CORK: AN ENVIRONMENTAL SPLENDOR

    

    A great and magnificent phenomenon of the Mediterranean Basin, is the cork tree; Quercus Suber L. Cork trees are ecological marvels that are found in the western Mediterranean; the majority of them are in the countries of Portugal and Spain.

     Cork trees have been around for millions of years and one tree can live over 200 years. A few of their uses began in 3000 BC where they was used to seal amphorae. They were also used in floating rafts around 400 BC in the Tigress River and used in newer applications such as cork paper in 1880’s Germany.

     Cork trees in Spain can be found in DEHESAS. A DEHESA is a multifunctional area of land known as an agro-silvo-pastoral system in Spain that integrates pastureland not only used for grazing, but also provides a variety of foods and livestock production, and is an important habitat for a variety of animals.

     Dehesas in Spain can be found in Extremadura. The trees that are found in this area are Cork and Holm Oaks; the significant being the cork tree for the conservation of biodiversity. Many animals (fauna) and flora are depended of it and can be found in and around cork forests.

      Cork forests are part of a perfectly-balanced ecosystem. The endangered Iberian Lynx (the feline most threatened in the world) and the Iberian Eagle make their home and survive around these trees.

Due to its importance, the WORLDWIDEFUND has classified the Quercus Suber as a Priority Species.

http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/endangered_species/cork_oak/

 “WWF is focusing efforts on a select group of priority species that are especially important, either for their ecosystem...

·       Species forming a key element of the food chain

·       Species which help the stability or regeneration of habitats

·       Species demonstrating broader conservation needs
...or for people

·       Species important for the health and livelihoods of local communities

·       Species exploited commercially

·       Species that are important cultural icons.”

Other notable facts are that:

·      They have adapted to survive in the harsh summer droughts in these areas.

·        Its bark is elastic, impermeable, light and the only one that regenerates after being stripped from the tree, making the tree itself sustainable.

·      Cork can be harvested only after the tree is 25 years old. After that, by law, can only be harvested every 9 years or so.

·      It has the ability to absorb carbon dioxide and clean the air. A stripped tree can absorb 5 times more carbon dioxide.

·      Cork is a natural insulator and is fire retardant.

·      Cork is 100% recyclable and reusable.

·      Cork bottle stoppers are the best for preserving wines. However, cork is also used in furniture, floors, windmills and even in NASA’s space shuttles and aeronautics.

·      The cork tree is also being threatened by climate change.

                                                                                          Cork Surfboard

                Cork Purse

Proyecto Extremadura hopes that we can continue planting cork trees in Burguillos del Cerro and other areas of Extremadura, and hopefully into Portugal.

Below is a video with more information on the amazing cork tree. It is from a company in Portugal. Hence, the Portuguese MONTADOS are the equivalent of the Spanish DEHESAS.

Proyecto Extremadura

BATTLESHIP TEXAS

This ship looks familiar right? Well if not, you are looking at the USS Texas (BB-35), the second ship of the United States Navy. This ship was named after the state of Texas. The USS Texas was used during World War I and World War II to escort naval convoys and provide naval gunfire support.

Research shows that of the last few battleships, this ship is memorable for being the only WWI era dreadnought battleship standing, yet she is not the oldest. She is also notable for being one of six ships remaining that has served in both World Wars, so it seems that George Washington was not the only person who had firsts in this world. Texas was the first of many things regarding battleships, like she was the first to launch an aircraft from a catapult on Turret 3.

This ship is also first for becoming a permanent museum ship and the first battleship declared as a U.S. National Historic Landmark. This ship is real piece of history that millions of people get to see almost every day. I don’t like history that much but when I walked aboard the ship I was astounded because I learned so much from a ship.

While on the ship you are able to rotate the guns from left to right and move them up and down. You can also go high up above the deck and below the deck where you can see where the soldiers slept, where there food was made how they did their laundry and lots of other things. While on the ship you might run into a few soldiers from the Marine Core, the Navy, the Air Force and other types of military groups because this ship is a very important part of history that you might not ever get a chance to see if you aren’t in the military yourself. The ship is made out of nothing but steel and a few areas of wood. Battleship Texas is located in La Porte on the battlegrounds of the Battle of San Jacinto.  In addition to the Battle of San Jacinto the battleground, ship and San Jacinto Monument’s exhibits focus on the history of Texan culture, including Mayan, Spanish and Mexican influences.

In conclusion, if you ever go to the ship, the battle ground or the monument I assure you that you and whoever you go with will be very pleased with the things you learn as well as the overall experience of being able to walk on an actual ship use in the World Wars.

San Jacinto Monument

                     

By: Briana Cambric, 8th grade Spanish student; Pershing MS
Houston, Texas.
Briana also writes to a pen-pal in Villafranca de los Barros, Spain.

Today, MARCH 2nd Is the Celebration of the Texas Declaration of Independence. (March 2, 1836), and called itself the Republic Of Texas, after having won its independence from Mexico.

Ms. Aguilar

HOUSTON- BURGUILLOS AMIGOS POR CORRESPONDENCIA DE 6º GRADO.

La siguiente entrada de 7 de febrero, fue traducida por Srta. Alejandra Guerrero de CEIP Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe con fotos nuevas de sus estudiantes y las cartas que recibieron.

PROYECTO EXTREMADURA

Domingo, 7 de febrero, 2016

Algunos estudiantes de Nuestra Sra. De Guadalupe

     Se ha demostrado que el intercambio de amigos por correspondencia a través del mundo tiene numerosos beneficios para los estudiantes.
     Algunas de las ventajas de poder escribir a un amigo internacional son que ellos,se animan a escuchar nuevas perspectivas. Por otro lado, empiezan a ser conscientes de la existencia de otras culturas, economías, historia y geografía de las comunidades de los países involucrados.
     Los alumnos, son conscientes también de la importancia de desarrollar y conocer una segunda lengua, o lengua extranjera. Las gratificaciones que reciben después parecen una opción difícil en este gran mundo tecnológico donde vivimos, sin embargo, nada da más placer a los estudiantes que finalmente recibir una carta manuscrita de alguien de su misma edad, que vive a muchos kilómetros de su casa,aunque tengan que esperar un par de semanas para recibirlas.

     Los atributos positivos crecen cuando se crean lazos internacionales de amistad y afecto.Este siempre ha sido el caso cuando los estudiantes encuentras cosas que les estimulan, cosas relevantes para ellos. Normalmente, se ven a ellos mismos con las mismas ideas, intereses, sentimientos...

     Los alumnos que participan en este programa, expandirán sus horizontes y llenos de esperanza, verán el mundo como una unidad. Una comunidad globalizada está teniendo lugar.
     Nuestras comunidades son bastante diferentes, y esto, nos abre un maravilloso y nuevo ámbito de aprendizaje para todos. Burguillos del Cerro, España, es un pueblo rural de unos 3.200 habitantes. Por el contrario, sólo nuestro colegio tiene una "población" de 1.500 estudiantes dentro de la metrópolis de Houston, la cual tiene sobre 2.622 millones de habitantes, siendo la cuarta ciudad más grande de EEUU.


     Por lo tanto, una vez más, colaboraré con Ms. Alejandra Guerrero del colegio público Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe en Burguillos del Cerro, España.
     Veintisiete estudiantes del colegio Pershing y veintisiete del colegio Ntra.Sra. de Guadalupe han empezado a escribir e intercambiar cartas e intereses.
Esperamos que nuestros alumnos disfruten, aprendan y construyan una buena amistad durante el resto del curso escolar.

     Como nota final, la señorita Guerrero y yo colaboraremos en algunos proyectos más con los alumnos este año. Escribiremos sobre ellos en publicaciones futuras. 

Raquel Aguilar




Por: Srta. Alejandra Gerrero
Burguillos del Cerro, España

* Ms. Guerrero y sus estudiantes están celebrando los carnavales en Burguillos.

Designs for a New Generation II

PORTABLE SOLAR KITCHEN by GOSUNSTOVE.COM (Info below)

      In this ever-changing world we live in, it is important to begin finding more solutions and designs to help the environment.

      In this post, I am including more designs for a new generation on environmental awareness. I have included links to some of these new methods of solving the problems we are facing; some new inventions here that are noteworthy.

     The first link is to a new invention to water crops in dry areas. As we know, more heat waves and droughts are on the rise.

http://www.trueactivist.com/with-this-greenhouse-it-is-now-possible-to-grow-crops-in-the-desert/?utm_source=fb&utm_medium=fb&utm_campaign=sh

      In a similar approach a news station tells us about this machine that coverts humidity to water. 

http://www.ksat.com/content/pns/ksat/news/2015/06/08/water-machince-converts-humidity-in-air-to-water.html
This machine is based on Spanish technology, but at a much faster and larger capacity.

      Spanish technology has also been using a different energy capturing device other than solar panels; it is the use of mirrors and sand:

http://www.torresolenergy.com/TORRESOL/gemasolar-plant/en

“Gemasolar is the first commercial-scale plant in the world to apply central tower receiver and molten salt heat storage technology. The relevance of this plant lies in its technological uniqueness, since it opens up the way for new thermosolar electrical generation technology.”

     This is an English version video of the information of GEMASOLAR made by an Australian company.  

     And lastly, a way to reduce the carbon footprint, by leaving none behind.

http://www.nocarbonnation.net/index.html

     WHAT TYPE OF INVENTION DO YOU THINK WE NEED TO HELP US IN THE  FUTURE?

Perhaps your ideas will be the new invention that will aid us and future generations.

     Incidentally, to find out more about how the GoSun Solar Stove works with the glass tube and cooking technology, and how you may acquire one, go to their website:  http://www.gosunstove.com/


R. Aguilar
Houston

Houston-Burguillos Sixth Grade Pen Pals

     Pen pal exchanges throughout the world have been proven to have many benefits for students. Some of the advantages of being able to write to an international friend are that they encourage students to hear about other perspectives. In turn, they begin to become aware of other cultures, economies, history and geography about the communities and countries involved. Students also become aware about the importance of developing and knowing a second or foreign language. Delayed gratification seems to be no longer an option in this high tech world we live in, however nothing gives students more pleasure than ultimately receiving a hand-written letter from someone their own age, many miles apart from their homes, even if they have to wait a couple of weeks for them.

Pershing Students

     Positive affective attributes increase when personal, international bonds are created. It has always been the case when students find things relevant to them. Students usually find themselves with some of the same ideas, interests and feelings.
     The students participating in this program will expand their horizons and hopefully think about the world as a whole. A global community is taking place.
     Our communities are quite different and this brings about a wonderful new arena of learning for all. Burguillos del Cerro, Spain is a rural town of about 3,200 inhabitants. Inversely, our school alone has a population of about 1,500 students with the metropolis of Houston having roughly about 2.622 million people, and is the 4th largest city in the USA.

Burguillos' students in Carnaval costume.

           
       Therefore, I once again will be collaborating with Ms Alejandra Guerrero of CEIP Nuestra Señera de Guadalupe in Burguillos del Cerro, Spain.
   

*Ms. Guerrero and her students.

 Twenty seven of Pershing students and twenty seven of Colegio Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe's students have begun to write and exchange letters and interests.

Pershing students.

 Pershing students.

     We hope our students will enjoy, learn, and build friendships during the rest of the school year.


 



      As a final note, Ms. Guerrero and I will also collaborate on a few projects with the students this year. We will certainly write about them in future posts.

*Ms. Guerrero's students getting ready for Carnaval

Ms. R. Aguilar

* Ms. Alejandra Guerrero and her students are celebrating carnaval in Burguillos.