July 6, 2008
Check out this web site … http://www.calacademy.org/index.php
I’d like you to roam around this site and make observations of things that you find interesting and informative. This living museum has yet to open, but it looks pretty cool. Make sure you check out the live penguin cam. Check out the penguin’s keeper’s (Pam Schaller) personal info under “science heroes.” She has some great informational videos posted.
It looks like you may ask questions of some of the directors at this amazing new science academy. If you do and then receive an answer … let us know here on our blog.
Here are some questions to guide you as you look around the site and then post here: What part of this site did you spend the most time exploring, and why? What new info did you gather from this site? Would you like to visit this new “living museum?” This museum employs individuals with many different biology backgrounds … what are some of them?
(Responding to this post will qualify as one of your summer required blog assignments.)
July 19th, 2008 at 10:25 am
Wow. This website is really cool. The living museum looks like it will be pretty neat. I noticed that I spent most of my time looking at the exhibits page and where the scientists went to look for new species and study animals. I read on the page that they went to madagascar and found a new species of spider that spits out venom and glue. Scary. I liked the exhibitions and it seems pretty cool. I would like to go there sometime. It’s a pretty god website.
July 19th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Hey, Ms. Story
I roamed the sight before but didn’t post anything because I’d gone and told my mom about the museum because i thought it was really cool. And today a show on National Geographic came out the California Academy of Science. My mom remembered me talking about it so she called me downstairs to see it and we’re watching the show now. it’s basically what’s on the site but way better cuz you can see everything inside and the different structures of the building. It’s so cool. It won’t go off until 5 so maybe you’ll catch some of the end of it if you see this soon enough. But if it comes on again I’ll see if my dad can tape it in case you want to use it for class or something.
Okay, that’s it.
See you later
Rae
(P.S. did you know that the guy responsible for the design of the new museum built everything out of recycled material? How cool is that?!!!)
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:27 am
I checked out the Califorinia Academy of Science Museum and loved it! It’s architecture was amazing and was well though out. My favorite part of the exhibit was the rainforest. I looked at some of the information on Penguin Cam’s and saw how amazing of an area the penguins have. Maybe if the principal would allow it we could raise funds and go to the CAS Museum during the summer of next year.
July 27th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Trevor … glad you liked the museum site. It will be interesting to watch the site develop with more exhibits and info as the museum gets closer to its opening date.
Rae … I did know that it was built out of recyclable materials! Glad you picked up that info. If your Dad could tape the Nat. Geo. piece, that would be great. How cool that your Mom remembered what you had been looking at! Kudos to Mom!
Tommy … WOW, that would be quite a “field trip!” I like that you are dreaming BIG! Dreams do come true, especially in the hands and plans of a visonary! Keep it up!
July 30th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Hey Ms .Story
I looked at the mammals and birds section for about 3 hours. What can I say I like animals,mammals and just about anything else you can think of. If only they had my favorite animal up their, a zebra. I wish I could go their but it doesn’t open for another 59 days. Oh I found out alot about some of the different mammals and fish that I didn’t even know existed like the gray whale. It;s pretty cool how it can filter out water and stuff.
July 30th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Dezmond … you’ll have to share more with me about the gray whale. It is amazing that such a large animal feeds off of the tiniest of organisms! A little bit of bio-irony!
I wonder how many people will visit the first week it opens!
Ms S.
August 3rd, 2008 at 11:29 am
Yes that is ironic. I never really understood that but I guess that’s what herbivores do. It’s really neat how they can find everything they need at the bottom of the ocean. Another mammals I found neat was the Southern Sea Otter. I like how they don’t have to fight for their territory they don’t mind sharing. Also they don’t have a set eating habit they eat a variety of things. Then their is also the Californian Grizzly Bear. It’s sad that they are endangered, and even sadder that it is because of Humans. I would hate for the Californian Grizzly Bears to become extinct. It doesn’t say much about their characteristics but im pretty sure they are carnivores.
August 3rd, 2008 at 11:38 am
It’s also cool how all mammals are endothermic. Also how it lets them move faster ( I don’t quite understand that) escape enemies, and live in colder climates. Oh the naked mole rat it’s body temp. constantly changes as it moves with the environment. That would must feel weird.
August 4th, 2008 at 10:59 am
Dezmond … having one’s body temperature constantly changing would be a little strange, wouldn’t it?! When ours moves even a couple of degrees, we really “feel” it … and usually don’t like it.
Thanks for sharing about the other animals, too.
Ms. S.
August 5th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Ms. Story,
I think that the lower level of the living museum was the best part. I spent around 30 minutes just reading all of the details about how cool the water area was going to be. I adore the water and everything in it. I want to join the Navy SEALS when i grow up, thats how much i love the water. I think that the water planet exhibit was the best par about it. The picture of the room is just amazing.
I agree with Tommy, we should try and get a field trip there. I mean heck, the Spanish teacher is going to Puerto Rico. thats just as far. I think? Ha Ha. I never was good in geography. It is a great website though!
August 6th, 2008 at 9:07 am
Hi Ms. Story,
I looked at the Paleontology section the longest because for some reason, I think it’s amazing and weird that those type of animals did live on this Earth before. I like the layout of the museum and if I get a chance to go, I would love to take it. It’s amazing how you can take animals from its natural habitat and place them somewhere where they can still survive and adapt to as if they lived there all along.
August 6th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Hey Drew … I like your analogy to “distance” when thinking about a trip! Setting goals, like becoming a Navy SEAL, is excellent. People who set goals are destined to become good leaders.
Hi Ashanti,
It will be fun to watch this created habitat develop. It is an interesting question whether mankind can simulate natural habitats enough to ensure survival of such a diverse group of animals and plants. It certainly must take a comprehensive understanding of all the factors that contribute to a successful ecosystem … a lot of ‘collaborating science brains!’
Glad to see your interest in Paleontology.
Ms. S.
Ms. Story
August 12th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Hey Ms. Story,
All i have to say is WOW, this museum seems so awesome. I really liked the blue whale video because its cool that there is such a massive animal in the museum. I looked at the animal pictures for a couple of hours and i really thought the design of the museum was spectacular. I have some family in California so maybe i will get to visit!!!
August 13th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
Awesome………Aquarium……..Planetarium……..Natural History Museum……..One Place? This place is HUGE!!!!!! I wanna be just like Renzo Piano…….except I wanna be a marine architect. But don’t get me wrong, this guy is Marvelous!!!
August 14th, 2008 at 10:44 pm
Lucas … I’m jealous you might be able to get to visit the museum. It is going to be spectacular! I’ve roamed the site several times and it’s always hard to leave.
Julius,
Glad you liked it so much. What a neat vision for a career … marine architect.
Ms. S.
August 15th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
hey Ms. Story,
i visited the site and it was really cool…I especially liked the penguin cams…i liked how you could watch the penguins walk around n swim…=]
August 20th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Hi RIchie,
Glad you liked the penguin cams. I did too. I wonder if they will add other live cams?
See you soon.
Ms. S.
August 21st, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Oh, goodness! That place seems so awesome! I think it’s a great idea to raise funds to be able to go there and check everything out that they have. These scientists really know what they’re talking about. Pam Schaller did a great job with the penguins. To see them run up to her as if she were one of them must be an honor, I would love to have a few ‘pet’ penguins, myself! I think it’s great that they are trying to build up the penguin’s population, global warming is doing a lot lately, especially things like endangerment. Which puts me to the great white sharks. What I really enjoyed looking at and reading about under ‘Science Heroes’ was the: John E. McCosker
Sr. Scientist and Shark Charmer. His video and the information about Great Whites shocked me. I always would think, hey, I can’t think of any good thing a great white could do, I mean look at how vicious they are, but when I read that they were killing them, how that would make the Sea Lions population grow until they eat all the salmon until theyr’e population is down which starves the sea lions, i realized how them being part of the food chain really works out. Being put into the point of view of the shark is what it’s all about.
August 25th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
I checked out the site. I loved the photo gallery and wished I had the opportunity to enter some of my photos. I also found the information on how rays are moved from one habitat to another interesting. I never thought about gender affecting the way animals are transported.