Google Timer Tech Tip

This week for my Tech Tip I decided to look into Google timers.  I had no idea that Google had this feature, although it does not surprise me. 

When it comes to studying or working on projects, assignments etc., I have always heard that setting a timer for about 15-20 minutes (or however long you like) and working for that amount of time and then allowing yourself to take a break is a really great way to get things done! Especially for those who procrastinate or are easily distracted (A.K.A. me). 

I have never actually tried this method, but now that I know Google has a timer I can easily set on my laptop while I'm working I think I will try it! Here's to less procrastination!

I'm a huge Sound of Music fan and got a really good laugh out of this picture. 

The Hills are Alive....with Procrastination.  Web Source. 

Week 11 Story: The Turtle Who was Not Afraid of Thunder

Once there was a turtle who lived happily in a lake.  However, he had one problem.  Something kept hitting him while he was in the water.  One day, he came out and tried to investigate what it was but could not find anyone.  

Instead he called out "who will help me?".  The first to respond was deer.  Turtle asked deer to show him his best fighting skills to defeat whoever it was hitting him.  

Turtle was not impressed by deer's skills and called out again, "who will help me?"  Next to respond was bear.  Turtle again asked him to show his best fighting skills and again, turtle was not impressed.  

He called out one more time, "who will help me?"  This time, an army of little turtles arose and showed turtle their best fighting skills.  Turtle was very impressed and knew they would be the ones to defeat his bully.  So turtle went back down into the water while his army awaited the return of the bully.  

The next day he awoke to his army of turtles yelling for him to come out and look.  Turtle arose from the water and saw a lonely bird a tree dropping rocks into the water.  "This is Thunder Bird!" one of the turtles said.  Turtle knew that Thunder Bird was the only one of his kind and was very lonely, but also too shy to make any companions.  It turns out that he had been dropping rocks into the lake in hopes that turtle would come out and talk to him.  

From that day forward Thunder Bird and the turtles were great friends and Thunder Bird provided protection for the turtles during thunderstorms.  

The Friendship between Turtle and Thunder Bird. Web Source. 

Author's Note: This week's story is taken from "Turtle and Thunder" from the British and North America Tales unit.  I kept the beginning of the story the same up until when the turtle army takes stance to wait for whoever it was dropping rocks.  In the original story, the bully drops a rock on the turtles and kills them all.  Turtle comes out from the water and asks his neighbor who did it and his neighbor responds that it was Thunder Bird and that he was very afraid of him.  From that day forward Turtle stayed hidden under the water during thunder storms.  I thought that version of the story was a little morbid so I wanted to make it happier.  I portrayed Thunder Bird as a lonely bird wanting to make friends who eventually makes friends with the turtles.  From that day on, he provided protection for his friends during thunder storms.  

Bibliography:   Turtle and Thunder from Myths and Legends of British North America by Katharine Berry Judson. 

Reading Notes, British North America: Part B

These notes are from the story 'Turtle and Thunder" from Part B of the British North America Tales. 

The story starts with a turtle who lives in a lake and keeps getting hit by something.  Every time he emerges from the water to see what it was, he sees nothing.  Eventually he asks for help. 

The deer was the first to help him.  The turtle asked the deer to see how well he could fight so the deer began to fight a tree and broke his horns.  This was not good enough for the turtle.

Next to help was was bear.  Turtle asked the same thing of bear so bear began to fight the tree but was jumping around clumsily, and again it was not enough for the turtle. 

Turtle called out again for someone to help him and this time a crowd of little turtles came forward.  Turtle asked them to show him how they can fight, and turtle was very pleased and knew they would be the ones to fight whoever was hitting him. 

He took them to his home and soon a big rock fell upon them and killed them all.  Turtle came out and saw a big bird overhead. He ran to his neighbor and asked who the bird was. 

The neighbor replied that it was the thunder bird and that he was very scared of him.  Ever since then, turtle stayed under the water during thunderstorms. 

Bibliography: Turtle and Thunder from Myths and Legends of British North America by Katharine Berry Judson. 

The Turtle looking for his bully. Web Source. 

Reading Notes, British North America :Part A

These notes are over the story "Why the Sun is Bright", one of the stories in the British North America Tales. 

The story starts with a whole village moving away from its home because they were angry with one boy.  This seems like a lot of work to me over being angry, but kept reading to see what happens next.  The boy was left alone in the village with his grandma and soon they began to starve.  She told him to go snare small animals, and shoot the birds for food.  The grandma cooked the animals and made the boy a bright coat from their fur that he wore when he went to spear fish. 

The sun saw the boy everyday in his bright robe and one day came to the boy dressed in a goatskin robe with fringe and asked him if he would trade.  At first the boy said no, but then the sun said that with his robe, the boy would be able to catch more fish than he could ever spear.  He then placed his fingers in the water and immediately fish were caught on the fringe of the robe.  The boy exchanged robes after that.  Before this, the sun was pale.  But now with the new bright coat he became bright and dazzling and people could no longer look at him. 

Bibliography: Why the Sun is Bright from Myths and Legends of British North America written by Katharine Berry Judson. 

The Bright Sun. Web Source.