Antarctica, Here We Come!

Asud Shirazi and TJ Davidson

 It all started a few weeks ago when Dr. Yuan, a scientist from Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory, came to Ms. Christie-Blick’s class to talk about Antarctica. She told us about her scientific research, as well as her upcoming expedition. She showed us a slide show and some of the warm clothing she was taking to Antarctica. She also told us many interesting facts. Ms. Christie-Blick’s class learned so much! We were especially interested to learn that if all the ice in Antarctica melts the oceans around the world will rise about seven meters. That’s taller than our school! That means a lot of land will be covered with water, including most of Manhattan. Classmate Julia Nelson was asked what she thinks will happen if much of Antarctica’s ice melts. She predicts great trouble for all living things. Dr. Yuan headed for Antarctica Thanksgiving morning to study how global warming is affecting the ice. We thought it would be great to join her! What do you think of us taking a field trip to Antarctica, Mr. Fiorentino?! Actually, since she’ll be gone for two months, we decided to send Zee instead to represent us. He’s on his way now!

So is Mr. Peneston, a high school teacher from upstate New York. He’s traveling with Dr. Yuan and the other scientists. He’s been chosen by the U.S. National Science Foundation to pass on to children the important information the scientists are learning. It’s a tradition that explorers to the South Pole take a flag that represents themselves and what they believe in, so our class designed a flag for Mr. Peneston to take to Antarctica. One hundred twenty-nine other classes across the United States have done the same! The flags will be flown from the icebreaker, Oden, as it travels from Uruguay to Antarctica, and then flown from the American base, McMurdo Station, in Antarctica. The ideas for our flag design came from all of Ms. Christie-Blick’s students. We brainstormed, drew symbols, voted, and then asked Jane and Asud to draw the final picture. The crossed pencils represent us being students. The brain represents us thinking, and being good thinkers. The energy saving light bulb represents our bright ideas, especially about taking care of the earth.  We’re very excited about the idea of seeing our flag at the bottom of the world!

Over December and January we will be able to keep in touch with Mr. Peneston and the scientists through Mr. Peneston’s online journal. He’ll post pictures and tell us about his adventures in Antarctica. We’ll also try to have a live chat with him on our computer. Won’t THAT be exciting?!? You too can view his journal at http://www.polartrec.com/oden-antarctic-expedition-08/journals/jeff-peneston.