Lesson Activities:
• Investigate pyroclastic flows (moving clouds of hot ash and lethal gases) and lahars (an Indonesia word for volcanic mud flows) to discover their destructive nature. Research their impact on the surrounding area after an initial volcanic eruption.
• Create a diagram of the anatomy of a volcano. Label each different section, identifying the location of magma, cone, lava, etc.

There were rumors of these creatures long before their existence was
confirmed in the west. Fishers and pearl divers working in the area had
brought back tales of ferocious lizards with enormous claws, fearsome teeth
and fiery yellow tongues! One idea holds that the Chinese dragon is based on
the komodo lizard. The first Dutch expedition was to the island of Komodo in
1910; two dragons were shot and their skins taken to Java, which resulted in
their first published description.

Monitors are not left over from the dinosaur age. They are a
'new age' reptile and why they exist only on and around the island of Komodo
is a mystery. Local villagers never hunt the monitors, which aren't as good
to eat as the numerous wild pigs on the island. And, if stalking the
dragons, the hunter may become the hunted! Today, the ora are a protected
species.

Lesson Activities:

a.. Conduct a search on komodo dragons and create a diagram of this
fearsome lizard. Include measurements of its size and a description of its
features, such as its very strong tail and sharp claws. Identify how their
tail is used as a weapon and that's no tall tale!
b.. Describe the habitat of the Komodo dragon. What other animals live in
this habitat that provides food for these large lizards? What is their
temperament and how do they defend themselves against predators?

Without any 'land' marks to follow in ocean travel, being able to navigate according to longitude and latitude is essential in finding the way. Early day explorers relied on several navigational instruments to help them in their quest to discover new lands. (Research the origins of the astrolabe, cross-staff, and the compass to gain knowledge. Celestial navigation was also important in determining location)

Now, the use of the GPS (Global Positioning System) determines exact coordinates on land or sea. With a partner, plot the coordinates logged so far for each day that Moksha journeys toward Indonesia. Can you predict the path that she will follow? Predict how many nautical miles the crew will gain each day. Also, plot coordinates on your map as to the predicted line of travel. Compare and contrast your predictions with the actual journey as it unfolds!

Be sure to read the lesson entries, then research your answers using the links given in each lesson.

Lesson 1 - Leaping Lizards

Lesson 2 - Celestial Reasonings

To read - Jason's latest Journal

Once they had left land behind them, navigators of the early explorers relied on navigational instruments from many cultures.

One of the most important instruments, the astrolabe, was a metal disk developed by Greek astronomers 2,000 years ago. It was held vertically and a movable pointer was aimed at the sun. The pointer would then indicate the sailor's degree of latitude.

The compass-invented by the Chinese to determine direction and widely used by the Arabs-had come into use in Europe only about a century before Columbus.

Today, expedition navigators have access to ocean charts, sextants, compasses and a GPS, which gives longitude/latitude coordinates from satellites orbiting the earth.

The quadrant, like its modern descendant the sextant, was derived from an Arabic instrument, the kamal. It was used to determine latitude by measuring the altitude of the North Star or the sun above the horizon.

Since there were no clocks at sea, explorers relied on a sandglass, which had to be turned eight times during each four hour watch.

Most early explorers relied primarily on 'dead reckoning' (see nautical glossary: social studies blog). They essentially guessed the distance traveled by estimating the ship's speed and how far sideways the wind had blown it each day.

Modern expedition navigators have access to ocean charts, compasses, and a GPS, which indicates longitude and latitude coordinates, reading information from satellites orbiting the earth.

The features of the crocodile today are very similar to what they were 15 million years ago. A crocodile's armor-plated skin is made up of tough scales called scutes. These are reinforced from bony plates just below the surface.

Prehistoric crocodiles were giants, some up to 40 feet (13 meters) long! They preyed on other reptiles, including small dinosaurs. Other prehistoric crocodiles were as small as lizards.

Crocodiles have been honored throughout history. Egyptians in the town of Crocodilopolis had a crocodile god. The ancient Egyptian god of water, Sobek, was in the shape of a crocodile. Alligators, from the same reptilian family as crocodiles, got their name from 'el lagarto,' the Spanish word for lizard!

The estuarine (saltwater) crocodile from Australia, Indonesia, and Southeast Asia is the biggest of all crocs! This massive croc is the only one to swim in the sea. They live in estuaries along the coast and can grow BIGGGGG! The largest saltwater crocodile on record was 27 feet (9 meters) in length and weighed two tons!

With the coming of the European colonists, crocodile habitats became crowded with humans. Both enjoyed the living conditions along the Australian coastal areas. Unfortunately, they couldn't cohabitate as both were creating a problem for the other! No only did crocodiles hunt their prey from the rivers as animals came to drink, they also have the ability to leap as much as 9 feet (3 meters) out of the water after a meal! Crocs began feeding on livestock and then humans nearly hunted the crocs out of existence.

In 1972, crocodile hunting was banned in Australia. It is believed that around 270,000 saltwater crocodile skins and between 200,000 and 300,000 freshwater crocodile skins were exported from Australia before the ban. To meet consumer needs for their meat and their skins, crocodile farms now raise crocs. Poaching of these reptiles has become less of a problem. The croc farms have also become a major tourist attraction, especially at feeding time!