Rachel

Rachel's Page = = Hope that everyone is having a good 7th grade!!! Wow!!! This seems like forever ago!!

Hi, everybody! Don't you think 5th Grade rocks!

For enrichment, I'm learning how to write palindrome poems. A palindrome poem is a poem that can be read backwards and forwards. I'm presenting tomorrow (friday 10/15/10). I'm really exited! Here is my poem:

Page after page exiting and scary is it fun -ENJOYABLE- fun it is exiting and scary page after page.

It's about reading because I really like to read. It would look better if it were centered but I have no clue how to.

I thought that everyones speeches were great. I really liked them! Here's mine:

Hello, my name is Rachel and I’m running for president of the Student Council. I will make a good president because I am responsible, fair and good at listening. These are things that you need to be a good president. You should vote for me because I am very responsible. My mom leaves me with Dylan to babysit while she runs a quick errand and she wouldn’t do that if she didn’t think I was responsible. Also, I get my schoolwork done on time. I know that I will have more responsibilities when I am president and I know I can handle that. Another reason you should vote for me is because I’m very fair. Dylan gets upset sometimes when I go to a play date or sleepover because he wants me to himself. So, after I do something with a friend I try to give him my undivided attention and play with him. I think it’s important to be fair with everybody else to. This is very important when it comes to being president. Not only am I responsible and fair I’m also very good at listening. At camp when kids in my cabin got homesick I would listen to why they were homesick and help them feel better. As president I will listen to everyone’s ideas about projects we should do in the Student Council and help work out any problems. Those are the reasons why I will be a great Student Council president. I look forward to working with you. Vote for me.

Thank You

Did every body have fun writing their reports? I did:

Immune System Rachel Morah Gannon 5th Grade December 3

1) Introduction

2) Barriers

3) White Blood Cells

4) Inflammatory Response

5) Fevers

6) Germs

7) How Pathogens get In

8) How to Keep Pathogens Away

9) Conclusion

10) Bibliography The immune system is a very important part of your body. It kills almost any germ that gets in your body. There are many different ways that the immune system stops germs from hurting you or making you sick. Some of the ways that the immune system protects you from germs are things you would never think about, like your skin.  Barriers are one way that your body stops pathogens (bacteria/disease) from getting in your body. The barriers are your skin, breathing passages, mouth, and stomach. When pathogens land on your skin they are exposed to chemicals, oil, and sweat. The chemicals may not kill pathogens but the pathogens may fall off with dead cells. If pathogens stay on skin they have to get through lots of dead cells. Pathogens usually get in your body through cuts, but scabs form over cuts very quickly.  Another barrier is your breathing passages. Pathogens can enter your body when you breathe. Your nose and lungs contain cilia and mucus that trap and remove pathogens. Irritation by pathogens can make you sneeze or cough, which sends pathogens out. Sometimes, viruses get through mucus and invade nose cells. They turn nose cells into virus maker cells. Some nose cells die and some produce watery liquids that make you feel all stuffed up. Macrophages and nuetrophils are white blood cells that send signals to protect nearby nose cells. Then, lymphocytes, another type of white blood cell, will come and help. The last barrier is your mouth and stomach. Pathogens can get in your body if you eat food that isn’t stored properly. The saliva in your mouth and your stomach acid contain destructive chemicals that destroy pathogens. White blood cells are your second line of defense against pathogens. White blood cells originate from the bone marrow. There are three different kinds called nuetrophils, lymphocytes, and macrophages. Nuetrophils are cells full of chemicals that destroy pathogens. They travel through the blood stream and zap pathogens with deadly chemicals. Sometimes, nuetrophils destroy themselves when destroying pathogens. Macrophages are another kind of white blood cell that, just like nuetrophils, are filled with germ zapping chemicals that kill germs. Unlike nuetrophils, macrophages live a very long life. Macrophages developed from cells called monocytes. Some macrophages move around the blood stream and others attach to specific tissues. Macrophages clean up when you are ill or injured. Also, they clean up dirt that collects in your body. There are millions of macrophages inside your lungs cleaning dust and germs that you breathe in everyday. If macrophages have trouble getting rid of germs, lymphocytes will come and help. Lymphocytes are the last kind of white blood cell. They are the smartest defender cells in your body. They don't all attack every germ they meet. There’s a different type of lymphocyte for each germ. When a lymphocyte meets the germ that it’s programmed to fight, it recognizes it and multiplies into a powerful army. Some release antibodies that stick to the germ and keep it from doing harm. Others seek out and kill invaded cells. If the same germs come again, lymphocytes are ready and win the battle more easily. If you have ever been hurt and your leg or arm has swollen up, it was because of the inflammatory response. When pathogens get past the barriers and into your body, they begin to damage cells. The damaged cells release chemicals that trigger the inflammatory response. The inflammatory response is when blood vessels widen and let out fluid and white blood cells. The enlarged blood vessels and the fluid that leaks out of them make the area red and swollen. Just like the inflammatory response, a fever may make you feel bad and scared but really your body is just helping you fight the pathogens that get inside you. Some pathogens do not do well at high temperatures so your body increases your temperature to a higher level so the battle is won more easily. There are four different types of germs called protozoa, fungi, bacteria, and viruses. Protozoa are a type of germ that love moisture and are often spread through unclean water. They cause intestinal infections (infections in part of the digestive system). Fungi are another type of germ that are plant like organisms. They use skin, plants, and water to get nutrients. Some fungus infections are athlete’s foot and ringworm. Bacteria is a kind of pathogen that are not all bad. They are bigger than viruses and are found everywhere, even inside you. Some of them help digest food. Others are very harmful; they release poisons that can make you very sick. Sometimes, bacteria get inside you from food that is stored or cooked improperly. Viruses are a type of pathogen that get in your body and give you diseases. They come in many different shapes and are very small. They turn your healthy cells into virus-making cells and they start making viruses. Sometimes when you sneeze, you give away viruses and get them out of you body. It’s very important that you help your body keep pathogens away. Some ways to do that are very simple, like vaccination. One way to get vaccinated is through shots. Vaccination puts harmless germs in your body. When the harmless germs get in your body white blood cells come thinking that they are real and fight them. Then, if the real germ ever gets in your body, white blood cells are ready for them. As you can see, the immune system is a very important part of your body. If you didn’t have your immune system it is very likely that you would almost always be sick. It is so amazing what the immune system can do.

Ben-Joseph, Elana pearl, MD. “Why Should I Care About Germs?” __ TeansHealth From Nemours __. November 2007. November 10. 2010. [|http://kidshealth.org/teen/your_body/health_ basics/care_ about_germs.html].

Clayman, Charles. __The Human Body__. New York: Dorling Kinderley Limited, 1995.

Dr. Balkwill, Fran. __Cell Wars__. Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Books Inc., 1993.

Edelson, Edward, and C. Everett Koop, M.D, SC.D., and Sandra Thurman. __ The Immune System __. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers, 2000.

Pearson. __Human Biology and Health__. Boston, Massachusetts: Prentice Hall, 2009.

Richman, G Wendell. “Immune System.” __World Book__. 2002 edition. 2002.

For Enrichment I'm wrote a persuasive paragraph here it is:

__ My Persuasive Essay Script __

For my enrichment project I wrote a persuasive essay. A persuasive essay is an essay that tries to persuade people to agree with stuff that they believe in. My essay is about personal hygiene, because I believe that it is very important to keep yourself clean.

__ My Persuasive Essay __ Rachel

Have you ever felt dirty and uncomfortable? If so, doesn’t it feel awful? That’s why, it is very important to keep yourself clean. First of all, if you are dirty you feel uncomfortable. For example, if you don’t take a shower for weeks in a row, you will have dirt all over you. That wouldn’t be very comfortable. So, if you want to keep yourself comfortable, keep yourself clean. Another reason to keep yourself clean is so that you are presentable. For instance, if you wanted a job and you went to an interview, if you were dirty it probably would not be likely that you will get the job. If you were clean it is probably more likely for you to get the job. The last reason to keep yourself clean is that if you don’t germs might get in your body. If germs get in your body, you could get very sick. I am sure that none of you would want to be sick. So, if you do not shower at least every other day and you do not wash your hands very often, it is time to start. If you do, then good for you!

Is everybody enjoying there winter so far? I am. I like winter in some ways and I don't in others. Winter is fun when there is lots of snow on the ground and you can play in it. The part of winter I don't like, though, is the part at the end when all the snow turns into brown slush. Also, it is a bit to cold for me. My favorite part of winter is when the first thick snow falls and every thing is all white and sparkly. Some activities I like to do during winter are: Making snowmen and other structures in the snow. Sledding. Also, I'm not positive that I will like it, but I'm very excited to go skiing for the first time this winter! Have a good winter!