Module V

Photos: On left, dip netting with my in-laws
On right, my dad and my son with a caribou

Essential Question: How are climate, oceans, and cultures connected?

Explain~
According to our study this week and to the wonderfully illustrated demonstration with the balloon and fire on YouTube that we viewed, our oceans have the ability to hold most of the heat entering into our atmosphere. The winds, evaporation, salt content, tilt of the Earth, and the ocean's conveyor belt all play a roll in the ever changing temperature of our planet's water! In the colder parts of our world where our animals are not greatly varied the slightest change in temperature makes a HUGE difference! If warm water is not continually pushed towards our poles the temperature in the water could change drastically and the animals that live in it will change too! That means the animals that eat those animals, who eat those animals, will be effected!

Extend~
This fall I wanted to learn how to can fish. Our family had a great week dip netting reds on the Kenai and I thought canning them would be a great way to enjoy them this winter. I borrowed the canner from my mother-in-law and then I called my cousin to come and give me a hand. He gave me some tips over the phone on how to dry the fish and then soft smoke them in preparation for canning. When my fish were ready the cousin that I had spoke with earlier was busy. I called another cousin who came down to help. She brought with her more supplies. We had a wonderful morning canning and talking. I felt a closeness with her that I hadn't known before. She had taught me something and felt good to learn from her. When my family sits down to eat our sweet smokey canned salmon I think of the three relatives who helped me put the fish away. These memories make the taste even richer. I also think about the days camping and dip netting with my husband's family. I think about the work of it all and the experiences that my children were having.

These meals, these memories, and these lessons that my children were exposed to are all possible because of the health of the ocean.

Evaluate~
How are cultures, climate, and oceans connected?
Simply put... The future of our communities depends upon the Earth.

As an Alaskan the lifestyle that many of us love to live is directly dependant upon the ocean. Going to the store and buying canned salmon might taste as good (I doubt it though) but the story and effort and tradition by which it was placed on our plates does not compare to that of the food that you harvested yourself.

It is important to study the observations of the indigenous people of our state. They have passed down information that can be combined with our scientific studies of today. On a smaller scale it's important for me as an individual to learn from the relatives of my family about putting food away, hunting, and harvesting. It's a skill that I think is important and valuable. It's information that can't be read from a book about canning.