Do you
think penguins might encourage students, who live more than 15000 km far from
them, to think about the animal life and their relation to the impact of global
warming? I didn’t. But since these morning hours I am convinced that it is
possible.
Students of
grade 8 were sitting in my classroom and had a Skype meeting with Jean
Pennycook, penguin explorer and researcher of its population and animal behavior. She is
living with her fellow scientist, Mr David Ainley, in the Antarctic at Cape Royd in the Ross
Sea region for several months each year during the Antarctic spring. They live
in a tent far from civilization but next to the Adelie penguins. And they are
living next to their notebook which offers the “door” to the world next to a
satellite mobile phone.
The students grade 8 were knocking at this door this morning and got a fantastic view into a researcher’s life in that icy natural environment and how penguins live over there. 13 hours of time difference had been bridged to make this meeting possible. At 10 am German time the European students got a 45 minutes’ view into the Antarctic night where it is not dark at the moment. Jean showed them the exploring tent with all the material they need for their work. She went outside this tent with the camera and presented the sleeping tents, the toilet which looked so completely different to ours at home and the rough and raw environment. The kids got a lot of impressions about how a scientist works and lives in the nature.
How many
species of penguins live in the Antarctic region? How many species live on
earth in general? Why do they have pink legs? What do they eat? A lot of questions
and answers, information about this cute animal which lives there free from any
environmental influence.
The students grade 8 were knocking at this door this morning and got a fantastic view into a researcher’s life in that icy natural environment and how penguins live over there. 13 hours of time difference had been bridged to make this meeting possible. At 10 am German time the European students got a 45 minutes’ view into the Antarctic night where it is not dark at the moment. Jean showed them the exploring tent with all the material they need for their work. She went outside this tent with the camera and presented the sleeping tents, the toilet which looked so completely different to ours at home and the rough and raw environment. The kids got a lot of impressions about how a scientist works and lives in the nature.
Concerning
to their chemistry lessons’ topic “climate change” they got information about
the impact of global warming to these birds and the area in general.
video: students' meeting with Jean Pennycook, part 1
Video: students' meeting with Jean Pennycook, part 2
video: students' meeting with Jean Pennycook, part 1
Finally
they asked about the situation of “Balou”, the young Adelie chick in nest #6. The
students had had the possibility to name a chick of an Adelie penguin family
some weeks ago. (http://www.penguinscience.com/education/royds_nestcheck.php). Since that time they were constantly interested in the
situation of Balou and its parents in the colony. “Everything is well with him”, Jean
answered.
Thank you
very much, Jean Pennycook, for this wonderful meeting and all the support.
For further information click here.
What a unique and extraordinary experience for you!
ReplyDeleteIt's wonderful to see your students in Germany speaking with Jean Pennycook in Antarctica. The amazing thing about Skype is that Jean can teach so many students from around the world, right from her tent in the middle of Ross Island. My first graders were delighted to speak with Jean last week. We especially enjoyed the view outside the tent. Skype makes the world seem so much smaller. Thanks for sharing!
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