Mystery Class Update: February 14, 2003
Today's Report Includes:
A Valentine's
Day Gift for You
Your mysterious Mystery friends have provided the second set of sunrise/sunset
data from around the globe. Aren't they nice? Even if it weren't a Holiday,
they would still have given you their times--what are friends for anyway?!
Remember this information was recorded on Monday, February 10, 2003, the
same day you collected your second set of hometown sunrise/sunset data.
Mystery Class, Oh Mystery
Class . . . Whereforart Thou?
As you plot this week's data on your graph, ask yourself the following
questions. Can you determine:
1) Where is photoperiod changing the most quickly?
2) In which places is it increasing? In which places is it decreasing?
3) What might these things tell you about the location of each site?
Teacher Tip:
More Tips from the Pros
If you haven't already read her insights, Nebraska teacher Gayle Kloewer
has some suggestions to help students get the most out of graphing in
this Teacher Tip:
We always welcome tips from practicing Journey North teachers. Please
share your ideas! jnorth@learner.org
Reasons for Seasons: Exploring
the Astronomy of Spring
As you begin to notice changes in your graph, now is a good time to explore
why we have seasons and changing day length. Many people have misconceptions
about this. The real reason for seasons lies in the fact that the Earth
is tilted on its axis. The tilt of the Earth affects the length of days
and also the amount of direct sunlight received during the seasons. Take
a look at the lesson below called Reasons for Seasons:
Who Knows What Time It Is?
Response of CQ #1
Last week we asked about the meaning of two expressions that most people
use everyday, but probably never stop to think about: "What do the
initials 'A.M.' and 'P.M.' stand for anyway?" We had many correct
answers from students in Florida, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Connecticut,
Maine, and other locations too. Several answers took us for a quick Latin
lesson on the meaning of these expressions:
Mrs. McCabe's 5th grade class, Trinity School, Midland, TX:"
We knew from our geography studies that A.M. (ante-meridiem) stands
for occurring before noon; P.M. stands for (post-meridiem), occurring
after noon. Our Latin teacher also told us that these are Latin words.
Ante in Latin means before, and post means after. Meridiem is Latin
too; mer is mid and diem is day."
Karin's Morning Meeting at Upland Hills School in Oxford, MI:
" We checked a lot of different places for this information like
the dictionary, a science answer book, online, and we even asked parents
and grandparents. We think A.M. means 'ante meridiem' which is Latin
meaning before midday or noon. P.M. means 'post meridiem' which is Latin
meaning after midday or noon."
Ann Kreger's class from New Prague, MN: "In Latin
A.M means ante meridiem and in English it means before noon. P.M in
Latin means post meridiem and in English it means after noon."
Mr. O'Shea and Mrs. Tavalone's Class from Oak Street School
in Franklin, MA: "A.M. stands for the Latin words ante
meridiem which means midnight to noon or before noon. P.M. stands for
the Latin word post (after) meridiem which means noon to midnight."
Susan Petersen's Grade 3 class from Bloomington, MN:
"AM is from the Latin ante meridiem which means before midday or
before noon. PM is from the Latin post meridiem which means after midday
or after noon."
Our thanks and congratulations to all the students who answered Challenge
Question #1. Nice job everyone! We wish we had space here to list all
your answers.
This Week's Sunrise/Sunset
Times
Remember, the secret Mystery sites recorded their times last Monday, the
same day you collected your own local sunrise/sunset data.
Journey North Mystery Class
Sunrise/Sunset Data
Data For: Monday, February 10, 2003
MYSTERY CLASS |
SUNRISE |
SUNSET |
#1 |
06:57 |
17:09 |
#2 |
07:05 |
18:27 |
#3 |
05:40 |
18:28 |
#4 |
06:20 |
17:48 |
#5 |
08:03 |
17:34 |
#6 |
07:31 |
19:10 |
#7 |
00:00* |
00:00* |
#8 |
06:33 |
18:39 |
#9 |
08:10 |
17:57 |
#10 |
05:54 |
17:43 |
* Journey North Mystery Class #7 reported 00:00 for their times
and said "still no sunset, it's light out 24/7! "
(Note: Military time is usually expressed without any punctuation. We
have used a ":" between the hours and minutes for clarity.)
Note to Teachers: Plan Ahead
and Mark Your Calendars
Here's the 2003 Mystery Class Schedule so you know what to expect from Journey
North. Please be sure to plan ahead.
Mystery
Class Calendar 2003 |
February 7- April
18: |
Each Friday, Sunrise/Sunset Times
are posted for the ten Mystery Sites. |
March 14: |
The "Longitude Clue" is posted.
|
March 21, 28, April 4, 11
& 18: |
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 25: Deadline for Your
Answers! |
No late entries will
be accepted (out
of fairness to all participants, no exceptions.)
|
May 2: |
Mystery Sites Revealed! |
May 9: |
Meet Your Mystery Friends! |
The Next Mystery Class Update Will Be Posted
on February 21, 2003
Copyright 2003 Journey
North. All Rights Reserved.
Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to our feedback form
|