logo2.gif 4 K VICTOR
THE VECTOR		 viclogo1.gif - 1,04 K
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Introduction
VICTOR THE VECTOR flows with the ocean currents. He learns about currents, temperature, waves, fronts, upwelling, etc. He gets into trouble along his journeys and makes many animal and plant friends. He and his mother Vera went in different directions. He searches for her and eventually they are united again. VICTOR THE VECTOR is an educative story for young people (ages 8-12)

Teacher Information
About the author
About the artist

About the author

Cathy Woody 5 K VICTOR THE VECTOR is written by Catherine E. Woody from Bay-Saint-Louis, MS, USA. Catherine works at the National Data Buoy Center of the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). She has worked with NOAA for 23 years, mostly in water quality field programs. Her background is BA in Mathematics and a Master's in Physical Oceanography.
She has written this story in her own time to tell young people about some of the things that she is dealing with in her profession. Catherine has always worked with kids in marine sciences as a hobby in the past and has taught full and part time from grades 6 through second year of college. She emphasizes the physics of the oceans to show them that math and physics can be fun and so that they might understand a little how the environment works.
About the artist
Illustrations are made by Robert Eman. Robert was a student at the Ichthus College in The Hague, Netherlands. When he started his internship at OCEAN98, he had never heard of Victor the Robert Eman 21 K
Illustrator Robert Eman enjoying his work
Vector and he had little experience with computer graphic software. He has always done convential drawing and painting before. With every new illustration, Victor became more alive and Robert's computer graphic skills improved.

© The copyright and any right of use of the VICTOR THE VECTOR stories remains with Catherine E. Woody, Bay-Saint-Louis, MS, USA.

  Victor the Vector Episodes
 

Episode 1:
The Vector

Episode 2:
The Encounter

Episode 3:
The Chase

Episode 4:
The Escape

Episode 5:
The Reunion

  Dictionary
 

Explanation of expressions found in the various episodes
  Teacher Information
 

Introduction by the author

  

INTRODUCTION TO TEACHERS AND EDUCATORS
by the author Catherine Woody

The ocean sciences are now being recognized and included as part of the science curricula (K-12) in many schools throughout the country. Marine biology and environmental problems lend themselves well to educational development, particularly in the lower grades, and information in these areas is available for classroom use. Little, however, is being developed in the physical sciences, particularly oceanography, for the elementary school level. To often children avoid physics and math because it is too 'hard,' and they 'could never understand it.' To correct this, I developed a physical and mathematical concept to be presented to the student in such a manner that their young minds are receptive to learning ideas. I therefore wrote a series of stories and associated educational concepts and exercises around the physics of the oceans and atmosphere.

The Victor the Vector series of episodes introduce physical concepts in Oceanography to young learners. The main character is a Current Vector - a mathematical depiction of speed and direction. The story line is adapted around the animation of a current vector that travels the world's oceans, meets plants and animals in his journeys, and encounters and learns about physical phenomena of the Earth's oceans and atmosphere. The stories are written for grades 3 through 5 and can be adapted for the slow learner in higher grades. The concepts are presented to the young learner in a descriptive and fun way.

The stories are written so that they may be used in the classroom as lessons or as supplementary material; they can also be read just for reading enjoyment. By the Vector being a part of the physical environment, the children are able to view the physical processes of the oceans and atmosphere through the 'eyes of the Earth.' The student will meet the biological components in the context of their physical surroundings. It is the intent of the stories to teach children about the oceans and atmosphere as an integrated system and to help them understand that all things work together in nature.

Five stories and a dictionary have been written and illustrated. Three or four main physical concepts are developed in each story with geography an integral part. Victor the Vector and some of the concepts he learns in this series include oceanfronts, eddies, waves, and upwelling.

We are currently planning the development of additional episodes and educational materials. hen completed Victor the Vector will not be on this website, but also available in booklet form and CDROM.

If you have any comments or suggestions, please don't hesitate to send an e-mail to: woody@ocean98.org

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