Get Oriented

• How to Participate
• Advice from Teachers
• Calendar
• Glossary
• Q & A

• Mystery Class Updates: February 2- May 15, 2009 (Fridays)
• Student Journals for Mystery Class
• Mystery Class Graphs: Questions to Ask
• Longitude Clues: Why They Only Work on the Equinox
• Assessment Opportunities for Mystery Class

Earth's Seasonal Cycles
These lessons help students understand how the Earth's tilt as it revolves around the sun causes the seasons and affects photoperiod (daylength) in different locations. Photoperiod reveals clues about the latitude of a location. These lessons prepare students to see the connection.

Viewing the Earth from Space
• The 12-Month Cycle Viewed from Space
• How is Sunlight Changing? Autumn Mornings in North America
  
  Student Investigations
• Following the Sun Through the Year
• Exploring Seasonal Shadows and Sunlight
• Sunlight on the Winter Solstice
• Modeling the Seasons
  
  Other
• On the Same Day of March: A Tour of the World's Weather
• Seeing the Light: Recognizing the Sun's Role in Living Systems
• Reasons for Seasons

Earth's Daily Cycles
These lessons help students grasp what happens as locations on Earth rotate into and out of the sun's light each day. Time of day can reveal clues about the longitude of a location. These lessons prepare students to see the connection.

Viewing the Earth from Space
• The 24-Hour Cycle Viewed from Space
• Far Above the North Pole: What Pattern Do You See?
• Why Does the Sun "Rise" and "Set"?
• Eating on the Equinox
  
  Student Investigations
• Exploring Hourly Shadows and Sunlight
• Following the Sun for a Day
• Telling Time with Shadow Sticks
• Telling Time with Sundials
  
  Teacher Advice
• World Clocks
• Visualizing the 24-hour Clock

Latitude and Longitude

• Where in the World? Understanding Latitude and Longitude
• The World's Biggest Address Book: Learning About Latitude and Longitude
• Latitude Shoes: Invention Lets You Travel the Globe!
• Longitude Clues: Why They Only Work on the Equinox
• Eating on the Equinox
• Latitude and Longitude Literature

Photoperiod (Teacher Advice)

• Graphing Photoperiod and Interpreting Graphs
• Kids Calculating Photoperiods
• Calculating Photoperiods: A Way to Double Check
• Practice Graphing Photoperiod