A photo posted by @desert_daisy07 on Feb 19, 2016 at 11:07pm PST
It only occurs for about ten days in February. The angle of the setting sun sets Horsetail Fall in Yosemite National Park ablaze with reds and oranges creating the illusion of a firefall -- or perhaps a lava flow -- cascading down El Capitan's rock face. Locals say that this is the first time in four years that the conditions have been optimal to capture this jaw-dropping albeit elusive phenomenon.
(Photo submitted to KGO-TV by @jeffreyplui/Instagram) Feb, 2016
Want to see for yourself? You'd better hurry up! The last day to view this incandescent wonder in 2016 is Monday, February 22.
There are so many beautiful and awe-inspiring things in life that we'll probably never have the time and/or the opportunity to experience them all. After I learned about the spectacular display at Horsetail Fall, I began looking for others, and, well, there went my day. Here are just a few (out of the gazillions I looked at) that relate to what we've been studying:
Supercell. Strong storm cell with the tendency to spin, creating the potential to become a tornado.
Snow donut. This phenomenon needs perfect weather conditions to form. Blowing snow catches onto more snow and begins to roll down a hill, creating a donut shape.
These are a favorite of UFO aficionados and are often the explanation for people's UFO sightings.
Sun Dogs. Light refraction creates these massive halos around the sun--characterized by a bright spot on either side of the sun.
Skypunch clouds. A rare cloud phenomenon --a circular or elliptical hole that forms in cirrocumulus and altocumulus clouds.
Kelvin-Helmholtz. Wave-shaped clouds that form when two streams of air flow alongside one another at different speeds causing turbulence that results in these strange cloud formations.
Mammatus (or mammatocumulus) clouds. These are pouch-like cloud structures that hang from the base of clouds and are a rare example of clouds in sinking air. They look ominus, but they’re perfectly harmless.
Morning Glory Wave Clouds. One of the world’s rarest meteorological phenomenon, these clouds stretch from horizon to horizon and are the result of “a shockwave in the atmosphere of immense proportion.”
Want to know more? Go HERE.
Waterspouts. Not a major threat to anyone unless, of course, you’re out on the water.Then it’s another story! Waterspouts can achieve speeds of nearly 190 mph.
Could waterspouts be the reason why ships go down in the Bermuda Triangle?
Could waterspouts be the reason why ships go down in the Bermuda Triangle?
ANYHOO. . .
PLEASE tell me this wasn't you over vacation. . .
Did you. . .
Get any unfinished work done?
Think about Ancient Egypt and all the wonderful ways you're going to knock your final presentations out of the park this week?
Maybe do a little writing? 
Read a good book or two?
Do something a bit wild and crazy?
Have FUN?
Gotta say, vacations can be exhausting!
I've missed you!
ASSIGNMENTS FOR
THE WEEK OF
FEBRUARY 22-26
A lot of this will look familiar--we didn't get as much done last week as we'd planned. Blame it on "week-before-vacation" inertia. Hopefully, we're all cold/flu free and rested.
Let's "reboot" that mindset!
THINK:
Is this you?
HELP IS ON THE WAY!
EVERYONE IS NOW REQUIRED TO FILL OUT AN ASSIGNMENT SHEET.
TELL YOUR PARENTS TO PLEASE LOOK FOR IT.
This paper and the blog are their connections to what you're doing each day. It should be located in your orange homework folder, and you should show it to them regularly. (If you need to create a new one at home because you forgot it, that's called "natural consequence." Click HERE.)
It needs to be signed and returned each Monday along with any work that was not completed from the previous week.
Did you turn in the following definitions on lined paper?
atmosphere, condensation, evaporation, evapotranspiration, infiltration, oceans, precipitation, run-off, sublimation,
sun
GOOD!
and Thursday:
"A drop of water is worth more than a sack of gold to a thirsty man."
THE HIDDEN WATER WE USE:
AN INVESTIGATION
How much water does your family use each day? Click on THIS link to get an eye-opening rough idea! Record your data on Part 1 of your Investigation.
WHAT IS YOUR WATER FOOTPRINT?
Your goal will be to get a more accurate idea of how much water you use on a daily basis. Check out THIS site and answer the questions in Part 2 of your Investigation.
Ready for a real shocker?? Want to know how much water is embedded in our daily lives? Look HERE, then answer the questions in Part 3 of your Investigation.
LET'S TALK CONSERVATION!
You can find 50 ways to conserve water HERE. Even more water conservation tips can be found HERE. Choose one and create an eye-catching poster or bumper sticker that includes:
* WHAT you can do
* HOW you can do it
* ILLUSTRATE--big and bold!
Friday: LET'S TALK ABOUT IT! Share and discuss what you learned about the Hidden Water We Use as well as your mini-posters showing one of the ways we can conserve water. Hope they're bold and colorful! Hole 'em up & show 'em off! Turn in your investigation and poster. If you're not done--it's due no later than Monday!
For today: "The Story of Bottled Water." Before you begin, answer the 5 questions on the front of the packet. Then watch the video and be ready to discuss what you learned. Complete the packet and turn in. Be thoughtful and answer each question carefully and completely. Use complete sentences!
Social Studies
And now, straight from the sands
of the great Sahara,
give it up for our. . .
The Kings of Ancient Egypt
of the great Sahara,
give it up for our. . .
The Kings of Ancient Egypt
Expect our enthusiastic support!
Woo-hoo!
The Most Mysterious Mummy in the World
Unknown Man "E"
LANGUAGE ARTS
Turning a PowerPoint
into a Research Paper
into a Research Paper
Seem backward to you? Here's what you accomplished with your PowerPoint:
- You created an organizational tool--your graphic organizer.
- You broke your project down into workable parts and focused on one thing at a time.
- You used multiple sources and documented them as you went along.
- You increased understanding by including appropriate visuals
- You learned to research--to look for more--to challenge sources and analyze discrepancies.
- You created a visually appealing product as a result of all your hard work.
You deserve a pat on the back!
Now you'll learn the structure of a traditional research paper--and all the "legwork" is already done!
We'll finish up this week.
Continuing Chapter 6: Units of Measure
Monday: 6.3 Convert Units of Weight and Mass. Share & Show, pgs. 329-330. Practice and Homework, pgs. 331-332.
Essential Question: How can you use ratio reasoning to convert from one unit of weight or mass to another?
Tuesday: Mid-Chapter Checkpoint. Complete & Correct, pgs. 333-334
Wednesday: Transform Units. Share & Show, pgs. 337-338. Practice & Homework, pgs. 339-340.
Essential Question: How can you transform units to solve problems?
Thursday: Problem Solving -- Distance, Rate, & Time Formulas. Share & Show, pgs. 343-344. Practice & Homework, pgs. 345-346.
Essential Question: How can you use the strategy use a formula to solve problems involving distance, rate, and time?
Friday: Chapter 6 Review Test.
RESOURCES
An Easy Way to Convert Metric Measurements
Distance, Rate & Time
AND NOW, BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND
CONVERSIONS MADE EASY
THE MASS VS WEIGHT SONG
READING
Book Project due on Monday, February 29.
Be sure you've finished your book! You'll have this time to read, read, read, read, read. . . ahhh. . .
Friday: click on THIS link to download the template you need to complete your book report.
(Hey guys, some people need to finish January's book project! Get to it!)
Complete Week 7
Test Friday
Two things define you: your patience when you have nothing and your attitude when you have everything
I can do it spelling books border red hearts border black scroll divider pencil border blue divider drum roll procrastinator https://media.giphy.com/media/12IK01JJiBXtvi/giphy.gif water bottle gif https://hanmer4.wikispaces.com/file/view/Mathematics.gif/156390889/Mathematics.gifMathematics
