Wednesday, May 18, 2011

ePals question about habitat

"We are looking to collaborate with classrooms located in/near that rain forest, ocean or desert.  We would also love to collaborate or communicate with classrooms in Australia and/or the Polar Regions."

go to: http://www.epals.com/forums/p/47369/284166.aspx#284166

and write a reply

from epals

 
From: ePals Global Community - Notificaciones <noreply@epals.com>
To: peterneu@epals.com
Date: 2011-May-05 01:05:02
Subject: Re: Questions about your culture


By Pilar G in Looking for Information on...

Hi! I live in Spain, Soria, a small town in Castilla y León. In this city, the winter is very cold. My first language is Spanish and my religion is Catholic.

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Reply to this message in www.ePals.com 

Thursday, May 5, 2011

3 Gorges Dam

3 Gorges Dam <-- click here for photo

The Yangzi River is home to some of China's most spectacular natural scenery, a  series of canyons known as the Three Gorges The River is the longest and most important river in China. It is also the world's third longest river. Only the Nile River of Egypt and the Amazon River of South America are longer.  This river flows through China for 3,900 miles (6,275 kilometers). It begins in the Tanggula Mountains and runs through south-central China to the East China Sea. The river has many twists and turns, so it flows in different directions as it crosses the country. Small boats carry people and products. Large ships from the ocean also travel up part of the river. Thousands of Chinese people live on the Yangtze in boats called junks. The Three Gorges Dam (youtube video link), on the Yangtze, is the world's largest dam. CNN article: Three Gorges Dam from CNN

Click here to read the Social Studies assignment article and questions on the 3 Gorges Hydroelectric Project

Questions about the 3 Gorges Dam Project:
  1. When was the idea of the dam first proposed?
  2. When will Three Gorges Dam be completed?
  3. What national problems do Chinese officials hope Three Gorges Dam will solve?
  4. How do critics think the dam will harm the environment? 
  5. What is special and different about the sites that will be flooded by the dam's reservoir?


3 Gorges Dam by adrianosmond
3 Gorges Dam, a photo by adrianosmond on Flickr.

3 gorges dam construction by ..Yardley..
3 gorges dam construction, a photo by ..Yardley.. on Flickr.

Qutang Gorge by Chiva Congelado
Qutang Gorge, a photo by Chiva Congelado on Flickr. 

Wu Gorge by Chiva Congelado
Wu Gorge, a photo by Chiva Congelado on Flickr.

The old water line on the river - you can see how much lower the water level is with the dam operating. What does this mean for the environment?








3 Gorges Dam model by Chiva Congelado
3 Gorges Dam model, a photo by Chiva Congelado on Flickr.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Textbook online materials

Composite piece with a Chinese theme - derivat...Image via Wikipedia"The World and Its People" Textbook materials for Unit 8, Chapter 23 "China and Its Neighbors" <--- click here
OverviewChina is a country with many landforms and climate zones. Between the Himalaya and Kunlun Shan lies the world's largest plateau—the Plateau of Tibet. The Taklimakan and Gobi are harsh deserts. The major rivers—the Yangtze, the Yellow, and the Xi-flow through the plains and highlands of eastern China.
In 1949 China became a communist state. In recent years, government leaders have allowed some features of the free enterprise system to develop in China, which has resulted in rapid economic growth. The cities of Hong Kong and Macau are an important part of the economic changes taking place in China.
China has the world's largest population and one of the world's oldest civilizations. As their civilization developed, the Chinese tried to keep out foreign invaders. One way they did this was by building the Great Wall of China. The ancient teachings of Kongfuzi, Daoism, and Buddhism still influence the people of China today.
Taiwan is an island close to China's mainland. After their defeat by the Communists in 1949, one million Chinese refugees fled to Taiwan and established a democracy. Today Taiwan has one of the world's most prosperous economies, largely because of its high-technology industries. Landlocked Mongolia, located to the north of China, has rugged terrain and a harsh landscape. Its people are famous for their skills in raising and riding horses.