Science Fun

There are some days I love being a teacher.

Friday was one of those days.

When I was a student, school was all about memorizing the information and then spitting it back out for a test. 

The world of education is changing. No longer is the acquiring of information the ultimate goal. Companies and businesses want employees that can think. They desire effective problem solvers.

One of my all time favorite movies is Apollo 13 starring Tom Hanks. No matter how many times I have watched it, I find myself sitting  on the edge of my seat, wondering, 

"Are they going to make it back to earth?"

At one point, the air scrubbers are about to fail. Something needs to be done, and quick.

NASA gathers a bunch of "thinkers", gives them everything that is available to the crew and says, "SOLVE the problem."

That's what I mean by problem solving.

That's why I really enjoyed Friday's science lesson from Mystery Science.

The scenario- our class, while on a field trip, became stranded on a deserted island. Help is on the way, but not for several days. Besides the need for food, fresh water, and shelter, the sun is beating down on our heads. Fortunately, a few miscellaneous left over lunch items were washed ashore from our sunken ship.

My willing students, first tested these objects for several properties, such as stiffness, absorbency, and softness.

Armed with this information and a few other items (rubber bands, string, clothespin), they were asked to make a hat that would be comfortable, protect their face from the sun, and hopefully absorb some of the sweat.

Talk about engaging.

I observed my students thinking creatively, applying the data gathered during the testing properties section of the lesson.

They were employing the age old trial and error method. What they thought might work didn't, so they persevered and tried something else.

Some solved the problem and then thought how to make their hat even better. Several realized the foil when attached to the back of their hat would protect their necks from sunburn.

No one moaned and groaned about the assignment. Smiles were plentiful.

The lesson was educational, engaging, and relevant.

And, that's the way I like it! 

CNY

Xin Nian Kuali Le!

Happy Chinese New Year!

New clothes.
Red envelopes.
Fireworks.
Family.
Food.
Travel.
Vacation.


This is the biggest, most celebrated holiday here in Taiwan. Filled to the brim with traditions and expectations, the celebration touches every aspect of daily life.

Of course, that means different things to different people.

For us, it meant a week of rest.

We learned our lesson a couple years ago- never, ever travel during the official government mandated Chinese New Year Holiday. This being a family oriented holiday, EVERYONE travels to spend time with their extended families.  Imagine 23 million people in the state of Vermont trying to all travel at the same time. That in itself isn't an accurate comparison considering the interior of Taiwan is extremely mountainous with limited access. Needless to say, if you don't have to be on the roads or the railways, then stay as far away from them as possible.

For many citizens, this is the only holiday they have throughout the year, so besides spending time with their families, they visit the many amazing, picturesque locations throughout the island. National parks and hiking venues are typically elbow to elbow room only. 

Most businesses, including the thousands of small family run restaurants and shops, are closed for the full four day holiday. We were out on the scooter New Year's Eve and just about everything was closed. Our bustling city felt and looked like a ghost town. The vegetable lady in the afternoon market informed us that she would not be open for business for six days. That doesn't sound long, but considering she is open seven days a week, it's a well deserved break for her and her family. 

The holiday came at a good time for me. The nasty flu bug found me the week before Chinese New Year. Not being very good at writing sub plans, I avoid having to do that activity as much as possible. I ended up missing the last three days of school and as we near the end of the break, I still don't feel one hundred percent. So when I say I rested, that's exactly what I did. 

Unfortunately, I missed all the festivities at school.

Chinese New Year Song

Second Grade Class

During this week of illness, two other significant things happened. One positive; one negative.

Carl came home. 

That, obviously, was the good thing that happened. He returned just in time to help nurse me back to health. The  days I was sick prior to his return were the quietest three days of my life. Jake was at school so I had no one to talk to!

As many of you are aware, Taiwan experienced a series of strong jolts and hundred of after shocks.The epicenter was on the east coast of the island, less than 100 hundred miles from where we live. Close enough to feel the larger of the quakes, but far enough away that no damage or evacuations took place. 

Two of the biggest earthquakes occurred at night. After living in Taiwan six years, I have discovered the easiest place to detect or feel an earthquake is when in bed. Needless to say, I felt the first one Sunday evening and the biggest on Tuesday. Also the higher up you live, the more swaying you feel. While we are not too high, the sixth floor is enough to magnify even the smaller ones at times. 

Having the flu, I was in bed for the three days that followed, so I felt a lot of the aftershocks. At first they were coming every twenty minutes. As the time progressed, the regularity of them became less frequent.

Our mission headquarters is in  Hualien, the city closest to the epicenter. Several of our families live in the building. Recently built, it is designed to withstand earthquakes up to a 9. It is in the middle of most of the earthquake damage.

Several of the damaged buildings were visible from their apartments.

   

This damaged road is less than a half mile from the building. Several perished in the earthquake and survivors waited long hours to be rescued from the rubble. Please pray for the families that lost loved ones, as well as those whose homes were destroyed.

It was just two years ago during the Chinese New Year holiday that an earthquake shook the southern part of Taiwan, causing a building to collapse. It was later discovered the building had been built with inferior materials. 

Tomorrow is the last day of both the holiday, as well as our break from school. The beginning of 2018 has been slightly rough. Lucky for us, we get a do over!

Blessed be the year of the dog!

Boys vs. Girls

Well... That title alone could get me in some hot water.

Don't worry. I'm not about to get on a soapbox and start declaring who is better than who.

Nope.

God made us different, each special, with different strengths and weaknesses. You know, to compliment each other, not compete. 

But, that's not even what I am trying to say.

Last weekend, was the high school banquet. Unlike most schools in America, Morrison doesn't have a prom. They do a banquet.

Like a prom, the girls spend weeks looking for just the perfect dress and the boys dig through their closet looking for that shirt, vest, or jacket they bought for last year's banquet.

Abbi's senior year, several of her friends decided to get ready for banquet at our apartment. Last weekend, Jake's group of friends did the same.

Same objective. Two totally different approaches.

The girls showed up two hours before their expected departure time. The next 120 minutes involved hair curling, hair pinning, hair spraying, and the application of make up. With minutes to spare, they were ready.

The guys on the other hand, showed up and proceeded to play several games of Xbox soccer. Ten minutes before their departure time, they dispersed to different rooms to don the required evening attire.

After a few pictures, as they were walking down the hallway, one smartly dressed teenager suddenly stopped and declared, "I forgot to do my hair."

Never would happen with a group of female high schoolers!

Of course, it only took a few minutes to apply the right amount of moisture to get the desired look. 

When we moved to Taiwan six years ago, Jacob was just a sixth grader. How did the time fly by so fast?