Teachers' Guide for February 9, 2007
The suggestions below will help you integrate Journey North's real-time program in the classroom. This guide accompanies the Mystery Class Update for February 9, 2007.
This Week
The following activities accompany this week's topic:

Think! Journal Question

This week you discovered that the Earth's axis isn't oriented straight up and down, but instead is tilted 23.5 degrees in relation to the sun.

Have your students review the Reasons for Seasons information, and then write in a journal what they think their climate and seasons would be like if the Earth were not tilted on its axis?

Why do they think so? Discuss their answers as class.


Click image to enlarge

If You Could Un-tilt the Earth

More About Time Keeping


Lesson: "You're Going to Bed at What Time?"
As you know, the sunrise/sunset times are provided using the 24 hour clock or military time, which divides the day into 24 hours. But most of us don't use this timekeeping method very often. (When was the last time your students were told to go to bed at 22:30?!)

1) Think! Journal Question
Most of the "time", our days are divided into 12 hour sets, one for "A.M." and one for "P.M.". Ask your students "What do you think the initials 'A.M.' and 'P.M.' stand for? Why do you think these abbreviations were created?" Have them write answers in a journal, and then discuss.

2) Try It! Test your Parents
Have your students determine what their own bedtime is using the 24 hour clock/military time. Then, have them ask their parents if they know what that bedtime is using the 24 hour clock. For example, "is it ok if I go to bed at 23:30 tonight?". Do the parents know what time that is? (If they don't know, have students give them a helping hand and explain the 24 hour clock of timekeeping)