Level D Unit 1 - Twin Rivers Unified School District

Hitching a Ride
Inside Level D
Unit 1Selection 1
On the previous slide you saw a
Crittercam-wearing emperor penguin
plunging into a dive hole at the Penguin
Ranch research station in Antarctica.
Crittercam video has shown how some
emperors hunt beneath the ice: They
swim down deep, look up to see fish
silhouetted against the glowing ice,
then shoot up to snatch their prey!
What is Crittercam?
National Geographic's Crittercam systems
are research instruments worn by wild
animals. The systems allow scientists to
learn how animals use their habitat, where
they feed and how they interact with
animals of their own species and of other
species. We also learn how they
communicate, how they mate, how they
move and how they hunt and feed. We
can learn how deep marine animals dive
and why they stay under water as long as
they do.
Crittercams
How was Crittercam invented?
In 1986, while diving off the coast of
Belize, marine biologist Greg
Marshall encountered a shark. The
shark approached him, then
disappeared with three quick
strokes of its tail. Stuck to the
shark's belly was a remora fish. As
Greg watched the shark disappear,
it occurred to him that if he could
put a camera in place of the
remora, he could learn about the
shark's behavior.
Inspired, Greg built the first Crittercam
and deployed it on a sea turtle in
1987. The turtle behaved
normally—the first indication that
this type of system had potential as
a research tool.
What animals have worn Crittercams?
Crittercam has allowed scientists to study more than
50 species of sharks, sea turtles, whales, seals,
and penguins. With the development of a
terrestrial Crittercam, scientists have begun
research programs working with lions, hyenas,
and grizzly bears. Scientists have been able to
study some biological mysteries, including the
following: How do humpback whales hunt
together? Why do blue whales call? Where do
Hawaiian monk seals find their food? How do
harbor seals stake out territory? How do emperor
penguins hunt? Where do sharks stalk their prey?
When do leatherback turtles mate?
Layla is a lioness in Kenya who wears the first
Crittercam built for a wild land animal.
The Hawaiian monk seals have been listed as
endangered by the U.S. government. After Crittercam
video helped scientists to better understand where
Hawaiian monk seals feed, the government moved to
further protect the seals' feeding grounds.
A pilot whale with Crittercam surfaces
off the coast of Kona, Hawaii.
Crittercam has shown that pilot whales
dive together to depths of over 650 feet (200 meters)
and that they are social at these depths
How do you attach Crittercam to an animal?
The method depends on the species.
 For whales, dolphins, and leatherback turtles,
special suction cups are used.
 With seals and hard-shelled turtles a small
adhesive patch is used.
 Custom-tailored, backpack-like harnesses do
the job for penguins.
 A fin clamp keeps Crittercam swimming with
sharks.
 For land animals such as bears, lions, and
hyenas, a Crittercam collar is used.
Crittercam
Web Site
Einstein’s Daughters is an all girls robotic team. They have
competed in the world wide robotic competition! In January,
they received the Inspire Award. This award is given to the
team with the best overall robot design, engineering
notebook, community outreach, enthusiasm and gracious
professionalism.
Einstein Daughters
Six High School Students
Grades 10, 11 and 12
KID INVENTORS DAY
(K.I.D)
January 17
The reason K.I.D.’s Day is January
17th is because it is Benjamin
Franklin’s birthday – AND, he
invented the first swim flippers
almost 300 years ago at age 12!
Television.
Water skis.
Earmuffs.
The Popsicle.
What do they have in common?
All were invented by kids!
• 500,000 children and teens invent gadgets and
games each year. These innovations help make
our lives easier – and more fun!
• Celebrate the ingenuity and value of young
brainstormers on KID INVENTORS’ DAY!
Chester Greenwood invented earmuffs at the
age of 15 (1873). While testing a new pair of
ice skates, he grew frustrated at trying to
protect his ears from the bitter cold. After
wrapping his head in a scarf, which was too
bulky and itchy, he made two ear-shaped loops
from wire and asked his grandmother to sew
fur on them. That was the beginning of
earmuffs!
Six year old Robert Patch invented a "toy truck".
Robert's toy truck was designed to be easily
assembled and disassembled by a child and the
toy could be changed into different types of
trucks each time (ie. closed van style body or
dump truck).
Frank Epperson was only 11 years old when he
invented the originally named Epsicle. He had left
his fruit flavored soda outside on the porch with a
stir stick in it. The drink froze to the stick and tasted
good. It took 18 more years in 1923 for Epperson to
apply for a patent for a "frozen ice on a stick" called
the Epsicle Ice Pop, which his children re-named the
Popsicle.
How to Celebrate K.I.D.’s Day
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Read about it.
Write about it.
Host an Invention Convention.
Start a Young Inventors’ Club.
Enter a contest.
Keep an invention journal. Or, better
yet: design your own invention!
Kid Inventors Video