JN Mystery Class :: Week Seven

This week were were given the regular sunrise and sunset data for the 10 mystery classes and longitude clues. These clues are very helpful in determining the longitude coordinate for each location. Journey North gives very clear instructions on how to calculate these, along with a map where you can place your findings.

We placed each chart based on the information we found out. I added labels on the photo. The black horizontal dotted line represents the equator, the vertical orange one is the prime meridian. We forgot to add our home location for the photo, it would be in the top left corner, the Western Northern Hemisphere.

JN Mystery Class :: Weeks Five & Six

We have continued working on our Journey North Mystery Class charts. I am only behind in posting our updates!

Update for February 27 sunrise & sunset data

Celeste helps too!

Update for March 5 sunset & sunrise data

Tomorrow we received Longitude Clues as well as the sunrise and sunset data! Here is a link to a helpful teacher's practice packet.
Another helpful link is for the slideshow: A Clue About Longitude Clues.
We like to use the form below to calculate our longitude clues. I am not sure where I first found this form. I wish I could give credit to whoever created this!


<><><><><><> <><><><> <><><><><><> <><> <><><><><><><><><><>

Mystery Class # _________	Sunrise in UT/GMT and Date
Step #1 Fill in Sunrise Time and Date GMT/UT	BOX A ____________time ______________date
Step #2 Fill in Greenwich Sunrise Time on March 20	BOX B 06:02 am
Step #3 Difference in hours and minutes between A and B	BOX C _____________hours ___________minutes
Step #4 Convert hours into minutes from BOX C	BOX D ___________minutes
Step #5 Divide by the number in Box D by 4	BOX E __________degrees
Step #6 Eastern or Western	BOX F East or West

JN Mystery Class Update :: Week 3

This past Friday, we were able to position the 10 mystery class locations compared to our home location. We hope to have them in the right order. We will be able to verify once we receive more data. We now have 4 locations in the Southern Hemisphere and 6 in the Northern Hemisphere, our home is also in the Northern Hemisphere.

Journey North helped us place that unknown location that was so close to the Equator by leaving us this clue:

Where Do I Roam?I'm Ursus maritumus. I have a clue for you. More than half of the Mystery classes are located in the same hemisphere where I roam. Can you figure out which ones, using the photoperiod data?

Photo from Journey North.

JN Mystery Class Update :: Week 2

Week 2 of Journey North Mystery Class and we are able to sort our data between Southern and Northern Hemisphere. We are able to do this by checking which locations are gaining increasing their photoperiod (Northern) and which ones are loosing daylight hours (Southern). One location (at the bottom) hasn't changed its photoperiod. This one must be very close to the Equator, we'll be keeping an eye on this one over the next few weeks!

Check out the link from my good friend Carol at You're Not Lost, You're Here, it will take you to a list of the Equatorial monuments around the world.

photo from Journey North Mystery Class

Here is a recap of our findings this week:

MC # 1 - Northern Hemisphere
MC # 2 - Southern Hemisphere
MC # 3 - Northern Hemisphere
MC # 4 - Southern Hemisphere
MC # 5 - Northern Hemisphere
MC # 6 - Southern Hemisphere
MC # 7 - ??? - very close to Equator
MC # 8 - Southern Hemisphere
MC # 9 - Northern Hemisphere
MC #10 - Northern Hemisphere

JN Mystery Class Update :: Week 1

Educational and Fun Events in February

February is full of fun and educational activities that you can do with your children at home! 

{photo from Mystery Class site}

Journey North Mystery Class started this past Monday, but it's not too late to register and take part. "Mystery Class is a global game of hide-and-seek. Follow photoperiod clues to search for ten secret sites around the world. Track sunlight to solve a mystery! Discover the reasons for seasons along the way".

(photo from World Education Games)

World Maths Day, World Spelling Day, and World Science Day will held again this year in March.  "The World Education Games is the exciting event for ALL schools and students around the world. It runs from 6-8 March, involving 5.5million students from over 200 countries and territories. Practice opens on 1 February. This is the global challenge to get ALL students (4-18 years of age) excited about learning, and to give the top students in each school an opportunity to see how they measure up against the best". Homeschoolers are welcomed! We have participated for the last two years and enjoyed these free events. Practice starts today!

(photo from GBBC)

The Great Backyard Bird Count is held February 17 to 20 this year. "The Great Backyard Bird Count is an annual four-day event that engages bird watchers of all ages in counting birds to create a real-time snapshot of where the birds are across the continent. Anyone can participate, from beginning bird watchers to experts. It takes as little as 15 minutes on one day, or you can count for as long as you like each day of the event. It’s free, fun, and easy—and it helps the birds".   

Tower of Freedom statue in Windsor

Black History Month is in February as well. Black History Canada has an interesting website with teacher resources. Family Education also has excellent resources with many links: Celebrate Black History Month. I have a few reading suggestions from my past Book Sharing Monday posts here including related links.

Homemade Valentines 2011

Valentine's Day is February 14 and so many sweet ideas are floating around, especially on Pinterest! We liked making these valentines in 2010. 

Groundhog Day is tomorrow, February 2nd! Kaboose has a nice page of the history, activities, and crafts to do.,

So much to do this month! I hope you have a wonderful time with your children learning and discovering together!