Date: Fri, 3 Jan 97 22:59:39 UT 

You gave us some pretty hard questions but I have the answer to number one. A calorie is a unit that is used to measure energy in the Metric System of measurement. I just thought you ought to know that. 

 Well, got to go do some more research so I can finish your homework. 
Your Key Pal, 

Heather 

Hi, Heather: 

O.K. you looked up what a calorie is.  Now, you tell me what you think a calorie is.  Put some *meat* in you answer.  Like - what's the difference in fat calories and carbohydrate calories.  Stuff like that. 

You have a new computer?  Neat.  Did you get a modem?  Are you online? Don't become a computer potato.  Exercise is important, too. 

Happy New Year, 

Mr. D 
Happy New Year, Jay: 

Your answers: 

  1.A calorie is a unit used to measure heat energy in the metric system of measurment. 

Yeah, yeah.  But, tell me Jay, what does that mean?  Is a fat calorie the same as a protein calorie?  Huh?  Get back to me with more details. 

   7. It is important because, if you know the answer then it might help you live longer or be more physical. 

This is good.  Do you know the difference in "knowing the answer" versus "understanding the answer?" 

Your Same Birthday KeyPal 
Dear Mr. D, 
    Hi!! How are you?  We are fine. We as in Heather and Ashleigh.    Heather: You know how I told you I would write a report about  the calorie well I didn't know  how to reword the sentences so I am going to copy the information , it is not that long, and  give you the place I got it from. I have to ask you a question. You know how the arteries go  to the lungs to get oxygen and the veins take the oxygen to the heart. Well, if you smoke and  your lungs  turn black Mr. Johnson said that it can effect how much oxygen the heart gets but  could that effect how long your heart still beats or the way it beats? Or could the heart beat  slower. 

Good question.  But first you need to rethink the veins and arteries part of the question.  Arteries carry blood away from the heart and veins carry blood to the heart.  All the veins *except* the cardiac veins, carry deoxygenated blood (blood with the oxygen mostly used up) to the heart.  If you smoke and your blood doesn't get enough oxygen the heart will compensate by *speeding up*!  It needs oxygen and if it doesn't get what it needs from a certain amount of blood, it tries to get it by speeding up.  Let me know if you need a more detailed answer. 

 Take your time, I gave you until February. 

 Back to Heather : I am thinking now what to write or ask. Also about the question I asked  earlier could that effect the rest of your body or could your body get weaker? If you have to  get a lung removed and you don't get another one in place of that one will that effect your  body? 

Many people (mostly smokers) are doing just fine with only one lung. Wonder what will happen if they lose that lung?  Smoking does affect all parts of the body.  Please don't start smoking, and try to stay well away from secondary smoke.  Please. 

 Back to Ashleigh :  I have a question.  If you switched the arteries and veins so the oxygen  rich goes to the oxygen poor blood chamber and the oxygen poor goes into the oxygen rich  chamber what would happen ?  Well, we have to go. 

You are going to have to explain that one to me.  If you just reversed the order, you would not live very long. 

PS - Write Back 
Your hearted friends, 
Ashleigh 
Heather 

I wrote back.  Hope you liked it. 

Your wholehearted KeyPal friend, 

Mr. D 
Date: Sun, 5 Jan 97 22:02:34 UT 

    Heather:  We are writing to you in our classroom. I started a letter to you yesterday but I didn't get to finish it. You gave us some pretty hard homework to work on. But in A2's letter you said they were easy. 

Here's a hint about how to make it easier.  Call your doctor's office and ask someone there if they have any information about calories and diet. Better still think of another place to call where you can find *diet* information. 

     We are not working on the Circulatory System anymore, we are studying the Digestive System. Well, got to get to class now. 

Does the digestive system have anything to do with calories? 

Remember, you have until sometime in February to get the questions answered. BTW:  I know quite a lot about the digestive system.  Let me know if I can help you in your studies. 

Your mostly Fat/Carbohydrate/Protein but just plain old KeyPal, 

Mr. D 
Date: Tue, 07 Jan 1997 08:52:30 EST 

 Dear Mr.D  
A calorie is a measure of energy. Technically heat needed to  raise the temperature of a kilagram of water one degree centigrade

What does that mean if I'm eating a Quarer Pounder with Fries and drinking a Coke? 

 Please answer the following questions, please. 

 2. On a daily basis how hard can your job be? 

The hardest part of my job is having to make decisions that affect the health and well being of other people.  For instance, I may get a phone call from a doctor who wants to know if the patient's pacemaker is going to last a while longer or if it is nearing time to be replaced.  In some cases the answer to both questions is yes.  This means that I have to help the doctor make the decision to admit the patient to the hospital for surgery or take a chance that everything will be O.K. for a while longer. 

 3.How many calories are in Mc Donalds Quarter Pounder with  fries and Coke? 

How should I know, I don't eat Quarter Pounders, nor do I drink Coke. I'll bet, if you ask at Mickey D's, they could give you the answer. 

 I hope the answers are what you wanted.  Please write if you have any additional questions. 

Your KeyPal in South Florida, 

Mr. D 
Date: Wed, 8 Jan 97 01:48:47 UT 

 Dear Heather: 

  Yesterday I had to play the Stingrays during most of my recess so I couldn't write and another thing was that there were no more computers to write on. 

Last night I was on my computer and I looked up the Heart and Calorie.  Maybe tonight I will write a report on a calorie and type it and send it to you. And maybe I can put "meat" into what you told me to look up.<< 

*Meet* me here when you find the answers.   How many caloris do you burn off when you run?<< 

Good question. Why don't you look it up. 

  Sorry I haven't answered the rest of your questions. Tonight if I think of it and take my paper home maybe I can look up some of the stuff. 

 See ya' later, 

Mr. D 
Date: Wed, 08 Jan 1997 09:11:58 EST 

Dear Heather: 

Thanks for the letter.  I can't wait to get your answers.  I'm sure they will be excellent.  If you are having problems locating answers, use your imagination.  You do not have to use the computer to find the answers to these questions.  Many, many people in the community should be able to help.  For instance, call a diet center or a doctor's office or browse the "Diet and Weight Control" section of a local book store.  Let me know if you get stuck.  I'll try to help. 

Got to go now, my stomach is beginning to growl.  I wonder what causes that. 

See ya' 

Mr. D 
Date: Wed, 08 Jan 1997 09:11:58 EST 

Dear A2: 

Fifteen hundred and 10 calories just for a 1/4 pounder and fries!  Oh, man!  That doesn't even include the Coke.  I wonder how many of those calories are fat and carbohydrate calories.  Be careful with that "growth spurt" - make sure it's *up* and not *out.* ;-) 

In answer to your question about how long does it take for the calories to give you weight, you don't have to "wait" too long. Of course, if you stand on a very accurate scale just after eating the meal you will have gained weight equal to the weight of the meal.  A few hours later, however, your body would have processed the meal and, if you stood on the same scale, your weight would be lower.  It usually takes about 6 hours for the food you eat to become fuel for energy. How much more detail would you like? 

Good work. 

Your KeyPal, Mr. D 
Date: Thu, 23 Jan 97 23:50:13 UT 

Lisa: 

You wrote: 

Hi! It's Lisa again.  My mom gave me a book she had called Nutrition and diet therapy By: Sue Rodwell Williams / Second Edition. 

1. A calorie is a measure of energy. 
2. An adult would burn 77 calories if he or she did nothing all day but stay in bed. 
3. There are 860 calories all together in a McDonald's quarter with cheese, fries, and a coke. 
4. The three different kinds of calories are as follows: fats, protein, and carbondyhydates. 

      Mr. D  need help and I can not find out the answers to 5 - 7. Please help me by giving me some hints or even give me the answers.  You can write to me at my house and you know the e-mail address or at school.  Soon I am going to give up. 

Nice job.  Please double check the answer to number 2.  I have a different number.  I cannot remember what 5 - 7 are.  Please refresh my memory. 

You fat, carbo, protein keypal, 
Mr. D 
  From today. 

Hello!!  Sorry I have not wrote in a while but I have been very busy.  I haven't really had any time go on the computer because we have had to do our play.  It turned out very well. By the way, Mr Tabler, the 4h teacher, is going to help us with the questions if you don't mind. well, this is another from A2. ----------- 

More from today.  You have amazed me.  800 calories????  Wow!!!!!!!!  I would never have guessed that.  Thanks. 

------------ Yep, 800 calories, just breathing and heart beating and doing almost nothing else. Yep, pretty weird nick name.  Whatsamatter, you don't like "Bobby?"  Beg Mrs. Weeg and she may let us "chat" again.  It's nice to be popular among people I really really like. 

Bye. 

Mr. D 
 

Patti's note:
Visit Mr. D's on-line mentoring pages for the whole story...
His Pacemaker Education and Technology site is fantastic!


HTML and images for this page were created by Mr. Delos Johnson. Thank you, Mr. D!
Search The Global Classroom
Patricia A. Weeg
pweeg@shore.intercom.net
Return to Global Classroom