IC Trip to Malindi

Thursday, September 23rd:

The students are off relaxing by the pool after collecting hundreds of kgs of garbage from the beach. Earlier today we visited the Watamu Turtle Watch group and learned about local efforts to care for and increase the wild turtle population. We also spent some time with Mr. Bennet again at his butterfly farm. Everyone is mentally preparing for the journey home tomorrow, with some looking forward to it and others kicking and screaming. It's going to be hard leaving our paradise.

Snorkeling:

Beach Walk:

Gedi Ruins:

Orphanage:

Turtle Watch:

Butterfly Farm:

Wednesday, Sept. 22nd:

The students have just finished lunch and are preparing their rooms for a tidy check...should be interesting! Next we'll be off to the orphanage before hearing about the Watamu turtle watch we'll be visiting tomorrow.

This morning the second half of the class went snorkeling. We saw tons of fish, including many of the varieties the students have been learning about in science class. Some highlights include: octopus, damsels, surgeon fish, angelfish, parrot fish, and six lovely wahu, brought to the hotel by local fisherman.

Yesterday students snorkeled, did a beach walk, and visited the Gedi Ruins.

MAk:
"We then went to the Gedi Ruins. When we were there we looked at some buildings such as the mosque, palace, tombs and houses. We walked through the buildings and looked at the features. Some buildings still had Arabic words written on the wall!"

MB:
"The beach walk was quite fun, but it was a lot of walking! The group and I saw lots of sea urchins, two moray eels, and of course, lots of fish and crabs. Along the way we hit lots of little pools, and I actually fell into one (he, he, he). Other than falling in a bunch of tiny pools, it was really cool."

GP:
"The Gedi Ruins were the coolest things of the day after free time on the beach. When we came back we played in the waves on teh beach and had so much fun We ran out into the waves and then got timed to get back to the shore. I can't wait until tomorrow when we get to go snorkeling and go to the orphanage."

BI:
"Snorkeling was the highlight today We saw many kinds of fish and they are really cool and beautiful. I even saw my fish, crescent wrasse, and it was realy pretty. The water felt really nice, but it was also very salty."

MORE PHOTOS TO COME LATER TONIGHT. STAY TUNED!!!

Tuesday, September 21st:

MAk:
Yesterday we went to see the Vascoc da Gama pillar, it was awesome! We heard about the history of the pillar and how it was first torn down and then re-built again. Next, we went to see a Portuguese Chapel. There were graves everywhere!

BB:
We got to go swimming in the pool and played games in the water.

JH:
The beach is awesome!

MORE ENTRIES TO COME! BUT RIGHT NOW WE'RE OFF TO SNORKEL AND WALK THE BEACH!

Multimedia Unit Project

Purpose

In this project you will use various forms of technology to gather data and create a digital presentation to effectively communicate your viewpoint on a given topic.

Challenge

Use a camera (a disposable camera is perfectly acceptable) to gather pictures and/or video on your IC trip that can be used to answer ONE of the following questions:

1. How does technology impact the community you visited?

OR

2. How could technology be used to help improve life in the community you visited?

• * You must also talk to at least two people you meet on your IC trip to get their viewpoint. Make sure to record the first and last names of any individuals you get information from as well as the date you spoke with them. **

Before you begin, consider what is classified as technology. Is technology only computers, ipods, or phones? What else could be considered technology?

By the end of our unit of study you will need to create a multimedia presentation that is a minimum of 2 minutes in length. It will need to use pictures, audio, and text to answer one of the questions above. If you have the ability to take video then you may use it in your presentation as well, but it is not necessary.

Once you return from your IC trip we will speak more about the requirements for the presentation including the grading rubric that will be used.

Enjoy your trip and good luck with your data collection. Keep your eyes open to all of the possibilities for technology in your host town.

Thursday, September 16th:

The coast won't be just fun and play, although there will be plenty of time for that too! Students will be journaling daily about their experiences, as well as recording notes on the Gedi Ruins and things they see while snorkeling!

Their journals will become their new best friends! Below, students reflect on what they are looking forward to on this adventure:

FD:
Malindi, a beautiful area alongside the coast of Kenya, will be my home for the next week…It will be amazingly fascinating! I am truly excited about being a seventh grader that will have the most luxurious intercultural trip of all!

KM:
A little concerned though that a guy can’t wear his Air Force ones because of sea urchins. It’s kind of funny, you think this is a holiday and not a school trip. Now I’m just waiting for the fun and education in the sun of the coast.

EH:
I think the thing that I'm most looking forward to is just chilling on the beach with the waves breaking in the background, digging my feet into the warm sand. That’s what I like most about the coast. I’ve never actually seen a sea turtle before so I can’t wait until we can touch and release them.

MP:
I am not that excited. I have snorkeled a lot before and I wish they would allow scuba diving.

LM:
I think this trip to Malindi is going to be so much fun because I’ll have much time to spend with my new friends and get to know them better. This trip is going to be great and I hope I’ll have fun and also learn new things and visit historical sites that I’ve never visited in my life.

HN:
It will be a great experience for all of us to go to the Malindi trip, not only to have fun but to learn about the fish that surrounds us, the history of the coast, and learning that saving the environment is important for all of us.

Students have been preparing for the fish they will see by making identification cards. The cards have been laminated so students can take them in the water when it's time to snorkel.

Picasso Fish:

Dusky Warsee Fish:

Redfin Butterfly Fish:

Orangestriped Triggerfish:

And lastly...the bags begin arriving! We check for labeled snorkels and water bottles. Yeah for small bags!

And good luck with the big ones!