Graciela's Buzzin' Weblog

What do you think of tests?

   I think that it is right to give us tests because our teachers and school even country want us to learn as much as we can. It's also unfair to many kids because they feel like their heads are going to explode! But they should know that in the future they may become very important people in their community. They could be one of those people if they pay attention and follow along with the class. And for the people who don't pay attention in class they wont get to have a wonderful career.

   That is why we should all accept that we have to take tests and learn, for our future.

                                 Do you agree on tests?

A new Mission!

   NASA announces a plan to get astronauts back on the moon by 2018. The last time a spacecraft landed on the moon was in the year 1972. Fast forward to the year 2018, when the next lunar landing is scheduled. By then, NASA{the National Aeronautics and Space Administration} plans to get humans safely back on the moon.

   Michael Griffin, the head of NASA, said it is important to invest in space travel, even as the nation struggles to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina and deals with other problems. "The space program is a long- term investment in our future," Griffin said.The crew vehicle project will cost more than $104 billion over the next ten years.

                                     A New Space Vehicle

   The new crew vehicle design will use the best technology and design from both the Apollo and the space shuttle. Apollo 11 was the first spacecraft to tavel to the moon. In addition to lunar travel, the spacecraft will also be designed to travel to Mars and the International Space Station.

   The new plan would have astronauts on the moon for a week!Which is twice as long as the Apollo missions. 

By Jill Egan

                                                         What I think

I wonder why they do not show this more on CNN. I wish they would, because the moon is very interesting and has many strange craters. Some people even say they can see a face! In third grade we did 3-D glasses to see special effects in the CNN news.I wish we could do more fun activities, but still learning about the world around us. Maybe out there in another galaxy there could be planets maybe even a new sun.That would be very exciting to see new discoveries.Probably we watch CNN because our teachers want us to learn more about what is happening around the world.

   Do you think we could learn by doing fun activities?

                   

A Marvelous Penguin March

TFK talks with director Luc Jacquet about hit film "March of the Penguins", each winter, emperor penguins in Antarctica begin a long journey to find the perfect mate and start a family.They  abandon their ocean home for a dangerous enviorment where temperature  can dip as low as 128 degrees below zero.They risk starvation and attack by dangerous predators.They march in the harshest conditionson Earth, all to ensure the survival of thier species.  The emperor penguin's story is told in the summer's biggest documentary hit, March of the Penguins.  TFK asked the film's director, Luc Jacquet, about the amazing animals and icy Antartica.  The interview was translated from Jacquet's native French to English by Fred Cassidy.

TFK: What inspired you to make a documentary about emperor penguins?

Jacquet: A combination of the amazing beauty of this animal.

TFK: How did you decide to focus on the penguins' pusuit of love?

Jacquet: More than the pursuit for love it was their common struggle as a couple against the Antarctic winter that deeply moved me.Without this incredible solidarity as a couple it would be impossible for them to keep their chick alive.

TFK:What do you think kids will like most about this documentary?

Jacquet: It's hard to say.  Perhaps the funny moments when they all dive in teh water or when they are moving awkwardly.  Or their beauty and the difficulty of their living conditions.

TFK: What is the coolest thing you learned from emperor penguins?

Jacquet: That no matter how difficult life can be it is something wonderful and worth fighting to preserve.

TFK: What do emperor penguins have in common with people?

Jacquet: Their ways of standing, of forming loyal and enduring couples, but also their ability to be cuddly.

TFK: What went in to preparing the film in such an extremely cold climate?

Jacquet: It takes a lot of experience in the Arctic... to know what equipment works there or not, what is cold-resistant or breaks.  You need to prepare with great attention to detail.  You won't forget to bring anything because it's impossible to come back in the middle of the school.

TFK: How did you go about making sure the film crew did not get in the way of the penguins daily routine?

Jacquet: The film crew was extremely professional and had a lot of experience working around animals.  But we also had a lot of respect and empathy for these animals who were suffering everyday in front of our eyes and with whom we were sharing our lives.

TFK: Did the emperor penguins surprise you in any way?

Jacquet: I was amazed by their consistent ability to surprise and astonish...even after months of filming them routinely.  They are beautiful, curious, and peaceful.  It was a great privelege to be able to share a moment in their lives.

TFK:  What was the biggest challenge you faced while filming this documentary?

Jacquet: Managing the technical difficulities, the cold and the perils of the Arctic long enough to finish our school.

TFK: How is global warming impacting emperor penguins in Antartica?

Jacquet: Global warming affects the way oceans function and that's where the penguins get their food.Today there is less food for them than before and they are having a harder time feeding their chicks.

TFK:What can we as people learn from Emperor Penguins?

Jacquet:{we can about }preserverance and {devotion}.

By Sorina Popa

Would you like to learn more about penguins?

Found:Two Lemurs

In Madagascar, a tiny island of the coast of Africa.They found a new species of  animal.It is called a Lemur.The new species is not much bigger than a mouse. It spends most of it's time in trees.It has a white stripe on it's nose, maroon, orange, and white fur, and short rounded ears.It's proper name is Microcebus Lehilahytsara which means good man in Malagasy the language of Madagascar.Scientists made the discovery after analyzing the makeup of both Lemurs .Lemurs are the closest living relatives to our ancient primate ancestors who lived for about 55 million years ago.The bad thing is that many Lemurs species continue to be threatend by hunting them or by habitat destruction.

       Fast Facts:

• Madagascar lies about 250 miles of the coast of Africa.
• It is the fourth largest island in the world
• Unique wildlife and one -of-a-kind butterflies ,birds and much more live on land.
• The island was visited by European sailors in the year 1550

              Would you like to learn more about Lemurs?                            

             

My Fantastic New Weblog

Hey, Im Graciela .As you see this year I will get to have my own weblog.Which is called Graciela's Buzzin' Weblog.I can't believe this is our first post, which is very important to me.At the time I feel like learning more about weblogging .Then at the other time I feel like I want this year to end.Well, lets talk more about me, for example my favorite things, how i am, what I like alllt hat kind of stuff.Ok, I'm 10 years old, I was born in Los Angeles,California.And I havea sister that is 18 years old and a brother that is 21.My favorite animals is a cat, guinea pigs and puppies.I like to take photos of many things especially my pets.This may be weird but I like to collect many varieties of rocks.Oh, one time I went to stone mountain and We went to a little store where they sold many weird rocks.Well some of them came in little baggies.Then we had to put them in some rackets.Next any rocks that were wet or came out they would show up then one by one I would pick my favotite rocks.It may not make any sense so you can just leave a comment.Well back to me.What I'd like to talk about now is about my relatives.what Im trying to say is that some of my cousins are here at this school.Let me name them:Samantha, Guadalupe, Leonardo, Lucia, Graciela, Judith, Moises, Kevin, Daniel, Everardo.And that's it quite abig list dont you think? Last year my cousin Estefany also had which I also read and believe she has very good details and stories.Oh and her sister Zuleyma is also well known because she got to go to Washington D.C.Which is pretty cool.I hope someday I'll get to go to somewhere important too.But what I have to worry about write now are my grades and participating in many things.I hope that thta children all over the countryshould understand that sometimes their teachers yell at them because their teacher wants them to listen what i mean to say is that is that they want them to pay attention becauseto their knowledge because one day they could become  important leaders in their community.So remeber to Pay attention!