Thursday 27 October 2011
Our Trip to Mc Nab's Island
On the foggy morning of Wednesday October 26th, the Villas trekked their way down to DeWolfe Park. As soon as we got down to the dock the boat arrived. For those who were unfortunate, they dragged their bags and feet about 1 km only to arrive at the dock late. Everyone was waiting for us! Once everyone was on the boat, we took off on our adventure to McNab's Island. As the boat pulled away some of us were splashed by salty ocean water. As we were sailing towards McNab's Island, we passed under the McKay and MacDonald bridges. When we passed George's Island, wind whipping by, we went around to dock at Garrison Pier. The first step off the boat, was a breath of cold fresh air. As we trudged along, we looked at amazing landmarks of McNab's Island but then we saw the out houses. We all followed our maps and explored the north and south part of the island. Some of the trails were slippery, muddy and wet. Along the way a lot of people got lost. It was fun. When we arrived at Fort Ives and Fort McNab we were permitted to explore and we stumbled across ghostly artifacts Peter McNab's grave stone as well as the whole McNab family. As we got further and further into the island, the consistent cries of "please can we just go onto the boat?" started. We ate a quick lunch and did more hiking through the afternoon. Deer, coyotes, and snakes welcomed and surprised us on the trails. We all made it back on time to the boat. The ride back that was wet, choppy, gusty and cold was a good time to rest our weary legs. For the biggest suprise of all, the kids on the top of the boat, got drenched with water that felt like it came out of nowhere! Some of us were lucky enough to get a drive back up to the school...the rest of us had to walk back up to the school. Despite the exhausting day of hiking, we still had a fun time!
Sunday 23 October 2011
McNab's Island: History
The island saw seasonal Mi'kmaq and Acadian use and was surveyed by the French Navy as a possible site for a fortified seaport prior to the selection of Louisbourg. After the founding of Halifax in 1749, it was first known as Cornwallis Island. Halifax merchant Joshua Maugher used the long beach which still bears his name as a base for a fishing operation in the 1750s and '60s. The island was purchased by Peter McNab in the 1780s beginning a long settlement by generations of the McNab family on the island.
McNabs Island contains many forts belonging to the "Halifax Defence Complex" including Fort Ives, Fort Hugonins, Sherbrooke Tower, and Fort McNab. Important historic features on McNabs Island which are still visible include the foundations of several houses built by early settlers, an aboriginal shell midden, a cemetery containing some of the island's earliest residents, remains of a turn of the century picnic ground and soda pop factory, and remnants of a once extensive Victorian garden. Numerous military fortifications can be found, including Fort McNab National Historic Site, Fort Ives, Fort Hugonin and Strawberry Battery. Other features include the original McNab house, Martello Tower, and the main burial site of cholera victims from the S.S. England.
During World War II new gun batteries, search lights and a steel anti-submarine net were installed between the island and York Redoubt to prevent German U boats from entering the harbour. In 1944 and 1945 the Canadian Army used McNab's Island as an isolated prison/detention centre for soldiers convicted of crimes.
McNabs Island contains many forts belonging to the "Halifax Defence Complex" including Fort Ives, Fort Hugonins, Sherbrooke Tower, and Fort McNab. Important historic features on McNabs Island which are still visible include the foundations of several houses built by early settlers, an aboriginal shell midden, a cemetery containing some of the island's earliest residents, remains of a turn of the century picnic ground and soda pop factory, and remnants of a once extensive Victorian garden. Numerous military fortifications can be found, including Fort McNab National Historic Site, Fort Ives, Fort Hugonin and Strawberry Battery. Other features include the original McNab house, Martello Tower, and the main burial site of cholera victims from the S.S. England.
Maugher Beach, where a lighthouse stands, is also known as "Hangman's Beach" because of its use by the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic wars to hang the bodies of executed mutineers as a warning to crews of ships entering the harbour that this was a port where they had best behave themselves. The light at Maughers Beach was used in 1851 by Abraham Gesner to test out the new fuel he had invented, kerosene, to replace whale oil. Although lighthouse officials were skeptical, the careful recording of the efficiency of kerosene by Maughers Beach keeper David George helped establish the fuel for standard use.
During World War II new gun batteries, search lights and a steel anti-submarine net were installed between the island and York Redoubt to prevent German U boats from entering the harbour. In 1944 and 1945 the Canadian Army used McNab's Island as an isolated prison/detention centre for soldiers convicted of crimes.
McNab's Island
Here are some quick facts that were found on the Friends of McNab's Island website. For more information or to view their photo gallery go to Friends of McNab's Island
•McNabs Island is about 5 km long and up to 1.5 km wide, its 400 ha (1000 acres) present a combination of historical, natural resources and outstanding recreational and educational opportunities. It is about 25 minutes by tour boat from downtown Halifax, or 5 minutes from Eastern Passage.
•Shell middens from about 1600 years ago are evidence of pre-European Mi'kmaq use of the islands.
•Around 1700 the French were using the island as a fishing center. They planned to build "Louisbourg' here but in 1713 ceded mainland Nova Scotia to the British.
•With the founding of Halifax in 1749 the senior British officer granted most of Cornwallis' Island to his nephews. In 1782 it was purchased by Peter McNab for o1000, and parts stayed in the family for 150 years. Tenant farmers cleared the land and assisted in the raising of sheep. The land was divided among Peter's heirs, and over the years parcels were sold.
•By 1860 the range of artillery had increased. To better defend Halifax the Admiralty bought the southern end of the island and the Fort Ives site and began a series of fortifications, the remains of which are part of the attraction of McNabs.
•Most of the northern end remained in private hands. From about 1870 through 1930 the island was a popular recreational destination for the people of Halifax as thousands visited the two pleasure grounds' for picnics, dinner, dancing, sports, and later, amusement rides.
•The island was off limits during the Great War. After the war, as more people acquired automobiles and the province's roads improved, fewer people visited McNabs Island.
•The island was again under military control during WWII, and the period following saw a slow decline in full-time residents.
•The idea of the islands as a park resurfaced in the 1960s to compete with several industrial schemes. In the 1970s a regional parks plan for metro emphasized the islands, and in 1983 the province assumed responsibility for assembling the park.
•Acquisitions of private lands by the province over the past 20 years have left less than 3% in private hands. Most of the Department of National Defense's (DND) former land has been passed to Parks Canada for park purposes. In 1985, and again in 1993, Parks Canada confirmed that its interest was limited to Fort McNab, with the rest to become a provincial park.
•McNabs Island is about 5 km long and up to 1.5 km wide, its 400 ha (1000 acres) present a combination of historical, natural resources and outstanding recreational and educational opportunities. It is about 25 minutes by tour boat from downtown Halifax, or 5 minutes from Eastern Passage.
•Shell middens from about 1600 years ago are evidence of pre-European Mi'kmaq use of the islands.
•Around 1700 the French were using the island as a fishing center. They planned to build "Louisbourg' here but in 1713 ceded mainland Nova Scotia to the British.
•With the founding of Halifax in 1749 the senior British officer granted most of Cornwallis' Island to his nephews. In 1782 it was purchased by Peter McNab for o1000, and parts stayed in the family for 150 years. Tenant farmers cleared the land and assisted in the raising of sheep. The land was divided among Peter's heirs, and over the years parcels were sold.
•By 1860 the range of artillery had increased. To better defend Halifax the Admiralty bought the southern end of the island and the Fort Ives site and began a series of fortifications, the remains of which are part of the attraction of McNabs.
•Most of the northern end remained in private hands. From about 1870 through 1930 the island was a popular recreational destination for the people of Halifax as thousands visited the two pleasure grounds' for picnics, dinner, dancing, sports, and later, amusement rides.
•The island was off limits during the Great War. After the war, as more people acquired automobiles and the province's roads improved, fewer people visited McNabs Island.
•The island was again under military control during WWII, and the period following saw a slow decline in full-time residents.
•The idea of the islands as a park resurfaced in the 1960s to compete with several industrial schemes. In the 1970s a regional parks plan for metro emphasized the islands, and in 1983 the province assumed responsibility for assembling the park.
•Acquisitions of private lands by the province over the past 20 years have left less than 3% in private hands. Most of the Department of National Defense's (DND) former land has been passed to Parks Canada for park purposes. In 1985, and again in 1993, Parks Canada confirmed that its interest was limited to Fort McNab, with the rest to become a provincial park.
Wednesday 19 October 2011
Science Websites for Brochure Project
Sunday 9 October 2011
Mental Math Strategies
We have been learning about the Front End Strategy and Compensation Strategy in math.
For example 520 / 5 is the same as 1040 / 10.
The Answer: 104
1. Front End Strategy:
We want to break up our number into smaller more manageable parts by creating "nice to work with" numbers. We use the "front" of the number to help us caluculate quickly in our heads
1A. Front-End Multiplication Strategy
This is usually used when one factor is a single digit and there is no regrouping.
For example, 3 x 2313 = 6000 + 900 + 30 + 9 = 6939
1 B. Break Dividend Into Parts Strategy
For many simple computations, divide the dividend into parts and divide.
For example, 1515 / 5 = (1500 / 5) + (15 / 5) = 300 + 3 = 303.
2. Compensation Strategy:
The compnesation strategy is a "cashier" method.
2 A. Compensation Strategy for Multiplication
As with addition and subtraction, work with “friendly” numbers.
For example, 5 x 29 becomes 5 x 30 (turning 29 into 30 because it is easier to work with 30)
multiply 5x30 = 150
then SUBTRACT 5 (because we had to add 1 when we rounded 29 to 30. 1 x 5=5)
Our Answer: 145
2B. Doubling Strategy: Never Divide by 5 Again!
Use the double and half strategy to simplify all division by 5. For example 520 / 5 is the same as 1040 / 10.
The Answer: 104
Wednesday 5 October 2011
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