Have you ever wondered how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop? Well, Scientists decided to test this theory (and then we put their results to the test)! According to a mathematical equation, scientists estimated it would take around 1000 licks… However, our class determined that our average number was 257. There were many outliers (very low or very high results) and variables. We discussed that certain factors (differences in size of lollypops, saliva acidity, temperature, etc.) can influence our results.

If you want to learn more about the strange history behind Tootsie Rolls on the battlefield, check out the video below:

Tomorrow, our class will participate in day 1 of ‘Pumpkin Chunkin’! We have made hypotheses about what object will fall the fastest and which will have the most dramatic ‘splat’! We are going to be testing a large pumpkin, small pumpkin, yellow pumpkin/gourd, mini-watermelon, and coconut. We discussed the possiblility that the heaviest, largest, most circular, etc. fruit will fall fastest and have the most dramatic smash. What do you think? Stay tuned for the results of our experiment (or, if you can’t wait, check out the video above of a 1200 pound pumpkin being smashed from 100 feet in the air)!

Image description: the ‘before’ of our experiment, a large pumpkin, small pumpkin, yellow pumpkin, mini watermelon, and coconut. We will drop each fruit from a height and see the results!

Humans fear spiders and snakes the most, but find parasites the most disgusting (1)

Our class has been discussing fears, phobias, and things that give us the ‘ick’. If you click the link above, you can read about a study we investigated that ranked over 20 animals based on how scary and how gross people found them. Spiders came out on top in both the ‘fear’ and ‘disgust’ categories, while parasites like tapeworms and lice made most people feel grossed out. Some scientists believe that we naturally fear some animals

What animals are you afraid of? Are these fears based on a real threat, or imagined danger?

 

October 12th is a day to acknowledge the many Indigenous communities (both local and global) who have had to continually resist against racism, colonialism, and oppression. One way people can resist is through protests, through voting, and through strikes.

Image description (above: someone holds a handmade sign reading “water is a human right”)

(below: a group of people stand with their fists raised behind a lit sign reading “protectors”)

Many Indigenous communities and individuals are at the forefront of protests to protect waterways and to act against climate change. We will continue our exploration of what it means to protest as the week continues. Below is a video of young activist Autumn Peltier who has spoken up about the lack of safe, clean water in many Indigenous communities:

October 12th is the office date that the winner of the ‘Fat Bear’ contest is announced! What started as a small contest for fun has turned into a viral sensation, with thousands of people voting virtually on who should hold the title. While ‘fat’ often has negative connotations, we know that fat can be key for survival. These bears must rapidly gain weight so they have enough fat (stored energy) to last through their hibernation period.

One of the fan favourite bears is Otis (who held the Fat Bear title for 4+ years)! Check out the video below to learn more about 480 (Otis) and the challenges he faces as a bear. You can also click: Fat Bear Week to learn more about how we can support these animals!

Hello to our learning community! This week, please don’t forget that…

-Leadership Club forms are due to Ms. Ramen ASAP!

-Volleyball practice and games continue. Please hand in your permission form and make note of game/practice dates!

-Please return the ‘math check-in’ form after getting it signed by a parent/guardian

-Grade 7s: FSA information went home today (white envelope). Please reach out if you or your family have questions about FSAs.

Looking forward to another busy week!

Best,

Ms. Ward

Why do you think some people get the ‘heebie jeebies’ from certain animals, but not from others? Ms. Ward is very afraid of spiders, but thinks mice and rat are cute! Some people fear snakes, but adore dogs. We will chat further about where some of these animal-based fears might come from on a sociological/historical level this week! If you are someone who suffers from ophidiophobia (fear of snakes), maybe the video (above) will help you learn to like them just a little bit more!

Some discussion questions for at home:

-What are some animals you are afraid of? Why are you afraid of them?

-Why do we consider some animals ‘cute’ despite them being dangerous (ex: wolves), while other harmless animals (ex: non-venomous spiders) we think are gross or scary?

On October 11th, it is important we celebrate all those members of the LGBTQ++ community who are able to celebrate who they are and be proud of their identities. ‘Coming out’ refers to when someone tells people who are important in their lives that they are part of the LGBTQ++ community; some people may be ‘out’ in certain spaces (ex: with friends) but not in others (ex: at work). Some people might not come ‘out’ until much later in their lives, or may come ‘out’ more than once as they embrace different aspects of their identities. We also know that many people, for a variety of reasons, may not be able to ‘come out’ safely (worried about judgement, concerns around family reactions, religious/cultural beliefs, fear of imprisonment/jail). It is never okay to ‘out’ someone without their permission!

Feel free to watch the video above from the Human Rights Campaign for some words of support and encouragement from both people within the LGBTQ++ community, families, and allies. For more insights, try watching Pixar’s SparkShort “Out”, avalible on YouTube and DisneyPlus:

Do spiders ‘get under your skin’? Do you faint at the sight of a needle? Do dentists give you the creeps? Most humans have certain things that we are afraid of; these fears can be based on real dangers or even imagined dangers.

Image description: an infographic from Statista which shows fears from 1000+ American adults in 2021.

While some fears can help keep us safe (more on this to come), many fears can have possible negative impacts on our lives. For example, Agoraphobia (fear of unfamiliar people/public spaces) can keep people from trying new things, trypanophobia (fear of needles) can make someone unlikely to seek medical help, etc. As we continue our discussion on the Salem Witch Trials, we will learn that fear can sometimes have deadly consequences, especially in the cases of mass hysteria. Think your brain is above persuasion or panic? Check out the video below to learn more about mass hysteria examples through history!

What are some ways we can support Elders in our community (and globally)? As we discuss lifetimes, ancestry, and legacy, our class is investigating some steps we can take to help Elders (both those we know and those we don’t) feel connected, respected, and heard. Our class will be making cards/letters for 6 different elderly people who have been isolated due to illness, COVID-19 restrictions, mobility issues, and grief. Stay tuned to learn more about this project!

In the video above, Great Big Story follows the ‘Grandmother School’ in India where elderly women are able to attend school (some for the first time in their lives)! We discussed how many elderly people may not have had the change to go to school due to accessibility issues, financial barriers, or gendered restrictions.