Curiosity Topics

I wonder......how a brain functions?

At first, I looked at the different dimensions of the nervous system, this is what I found out! I found out the brain, is your body's decision and communication centre. The central nervous system is made of the brain, spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system. Together, they control everything you do, from blinking to choosing what to eat. Nerves reach from your brain to your face, ears, eyes, nose, and spinal cord and from the spinal cord to the rest of your body. The sensory nerves in your body, gather information about the things around you, then send that information to the spinal cord. Then the spinal cord sends a speedy message to the brain. The brain then sends a response to that information. Motor neurons then send the instructions from the brain to the rest of your body.  The spinal cord is made up of a heap of nerves that run up and down the spine, the spinal cord sends messages to and from the brain every second.

The brain itself is made up of three main parts: the forebrain, midbrain, and hindbrain. The forebrain is made up of the cerebrum, thalamus, and hypothalamus (part of the limbic system). The midbrain is made up of the tectum and tegmentum. The hindbrain is made up of the cerebellum, pons, and medulla. Often the midbrain, pons, and medulla are referred to together as the brainstem. The cerebrum or cortex is the largest part of the human brain, which controls thought and action. The cerebral cortex is divided into four sections, called "lobes": the frontal lobe, parietal lobe, occipital lobe, and temporal lobe.

What does each of these lobes do?

Frontal Lobe- associated with reasoning, planning, parts of speech, movement, emotions, and problem-solving

Parietal Lobe- associated with movement, orientation, and recognition.

Occipital Lobe- associated with visual processing

Temporal Lobe- associated with perception and recognition of auditory stimuli, memory, and speech

Whenever we eat food something called dopamine is released in the brain. Dopamine is a compound in the body as a neurotransmitter and a protector of other substances including adrenaline. It is one of those chemicals that is responsible for transmitting signals between the nerve cells (neurons) of the brain. Very few neurons actually make dopamine. However after eating the same food time after time, the dopamine levels begin to even out and we no longer find the dish as satisfying as we once did, this is because the human brain is supposed to motivate us to eat different varieties of food.

From Kashaye and Michelle

HART N.Z

HART: HALT ALL RACIST TOUR
Video down below links with what we have been doing in English, Apartheid. This controversy links in with New Zealand. 

Egyptian Technology

Social Studies:

We have been looking at Egyptian Technology which links back to how technology started. We've looked at Astronomy, Mathematics and Medicine. Down below is the topic I've chosen. 

Astronomy In Ancient Egypt:

What is Ancient Astronomy?
Egyptian culture was greatly influenced by astronomy. Ancient Egyptian astronomy was very sacred. Pyramids and temples had been built and positioned in relation to the stars. The Egyptian calendar was based on astronomical indicators as well. 

How it links to Modern Technology?
There are many things that people encounter on an everyday basis that were derived from astronomical technologies. Perhaps the most commonly used astronomy-derived invention is the wireless local area network (WLAN). Other technologies that were originally created for astronomy are the X-Ray scanner used in airports and gas chromatograph for separating and analysing compounds designed for a Mars mission is used to survey baggage for drugs and explosives. These are all very tangible examples of the effect astronomy has had on our everyday lives.

William Shakespeare

A few days ago we have been studying Shakespeare and his background. We are learning this because he is a huge part of our history and has a lot to do with English. He is not just a person that created plays in his era but more. We are doing DLO (DIGITAL LEARNING OBJECTIVES) to show our understanding of what we've learned. 

Questions I have:

I wonder if there were any wars going on in his period of time or how his plays because famous?  

Down below is a link to my first DLO.

Click Here

Electricity Circuit

Electricity Circuit

Equipment:

1. Wire
2. Bulbs 
3. Battery

Method:

1. Gather needed Equipment
2. Plug the battery in
3. Attach the wires to the battery
4. Attach the wires to the bulb
5. Turn your battery on

Observations:

There was no light the first time we connected the wire, bulbs and battery. After a few attempts, we got the bulb shining. We tried different circuit diagrams to show the voltage of the bulb. Circuit one was brighter because it didn't have to share the voltage with any other bulbs. Between circuit two and three,  two had to share the voltage between two bulbs. We then measured the ammeter of the circuit. 

Debation

Egyptian Technology

Hieroglyphic Writing:

Hieroglyphics is an Egyptian system which was used for communication between themselves. They created symbols to designate a letter and draw/paint them in a vertical way. In modern days we use letters as a way of interacting by writing letters horizontally across the page. This is how humankind communicates with each other without having to draw pictures and write them the way the Egyptians did. Down below I have written my name using the hieroglyphics.

Curiosity Topic II

I wonder......how black holes are formed?

Black holes are incredibly massive but cover only a small region. Because of the relation between mass and gravity, this means they have an extremely powerful gravitational force. Virtually nothing can escape from them under classical physics, even light is deceived by a black hole.

Black holes of stellar mass are expected to form when very massive stars collapse at the end of their life cycle. After a black hole has developed, it continues to grow by absorbing mass from its surroundings.

Such a strong pull creates an observational dilemma when it comes to black holes scientists can't "see" them the way they can see stars and other objects in space. Instead, scientists must rely on the radiation that is emitted as dust and gas are drawn into the dense creatures. Supermassive black holes, lying in the centre of a galaxy, may find themselves shrouded by the dust and gas thick around them, which can block the tell-tale emissions.

Debation

Success in Sport is all about winning:

Reflection

Cave Art Painting: 

What am I learning?
Lately, I have been studying about the Stone Age. As I have researched things I have noticed how much human race has advanced in technology and everyday items. I learned about the creation of weapons. 
From sticks and stones to knives and guns. The image above tells a story of how they lived, killed, celebrated etc.

How does this work show my learning?
Show my learning by using the techniques they used to make the stone art.

What am I wondering?
How did they come up with the idea to draw their lives? How did they make the dye?

How can I use this learning?
 I can use this learning to help me with my future cave art drawings and by learning about cave art it has given me a better understanding of how men used it.

Performance Evaluation

Evaluation:

Name of Song: Getting Stronger Adeaze ft Aaradhna

Were you happy with your performance? Why? Describe?
I was surprisingly satisfied with my performance because we enjoyed what we did. Also, the support from the audience made it feel alot better.

How did you feel about performing in front of an audience? Explain?
I was a little apprehensive about performing because we started from the bottom of the role seeing that I was the second person to go up and perform. Once I got up there I just laughed away the nervousness and performed. It was exceptional.

What was your final grade and were you happy with it? 
I have graded a 'Merit'. I was thrilled with my grade because that is the highest I've ever gotten in Music. Other reasons being, I've sometimes struggled in music so getting this grade like really made me happy.

How could you have improved your performance?
Don't blank out! Seriously I would probably communicate a bit more with fellow members and also build upon confidence.

Curiosity Topic

I Wonder Why.........People Yawn

Everybody yawns, from unborn babies to the oldest great-grandparent. Animals do it, too. But why, exactly, do people and animals yawn? No one knows for sure. But there are many theories about why people yawn. 

One is that when we are bored or tired, we just don't breathe as deeply as we usually do. As this theory goes, our bodies take in less oxygen because our breathing has decreased. Therefore, yawning helps us bring more oxygen into the blood and move more carbon dioxide out of the blood.

Yawning, then, would be an instinctive reflex to help us control our oxygen and carbon dioxide levels. Sounds good, but other considerations have shown that breathing more oxygen does not decrease yawning. Likewise, breathing more carbon dioxide does not increase yawning. Now what?

Another theory is that yawning stretches the lungs and lung tissue. Stretching and yawning may be a way to flex muscles and joints, increase heart rate, and feel more awake.

Other people believe that yawning is a protective reflex to redistribute the oil-like substance called surfactant that helps keep lungs lubricated inside and keeps them from collapsing. So, if we didn't yawn, according to this theory, taking a deep breath would become harder and harder. 

But there is one idea about yawning that everyone knows to be true. It seems contagious. If you yawn in class, you'll probably notice a few other people will start yawning, too.