Countdown to Mystery Class: Two Months to Go! 2011

Countdown to Mystery Class: Two Months to Go!

To solve a mystery, you must be able to examine closely and ask questions. The globe is a model of Earth. Each part reveals information about our planet. Build sleuthing skills by looking at the globe with the eyes of a detective: What features are related to time and seasonal change?

This Week's Update Includes:

How to Prepare Students for Mystery Class
Just for Teachers: Practice Packets

Image of the Month

Explore the Globe
Where in the World?
Photo: American Road

How Can I Prepare Students for Mystery Class?

1. Report Changes in Daylight
Report your photoperiod data for the first day of each month, plus each equinox and solstice. View the photoperiod map to track changes in daylight. Ask questions to help students analyze photoperiod data and make discoveries about sunlight and seasonal change.

It's Time to Report!
This month, report your photoperiod for two dates: December 1st and 22nd (solstice)

Photoperiod Map
Report Dates:
First day of each month and
December 22, March 20, June 20.

2. Explore the Globe
The globe is a model of Earth. Each part reveals information about our planet. In this activity, students study the features of a globe: structure, movement, shapes, colors, lines, words, and numbers. As they examine each part, they ask questions: What is this line? Why is it here? Why is the globe tilted? Why does it spin? What parts of a globe are related to time and seasons?

Time, Seasons, and the Globe

Time, Seasons,
and the Globe

Just for Teachers: Practice Packets #1 and #2

Prepare yourself for Mystery Class by downloading two Practice Packets:

About Practice Packet #1
Exploring Latitude Clues

About Practice Packet #2
Exploring Longitude Clues

The Next Countdown to Mystery Class will be posted January 1, 2012