There are lots and lots of grateful things that we should feel appreciation in life. These are five of them:
good health,
good school, teacher and classmates,
good family, parents and siblings,
good care providers, and
good weather that we can go shopping (particularly the DVD movies and TV episodes)
What Kerr is grateful for:
Things I am grateful for:
family and friends,
my dad’s cooking skills,
North Yorkers program,
Woodsong cottage and being so close to nature,
all the different things that I have that help me get around: wike, scalamobile, wheelchair,
the different places that are wheelchair accessible
ttc/wheeltrans when they are on time
1st responders
people who speak directly to me
What Carolyn is grateful for:
I am thankful for my life living
Do not worry about tomorrow would bring
Riding my bike almost every day
Visiting my mom after almost 6 months on Sept 25th
Class on Skype three days a week
Nice weather so I go for a walk with my sister
Terry Fox
Terry Fox was diagnosed with cancer in his right knee as a teen, and his leg was amputated when he was 18 years old. Having been an athlete all his life, he decided to train on a customized prosthetic leg to run across Canada, in order to raise money for cancer research. His goal was to raise 24 million dollars, which amounted to $1 for every Canadian at that time.
Terry Fox started in St. John’s, Newfoundland, on April 12, 1980, and he covered 5, 773 km in 143 days. This amounted to about 26 miles per day, or 42 km. He was forced to stop his Marathon of Hope on September 1st, 1980, as he found out that the cancer had moved into his lungs.
The Taj Mahal was built in Agra, India between 1631 and 1648. It was ordered to be built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife. It is an architectural achievement, as the entire structure is completely symmetrical. The Taj Mahal is a mausoleum of white marble, it is one of the most visited sites in India, and it is universally admired.
Colosseum
The Colosseum was built in Rome, Italy between 70 and 80 AD (this means that it is about 1,950 years old!!). It was the largest amphitheater ever built at the time, and it held 50, 000 to 80, 000 spectators. The Colosseum was used for public spectacles, including gladiator contests, mock sea battles, animal hunts, executions, and dramatic plays based on Roman mythology.
Gladiator contests involved men who were either slaves or voluntarily competitors who were forced to fight to the death. The Colosseum would be filled with spectators, and a gladiator would fight in violent confrontations with either another gladiator, a wild animal (lions, bears, tigers, rhinos), or convicted criminals. Successful gladiators were often treated like superstars – they were given money, freedom, and popularity. The most famous gladiator known is Spartacus, who was a slave forced into being a gladiator, but then staged a rebellion. Spartacus is portrayed in the movie Gladiator.
The Colosseum has been an iconic symbol of Rome for almost 2, 000 years, and it is now one of the most popular tourist sites in the world.
Song of the day chosen by Carolyn: Take Me Home, Country Roads by John Denver
It helps our brain function: a good sleep can increase problem-solving skills and enhance memory
Sleep is essential for our physical health: sleep quality and the length of sleep can impact our immune system, which we need to fight off diseases. In a study, it showed that those who slept less than 7 hours were almost 3 times more likely to develop the common cold than those who who slept 8 hours or more.
Sleep is important for our mental health: poor sleeping patterns are strongly linked to depression
Sleep affects emotions and social interactions: researchers believe that a lack of sleep impacts one’s ability to recognize people’s emotional expressions
Dreams:
There are many theories about why we dream, but no one knows for sure. Dreams are hallucinations that occur at different stages of sleep, and are strongest usually during REM sleep. Your brain is still active when you are asleep, but your dreams often make little or no sense.
When we are awake, our brain is able to think more logically. When we are asleep, the emotional centers of our brain triggers dreams rather than the logical centers, which often results in dreams making little to no sense.
Theories about dreams:
Dreams as therapists: dreams may be confronting emotional dramas in your life, and this might help understand emotions relating to particular issues.
Dreams as fight or flight training: dreams may be preparing you to deal with potential threats and instill your survival instinct.
Dreams as your muse: dreams may inspire creativity, and allow your brain to come up with new ideas.
Dreams as memory aides: dreams may help you to store memories and information you have learned, and filter through complex feelings.
Why do we have nightmares?
Nightmares are dreams that can be stressful, frightening, and upsetting. They can be brought on by stress and anxiety. Sometimes people have sleep disorders due to their nightmares, which can occur regularly and disrupt sleep or bring on psychological problems.
Music Inspiration: Dreams by Fleetwood Mac & Dreams by The Cranberries
Hey everyone! We are so excited to resume class, and we have lots planned as we continue our class online. We are also lucky to have Bobbi join us as a class facilitator!
Here are some of the videos from yesterday and today that we will be discussing!
From yesterday:
For today:
Song chosen by Gabriel on Mon, September 14th: Yummy by Justin Bieber
Song chosen by Jean-Luc & class on Tues, Sept 15th: What makes you beautiful by One Direction
The islands of Borneo and Sumatra are known as being some of the most biodiverse lands in the world. This is because they both have a number of very rare species that live within their rainforests. Borneo and Sumatra are islands in Indonesia, Borneo being the third largest island in the world and Sumatra is the sixth. Both islands have a tropical, hot and humid climate.
These islands are the only places on earth where tigers, elephants, orangutans, and rhinos live together.
This species is found only in Borneo and Sumatra, and the Malay word “orangutan” means “person of the forest.” This may be their name because they are an extremely intelligent species, and they have many human-like characteristics. Orangutans have evolved differently on each of the islands, which can be seen in their appearance and social interactions. Sumatran orangutans are said to be more social than the species in Borneo, as they eat together and share food.
Orangutans spend most of their time (90%) in the trees of the forest, rarely coming down to the ground. They have really long and strong arms, which allows them to grab branches easily and pull themselves from branch to branch. They also make nests in tree canopies, where they can sleep, and they also use large leaves as shelter from rain and harsh weather.
Orangutans can be more solitary than other primates, and males often make a call which can be heard for over a mile in order to mark their territory and make sure no other male comes their way. Females stay with their young, and young stay with their mothers for 6 or 7 years before they go off to survive on their own. Females also only give birth once every 8 years, the longest of any animal. Orangutans are able to live 30-40 years in the wild and in captivity have been known to live for 60 years.
Pygmy Elephant
The pygmy elephant found in Borneo are the smallest elephant species in the world. They are baby-faced with large ears, plump bellies and long tails. They are known to be genetically different from all other Asian elephants, and they have been isolated on the island of Borneo for over 300, 000 years. This has made them very different from other Asian elephant species, and this is proven in their small size. They also have straighter, smaller tusks than other elephant species.
Sumatra also has elephants on the island, and they are not as small as the ones found on Borneo, they are more similar to other Asian elephants.
Sumatran Tiger
The Sumatran tiger is the smallest species of tiger in the world, and this is thought to be because they evolved on an isolated island habitat. Their stripes are closer together and their orange fur is darker than any other tiger, making it easier for them to camouflage within their rainforest habitat.
The Sumatran tiger is classified as being critically endangered, with only about 400 left in the wild. As a result, there are many conservation efforts happening now and nearly all Sumatran tigers live in protected areas.
The Sumatran Rhino
The Sumatran rhino is the world’s smallest species of rhinoceros. They live on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo, and there are fewer than 80 Sumatran rhinos left in the wild. These rhinos have long hair that grows all over their body, which is unique to the species. They are also the only Asian rhinos to have two horns.
Topic Review Quiz
What species is the largest of the big cats?
a. lion
b. tiger
c. snow leopard
2. What is a group of lions called?
a. a herd
b. a gaggle
c. a pride
3. What country is best known as being a “biodiversity hotspot,” where 90% of its wildlife is found nowhere else on earth?
a. Madagascar
b. Peru
c. Congo
4. What does the hump on a camel’s back store?
a. water
b. food
c. fat
5. How many hours per day do sloths sleep for?
a. 10-12
b. 13-15
c. 15-18
Bonus: True or False
A koala sleeps more hours than a sloth does everyday.
6. What is the largest continental mountain range in the world, found in South America called?
a. The Andes
b. The Himalayas
c. The Atlas Mountains
7. What is the largest rodent species in the world called?
a. Guinea Pig
b. Capybara
c. Groundhog
8. What continent has the most lizard species?
a. South America
b. Africa
c. Australia
9. What species is Jane Goodall known for researching and working very closely with?
a. gorillas
b. orangutans
c. chimpanzees
10. Which species only has two left in its entire population?
a. Madame Berthe’s mouse lemur
b. northern white rhinoceros
c. the radiated tortoise
11. Where is the Great Barrier Reef located?
a. off the coast of Australia
b. off the coast of Madagascar
c. off the coast of Argentina
12. What is the alpha male of a band of gorillas called?
a. chief
b. silverback
c. greyfoot
13. What animal makes a migration in and around the Serengeti in Northern Tanzania every year?
a. ostrich
b. hippos
c. wildebeest
14. What cool ability do tree frogs have?
a. they can change colour
b. they use their large feet as a parachute to jump really far
c. they can withstand really cold climates
15. Whose voice do we often hear on Planet Earth, Our Planet and other documentaries?
Tigers are the largest of the big cat family, and they are known for their strength and agility. Bengal tigers live in India and are the most common of wild tigers, accounting for 50% of the overall population of wild tigers. The bengal tiger is India’s national animal and they are widely respected in the country. The other four remaining species, along with the Bengal tiger populations are at-risk of becoming extinct.
Tigers are solitary animals, and they scent-mark large territories in order to keep rivals at bay. They are nocturnal hunters and they hunt buffalo, deer, wild pigs, and many other large mammals. They use their coats as camouflage, in order to lie and wait for the perfect time to pounce on their prey. A tiger is able to eat up to 60 pounds in one night. Every tiger’s coat has a different pattern of stripes.
Giant Malabar Squirrel
Also known as the Indian giant squirrel. They are about 4 pounds in weight, and they have unique colouring in their coats. They are about two times the size as the squirrels that we see in Canada, and the length of their body is about 36 inches. The colour of their fur can be a mix of black, brown, orange, maroon and purple, making them very unusual looking.
Their colouring is said to act as a camouflage against the forest trees and leaves, but they stand out in the day. They really only stay in the trees, moving from branch to branch. They are found in the forests of eastern or southern India.
Their main threat to survival is habitat and forest loss, but the species is widely dispersed among a large area and they seem to be tolerant of human presence.
Lion-Tailed Macaques
Lion-tailed macaques are a species of Old World monkeys, and they are found only in rainforests in the mountain range of southern India. They have a large mane around their face, and a hairless face. This makes them unique to other species of Macaques. They are one of the rarest and most-threatened species of primates.
This species lives in hierarchical groups of 10 to 20, and they live within the canopy of the forest rarely coming down to the ground. They are known to feed on fruit, leaves, nuts, small insects and sometimes eggs of some birds.
Clouded Leopard
The clouded leopard is one of the least-seen big cat species in the wild. Very little is known about their population, as well as their habitats. They are one of the best climbers out of all species of cats, and they are able to hang upside down from branches using their sharp claws. They are not very big, only ranging in size of 2 to 3 feet long, but they have the largest teeth proportionate to their body of any other big cat. This helps them with their hunting, and they are known to hunt deer, monkeys, pigs, and smaller mammals like squirrels or birds.
This species is thought to be really special, due to the limited amount of knowledge we have on them and how rarely are seen in the wild.
This area is located in central Africa. It is classified as being one of the most important areas for wildlife left on earth. This is due to its large size, and the amount of species that live within the region. It is the world’s second largest river basin, after The Amazon in South America, and it surrounds the Congo River. The Congo Basin and Rainforest have been referred to as the world’s ‘second lung,’ as it is the second largest rainforest in the world.
The Congo Basin spans across six countries, and can be seen on this map:
The Congo Basin and Rainforest is home to some of the most endangered species, including the forest elephant, gorillas, and chimpanzees.
Gorillas
Gorillas share 98.3% DNA with humans, making them the second-most closely related mammal to humans after chimpanzees. Gorillas are stocky in build, with large chests, large human-like hands, and big heads with hairless faces. There are two main species of gorilla, each with their own subspecies, and they are found in the Congo Basin and Rainforest separated by 560 miles.
Gorillas live in family-oriented groups, called troops or bands, of usually about 5 or ten, but can be up to 50. These troops are led by a dominant male, called a silverback, and they make the decisions for the rest of the troop. They display their dominance by standing on two feet, pounding their chest, throwing things, and making aggressive charges at others. They also make loud ‘hoot’ noises, and can have a frightening roar.
Reproduction for gorillas is slow, as females only have one baby at a time, and this only happens every four to six years. The babies will cling to their mothers fur immediately after they’re born, and will continue to do this until the age of two or three. Females and males also take a long time to mature, sometimes up to 10 years. They have an average lifespan of about 35 years in the wild.
Gorillas are extremely intelligent animals, and in captivity they have been known to understand and use simple sign language. Young gorillas are said to be similar to children, in that they are found playing with each other, climbing trees, and chasing one another.
Gorilla populations have rapidly declined in recent years, and their ability to reproduce is very slow, making it difficult for the species to survive. There are many conservation efforts that are happening currently to save the gorillas in the Congo Rainforest, and as a result gorilla populations have increased since 2008.
Check out the efforts Ellen DeGeneres is making towards conservation for gorillas:
Chimpanzees are the most closely-related mammal species to humans, and we share over 98.7% of our DNA with chimps. This is demonstrated in their intelligence, and their human-like social interactions.
Chimpanzees are highly social, and they live in large groups, led by an alpha male. This alpha male also has a close group of male allies around him. Female chimps are known to be more trusting and timid than male chimps, and a large part of their social life is removing ticks and dirt from each other’s bodies. They also use tools, which is a signifier of their intelligence, as they use sticks to dig up insects or grubs from logs or dirt. They also use stones to smash up nuts, and use leaves as sponges to drink water.
Chimpanzees normally walk on all fours, but they are able to walk upright on two legs. They have long arms and fingers which help them swing easily from branch to branch. Chimps spend most of their time in trees, sleeping in them and building nests to sleep in. They are also known for eating in trees, and their diet is diverse. Chimps eat fruits and plants, but also are known for eating meat such as monkeys, antelope, tortoises, etc. They have also been known to eat medicinal plants for their ability to treat upset stomachs, headaches, and infections.
Here’s an interview with Jane Goodall, a primatologist who is known for her extensive research on chimpanzees, and her continued effort for the conservation of this species:
For more on Jane Goodall and the projects that she supports, check out the website for the Jane Goodall Institute here: https://www.janegoodall.org
There is also a documentary of her life studying chimpanzees on Netflix, called ‘Jane.’
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NYDP Communication Enrichment Class 