.

Then we move on to the Hospital, which rehabilitates Dolphins, Manatees and Sea Turtles.

Then we go to lunch at McDonalds.

Here are my questions:

1. I am “fryed” without ever being in a frying pan, but dirty just the same. All covered in sand and hiding from the world, all you can “see” of me are two black circles that stare up at the stars. What am I?

2. Slimy and snake like, sometimes I am electric. Backwards I can go, in and out of holes. My little friend is very “bright”, he cleans my teeth day and night. We are 2 in 1, sharing our home wherever we roam. Who are we?

3. Chipmunk cheeks I do not have, but when I am angry or scared and just want to hide, boy can I get big-just look at my size! Sometimes I am spikey, sometimes not. Anything that tries to bite me will get pinched in a flash, swollen and hard, nothing will eat this stash!! What am I?

4. I can go “fishing” without ever need a pole. This is fun for me because I am not ever seen. “Fishing” all day, catching my prey, playing hide and seek, eating what I please. What am I?

5. I am a lot like #4, but unlike them I don’t swim, instead I crawl along the ocean floor using my “feet” like fins. I can “fish” with my “pole” too, using it to catch whatever fish swims through. They never see me, this fun, eating all day and never having to run!! What am I?

6. Pregnant am I, the male that is. The one who helps his wife by giving birth to lots of kids. We are called by the name of one animal but we don’t have hooves; we swim upright but prefer to swim in small pools. We spend our lives “attached” to weeds, feeding as we please. What are we?

7. Like #6, I too, am a pregnant daddy. But my babies stay in my mouth until they can swim on their own. My kind builds house out of shells and we live undergroud. You can often find me “shovelling” rocks and sand away so that my babies, when I spit them out, have a place to play. What am I?

8. Dory is my name, swimming is my game. I share a home with many unique friends, one is an “angel” that is spotted, another is a friend of Shakespeare who can be spread on bread and lastly is a lady, who is blue all day long. Together we swim in a “home” that is strong. Who are we?

And some pictures to show our little game play:

**Entrance into Mote**

**Kids with a Giant Squid on Display**

**Mr. Puffer Fish (answer to Question #3)**

**Feeding the Stingrays**

**Demonstrating the purpose of the safety net used by fishermen so as to not trap Endangered Sea Turtles**

**Lastly, a little Rock Skipping Competition never hurts anyone…**

When we do Field Trips, I like to make it fun. We don’t just go from exhibit to exhibit. I like them touching and interacting with each thing as much as possible. That’s why we love Mote so much.

This is my entry for the contest. Thank you for considering it.

~~Toni

Ok enough begging, here ya go:

Lots for sale. I accept only two kinds of payment: POSTAL Money Order or Paypal. This is first come/first serve. If you want anything, you **must** email me with your name, zip and address. All things are sent Media Mail.

ALL prices include media mail shipping.

If you use paypal, please add $1.00 to the cost, as it charges me a fee for every transaction. Paypal is PREFERRED and will get your package shipped out next day, immediately. No waiting.
***************************************************
BRAND NEW ITEMS NEVER USED:
(shipping is included in these prices for the new items)

LLATL Gold book. NEVER USED, brand new. $25.00

Singapore Science 5A Student Text and Workbook. Brand new, never used. $12.00

Grammar Workbook for 9th/10th Grade. Brand New, Never Used.–$14.00

**************************************************************

These are all either gentle used or just older. All prices reflect mainly the cost of shipping( plus a little extra for me). ALL have been weighed and priced according to the USPS Media Mail Rates.

The Handy Science, Biology, History Answer Books –Set– (7 lbs) $12.00

All Hands on Deck: The Story of Old Ironsides. 3 ring binder book with lesson plans/games the correlate to the study of Old Ironsides. Funky shaped (square, but larger than normal)–(4 lbs)–$5.00

World Geography Student Text Book. Public school text, no writing that I can tell, clean inside and out, just a few scuff marks on cover. 5th-8th grade. (5lbs) $4.50

Spelling Activity Book. This is good for 3rd-5th grade. Used to go as a set of “reading skills” public school books, however can be used as a stand alone spelling reinforcement book. Writing (pencil) on 6 pages of the book. It is an older book so the pages are yellowed. But still **very** useable. Barely 1lb. $2.50

Spectrum Math–Yellow/Blue books. Same as spelling above–old books that were part of a set, can be used as stand alone just fine. Good for late 4th-end 6th grader. NO writing at all. Not used. Just aged. $4.50

Abeka Cursive Writing 3. Writing to page 42 and is missing the blue copy pages in the back of the book. Otherwise still good. All can be erased. $4.50

Reading For Information–LvL A–from Zaner-Bloser. I’d guess 5th-7th grade reading comprehension/vocabulary workbook. Done to lesson 3 (but can be erased/white outed). $4.50.

**********************************************************

First come/first serve.

MUST give me name, address in your email to claim.

Email to use is electricbarbarella AT verizon DOT net (also same for Paypal).

All are coming from 33570.

Thank you for looking.

Blessings,
Toni

so let’s do it like the do it on the Discovery Channel…

Go here: Pete’s Pond

Gotta love Live Feed……..In Botswana, Africa….

~~Toni

(ahh I have my blog editor back the way it was, so this one won’t look as butchered and I won’t be as frustrated.. thanks Andrea!!)

I recieved an entry to my blog some time today and I thought it best that I comment on some things in it, since it makes valid points. Of course, mea culpa and all that–ShadoShryke didn’t leave HIS (he just told me, sorry) blog listing or anything, but…..

(point for point)
he says:

1a) Pearl Harbor was a point of talk and interest and made a nation that was sitting and hiding from the world take notice and get involved. Suddenly the US could no longer just ignore that there was a world war going on. We were no longer safe.

I’d like to link to a history of Pearl Harbor in hopes that everyone who reads it understands that WWII actually started–on OUR end **because** the Japanese struck us first in a secret attack–they one-upped us.
Pearl Harbor

Here is a decent timeline of how/when we were attacked and by what ships:
Pearl Harbor Timeline

And one more on the history of Pearl Harbor:
Another History

Before I’m reemed for not knowing my own history, I understand that WWII didn’t involve us, that the US primarily thought of it as “Europe’s problem” right up until we were attacked. So I DO know that WWII was NOT started because of Pearl Harbor, just that it started FOR US due to Pearl Harbor occuring.

Second Quote, he says:

1b) 9/11 was another attack, albiet larger scale, in a chain of attacks ranging back to the 60s that finally had people saying “enough is enough”. People rushed to the recruiting stands (just as they did after Pearl Harbor) to sign up to take the battle back to the assailants.

I will vehemently disagree that 9/11 was on a “larger scale”. Since we are speaking of Pearl Harbor as our comparison, by and large, Pearl Harbor’s attack removed nearly ALL of our fleet as well as some civilians. Looking at the the history link I provided,

Behind them they left chaos, 2,403 dead, 188 destroyed planes and a crippled Pacific Fleet that included 8 damaged or destroyed battleships.

Which, if we are comparing “numbers”, yes 9/11 took out more people, but it did not cripple a nation. 9/11 caused us to pause, maybe, but not cripple us, IMHO. Due to the fact that WWII involved nearly ALL of Europe (and need I go into how many people Hitler anihilated during this time?), I would say that WWII as a whole, is the “larger scale”. I will also say that since we had the prevailing attitude that it was “Europe’s problem”, prior to Pearl Harbor, us being attacked in the manner we were, only makes our destruction, at the time, that much worse.

There are reports that Eisenhower knew of the impending danger, but since the US really had nothing to fear (as we were not involved in this war), all he did to prep for it was move our fleet’s to Hawaii to keep them safe and “just in case”. Since 9/11 was a directly result of YEARS of warnings, attacks, threats and violations both BY the US and TOWARDS the US, I would say that we had plenty of warning ahead of time to prepare for what occured on that day. The WTC’s have felt the striking blows before, due to terrorist attacking: (see the WTC bombing that occured on Feb. 26th, 93– WTC Bombing ). And, because of previous attacks on our soil including this attack, as well as attacks on US by these terrorists on their soil, I’d say the US Government was more prepared for 9/11 than Pearl Harbor was.

Third Quote, he says:

2a) Pearl Harbor was dinner, coffee table, news stand and common talk for nearly 20 years after the event. Memorials were erected there and elsewhere and people still flock the Pearl Harbor Memorial on it’s anniversary. The generation that lived through that tragic day are slowly passing on and becoming fewer and fewer, but those of us that had families who’s lives were greatly changed still remember and reflect.

As will 9/11 become. No one has ever said that we should “forget” what happened on 9/11, nor have we said you shouldn’t pray, or be scared, or pretend it didn’t happen. In fact, no one has ever said we shouldn’t be honoring in any way, towards any one. What I and others are saying is “Quit picking us apart just because we are not doing these things”. As another snopster put it (quote from Lainie’s Brother) it’s called “National Scabpicking”.

That’s the difference between Pearl Harbor and 9/11. With Pearl Harbor, we remember, even today, what occured then. We honor and respect, we teach and learn. But we don’t pick at the scab over and over until we bleed. And these generations that were there or remembered Pearl Harbor that are now passing on, leave with us something that our generation doesn’t have–the memory. Which is were it belongs–in Memory(ium). By keeping it in Memory(ium), we will still never forget.

But by bringing it to the forefront each and every single time we get the chance, we are only picking at that scab over and over, again. With Pearl Harbor, our wound scabbed over and healed and we were thusly “repaired”. With 9/11, that wound will never get the chance to scab over and heal and thusly, will never be “repaired”. We need to be able to “repair” ourselves and no one is allowing us to do that by continuously bringing this up (picking at that scab).

Fourth Quote, he says:

2b) 9/11 happened only 5 years ago, as opposed to PH which happened 65 years ago. PH only seems like we have forgiven and forgotten due to the years of healing and working together. I still know some people that won’t by Japanese products. Now I know people that have the same feeling about anything from the middle east.

See what I said above about “National Scabpicking”. I will say this attitude of “not buying foreign” is stupid at the very least. Our nation, as other nation’s do, relies upon the ability to receive some type of foreign export. Gas is the biggest one. Without it, we are all back to hoofin’ it–which as our Nation has grown, we all know won’t happen. I wonder, do your friends who refuse to buy “Middle East” also refuse to use ANYthing that involves gas? If not, then they are hypocrits. And I will not take the word of a hypocrit. Boycotts are one thing, sometimes they work, sometimes they don’t. But to “refuse to buy” from a specific country, especially one we rely heavily on for a certain export, is just the most stupid thing one can say, especially if they still use that export. Are these the same friends who drive $40,000 SUV’s and Hummers–both of which use an insane amount of gas?

And unless they can honestly say this–every single one of our gas stations, with the exception of TWO, come from Middle Eastern Oil Companies. ONLY Hess and Walmart (Murphy Gas) are American.

Lastly, he says:

Some people wave that word Patriotic around like a flag. It is pathetic. Being patriotic is like having school spirit. You can wave your flags around like a pompom and yes, by the definition, you have more “spirit” or patriotism, but that does not mean you are loyal or dedicated to the foundations and the ideals of the nation.

Personally, I always prefered the quiet solid types that are loyal. I had no use for people that had too much “spirit” because I knew most were just trying to coverer a lack of self esteem or confidence with false bravado.

And from me, you will get NO argument. You’ve summed up what I was trying to say.

From a bumper sticker: A TOYOTA (which is Japanese) had on it: “Be American, Buy American” —umm, Hello?

And one other point I’d like to make: Sunday is the anniversary of the Constitution being voted in. (Specifically, 9/17/1787 is the day that the delegates voted to approve it.) Frankly, I’d rather see bumper stickers, etc., reminding us of the importance that day–or better still, December 15, 1791, the day that the Bill of Rights took effect.

I would like you all to ponder one thing: What would our Nation be like NOW, if we never participated in WWII (you know, the one that ended up producing nearly ALL of our Allies)? Quite frankly, I am more scared to think of this (US not having ANY allies), than I am of a few planes hitting a building.

It makes me no more or less American than you simply because I do not wave my proverbial flag around whenever someone else says I should.

And let me say this:

My Grandfather was in WWII/Pearl Harbor/Vietnam/Korean Conflict–Army.
As was my GrandMOTHER (Army/Air Corp/WAC, Flight Nurse)–WWII.
All THREE of my Great Uncles- Uncle Louie was Army, Uncle Jimmy was Army and Uncle Al was Navy–ALL during war time–WWII–ALL POW’s.
My Cousin, Jimmy Boy was Navy–Vietnam.
My Uncle, Craig was Marine–Vietnam
My Brother-in-Law is Army.
My Father was Air Force DURING War Time (Vietnam).
My Brother was a Firefighter.

So do NOT call me UnPatriotic, UnAmerican or UnAnything else. Nor should you be calling anyone else these things.

I honor, respect and pray for our Troops everyday, IN MEMORY(IUM) of those who came before them.

~~~Toni

(and to Shadoshryke–none of this was directed AT you. Only said in response to your comments. Nothing more. Shadoshryke has said or done nothing wrong, he merely gave me a platform to launch from.)

Consider this in a historical context. During Pearl Harbor many people felt the same way. What happened? Throwing people in concentration camps, unleashing nuclear weapons… I think a consensus would be that it inspired us to go too far. But, then the Chinese and Koreans are very grateful for it, for the Japanese had let themselves go too far as well.Within five years, however, everything was forgiven and forgotten. American poured money into rebuilding Japan, if only out of the fear of the Soviets doing it. When it was all over the Japanese became quite a bit more American and then turned around and got to work as an ally. Cheesy Japanese movies and little boobles were about all that came in the 1950s and 1960s, but Americans still love Godzilla. By the 1970s they took American ideas and improved upon them, churning out electronics and mechanics that American firms seem to refuse to try to sincerely compete with. They more than repaid their debt, sending us money constantly to keep our budget afloat by the 1980s. Through the 1990s, Japanese video games, anime and sushi became more and more part of the mainstream. It seems this relationship just continues to snowball, especially out here in CA…

If America hadn’t forgiven and forgotten, had continued to sincerely wallow and dwell on a singe surprise attack and those killed there… we would be much worse off than we are. Besides that we have yet to apprehend the man actually responsible for the attacks, what is the meaningful difference here? Does it have to do with Islamic fundamentalists competing with Christian fundamentalists for attention from the same god as opposed to Buhdists and Shintoists who do their own thing? Or does it just have to do with the empty feeling of not really having the satisfaction of a true victory or surrender?

Allow me to postulate on this some….

He is absolutely correct.
He is American.
He firmly believes it is time to move on.
Yet, someone, somwhere, will attack for this belief, as being “un-patriotic”.
They will also attack him by saying Pearl Harbor does not compare to 9/11. As if to say what my Grandfather did for their freedom that day is some how less important.

Can someone tell me why I am less patriotic than you just because I am not down on my knees, in a flood of tears, praying over this? Or why I am less patriotic than you because, not only do I not OWN a flag, I have no intentions of buying one, but even if I did have one, that means I should somehow **want** to fly the flag? Or why I am not punishing my children by glueing them to the television (that same device that some believe comes from the devil), all day long to watch something unfold that occured 5 years ago? (And allow me to clarify before I get my ears ringing–there is a big difference between watching this and watching a video of Pearl Harbor. Both can be used as learning expierences, both can be used to remember the past, but only one is being so heavily dwelt upon, that no one has any chance of making their life better since then. You decide which one is which.)

My friendly snopester is correct, if we can forgive and forget something that happend 65 years ago, why can’t we now? What is so special about now that wasn’t then?

It is time to move on people. Big time. It happened, it was bad. It was sad and painful and yes, I cried. But my life went on. There was nothing I could do beyond what I’ve already done. Dredging ditches that have been dug up 5 years ago, now, only pours salt into healed wounds.

And you know what’s funny about this, no one but you seems to be so worried and upset over this. The widows and widowers of 9/11 have ALL MOVED ON.

Hell, some of them have even remarried.
Some of them have birthed children from their newest relation.
They have moved on. They will never forget, but they realize that to dwell in the past only makes for a bleak future.You should follow in their footsteps.

And just to cover the plethora of posts that I can see coming:
Just do a search on snopes.com for 9/11 stuff (I really HATE this new format, it simply does not work)….

That’s just one of many pages on snopes covering every conceivable urban legend surrounding this day. And I didn’t put but half of them in that link.

Oh, and the Pentagon WAS hit you buffoons. I can’t believe you morons actually believe it wasn’t.

~~~Toni
Who is NOT watching TV, who IS doing REGULAR school and who IS going to be cleaning her house and listening to some pretty kick ass Goth Industrial Music doing it. BUT who isn’t any less American or Patriotic than you.

So Bite me.

I just thought I’d share a cool picture with you all….This was taken right outside my backdoor, just tonight. Though we won’t get to see the Partial Lunar Eclipse, I thought this was just as cool…

~~~Toni