Invasive Species in Ottawa

Using http://www.kiddle.co/, find pictures of these different types of plants, all of which are invasive species in Ottawa.

1. yellow iris (Iris pseudacorus)
2. garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata)
3. purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
4. European buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica),
5. Manitoba maple (Acer negundo)
6. dog-strangling vine (Cynanchum rossicum & C. nigrum)
7. curly-leaved pondweed (Potamogeton crispus)
8. Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera)
9. Norway maple (Acer platanoides)
10. Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum)
11. periwinkle (Vinca minor)
12. wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa)

What is an invasive species?

An invasive species is a plant or animal that would not naturally live in a particular habitat, but can be found there because of human actions. Furthermore, invasive species make it difficult for the native plants and animals to survive because they take over the habitat.

PYP Expo Quiz in Scratch

Students in grade 6 participating in the PYP Expo are required to write a quiz related to their topic of inquiry for the Expo.

Requirements:

• Include 5 - 10 questions
• Create multiple choice questions or questions with  single word answers
• Allow the user to enter all possible correct answers, e.g. If a multiple choice question has correct answer “B”, accept “b” or “B”. If the answer is one word, such as “water”, allow “water”, “Water” and “WATER”
• Keep score of how many questions the user gets correct

Bonus Work:

• Make special pictures or sprites for your quiz
• Make an introduction page that explains how to play

How Google Searches Work and Google Search Algorithm Improvements

Google has created some videos and websites to explain how their search engine works and is updated:

• How a Google Search works (or at least how it worked in 2010)
• How Google search algorithms are developed (in 2011)
• Current interactive webpage overview of how a Google search works

Something to think about:

• What are the dangers and risks of Google trying to predict or guess what someone is searching for?

Internet Security

The Goodwill Community Foundation has a collection of webpages that provide an good introduction into the basics of internet security.

• Introduction to Internet Security
• Creating Strong Passwords
• Your Browser's Security Features
• Spam and Phishing
• Malware
• Safe On-line Shopping
• Think Before You Share

Truth and Internet Searches

It is important to learn that information from the Internet is not always true, even if it is one of the first results in a Google search:

• CBC News article about fake Barak Obama coup

Explorers Activity

Use this link as a starting point to learn about the information on the Internet:

• Explorers Activity

Note: To be able to keep your question page open in one tab while continuing your work, click on the links while holding the key - the link will be loaded into a new browser tab.

Internet Search Engines for Kids

It can be fun for children to search the Internet, but some websites are not designed for children to be able to understand them, and some post inappropriate content.

Try these two search engines to find content on the Internet that should in general be suitable for kids:

• http://www.kidrex.org/
• http://www.kiddle.co/

The Internet, Privacy and You

The Internet is a lot like a shopping mall. It can be fun to visit, serves a very useful purpose, but children and adults alike need to keep their wits about them to have a safe and enjoyable experience.

Try this Privacy Pirates game to test your knowledge of privacy on the Internet:

• Privacy Pirates Game (requires Flash)

Pi Day 2017

This year March 14 (3/14) is in the middle of March Break, so we will be celebrating Pi Day a few days early.

The website that says it all:

• PiDay.org

Here are some fun links:

• Fugue on Pi
• Mathematical Pi Song
• Pi Limericks
• Pi Symbol Domino Chain
• Pi Mnemonics Song

Pi's relationship with all things circular is well-known. But pi turns up in some other surprising places:

• Buffon's Needle Problem