Sunday, July 22, 2012

Final FEI Assignment Due Aug 3.

After you have had a few days to go through the materials and ideas presented to you at the
Fire Ecology Institute, please mail or email to me by August 3:

1.  A minimum of one page reflection on the presenters, activities, materials, and field trips and the impact they all had on your personal knowledge gained, perceptions changed, and new awareness of our natural resources.

2. A minimum of two pages of lesson plans and/or curriculum implementation ideas. Include the following:
-What is the overarching theme or message you want your audience to know.
-Which of the materials that you received will be useful? 
              Be specific, and include activities, standards addressed, subjects addressed, 
              district goals, any challenges you may  encounter.
-Describe in detail the unit/curriculum/project or lesson plans that will br created for your students.
-What additional material, resources or people might be needed?
-How might you involve others in your school or community?
-Will you be able to include mapping or GIS applications?

Stipend checks will be processed upon satisfactory completion of the above. 
Thanks so much for your enthusiasm and full participation!

More great resources:    
Living with Fire       http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/fire_game/
http://interwork.sdsu.edu/fire/purpose.htm
http://www.redcross.org/preparedness/educatorsmodule/EDU_Wildland_Fires/k-2%20Wildfire%20and%20Healthy.pdf
http://www.wildfireprograms.com/search.html?displayId=228
http://www.firewise.org/Information/Who-is-this-for/Educators/Curricula-and-lesson-plans.aspx
This edition of the Natural Inquirer is all about wildland fire. You will learn about the benefits of wildland fire, as well as some of its dangers. You will learn what fire scientists are learning about wildland fire. They are learning, for example, 1)that wildland fire should not be completely eliminated from natural environments, but it should be managed; 2) how to predict which weather conditions most favor a wild-fire being started; 3) about the relation-ship between wildland fires and global warming; 4) how to best protect homes and other buildings from wildfires; and 5) about how wildland fires can benefit the natural environment. Wildland fires are interesting, and they are fun to learn about. As you will see when you read the articles, all of the scientists in this journal enjoy learning about wildland fire. We hope that you enjoy learning about it too!
Articles in this NI Issue
Additional Resources for this Issue:
·         Fire Prevention Tips   http://www.firewise.org/
·         Gallery of Wildland Fire Photos  http://www.wildlandfire.com/
National Interagency Fire CenterFor more information visit   http://www.nifc.gov/
·         NOVA Fire Simulation  http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/fire/simulation.html
·         NOVA Fire Wars  http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/fire/
·         Student Reading Guide for "Smoke and Mirrors" Article   Click here to download reading guide.
·          U.S. Fire Administration Kid's Page  http://www.usfa.fema.gov/kids/
·         USDA Forest Service Fire & Aviation Management   http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/
This edition of the Natural Inquirer focuses on wildland fire. Wildland fire has been defined as any fire occurring in vegetation areas regardless of how it was started. In this edition, you will learn about different types of wildland fires, including uncontrolled wildfires and fires purposely set and controlled by foresters to provide benefits to a natural area.
Articles in this NI Issue
·         aPods Rule!
·         Can We Grow Now?
·         Fight or Light?
·         Keeping It Local
·         Pecking Order
·         Snake, Rattle, and Roll
·         Trust is a Must
Nature conservancy and Discovery Education
Getting to Know Wildland Fire
A Teacher’s Guide to Fire Ecology in the Northern Rockies
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/teachers/
http://www.wildfirelessons.net/AFP.aspx?Page=AFPOverview
http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5107845.pdf
Fire in Florida’sa ecosystems
Earth observatory Wildfire: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Search/index.php?q=wildfire
Waldo http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=78449
NOAA National Climatic Data Center’s Historical Significant Event Imagery http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/misc/
CO fires 2002  http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/misc/020609/020609.html

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Online Mapping


Online mapping is another fun and useful application. Here is a fast and crude example, created from public information:  search for “Storm King Fire” at www.arcgis.com/home.   To learn how to do this, start at www.arcgis.com/home  and create your own personal account log in (not a 30 day free trail of ArcGIS subscription, but “Create a personal account”).

Start at the bottom of the list, Using an ArcGIS online personal account.
Then move up to working with web maps, making a map, and more.

Once these basics are handled you will be able to create their own map.  This would be a great take-away from our institute.

From Esther Worker, at ESRI:



Fyi: late last Friday afternoon we launched a new User Map Gallery highlighting applications and web maps from the user community.  The direct link is http://www.esri.com/services/disaster-response/wildlandfire/user-maps.html and it’s also linked from the main Esri.com page.  If there are others that we should add please let me know.   I think the best one with the most information is found at http://co.dtswildfire.com/home/Flex, it’s primarily for High Park.  It’s quieted down quite a bit.  Use the tools at the top of the page to toggle views off and on.

Your group will quickly figure out which type of map is best for their purposes, their features vary greatly depending on the purpose of the map.  There are more maps for the public at: http://www.esri.com/news/maps/index.html.   

Also, the Colorado Statewide K-12 site license for Esri software and Virtual campus courses is sponsored by Colorado BOCES, and distributed by eNet Colorado.  www.enetcolorado.org   Find the free gis link on the right hand side of the page

Fire Web Links

Fire Web links 2012

Colorado State Forest Sevice http://csfs.colostate.edu/


http://www.blm.gov/education
http://www.fsu.edu/~imsp/wildhorse/#
The Esri Wildfire Latest News / Public Information Map has an updated extent (CO and NM) as well as the most recent hashtag



InciWeb Incident Information System: http://www.inciweb.org/state/6/
Rocky Mountain Area Coordination Center (RMAC)

The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC)   http://www.nifc.gov/fireInfo/nfn.htm

The National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC)   http://www.nifc.gov/nimo/nimo_main.html

Science Features; As Fires Ravage the West, USGS Responds http://on.doi.gov/M5qLPC

EROS Views of the News http://eros.usgs.gov/#/About_Us/Views_of_the_News



























http://www.cpluhna.nau.edu/Biota/ponderosafire.htm


http://www.ucar.edu/educ_outreach/wildfire/ -----This page was last edited in April 2002

http://www.heinzctr.org/ecosystems/index.htm ---This link works but goes to an outdated webpage





Teaching with GIS

Teaching with GIS:  Introduction to Using GIS in the Classroom.

Description

Today's students embrace technology outside the classroom, and, when used effectively, technology is an excellent tool to engage students inside the classroom as well. This course presents strategies for integrating GIS to support instruction, discussion, and extended learning on any topic. You will learn how to create and use GIS maps as a framework for understanding the geographic context of current and historical events and phenomena and exploring issues of interest to your local community. Many practical ideas for GIS activities that enhance student learning and critical thinking skills are shared.
Who Should Attend
·       Elementary through high school teachers, curriculum coordinators, and educational technologists.
·       Youth leaders and GIS professionals who work with or mentor educators and students.
Goals
After completing this course, you will be able to


Find, explore, and create GIS maps using a free, web-based viewer application.
Help students visualize local, regional, and global data and make connections to their own environment.
Present questions and have students explore GIS maps to find answers.
Choose appropriate GIS classroom activities based on your instructional goals and students' level of knowledge.
Guide students through a standard process for investigating a problem using GIS.
Prepare a GIS map presentation on a topic of interest.



Watch the Penn State Geospatial Revolution Videos

http://geospatialrevolution.psu.edu/  Episode 4 is the complete set.  Great intro to geospatial in our world. 

Friday, July 6, 2012

Native American Fire Stories : Theft of Fire - Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana

Once, many years ago, Manabozho asked his grandmother, Nolomis, why the people had to freeze all winter long, in the cold, northern weather.  He wanted to know if there was not some way in which the people could manage to stay warm and cozy, through the long winters.

Nokomis answered that it was rumored that, in a far off land, an old man had the gift of fire. However, he was a selfish person, and refused to give it to anyone else.  Instead, he kept it hidden, to be used only by himself and his daughters.

Manabozho told Nokomis that he wanted to journey to this land in order to get some of this fire from the old man.  Nokomis didn't want Manabozho to travel so far, but she knew that he would go anyway, once his mind was set.  So, she wished him well as he set off.  As Manabozho left their camp, he told his grandmother to be ready with the kindling when he returned.

When Manabozho came close to the camp of the old man, he decided to stop and think of a plan for getting inside.  He decided to disguise himself as a rabbit, hoping that the man's daughters would feel sorry for him and carry him inside, away from the cold.

Manabozho's plan worked just as he had expected and the younger daughter, seeing him shivering in the cold, tucked him under her shawl, and carried him inside.

The old man, however, was very angry about this.  He did not allow any strange beings in his lodge, not even a rabbit.  Growing drowsy from the fire's warmth, however, the old man fell asleep and didn't think of the rabbit again.

The girls put the rabbit (Now, remember, this was really Manabozho) near the fire to warm and left him to prepare their father's dinner.  No sooner had the girls turned their backs, than Manabozho caught a spark of fire on his back and ran off.  When the girls realized that they had been fooled, there was quite a commotion, but by then there was nothing that they could do about it.

Manabozho ran and ran. As he neared the camp, he called out to Nokomis to have the kindling ready.  Of course, she did.  She took the spark of fire from the rabbit's back, and soon had the fire burning in their lodge.

By now, Manabozho had changed back into himself and he went outside and called to the people to come and take a spark from the fire. He told them that in that manner, they would be able to keep themselves and their children warm throughout the long, cold winter months.


The Pact of the Fire - A Lakota Sioux Legend

When the world was created, First Man and First Woman struggled to stay alive and warm through the first winter.  First Dog struggled also.  Deep in the winter, First Dog gave birth to her pups.  Each night, she huddled in the brush of the forest, longingly watching the fire, which kept First Man and First Woman warm.

First Winter was severe, so cold that First Dog dared not leave her pups to search for food to fill her own belly, fearing that her pups would freeze to death in her absence.  She curled around them, but the wind was bitter.

Her belly shrank with hunger, and soon she had no milk. The smallest pup perished, and First Dog felt her own life draining away as she struggled to care for the remaining pups.  Fearing for the fate of the others, she knew she had no choice but to approach the fire and ask First Woman and First Man to share their food and the fire's warmth.

Slowly, she crept to the fire and spoke to First Woman, who was heavy with child.  I am a mother, said First Dog, and soon you will be a mother too.  I want my little ones to survive, just as you will want your little one to survive.  So I will ask you to make a pact.

First Woman and First Man listened.  I am about to die.  Take my pups.  You will raise them and call them Dog.  They will be your guardians.  They will alert you to danger, keep you warm, guard your camp, and even lay down their life to protect your life and the lives of your children.

They will be companions to you and all your generations, never leaving your side, as long as Mankind shall survive.  In return, you will share your food and the warmth of your fire.  You will treat my children with love and kindness, and tend to them if they become ill, just as if they were born from your own belly.  And if they are in pain, you will take a sharp knife to their throat, and end their misery.  In exchange for this, you will have the loyalty of my children and all their offspring until the end of time.

First Man and First Woman agreed.  First Dog went to her nest in the brush, and with the last of her strength, one by one, she brought her pups to the fire. As she did so, First Woman gave birth to First Child, wrapped her in Rabbit skins, and nestled First Child among the pups by the fireside.  First Dog lay down by the fire, licked her pups, then walked away to die under the stars.

Before she disappeared into the darkness, she turned and spoke once more to First Man.  "My children will honor this pact for all generations.  But if Man breaks this pact, if you or your children's children deny even one dog food, warmth, a kind word or a merciful end, your generations will be plagued with war, hunger and disease, and so this shall remain until the pact is honored again by all Mankind."

With this, First Dog entered the night, and returned in spirit to the creator.

The First Fire - Cherokee

In the beginning of the world, there was no fire.  The animal people were often cold.  Only the Thunders, who lived in the world beyond the sky arch, had fire.  At last they sent Lightning down to an island.  Lightning put fire into the bottom of a hollow sycamore tree.

The animal people knew that the fire was there, because they could see smoke rising from the top of the tree.  But they could not get to it on account of the water. So they held a council to decide what to do.

Everyone that could fly or could swim was eager to go after the fire.  Raven said, "Let me go. I am large and strong."

At that time Raven was white.  He flew high and far across the water and reached the top of the sycamore tree.  While he sat there wondering what to do, the heat scorched all his feathers black. The frightened Raven flew home without the fire, and his feathers have been black ever since.

Then the council sent Screech Owl. He flew to the island.  But while he was looking down into the hollow tree, a blast of hot air came up and nearly burned out his eyes.  He flew home and to this day, Screech Owl's eyes are red.

Then Hooting Owl and Horned Owl were sent to the island together.  But the smoke nearly blinded them, and the ashes carried up by the wind made white rings about their eyes.  They had to come home, and were never able to get rid of the white rings.

Then Little Snake swam across to the island, crawled through the grass to the tree, and entered it through a small hole at the bottom.  But the smoke and the heat were too much for him, too.  He escaped alive, but his body had been scorched black.  And it was so twisted that he doubled on his track as if always trying to escape from a small space.

Big Snake, the climber, offered to go for fire, but he fell into the burning stump and became as black as Little Snake.  He has been the great blacksnake ever since.

At last Water Spider said that she would go. Water Spider has black downy hair and red stripes on her body.  She could run on top of water and she could dive to the bottom.  She would have no trouble in getting to the island.

"But you are so little, how will you carry enough fire?" the council asked.

"I'll manage all right," answered Water Spider. "I can spin a web." so she spun a thread from her body and wove it into a little bowl and fastened the little bowl on her back.  Then she crossed over to the island and through the grass. She put one little coal of fire into her bowl and brought it across to the people.

Ever since, we have had fire.  And the Water Spider still has her little bowl on her back.