Learning Journey (Gracia Lee 2-1)

Aeroponics Farm

When we reached, we watched a programme which introduced us to aeroponics. In the programme, Mr. Lee Sing Kong, also known as the father of aeroponics explained to us more about plants grown by this kind of technology. I learnt that the root system of aeroponics is very important. The roots are suspended in the air, thus allowing unlimited or high amounts of oxygen to be taken in by the plant. Water is given to the plants through the form of mist. Every 30 seconds, sprinklers would start spraying water for 10 seconds. Aeroponics grow faster, usually taking half the time taken when grown in soil and this method also saves space. Water is also conserved as it uses 90% less water as compared to normally grown plants. They are also high in nutrients but uses 0 chemicals. The interesting thing is that temperate vegetation can be grown also because the plant can be tricked as a result of the mist, at 20 degree celcius. We walked around the technology farm to visit the green houses and they were all sheltered to protect the plants from insects. The types of plants grown were butterhead lettuce, Kai lan, Xiao bai cai and basil. A high-demand aeroponic product in Singapore is the butterhead lettuce which are distributed by this farm to supermarkets and restaurants. They are either packed by themselves or as a salad set, with tomatoes, dressing and a fork. The salad packaging is very popular and also, this farm has invented a juice, lettucino. It contains kiwi, lettuce and lime juice. In this way, it encourages more vegetable/fruit-disliking children to drink their important nutrients instead of eat them.

Bollywood Farm

Before starting the tour, we hydrated ourselves and were told by our guide that we could pick up the citronella leaves on the floor and use them as a natural insect repellent. The guide made the farm tour interesting and we saw many different kinds of vegetation such as the mimosa tree, moringa(treat deficiency), banana tree, sugarcane, rice paddy, papaya tree, roselle(ribena) and neem tree(for brushing teeth in ancient India). There was also an organic compost which is used as fertiliser.

Reflection for trip to Bukit Timah Hill (Evangel Teo)

Last Saturday, we went to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, a tropical rainforest in Singapore. It is a water catchment area and is the highest point in Singapore. Upon reaching, we saw lots of monkeys swinging from tree to tree. Before walking up the hill, we visited the exhibition hall. There were many informative and interesting exhibits in the hall. I learnt more about the history of Bukit Timah Hill and different species of plants and animals.

Next, we started walking up the hill. The slope was very steep and before long, I started panting. Fortunately, the slope eventually got gentler. On the way up, we saw many different trees as well as lianas and epiphytes with our own eyes. Before long, we reached the summit of Bukit Timah Hill. We sketched pictures of 3 different types of leaves and after resting a while, we went down. Instead of going straight down we went up another route. It lead to a view of a quarry, however it was hard to see as the trees were blocking the view.

Then, we headed down and after reaching the bottom, we walked another route that lead to a playground. At the playground, we had lots of fun. If we continued walking down the route, we would see a magnificent and breathtaking view of a granite quarry. It was simply beautiful.

As we were waiting for the bus, we saw many animals and were even lucky enough to see an  adorable baby monkey with its mother and a flying lemur. The bus arrived and it was time to go. I left with many more fond memories and valuable experiences.

Reflection of trip to Bukit Timah Nature Reserve (Gracia Lee 1-1)

   Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is a tropical rainforest in Singapore which has an astonishing variety of plants, animals and insects. It is also a water catchment area, which forms part of Singapore's water supply. Before we even started our walk up to the Bukit Timah Summit, we saw many monkeys that were swinging from tree to tree and landing on our pathways.  
   We visited the exhibition area before venturing out and understood more about the tropical rainforest in Singapore. The exhibits inside showed many different things which we could learn a lot from. For a better chance of survival, I learnt that fruits and seeds must move away from the parent plant to reduce competition and to expand the range of species. Many tall emergents and canopy trees in the tropical rainforest used their winged seeds so that those seeds can be carried along considerable distances depending on the velocity of the wind.
   After that, we started walking up to reach the Bukit Timah Summit. Even though our teachers made it seem so easy to walk up as they were chatting while walking at a fast pace, my friends and I found it difficult to walk up the steep pathway and later became quite tired of the walking. However, throughout the entire walk, we experienced nature with our very own eyes though we were distracted sometimes with talking and cracking jokes. We learnt that silence is golden in such a place so as to be able to hear nature and we also learnt more about the natural vegetation in tropical rainforests. We found out that the common insect sound heard is not made by crickets, but by cicadas. We saw the three layers: emergent, canopy and undergrowth. Some really tall and big trees had buttress roots which helped hold their heavy trunks and there were lianas that clinged onto a tree and connected to another one. There were also the epiphytes, which were the ferns. There was a tree, called the Merombong, which had a special trunk and its wood is rarely used but has excellent quality and durability. There was not much sunlight experienced as the emergents created a shade for us and only sometimes, patches of light could be seen.
   After the treacherous walk up, we were shocked to see that we had only climbed a height of 163.63 metres. We sat down to rest and made a sketch of three kinds of leaves. Most of the leaves we saw had a drip tip so as to drain off water. Then, we walked down and played at a playground but went off to look at a water catchment area that was beautiful. When rain falls, it is trapped by the leaves on the trees and the rainwater that falls from the leaves onto the ground are slowly drained to nearby reservoirs.
   I truly enjoyed the trip to the Bukit Timah Nature reserve and I understood more about tropical rainforests in Singapore.

Reflection (Kimberly Kiong 1-1)

TEMPERATURE RECORDING ACTIVITY
After the temperature recording activity, I have learnt some of the factors that can affect the temperature recorded. These factors include which storey we live on, the distance or direction of our house from the sun, the time of the day, the place where the thermometer is placed, the area or the part of Singapore we live at and the weather of the day the temperature was recorded. Not only have I learnt about the factors that affect the temperature recorded but also learnt how to read the minimum/maximum thermometer and that the temperature in Singapore is relatively constant. The weather is also about the same throughout the whole of Singapore as Singapore's land area is not very large. Overall, I found this activity fun and interesting as it allowed me to know the temperature range and average in my house.

Reflection (Gracia Lee 1-1)

Through the temperature-recording activity, I learnt that there are many factors that can affect the temperature taken at home.

The factors that can possibly affect the temperature recorded are:

• which storey we live on
• the amount of open space in the house
• the direction of our house from the sun
• the time of the day
• the distance of our house from the sun
• the overall type of weather for the day
• where the thermometer is placed in the house
• the different parts of Singapore that we live in

I felt that the activity was quite interesting because it allowed me to know the temperature and average temperature range in my house. I understood more about the topic and learnt how to read a min./max. thermometer. I also learnt that the temperature in Singapore is relatively constant.

Mindmap-Rocks

This is the link to my mindmap:
http://www.mywebspiration.com/view/462988a2d34d
[Gracia Lee 1-1]

Rocks mindmap

Hi, this the link for my rocks mindmap.

http://www.mywebspiration.com/view/467374a25ed7http://www.mywebspiration.com/view/467374a25ed7

Rocks

By: Kimberly Kiong

Iceland Volcanic Eruption

Why the volcano erupted

• Eruption caused by the diverging plates(North American Plate and Eurasian plate) at Mid Atlantic Ridge
  
  
• Iceland lies on a hotspot

Monitoring Volcanic Activity

What do they monitor??

•  Volcanic temperature
•  water level
•  lakes
•  mass movements like rock falls
• mud flow
• seismicity

Why do they monitor these things???

• Plot geology maps     
• Show changes before and after a volcano erupts
• To prevent death and illness
• Avoid affecting tourism, flights, business and daily activity

What materials are spewed out???

• Ash
• Smoke
• Lava
• Molten lava
• Rocks
• Many other solid, liquid and gases
• Gases: mostly steam but also includes poisonous gases(carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen chloride)

Symptoms

• Earthquakes
• Rumbling Noise
• Animals acting weird
• More vents appearing
• However, the volcano may erupt without warning

What type of volcano is Eyjafjallajökull???

• It is a Stratovolcano, sometimes called a composite volcano
• Its is a tall, conical volcanoe with many layers of hardened lava, tephra and volcanic ash

Evangel 

Iceland Volcanic Eruption (Kimberly Kiong)

What I have learnt?

Group 1
The Iceland lies above a hotspot that results in an island of volcanism and geothermal phenomena such as geysers


This is due to the diverging plates of the North American plates and Eurasian plates along the faultline, Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

Group 2
What and why do the geologist have to monitor the volcanic activity,


What? Volcanic temperature, water level, mass movement like rock falls, mud flow, seismicity,

Why? Plot geology Maps- shows changes before a volcano erupts

It will affect:

Health, tourism, flight, business
Before a volcano erupts, there may also be an earthquake.

Group 3
What material spews out of the volcano?

Ash, smoke, lava and many other solid, liquid and gases. In the gases bit, they spew out mostly steam, but poisonous gases: carbon monoxide, Sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen chloride escapes as well, and can suffocate people even before the ash hits them.It depends on how molten lava is ejected and rocks.

Severity of the situation:







Done by: Kimberly Kiong(20)
               1-1

Iceland Volcanic Eruption

The geological explanation of the conditions of the erupting volcano, Eyjafjallajokull, are...

•  the divergence of both the north american and eurasian plates
• a volcanic hotspot, which is a portion of the earth's surface that may be far from the tectonic plate boundaries and experiences volcanism
• iceland plume, an upwelling of hot rock in the earth's mantle beneath iceland

Geologists monitor a volcanic eruption because...

• prevent risks of injury and death
• plot geology maps and to show changes before an eruption
• business, flights, daily activities and tourism

Geologists monitor a volcanic eruption using...

• mass movements
• water level
• volcanic temperature
• rock falls, mud flows and seismicity

Materials that spew out from a volcano are...

• rocks
• lava
• ash clouds
• steam, smoke
• gases (poisonous ones such as carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen chloride)

Some symptons which people rely on in preparation of an eruption are...

• rumbling noises
• more powerful earthquakes
• animals acting weirdly
• vents appearing across parks

Positive impacts of a volcanic eruption...

• rocks from the volcano contain nutrients useful for farming
• provide geothermal resources, where heat from the earth's crust is converted into energy which is very clean and nearly inexhaustible

Negative impacts of a volcanic eruption...

• Death
• Injuries
• Destruction of buildings and crops
• delay flights
• block roads

Watch this video on the iceland volcanic eruption! Here's the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GEASDHVtFA&feature=related

Done by: Gracia (21) 1-1
Links: http://www.wikipedia.com/
          http://www.google.com/

Topographical Map :D

Here's a topographical map!

Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topographic_map

Done by: Kimberly Kiong

Plunge pool:

A plunge pool, also known as a waterfall lake, is a pool, lake, or pond that is small in diameter, but deep. Plunge pools are formed under the force of a natural source, such as a waterfall or rapids, but also as the result of scour from man-made objects such as spillways and bridge abutments. The swirling water, sometimes carrying rocks within it, erodes the riverbed into a basin, often featuring irregular and rough sides. Plunge pools can remain after the waterfall has ceased to exist or the stream has been diverted.
Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plunge_pool

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Selandjafoss_plungepool.JPG

-Gracia-

Submarine Canyons:
They are deep valleys between cliffs often carved by a landscape by a river. They are formed underwater,generally at the mouth of rivers.

-Gracia-

Rapids:
A rapid a section of a river where the river bed has a relatively steep gradient, causing an increase in the water velocity and turbulence. It is also a hydrological feature between a run(a smooth flowing part of a stream) and a cascade. A rapid is characterised by the river becoming shallower and having some rocks exposed above the flow surface. As flowing water splashes over and around the rocks, air bubbles become mixed in with it and portions of the surface acquire a white colour, forming what is called "whitewater". Rapids occur where the bed material is highly resistant to the erosive power of the stream in comparison with the bed downstream of the rapids.
Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapid

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Rapids.jpg

-Kimberly-

Waterfalls:
A waterfall is a vertical flow of fast moving water falling from a great height. It forms when a river flows over a horizontal layer a hard rock overlying soft rock. The soft rock is eroded more quickly than the hard rock. Also, a ledge is formed over which the water falls.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Dark_Hollow_Falls.jpg

-Kimberly-

Meanders:
Meanders are formed curves and bends that is noticeable along the river course as a result of a river flowing over flat land. They are formed when the river erodes sideways and deposits the sediments it is carrying on the opposite sides of the curves. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Tournon_-_confluent_du_Doux_avec_le_Rhône_.JPG

-Gracia-

Floodplains:
When the river flows through a flat valley floor, it deposits most of the sediments it carries. Therefore, the river bed is raised. When it rains heavily, the river will overflow its banks and flood the surrounding low-lying land which forms the floodplain. These floodplains are also fertile areas used for cultivating crops.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Floodislewight.jpg

-Gracia-

Deltas:
They are formed by the process deposition and is a land form that is created at the mouth of a river where the river flows into the ocean, sea, lake, flat arid area or another river. The river has to flow along alternative channels called distributaries when sediments build up and block the flow of the river to the sea. A delta will only form when the river carries a large amount of sediment and the waves along the coast are not too strong until they remove the sediments faster than the river can deposit them.

-Kimberly-

Impacts of Rivers (Evangel)

How do rivers affect people?

Positive Impact Of  Rivers:

Water supply for farming
Rivers are an important source of water for growing crops such as rice and vegetables.

Fertile soil for farming
The sediments deposited on the banks of the rivers increase the fertility of soil and hence the farmers want to cultivate along the river course despite flooding.

Water supply for industry
In industries, water is used for various purposes such as for manufacturing of food products or for cooling machines to prevent overheating.

Recreation and tourism
Rivers are also used for various recreational activities like rafting, canoeing and fishing. Many hotels andresorts are built alongside rivers to attract tourist.

Source of drinking water and food
Rivers are a source of drinking water and food. In places, where water pipes are not built, people depend on rivers for water. Rivers are also rich source of prawns and fish. For example, the mekong river supplies fish to more than 73 million people living along the river.

Production of hydroelectric power
To produce hydroelectricity, dams and turines are built on rivers, especially in the narrow, steep-sided valleys of hills and mountains. Dams trap large amounts of river water, which are stored in the reservoirs built along with the dams. The water is then released onto big turbines. The force of the falling water rotates the turbines rapidly to produce electricity.

Means of transport
Rivers can serve as a means of transport where it is difficult to travel on land. Water taxis, boats and ships transport people or goods from one place to another.

Negative Impact Of Rivers

Flooding
Flooding occurs when the waer in a river overflows its banks. Floods can take lives and cause serious damage to property and crops. A river floods easily when it carries a lot of sediments. As the sediments are deposited along the course, the river bad is raised. This causes the water level of the river to rise. Hence, whenever it rains heavily, the river overflows its banks and floods the surrounding lands.

Evangel