Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
Monday!
The costume dance was a big hit with our middle schoolers on Friday. We had lots of kids participate. It was also the end of our Red Ribbon Week, so we had a dual theme with "Say BOO to drugs". The students took part in a poster contest and an essay contest for Red Ribbon Week.
Saturday was filled with intramural basketball games. Mr. Tundrateacher's team had to play twice. Unfortunately, they lost both games. But the teams had fun, and Mr. Tundrateacher took the boys out for pizza afterwards.
There are several restaurants here, but our favorite is called Northern Lights. They have lots of different choices on their menu, and their pizza is the best in town (in our opinion).
The weekly challenge this week is to figure out how many hours of daylight Barrow is having right now. We are slowly starting to lose our sunshine.
Saturday was filled with intramural basketball games. Mr. Tundrateacher's team had to play twice. Unfortunately, they lost both games. But the teams had fun, and Mr. Tundrateacher took the boys out for pizza afterwards.
There are several restaurants here, but our favorite is called Northern Lights. They have lots of different choices on their menu, and their pizza is the best in town (in our opinion).
The weekly challenge this week is to figure out how many hours of daylight Barrow is having right now. We are slowly starting to lose our sunshine.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Fluffy Flakes
The weather has been so wonderful these last two days! It has been snowing big, fluffy snowflakes and hasn't been too terribly cold and not windy at all. I love weather like that!
This Friday, there is a dance at the middle school. We have one once a month. This one is our costume dance for the approaching Halloween. A reader from down south wanted to know if the kids celebrate Halloween--yes, they do. The kids are very excited for the costume dance, and most of the kids in town will go trick-or-treating.
Saturday is going to be filled with intramural basketball games. The kids live for that, too.
Other things our kids like to do are ride snowmachines, four wheeling, play outside with friends, go to Boys and Girls Club to play games, and go to the town rec center.
Have a great weekend!
This Friday, there is a dance at the middle school. We have one once a month. This one is our costume dance for the approaching Halloween. A reader from down south wanted to know if the kids celebrate Halloween--yes, they do. The kids are very excited for the costume dance, and most of the kids in town will go trick-or-treating.
Saturday is going to be filled with intramural basketball games. The kids live for that, too.
Other things our kids like to do are ride snowmachines, four wheeling, play outside with friends, go to Boys and Girls Club to play games, and go to the town rec center.
Have a great weekend!
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Arctic Desert
Sorry I have not posted a lot lately--I'm still playing catch up from being out of town. We also had an inservice day on Saturday, which made the weekend fly by more quickly than usual! Saturday was also our first day for intramural basketball. Basketball is really big with all the kids here. The middle school only has intramural teams, plus a traveling varsity team for basketball that fundraises to be able to fly out to a big tournament each fall. Mr. Tundrateacher is coaching a team this year. Unfortunately, they didn't win their first game, but everyone still had a good time. Next Saturday, we will take the boys out for pizza after the game.
One of the commenters, Cavatica, pointed out that our average annual snowfall is actually less than where she lives. I happen to know where she lives, and it is not in Antarctica! She lives in an average, four seasons of the year, lower 48 state. And she is absolutely correct--we do not get as much snowfall as many places in the lower 48. Each year, Chicago gets way more snow than we do.
So why is that? The Arctic is actually considered a desert because of the amount of precipitation we get here. However, it is not so much because it is too cold to snow. Snow can occur even at very cold temperatures, but most snowfall occurs at temperatures just below freezing since warmer air can hold more water vapor, which is necessary for the white fluffy stuff. The air here can be very dry, and does not hold a lot of moisture, which is why it does not snow as much.
When we do get snow, though, it falls and does not melt--it stays with us throughout the winter and spring. So it appears as though we have more snow than most places because it is always around!
This week's challenge: Check out the average temperature and snowfall for three different towns in Alaska and compare them.
One of the commenters, Cavatica, pointed out that our average annual snowfall is actually less than where she lives. I happen to know where she lives, and it is not in Antarctica! She lives in an average, four seasons of the year, lower 48 state. And she is absolutely correct--we do not get as much snowfall as many places in the lower 48. Each year, Chicago gets way more snow than we do.
So why is that? The Arctic is actually considered a desert because of the amount of precipitation we get here. However, it is not so much because it is too cold to snow. Snow can occur even at very cold temperatures, but most snowfall occurs at temperatures just below freezing since warmer air can hold more water vapor, which is necessary for the white fluffy stuff. The air here can be very dry, and does not hold a lot of moisture, which is why it does not snow as much.
When we do get snow, though, it falls and does not melt--it stays with us throughout the winter and spring. So it appears as though we have more snow than most places because it is always around!
This week's challenge: Check out the average temperature and snowfall for three different towns in Alaska and compare them.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Back in Barrow
The trip to Anchorage was great! I loved the literacy conference, and was able to meet one of my favorite reading people. I also shopped more in three days than I have in three years, I think. Alaska Air Cargo has wonderful rates so you can buy lots of groceries and have them flown up way cheaper than through the post office. Very good deal!
Yesterday when I arrived home, it was very windy, but the ocean was still clear of ice as far as you could see. However, today on the way home from work, we could see sheets of ice all across the horizon in the ocean. The sea will start to change drastically each week now. I always like when the big icebergs start to come in, so hopefully I'll see them soon and get some good pictures.
This week's challenge is to find the average snowfall in Barrow each year and compare it to the average yearly snowfall of your town.
Yesterday when I arrived home, it was very windy, but the ocean was still clear of ice as far as you could see. However, today on the way home from work, we could see sheets of ice all across the horizon in the ocean. The sea will start to change drastically each week now. I always like when the big icebergs start to come in, so hopefully I'll see them soon and get some good pictures.
This week's challenge is to find the average snowfall in Barrow each year and compare it to the average yearly snowfall of your town.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Off to Anchorage
I am headed to the state literacy conference tomorrow, which is in Anchorage this year. We have to fly out any time we go to a workshop or conference. We will also build in some time to shop for cheaper groceries. I won't be able to post until I get back (Monday) so have a wonderful weekend!
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
More Whales
Later in the day on Sunday, two more crews got whales. One of them was over 44 feet long! They stop whaling after three strikes in one day. It is quite a long process to cut all the whales up and distribute the shares. So many people from town were out to watch and to help. It's definitely a time for celebration in this village.
The crews will continue to whale on the days that the weather permits. They are allowed ten whales total for the village each season. The kids who have lived here their whole lives still get very excited when a crew gets a whale, and it is a huge deal when they are allowed to start accompanying the family on the whaling hunts.
Each crew has a whaling captain, and this is certainly a respected position. The whaling captain is responsible for all the fees involved with the whale hunts, including the upkeep of their boat and the meals for all the crew members while on hunts.
The crews will continue to whale on the days that the weather permits. They are allowed ten whales total for the village each season. The kids who have lived here their whole lives still get very excited when a crew gets a whale, and it is a huge deal when they are allowed to start accompanying the family on the whaling hunts.
Each crew has a whaling captain, and this is certainly a respected position. The whaling captain is responsible for all the fees involved with the whale hunts, including the upkeep of their boat and the meals for all the crew members while on hunts.
Sunday, October 7, 2007
First Whale!
A crew got the first whale of the season today! They were out in a boat, hauled it in, and hoisted it up on to an old runway away from the main part of town. This one was a little smaller than they typically are, but still an important accomplishment.
So many people from town gather down at the site where they pull the whale up to see it before butchering, and during. Everyone who helps in the process--whether it is pulling it in from the water or cutting it up--is given a share of the whale meat. Later, the crew will put their whaling flat outside their house to let people know that they have muktuk, or whale meat, and anyone is welcome to come in for a share.
We went out this time before the butchering, so we have some good pictures to share. We have some of the "after" pictures from the last time we were here, but they aren't for the weak stomached!
Student Weekly Challenge: Find three facts about bowhead whales and several uses the Eskimos have for them.
So many people from town gather down at the site where they pull the whale up to see it before butchering, and during. Everyone who helps in the process--whether it is pulling it in from the water or cutting it up--is given a share of the whale meat. Later, the crew will put their whaling flat outside their house to let people know that they have muktuk, or whale meat, and anyone is welcome to come in for a share.
We went out this time before the butchering, so we have some good pictures to share. We have some of the "after" pictures from the last time we were here, but they aren't for the weak stomached!
Student Weekly Challenge: Find three facts about bowhead whales and several uses the Eskimos have for them.
Friday, October 5, 2007
Happy Friday
I'm noticing some changes in the daylight/darkness hours now. The sun doesn't really rise until about 9:00 or so, and it starts to set around 7 pm. We will gradually have shorter days, and in just over a month, we will be blanketed in darkness until late January.
You know, our kids here once had to take a standardized test that asked them a question about what time of day it was when the moon was out. For our kids, that could be ANY time of day, depending on the month. I'm noticing those language issues a lot more this time. A student asked me just this morning what a "meadow" was, and earlier in the week, a boy asked what a "cottage" was. We have a few students who have never been off the north slope, meaning they have never been in a city of any size and haven't really been out of the arctic villages. This means those kids have never seen a real tree, have never witnessed cars driving on a highway, have never shopped in a mall, and have never eaten a cheeseburger from M*Don*lds.
I share this because I know many of my readers are teachers, and these language barriers pop up so often, when we least expect them, and they certainly affect their learning. Good things to be aware of.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
You know, our kids here once had to take a standardized test that asked them a question about what time of day it was when the moon was out. For our kids, that could be ANY time of day, depending on the month. I'm noticing those language issues a lot more this time. A student asked me just this morning what a "meadow" was, and earlier in the week, a boy asked what a "cottage" was. We have a few students who have never been off the north slope, meaning they have never been in a city of any size and haven't really been out of the arctic villages. This means those kids have never seen a real tree, have never witnessed cars driving on a highway, have never shopped in a mall, and have never eaten a cheeseburger from M*Don*lds.
I share this because I know many of my readers are teachers, and these language barriers pop up so often, when we least expect them, and they certainly affect their learning. Good things to be aware of.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Brrr
The temps are starting to fall! Later this week it's supposed to be a high of 17. Of course, that's nothing compared to what February will be like. That's always our coldest month. Right when the sun comes back after the 24 hour darkness, the wind picks up and the temperature sinks down to -30 at times.
The lagoon had some icy spots just on the surface today. Soon, we will start to see chunks of ice and small icebergs floating in the ocean towards shore. Then the ocean will gradually start to freeze up. That is truly a magnificent sight, and I will be sure to share many photos of the frozen Arctic ocean!
I would like to start posting more info and pictures on our schools, the houses, things to do in town, etc. If there's something you want to know more about, please don't hesitate to ask!
The lagoon had some icy spots just on the surface today. Soon, we will start to see chunks of ice and small icebergs floating in the ocean towards shore. Then the ocean will gradually start to freeze up. That is truly a magnificent sight, and I will be sure to share many photos of the frozen Arctic ocean!
I would like to start posting more info and pictures on our schools, the houses, things to do in town, etc. If there's something you want to know more about, please don't hesitate to ask!
Monday, October 1, 2007
Weekly Challenge
The snow has arrived! I will post pictures later, but we finally have some snow on the ground. Some of it might melt, but I think we are going to see it permanently now until June. It's coming down in big flakes right now. I'm hoping it gets just a tiny bit colder so that the mud is completely done.
The challenge this week is a computer one. Leave me a comment if you are checking in with this site frequently. I want to continue with it, but only if there are people using it. So whether you are a teacher, a student, or just someone interested in the arctic, please leave me a short comment.
Have a great Monday!
The challenge this week is a computer one. Leave me a comment if you are checking in with this site frequently. I want to continue with it, but only if there are people using it. So whether you are a teacher, a student, or just someone interested in the arctic, please leave me a short comment.
Have a great Monday!
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