Jim Gilbert
Home Page
Challenge Questions
Today's News
Spring's Journey North
Report Your Sightings
Search Journey North
return to:
A/CPB
Ice-Out Update: February 20, 1998
| "Hi. We're a third/fourth grade class from the Fayerweather Street School
in Cambridge, MA, located just 15 miles from Walden Pond in Concord, MA. We'll be in contact with the officials
at Walden Pond this year, and as soon as the Ice-Out occurs on the Pond we'll send out a report to all of you
with the exact date and time!" Ms.Wheelwright and Ms. Darby's class Fayerweather Street School JWheelw484@aol.com |
|
Today's Report Includes:
- Reminder: How to Report Ice-Out
- Announcing the 4th Annual Ice-Out Contest for Walden Pond
- How to Place Your Guess
- Field Notes from Walden Pond
- Writing Assignment & Challenge Question from Fayerweather School
- Reminder: Challenge Question #1
|
No Ice ? Report NOW! |
Don't forget to report the date ice-out occurs at your local lake, pond, river, stream, bay, estuary--or ocean! Just follow the instructions below. In our next report we'll provide a summary of all sites where ice-out has been reported. If you NEVER HAVE ICE, please report NOW.
Announcing the 4th Annual Internet Ice-Out Contest for Walden Pond
When do you think the ice will melt on Walden Pond this spring? Famous
naturalist Henry David Thoreau kept ice-out records in the mid-1800's and recorded them in his celebrated book, Walden. This year, students from Thoreau's home state will officiate the contest.
How to Enter the Ice-Out Contest
You're invited to place your guess. The deadline is the first day of
spring, March 20.
1. Find the ice-out records Thoreau kept for Walden Pond in the mid-1800's. (HINT: Check out the chapter he wrote about spring in his best-known book.)
2. Calculate the average date the ice melted over the years he kept records.
3. Next, find out if this winter is colder or warmer than an average
Massachusetts winter. Pay attention to the temperatures in Massachusetts
over the next few weeks. Read the latest news from Walden in the Field
Notes below.
4. Finally, place your guess by Responding to Journey North Ice-Out
Challenge Question # 2:
Challenge Question # 2
"When do you predict ice-out will occur this year on Thoreau's Walden Pond?" (Please give an exact date, rather than a range of dates.)
To respond to this question, please follow the instructions at the end of
this report. Remember: The deadline is March 20th, the first day of spring!
Field Notes from Walden Pond
Here's the latest news from naturalist Michelle Dumas at Walden Pond State Reserve. We hope it will help you predict the 1998 ice-out date for the Pond:
February 18, 1998
"The ice on Walden Pond is still thick, about 8-10 inches,
but this canchange quickly with continued warm temps, rain and WIND. The wind is what really drives the Ice-Out here at Walden--we have a tunnel effect that can drive the ice off in as little as 8-10 hours. We've had a warmer and wetter winter than usual. Temperatures have been in the high 30's and low 40's and we just had a BIG rainstorm which dropped 3 inches of rain in the area!
"There are still Ice-fisherman on the pond. There is no snow on the ground. There is some Red-tailed Hawk activity being seen, and Cardinals are more active now. Good numbers of deer tracks are being seen as well."
Writing Assignment and Challenge Question
from Fayerweather Street School
"If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer." From Walden, by Henry David Thoreau
Henry David Thoreau built his wooden hut and went to stay by Walden Pond to live simply, to observe the natural world closely and to write. He did not mind being thought of as different or unusual by many of the residents of Concord. Although he walked into town regularly to visit his family and enjoyed having visitors stop by his cabin, he preferred solitude.
"...I love to be alone. I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude." from Walden
It took independence and courage for Thoreau to live his life as he chose.
(He was not recognized as a great writer until after his death.) Can you
think of a time when you thought carefully and then chose to act in way that was difficult for others to understand
or support? What did you do? How did you feel when others disapproved? Did you mind? Where did you find the
strength to act? Did you eventually gain the respect or understanding of others?
Challenge Question # 3
"Relate today's quotes from Thoreau to your experiences, and send your thoughts to Journey North."
To respond to this Challenge Question, please follow the instructions at the end of this report.
Reminder: Challenge
Question # 1This spring, we will challenge you to predict ice-out at each of our 1998 Official Ice-out Observation Posts. There's still time to respond to our February 6th questions which asked:
Challenge Question # 1
"When do you predict ice-out will occur on the Chukchi Sea near Point Hope, Alaska?"
How to Respond to Ice-Out Challenge Questions
IMPORTANT:
Each Challenge Question must be sent in a SEPARATE MESSAGE.
1. Address an e-mail message to: jn-challenge-ice@learner.org
2. In the Subject Line of your message write:
Challenge Question # 1
OR
Challenge Question # 2
OR
Challenge Question # 3
3. In the body of each message, give your answer to ONE question:
Challenge Question # 1
"When do you predict ice-out will occur on the Chukchi Sea near Point Hope, Alaska?"
OR
Challenge Question # 2
"When do you predict ice-out will occur this year on Thoreau's Walden Pond?" (Please give an exact date, rather than a range of dates.)
OR
Challenge Question # 3
"Relate today's quotes from Thoreau to your experiences, and send your thoughts to Journey North."
The Next Ice-Out Update will Be Posted on March 6, 1998.
Copyright 1998 Journey North. All Rights Reserved