Answer these Reflection Questions related to the lesson in your blog entry:

1. Which bodies of water were you able to find on the U.S. map, but not on the Arlington Heights map?  Explain why they were on one but not the other.
   
2. Which bodies of water were you able to find on the Arlington Heights map, but not on the U.S. map?  Explain why they were on one but not the other.
3. List two regions (e.g. West, Southeast, etc.) of the United States that has a lot of surface water.  Research and explain why there is a lot of surface water in those regions.
   
4. List two regions of the United States that does not have a lot of surface water.  Research and explain why there is not much surface water in those regions.
5. List as many ways you can think of that water can get into oceans.  (You can research to find more.)
6. What was surprising about the milk jug demonstration?  Show me your learning with your answer.
   

I want everyone to start their presentations explaining what their Passion Project was, before they get into what they learned.  Marty and Ian did this nicely by making a web page that explained what they researched and then explained what they learned!

We might want to have a time minimum and maximum - we want people to want more!  We should make a link to their research on our website and encourage each other to go to the website to learn more!

Sounds: As I poured the water from my cup into my partner's I heard a smooth, high pitched sound that reminded me of babbling brooks and tiny battery-operated fountains.  When we poured too fast, the splashing water droplets made the same kind of sound that I make when I'm playing in a pool with my friends.  Pouring water into an empty cup had a deeper sound than pouring it into a cup filled with some water.  The sound quickly increased in pitch as I filled it close to the brim.  I never knew that pouring water could have such unique sounds!

Looks: Even as I watch my water sit completely still, I notice small movements in the surface of the water. It seems as though the vibrations from the room make the water pulsate and the light reflects off the water back and forth.  Small vibrations from children near the table send the water moving inward in all directions and outward, making crashing ripples.  Looking at the pattern in the table through my water distorts my view, twists the grain of the fake wood, and magnifies what is behind.  Pouring one cup of water into the other causes tiny bubbles to plummet to the bottom of the cup and rise to the surface, disappearing into the air. Tiny water droplets stick to the side of the cup, refusing to succumb to gravity!

Smells and Tastes: I love the fresh smell of water straight from the tap - there is no minerally smell like I drank out in the country out of the wells.  This smells clean and pure.  Thank goodness for Chicago water!  When I taste it, it is slightly cold and travels quickly down my throat, unlike milk or orange juice which seems much thicker.  Water doesn't seem to coat my throat, either.  The after-taste of water is slightly metallic.

Feels: When I stick my finger in my cup of water, I immediately notice that it is colder than I imagined.  It was nice to "puncture" the surface of my water and watch my finger move around.  The tip of my finger immediately feels cooler than the rest of my hand.  Other fingers feel jealous and want to take a dip as well.  When I lift my finger out of the cup, water clings to it and doesn't want to get off!  I feel a drip slide slowly down one finger and dive onto the floor.  Others are close behind.  I take a paper towel and wipe off the stragglers, making my finger feel warm once again.

How is ice different?

How is water vapor different?

When I was eight years old, I was swimming in my backyard pool with my mom who was floating and sun-bathing on one of those inflatable rafts.  The cool summer breeze wafted past my nose as I enjoyed the beautiful weather and time away from school!  It was silent, except for the tiny splashing noises I made as I walked around and the birds chirping in the nearby trees.  I was trying my best to hold my breath for as long as I could, but I realized that I really could only hold it for maybe 20 or 30 seconds tops.  I wondered how long I would have to hold my breath in order to swim under my mom's raft.  So, I challenged myself to do this, but I never told my mom that I was attempting to swim under her.  I went on the count of three, held my breath, and submerged myself, but had trouble propelling my body in the right direction.  The next thing I knew, I was coming up for air under my mom's raft!  I started to panic as I realized I needed more air!  I couldn't hold my breath anymore and gasped, choking on the warm, chlorinated water.  I worried for my life and didn't know what to do, so I quickly grabbed hold of the raft, pulled myself to one side of it, and sucked in the life-giving air!  I screamed at my mom for nearly drowning me, and she had no idea why I was being so dramatic!  She claims I was only under her for five seconds or so, so I now I realize that death was not as close as I thought!  Strange to think how we perceive things so differently than what happens in reality!  But to this day, I have trouble swimming under things - I don't want to tempt fate!  :)