Journey North Mystery Class Spring 2004

Mystery Class Update: February 20, 2004

Today's Report Includes:

Does the Third Set Say More?
More Than Daylength Is Changing
Now Playing: The Sun's Connection
Hungry for Activities? Try the Food Chain and Shadow Stick Test
This Week's Sunrise/Sunset Times
Note to Teachers: Plan Ahead and Mark Your Calendars

Does the Third Set Say More?
Your secret Mystery Friends have provided their third set of sunrise/sunset data for you. Will your photoperiod graph this week reveal anything more about where they might be hiding?

Their latest sunrise/sunset times are provided in today's report on the Web.

More Than Daylength Is Changing
As you plot the changing daylength on your graphs, keep in mind that sunlight affects all living systems. The sun is at the base of the food chain. Sunlight makes plants grow, animals eat these plants, predators prey on these animals, and so forth.

As daylength changes at the Mystery Classes around the planet, stop to think about how the food chain is changing too. For example, during spring in the Northern Hemisphere, sunlight and photosynthesis increase, temperatures rise, and food production increases. The animal movements you track and the signs of spring you witness will be related to daylight in one way or another.

Watch Journey North's founder and Director, Elizabeth Howard, summarize the Sun's central connection to all life
	*The Sun's Connection* Video Clip (Tips)

Then, come back and try these "enlightening" activities:

Link to "Seeing the Light" Food Chain Lesson
Link to: Shadow Sticks and the Sun

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.

Link to This Week's Sunrise/Sunset Data

Note to Teachers: Plan Ahead and Mark Your Calendars
Here's the 2004 Mystery Class Schedule so you know what to expect from Journey North. Please be sure to plan ahead.

February 6- April 16:	Each Friday, Sunrise/Sunset Times are posted for the ten Mystery Sites.
March 12:	The "Longitude Clue" is posted.
March 19, 26, April 2, 9 & 16:	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 23: Deadline for Your Answers!	No late entries will be accepted (out of fairness to all participants, no exceptions.)
April 30:	Mystery Sites Revealed!
May 7:	Meet Your Mystery Friends!

The Next Mystery Class Update Will Be Posted on February 27, 2004