Just Another Day at the Beach

The Impact of Beaches

After learning about the effect of geology and tides and how it has contributed to the magnitude of Hurricane Sandy’s devastation, Mazel 3^rd, 4^th, 5^th,  and 6^th graders are now shifting their focus and learning about how beaches and marshes protect mainland Brooklyn from hurricanes. Last Friday the students learned about the impact of beaches and this Friday we will learn about the influence of marshes. On May 10th, we will combine what was covered in both of these classes and apply the information during the field trip to Salt Marsh Nature Center. 

As you can see from the diagram of beaches below berms provide a barrier for water erosion creating a dune that protects the shoreline. 

Due to class discussion, students suggested an idea to build a model that they can use to explain how beaches and marshes in their natural state are wonderful defenses. The model will also describe how human impacts and the built environment deplete this natural defense. The students will solely figure out how to develop a model that represents the purpose of beaches and marshes as well as what we can do now that they have been developed into an urban area. 

Outlining the Groundwork for a Great Student Project

The picture below was drawn by 5th and 6th graders after a preliminary discussion about human impacts on barrier islands. On their own, these students developed the idea of building a model that shows the relationship between the topography of Brooklyn, the qualities of barrier islands, the effect of tides, and the flooding caused by Hurricane Sandy.

Please stay tuned for more on this model as a promising way of understanding and combining these scientific topics.

Moon Phases

What's a better way to learn the phases of the moon than with Bloomeos cream filled cookies?

Mazel third thru sixth graders reviewed the relationship between the tides and the moon by using Bloomeos cookes. The moon has eight different phases which the students replicated by removing parts of the cream on the cookie. They were then asked to put the moon phases in the correct order. As a result, these students learned how to determine if the moon is Waxing, getting bigger, or Waning, getting smaller. 

So encourage your kids to step outside tonight and try to identify the phase of the moon! 

The Tides Are Always Changing

For next the three weeks, Mazel students will be learning about the planetary forces between the Sun, Moon, and Earth and how they impact our tidal pattern and our lunar calendar. Third and fourth graders built a paper model of the tidal bulge while the fifth and sixth graders built a 3D representation. Tidal bulges occur on opposite sides of the earth because of the difference in the strength of the gravitational attraction on either side of the earth. During this session, Mazel students understand that the interaction of these three celestial bodies create two high tides and two low tides which change every six hours of the day. 

These students formulated questions such as "what causes tides to change and how did the tide make the impact of Hurricane Sandy more devastating?" They learned that twice a month there is an exceptionally hide tide called spring tides which happened the same time Hurricane Sandy hit our coasts. Thus, making the impact of Hurricane Sandy even worse. By learning about tides and the lunar calendar, students now understand the effect planetary forces have on natural disasters such as Hurricane Sandy. 

Barrier Island No More

What is a Barrier Island and how has it changed?

In the last few years, humans have changed the shape of Brooklyn's Barrier Islands by developing and connecting these islands to mainland brooklyn. Barrier Islands are natural defenses that offer protection from the impact of storm waters. While exploring geology, Mazel Students learned how human development has reduced mother nature's defenses during storms like Hurricane Sandy and formulated questions such as:

• How did Barrier Islands get here?
• What characteristics do they have that make them "barriers"?
• Now that we have developed the barrier island, what can humans do to protect ourselves from another storm? 

The Mazel students poster exemplifies the importance of understanding geology and that without the natural defenses offered by the Barrier Island, Sandy's impacts had became greater.