Journey North Mystery Class Spring 2006

Mystery Class Update: March 31, 2006

Today's Report Includes:

No April Fooling--More Times and
Clues Have Arrived!
Another Sneak Peek: Study the Global Temperature Map
Breaking News on Bionic Shoes
Were Your Eggs Incredible? Challenge Question #7
Discussion of CQ #5: All Things Being Equal?
Discussion of CQ #6: SEASONAL Cycles vs. DAILY Cycles
Teachers: Get the Contest Checklist
Are More Clues on the Way? Check the Calendar

No April Fooling--More Times and Clues Have Arrived!

Tomorrow is April Fool's day, but your mystery friends know that you're too sharp to be tricked. Here are their ninth set of the sunrise/sunset data (can you find the three time "slips"?), and their third set of clues. We'll post clues for just two more weeks. So pay close attention, because the clues continue to be more specific each time.

** And remember to read all the other sections of the Update too because you never know where other hints might be hiding.

This Week's Sunrise/Sunset Data

Need to Catch Up?
All Sunrise/Sunset Data to Date

Clues from the Mystery Classes

Here is the third set of interdisciplinary clues including a bonus audio message:

Clues from the Mystery Classes

Another Sneak Peek: Study the Global Temperature Map

Last week, we gave you a sneak peek from space into the lives of some of your Mystery Classes. Did it help you narrow your search?

Would you like another peek?

How can studying global temperature patterns help you confirm if you're on the right track?

To find out Link to Map

Global Temperature Patterns Map

Breaking News on Bionic Shoes

The Final Four basketball stars have got nothing on this news flash. There's a cool new invention called "Latitude Shoes". Anyone wearing them can travel aloft around the globe at their own Latitude in just 24 hours. Now that's some hang time! More on this story is in tomorrow's April 1st
Latitude Sun Times newspaper--but we've obtained an advance copy for you today. We hope you'll find it "uplifting"!

Link to Newspaper Article--"Latitude Shoes"

Were Your Eggs Incredible?

Times Up! After conducting your final balance test this week, your equinox egg experiment is now complete. What did you determine--is there some sort of cosmic 'force' that makes eggs stand up only on the equinoxes? Review your test results and tell us:

Challenge Question #7:
"What was your egg balance test hypothesis? What were your test results? Did the eggs balance on the equinox? How about on other days? From these results, what conclusion(s) did you reach? (We'd LOVE to hear about your findings and see any "eggceptional" pictures!)"

To respond to this Challenge Question, please follow these instructions

Teachers: Get the Contest Checklist

We'll provide more new clues from the Mystery Classes for the next two weeks, and then answers will be due by the April 21 deadline.

Here are the instructions well in advance on how and when to submit your answers so that everyone can be ready to submit their answers correctly and on time:

Print the
Required Instructions

Mark Your Calendar:
Contest Deadline April 21

Got Questions?
Mystery Class FAQ

Discussion of CQ #5: All Things Being Equal?

Some of you noticed on the Equinox that sunrise/sunset times at many locations were not exactly twelve hours of equal day and night. So we asked you "why".

Here's a hint--the answer lies in the bending of light, which causes you to see something that isn't really there. Confused? This link should straighten everything out.

All Things Being Equal?

Discussion of CQ #6: SEASONAL Cycles vs. DAILY Cycles

The equinox presented a great example of a seasonal sun event that happens at the same moment for everyone on Earth, in contrast with daily sun events like sunrise/sunset that happen at different times for every location. We asked you why these seasonal and daily events happen on different time frames, and several classes stepped up to the challenge.

Read this explanation and see if you have everything in sync now:

SEASONAL Cycles vs. DAILY Cycles

Are More Clues on the Way? Check the Calendar

February 3- April 14:	Each Friday, Sunrise/Sunset Times are posted for the ten Mystery Sites.
Feb 17, 24, Mar.3:	Getting Ready for the Longitude Clues
March 10:	The "Longitude Clues" are posted.
March 17, 24 & 31, April 7 & 14	Interdisciplinary clues from the Mystery Sites are posted each week. (Please Note--out of fairness to all participants, we will only post the clues on their scheduled dates.)
April 21: Deadline for Your Answers!	No late entries will be accepted (out of fairness to all participants, no exceptions.)
April 28:	Mystery Sites Revealed!
May 5:	Meet Your Mystery Friends!

Have Questions? See Mystery Class FAQ

The Next Mystery Class Update Will Be Posted on April 7, 2006