Mantle@Moulsham

Burning Out!

2007-03-14T02:26:00.000-07:00

Global warming has threatened Polar bears to make a big move to the east of the south pole in 3 months, due to lack of food and the changes in the environment, surroundings and their habitat around them. Mr Duf has reported to us,"Yes , the polar bears do not know how they're going to survive in the east, because they won't have any knowlege and also they're going to have to adapt into the new habitat and surroundings ." Thankyou for reporting to us Mr Duff.

Thanks to global warming 1,000's of animals are going crazy around the world, due to loss of habitat. Wolves are only one of the animals that have been affected due to the trees that are being cut down for our needs: paper, wood, toilet rolls.
Wolves live in forests and there are only 48 forests left in the world and only 10,000 wolves left living in these forests. 'Albert Einstein.'

It is said that penguins habitats around their enviroment are being destroyed and that is all because of global warming. As a result, penguins could die within 20 years. It has been said that the ice is melting and the same with the snow. There have been scientists and archeologists investigating these lands. It was discovered that the animals could be sqaushed by the ice-bergs. If the ice-bergs melt, it will not be cold enough for the penguins. A scientist had this to say "We need to stop these penguins from adapting to this new climate." It was also said that in the future the animals could survive with your help. If people recycle more of their paper, bottles and plastic this will help.

Mr D H Smith

Terrapins have been greatly affected by the rising of temperatures, as some of the ponds they used to go to have dried up.Terrapins are omnivorous animals as they eat small animals such as rats, fish, large snails and molluscs, but are still not getting enough food because the animals are moving to somewhere else because of the heat. Terrapins could be extinct in the near future if they are not helped. Mr B.Anana

The ringend tailed lemurs are being threatened by people who are chopping the trees down, so that the lemurs will have no habitat to live in when the cold season arrives.
The lemurs are also being affected by global warming. Scientists say that global warming is starting to make the lemurs extinct because of the climate changes.

Professor L.J.Brown

Giraffes face extinction due to the lack of food which is being produced on trees.
There is no food (leaves) on the tree because the sun is hotter and the leaves are getting burnt. Because of this many giraffes are dying from starvation.
Recent research scientists have said "Giraffes are decreasing by half every year!
Next time you use your car just think of the poor giraffes."

Professer M.J. Smith

Global warming is harming animals every where around the world. Most harm by global warming has been happening in all cold and chilly countries .Polar bears, Penguins and other animals at these places have been dying down because it's recently been too hot for those animals.
Also, hunters have invaded the enviroment of most of these countries: Greenland, Antartica, North pole and many more cold ones. Animals are being hunted for fur and sold for rich people to wear. The public blame the eskimos who live in these areas for loss of animals, but, fur sold for money and fashion is more harmful.

Pythagoras

Gorillas face extinction due to lack of plants because of Global warming. Scientists are sure they will be gone in 30 years!
It is sad to see them go because they are the closest relatives to humans, they live the same kind of lifestyle to us as well. The Gorillas are well adapted to their environment and they can't evolve quickly enough to their new habitat.

An Expert Scientist had this to say: " The Gorilla's are losing their homes thanks to people chopping down trees and due to illegal hunting, it just isn't fair for the Gorillas!"
Let's hope for the best luck for the Gorilla's!
Miss. A.Savinski

Bio Labs join peaceful protest to protect zoo client

2007-03-12T13:58:00.000-07:00

The clamour of human voices joined the animal hubbub at Australia Zoo last Friday. A pressure group formed by Bio Research Labs 'animal special branch' on secondment in Australia to support the Zoo's good work with conservation, made their protest to the Zoo's threatened closure known.

Jugglers, special offers, entertainments, badges and leaflets for visitors were all on offer, but, behind the carnival atmosphere was a sombre message. Small children from year 4 in Water House, made their concern known as they learned of the challenges that the often already endangered species could encounter if the Zoo were to close.

At the end of the day, these children gave their feedback, and said which of the protests had got the message across well for them. Free badges and leaflets were popular, as well as emotive images of the animals. The juggling trio, who set up a circus style picket line, wearing masks and holding banners, were voted for by many.

Science week at Bio Research Labs this week, means further research into the fragile habitats and ecology of some of the Zoo's animals. Work will be undertaken to understand the adaptation of these creatures to their homes, and how climate change and reduction in forestation in parts of the world, may be impacting on the future of some species.

The scientists will have the opportunity on Wednesday to visit a huge inflatable 'Earth Globe' in which they can visualise the scale of these global changes and locate their animals on the global map around them. With a scale of 1" to 30 miles, this should be some experience. We hope to bring you satellite images of this event.

Signs for Koala's passing

2007-03-09T06:48:00.000-08:00

"We all are very sad as one of our animals has passed away. We are very sad, but we had to get over it because we have got lots of new animals."

"I found it very sad when the Koala passed away, but I soon got used to it because I have seen many other animals die. The good thing that came out of her dying was that I moved to work with the Kangeroos."

Koala put to rest

2007-03-08T12:12:00.000-08:00

The sad death of beloved Koala at Australia Zoo meant the loss of a friend for many. However, this event has attracted so much publicity that Bio Reserach Labs animal branch working with the zoo, have managed to fund raise enough Australian dollars to give the threatened zoo a reprieve, and keep it open at least for the forseable future.

The Lab set up a protest group, whose activities involved TV appearances, leaflet and poster campaigns, presentations with powerpoint at schools and a pickett line with animal masks and banners.

Public opinion was thankfully swayed, and the money is rolling in.

Here, three of the scientist team enjoy a moment feeeding the baby koalas in the nursery. Watch out for the one with a new tooth through!

crazy zoo

2007-03-07T14:11:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Australia Zoo made amends for my mistakes in over zealous 'steering' of events. They sent a huge postcard to the scientists congratulating them on their fantastic ideas for raising public awarenes and saving the zoo. The energy is reinstated, we're back in business. By Friday we should have TV appearances, posters, picket lines and protest banners as well as the humble 'leaflet' that I, in my blinkered, curriculum driven world, had envisaged.

Energy was as wild as the animals we were working with this afternoon. We had been to the theatre in the morning to see 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' by Shakespeare4Kidz, which was fantastic. We were infused by creativity.

I began by placing a large box in the centre of our circle. The box has 'aprons' written on it, and we all know it's the art apron's box. It was the first box I spotted as we decamped into the hall to fit 1/2 hour's work at the zoo in before the end of the day. What I love about MoE is it's forgiveness. The 'aprons' box became imbued with such power this afternoon.

"Whilst we've been at the theatre, Australia Zoo have delivered this box." My voice is hushed, I handle the box carefully.

It transpires that there is a koala in the box, which is gently removed and nurtured on some knees. Boys around the circle are leaning in, craning to look in the 'aprons' box, and at the knees of their mates, where the 'koala' nestles.

It was hard to keep the focus on the koala, and so more boxes were delivered, and soon the hall was full of animals, and children wrestling and writhing on the floor to contain those creatures who proved lively, or downright dangerous.

Bio Research Lab's previous work on testing food for poisons and the emphasis on disease and infection, overspilled, and many animals were also sick, injured or diseased. (I have noticed how often this comes up when others are writing of their work. I know that I led the previous mantle in this direction, however, is this the only reason? Does destruction and dysfunction become a focus because we are working with metaphor for society?)

Events culminated in the original Koala group's sad announcement; 'In spite of all our care and hard work, the koala has sadly died.' Even after we had re-framed and were leaving the hall, one boy was patting another on the back, whose head was bowed. 'We're sad about the koala.' (This is year 6)

Tomorrow then...things could move on from disease and death. I would like to try the following ideas that I have gleaned from the MoE website:

We will make a 10 second film about how the koala got to be sick, before he was delivered in his box to us.

We will draw a sign/symbol to send with him, and say what we hope this will convey to him

We will explore ways that we can make something positive from his death, and re-frame back to our original intention, to help the zoo in it's public awareness campaign, in order to save it from closure. Perhaps we can have a memorial fund, or a sponsorship with koala as a mascot? I will not DIRECT!!!

Incidentally, I could not bring myself to put the art aprons back into the box later that day. There was too much koala still in that box.

2007-03-05T13:16:00.000-08:00

I have learnt a salient lesson today. My conscience and my HT tell me that I can no longer keep this fantastic learning medium to myself-it must be brought forth to planning meeting with the 4 colleagues in my year team and shared. We duly planned a week of literacy which incorporated some Mantle approaches, into which we could dip tentatively, or fully immerse, depending on our inclination, confidence waether conditions.

I launched in today, seconding Bio Research Labs to Australia in order to demonstrate their vetinary expertise whilst working with Australia Zoo. Their knowledge of animal physiology has been second to none today, especially during a rather difficult wallaby birth and a nasty crocodile tooth extraction.

However, my salient lesson. For once, as I had planned with my team, and vowed to support them through this week of unfamiliar delvings, I felt compelled to follow the direction of our planning and ensure that I did not deviate. How unwise! Better by far to trust my usual instinct and follow opportunity as it arose.
We had decided that we would steer the children towards producing a persuasive leaflet, when they were introduced to the problem that Australia Zoo was threatened with closure. On asking for their ideas about how to get the message of the zoo's good work to the public, did they come up with using a leaflet? Oh yes, not only that, but about 20 other equally good or better methods, from TV appearances, to posters, cereal packet promotions and picket lines.
Why did we spend time planning this, when their ideas are far better than ours? Did I leap upon these fantastic suggestions? No. And why not? Because we hadn't planned it that way and I felt constrained by what I had said we would do. I effectively killed the moment and will have to go back and ressurect it. rewind, find the point at which the energy and momentum started to flow, untap it again and go with it. I could kick myself.
I also know that this happened because I was too busy with half my mind on the literacy SATs booster class we are starting tomorrow, parent's evening tonight after school and whether I will find time to input that target tracker data.
Is there a Mantle of the Expert Universe somewhere? Beam me up...

Antidote for P5601TS poison succesfully extracted from plant source

2007-02-20T13:27:00.000-08:00

Botanists at Bio Research Labs have produced these diagrams of the plant from which the poison is extracted

A glorious moment, the antidote has been made..

Today has been a day of reflection. A PPA day spent putting some order to a growing pile of photos, children's drawings, writings and scribbled ideas. Having been guided in my MoE by instinct, enthusiasm and serendipity, it seemed that the time had come for some order to be imposed on the happy chaos that it had become.

Spending the day putting all this amazing 'evidence' into an A3 display wallet made me look closely and notice the wit, intelligence and humour in every tiny detail, that, in the busy rush of moving forwards, I had not noticed at all. We are constantly reminding ourselves of what children do NOT know, or have NOT learnt. I am staggered by how much they have been absorbing, like little sleeping sea sponges, whilst I was not actively 'teaching' at all! This must be what is called 'learning'!!

I 'planned' the last week in retrospect, having already watched each day evolve from the last,(am I the only person who works this way?-obviously not all the time...) If I had planned it in advance would I have felt the same freedom to follow ideas as they emerged?

Matching activities and outcomes with the NC PoS I am surprised by the huge coverage. That box ticked, I can sleep easy.

A few magical Moulsham moments from Bio Research Labs:

The children had just been introduced to their company, which tests chemicals in foods to ensure consumer safety, and had moved on to meet a new threat: poisonous chemical P5601TS, traces of which had been found in foods. The 'substance' was in the classroom (evening primrose oil capsules and tumeric to show it's plant form) when one of the children began to produce symptoms of the poisoning- his tooth fell out.

One of BRLabs medics noted symptoms and we continued. Ten minutes later, another child succumbed to the deadly substance and also lost a tooth! The 'Medical Assessment Centre'was truly up and running and in business.

Teeth were returned for the tooth fairy, but only after rigorous testing by the lab's bone analyst.

Magical Moment 2:

During the culminating conference with visiting client Tescos, (Mrs Thomas y4 teacher and Science co-ordinator) who were suffering losses and bad press due to the traces of P5601TS found in their foods, a shadowy figure was seen to be lurking outside the lab door. Moments earlier, our unfortunate client had taken a call on her mobile informing her that the situation had escalated in a hostage taking at the store. Bio Labs were busy unpicking this problem. One of the children, on seeing the shadowy figure, called out, "It's Mr A Conn! Maybe he's involved." Mr A Conn was a dastardly government education minister from our last MoE who was trying to stop our end of year musical production. (Mr Hindes, in fact)

Because the children were under the magical mantle, Mr Hindes had vanished and a figure of Historical Mantle figure was resurrected for the moment!

It really made my day today when aforementioned Mrs Thomas told me that she'd given her children the mantle and that they were archeologists in the library today.I hope that by the time I formally bring this idea to the whole school (there are 19 classes) there will be bits of mantle draped over many classrooms already.

World Conference on rare and toxic plant pollination, Feb 2007

2007-02-19T11:27:00.000-08:00

Scientists bravely handle the rare species
Technical experts Dr C Caraxan and Prof A Stalwart help to prepare the models for the conference

Accurate replicas are needed to ensure that re-enactments of the life-cycle habits of plants are shown exactly as they would occur in the plant's natural habitat.

World renowned Lucas de Gracias and Jimino Von Gradvalax feed and water precious specimins in the conference Bio dome.

Today, an eminent group of leading scientists met to share their expertise on some of the rarest plants known to human-kind.

Using 'state-of-the-art' replicas of plants from some of the world's far flung spots, the botanists led a transfixed audience through demonstrations of the lifecycles of these species.

Computer generated images were used alongside materials originally developed for use in space stations, to create the models with which the scientists informed their amazed audience.

It transpired, that the weird and wonderful specimens, among which, the infamous P5601TS is found, in fact, use pollination in much the same way as many far humbler plants. During one breathtaking enactment by a group of poison plant specialists, the common bumble bee was shown approaching P5601 plant, settling upon it's stigma and depositing pollen!

One of the plants in it's natural habitat of the Moulshomian Rain Forest.

A bee braves the P5601TS plant, unwittingly putting itself at risk from the toxic chemical component of the plant's anthers.

A huge thankyou goes out to these scientists today, from all over the world, for their valuable research into these plants, many of which are being used to provide essential medicines and antidotes to harmful poisons.

The antidote

2007-02-15T13:48:00.000-08:00

Extreme weather conditions on Thursday did not deter the scientists at Bio Research Labs who worked around the clock to find the antidote to lethal chemical P5601TS, traces of which had been found in foods at a well known national supermarket. 24 classroom free hours were all they needed to provide their client with help for sickening customers.

First hand experience of the snow helped when faced with the increased complication on Friday, of a hostage situation in the freezer department at the same store. The Bio scientists knew just how long they had to 'talk down' the perpetrator before physiological damage was inflicted. It would seem that the same person who tampered with foods, took employees and a group of visiting schoolchildren hostage.

Research into the plant from which this chemical derives, is due to take place next week, with visits to it's natural habitat of Madagascar by botanical experts at Bio Research Labs.

Meanwhile, efforts to propogate the plant in the UK will continue, in order that the precious antidote can be extracted easily.

The critical question of why, has yet to be fully explored. It would seem that the person in possession of P5601TS is very unwell themselves, but this does not explain the motive. Some of the hostages have expressed a desire to talk to the perpetrator in order to better understand...

The final words must be with some of the scientists: (some spellings have been changed)

"we found that the terrorist's motive was he needed money to cure his heart disease and to give his nan food. In doing this he was clumsy in where he put his hostages because they were right next to the back door. To save these children we simply used his P5601TS to trigger a smoke reaction."

"We tried to track down the terrorist and we did not stop asking why and what he was doing. But later on we started to celebrate because we have saved 31 children from a most awful freezer and they are back in school safe and warm."

precipitous learning curve!

2007-02-07T11:24:00.000-08:00

I am feeling a lot like Alice down the rabbit hole, having stumbled upon MoE by chance.

Attending a Leadership Network day, rather by mistake, finding myself the only non-Head /Deputy in the room I was glad to be joined by two teachers doing a presentation on mantle. They seemed to be feeling as 'out of things' as I was.

Watching their video and feeling their enthusiasm, something clicked. A week later my class and I reached the culmination of our first Mantle project, excrucuatingly captured on video.

I feel as though I am groping my way in the dark: too busy to plan this properly, (In the large junior school I work in, the 5 class yeargroup teams plan together. Therefore I am full of subterfuge, planning away in discrete subject areas, knowing that Mantle is like a drug in my veins and that I will not be able to separate my 2 week literacy cycle from my PSHE and science because I've seen a link and hatched a plot already!)

My guilt at indulging myself without yet sharing this amazing revelation was lifted today. One of my year group colleagues bounded in to see at me at lunchtime: "I've done your thing, I hope you don't mind, I've stolen your idea, the kids love it!"
I assure her that it wasn't my idea and that I am hugely relieved that she was so positive about the ideas I'd briefly shown her. My next task, once I've worked out what on earth I'm doing with this thing that's so much bigger than I am, is to disseminate it to my yeargroup, and eventually to all 20 teachers at my school.

No, I don't feel like Alice; I feel like a guinea pig; in fact, a laboratory rat. The company in my classroom right now is 'Bio Research Labs' and we are testing consumer foods for toxic chemical traces. I feel empathy with those lab rats!