Showcase

Showcase

The top block had their showcase on Monday 29 June. The reason of the showcase was to show off our writing that we did in class this term. Danielle and myself did a presentation and explanation on "How do trees provide oxygen?" This was a topic of our choice. We were both very proud of our work. Our presentation was selected to remain on display in the Inquiry Centre. There were many amazing projects and explanations at the showcase. 

This is my explanation I used for the showcase.

Why We Need Trees

Have you ever wondered what is in a tree to provide oxygen and how much oxygen each tree provides? New zealand has a reputation of being clean and green. Trees provide oxygen so therefore they play an important part in life and keeping New Zealand clean and green. Most people consider trees as just a plant, but they are a lot more than that, they provide oxygen, shade and homes for many living creatures.

Oxygen is a produced by all green, healthy plants. Trees have leaves that contain little green chemical factories. These are able to use the the energy of sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into the chemical compounds of oxygen and sugar. Plants have small openings called ”stomata“. Carbon dioxide is absorbed through these small openings into the chemical factories and converted and expelled into the air's oxygen or converted into sugar for the plant to eat.

Trees do the opposite to people we breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide, whereas trees breathe in carbon dioxide and breath out oxygen. One leafy tree produces as much oxygen in one season as 10 people inhale in one year. Oxygen is fundamental to life on Earth.

Oxygen makes up about 30% of the Earth and 20% of the atmosphere. Oxygen is constantly being used by all living things. Even though fish breathe underwater, they still breath oxygen. Fish gills extract the oxygen from the water.

Because life on Earth is dependent on a ready supply of oxygen, it means that trees are pivotal to our existence. Deforestation is the permanent destruction of trees, or a forest in order to make the land available for other uses. Most trees are slow growing and take 20-30 years to grow, it is important that we don’t destroy trees at a faster rate than we replace them.

Aurora Australis Explanation

Aurora Australis

Have you ever witnessed nature's light show dancing across the night sky? This colourful display is referred to, and known as ”The Southern Lights”. What causes this spectacular illumination, Aurora Australis?

An Aurora Australis is often referred to as the Southern Lights. It starts at the sun. The sun is always active and has a constant flow of ions from it. The sun has a solarflare which means the sun has a little or big explosion. When the sun has a solarflare it ejects a cloud of electrons, ions and atoms towards earth.

When the cloud of electrons, ions atoms are ejected towards Earth, Earth's magnetic field directs the ions to the North and South poles. Earth’s magnetic field acts like an invisible shield. Particles from the solar flare follow the shape of the magnetic field.

The ions accelerate as they move towards the North and South pole. When they collide with other particles, they release energy in the form of light.

Aurorae also happen in the Northern hemisphere as well as the Southern hemisphere. The Northern Aurora is called Aurora Borealis. The Southern Aurora is called Aurora Australis, the more energy in the solar flare the brighter the Aurora is.