Signs of Fall: Observation Reminder for December

Journey North observers write this month with global signs of the seasons. Fall is the season for festivals in South Korea, olives are being harvested in Italy, early snowfall brings snowball games in England, winter hats and coats are out of storage in the Netherlands, and they're adding blankets to their beds at night in Japan. December brings the longest night of the year. How do other cultures celebrate, and what is your tradition?

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Photos from Space: How is sunlight changing?

http://www.learner.org/tm/pde/sunlight_dec1.html

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* In Sheffield, England they got their first snow in on Saturday the 27 of November. On the news it said that this was the earliest snowfall for 17 years. Instead of a cross country race they had snow games!

* Olives are ripening and will be ready for picking in Naples, Italy. Leaves on the grape vines are turning their FAll colors. The final grapes left on their vines - the sweetest grapes - have been picked by mid-month.

* Since it is generally mild in Yomitan, Okinawa (Japan) it is cold enough at night to throw an extra blanket on the bed. Students have no heat in their apartments or classrooms and they can feel the temperature change as fall arrives.

* In Rutten, Netherlands they're getting things ready for winter. They had their first real frost 11/24/10. “Last Monday we sat outside for afternoon tea with just a light sweater on, but now we have gotten out the winter coats and woolen hats,” writes Lynne Hidding-Allen.

* In Miramichi, New Brunswick students tell us, "Our days are a lot shorter now. It gets darker earlier and we do not have as much daylight. It is dark out when we go to bed and dark in the morning when we get up."

* In Busan, South Korea, Will Bachman is teaching English. He sends highlights of the season through fall festivals and fall activities. Find out more about the festivals and see some amazing pictures of fall in Korea.
http://www.learner.org/jnorth/pde/fall2010/korea_fall.html

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Mid-Winter Festivals: Observing Winter’s Arrival

Since the beginnings of civilization winter celebrations have provided therapy and hope for surviving the long winter. Midwinter festivals occurring on the longest night of the year, often included evergreens, bright illumination, large ongoing fires, feasting, communion with close ones, and dancing and singing.

In Scandinavian culture the longest night is celebrated with a tribute to St. Lucy (Lucia). St. Lucia is played by a young girl who leads a procession wearing a crown of burning candles.

Many Asian cultures celebrate the Dongzhi Festival during the winter solstice. Family gathers and eats a special dish of rice made into balls symbolizing reunion and harmony.

What are your plans for celebrating mid-winter? Try something new this year.

Copyright 2010 Journey North. All Rights Reserved. Journey North is presented by Annenberg Media. Please send all questions, comments, and suggestions to: http://www.learner.org/jnorth/contact/help_contact.html

Journey South - October Newsletter

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Signs of Fall: Observation Reminder for October
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Wonder why shadows are different lengths on the same day? Take control of the seasons and Explore the Answer!

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A Monthly Reminder to Go Outside
The Fall Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere

Students across the globe celebrated the Fall Equinox with observations taken in their own "backyards."

Naples, Italy wrote, "We have about two months of no rain leading up to September, and the landscape is dry.
It is the end of the hazelnut harvest. The orchards are swept clear of all organic material, and then about three visits to the trees are needed - about two weeks apart - to collect all the hazelnuts. It's a dirty job of raking, collecting, and bagging. A company buys the nuts and makes NUTELLA with them. European families enjoy spreading Nutella on bread. After collecting hazelnuts, the brush is burned, even if it is green. That leads to much unnecessary smoke in the area.
The olives are slowly maturing, and will be ready for picking in November."

Sheffield, England wrote, "My name is Emily and I am 10 years old from Limpsfield Junior School and I have noticed the signs of autumn. I have found some conkers (from the horse chestnut tree). In England some children play a game with conkers; they make a hole in the conkers and thread a piece of string through and swing them back and break each others conkers. I have also found some leaves that have beautiful colours like red, orange, brown and green. The sun rose at 06:53 and will set at 19:02 today in Sheffield."

Students in Yomitan, Okinawa, Japan wrote, "Today is a Japanese holiday (shubun no hi-day of fall), but we had school. Since we are in Okinawa and not the mainland of Japan, we do not get snow. Our signs of fall are few. Our humidity drops; we have fewer typhoons. So we see fewer tombo (dragonflies).

Students at the American School of the Hague in the Netherlands report fog and cold.

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Outdoor Observations: Draw What You See

When you make your October observations, try adding a new twist. As you look carefully at how living things change, choose at least one thing to draw (an adopted tree, section of the garden, or feeding monarch, for instance). Here are some tips:

* What colors do you see in nature outside? Take a box of crayons/markers outside and find colors that you see. Fill a page with the colors. Label your art "October 1."

* Find something changing in nature and draw it.

* After drawing the whole object, move closer so you look at just a small area up close. How do you "see" differently when you do this? What new questions or discoveries do you have?

* Ask, How do I predict this will look next month?

Journey South email

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Signs of Fall: Observation Reminder for September
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Today's Report Includes:
* A Monthly Reminder to Go Outside!
* Outdoor Observations for September
* What is Phenology?
* Resources to Explore

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A Monthly Reminder to Go Outside

"Squirrels are beginning to gather nuts out of the yard, colors of foliage changing slowly. Squash, gourds and pumpkins are nearing harvesting. The days are slowly becoming shorter. Ragweed is blooming; milkweed pods are almost ready to burst." - a reporter from Kenosha, Wisconsin

What are you noticing outside your classroom? Brainstorm a list of changes you remember happening in the fall. Then take a few minutes to go outside and draw, photograph, and/or write about changes you notice. Do this each week, and by the end of the month you can dedicate a chapter in your "Signs of Fall" journal to changes you've recorded in September.

Don't forget to go outside on September 22, the fall equinox, (or as close as you can) to record your observations!

What is the Fall Equinox?

"Grackles are gone. They won't be missed," writes Paul in Ontario.

Surely everyone can share at least one thing about the changing season that they are grateful for.

What would it be for you?

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What is Phenology?

Phenology is the study of the seasonal timing of life cycle events. For instance, in the fall, animals migrate or hibernate and plants die or go dormant. The timing of these events is affected by day length, temperature, and rainfall.

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Outdoor Observations for September
What is happening to your daylight hours as summer winds down? Pay close attention to the hours of sunlight (photoperiod). Changing sunlight from month to month is the basis for all other seasonal changes!

May Phenology

April Phenology

April Observation Day

March Phenology

February Phenology

Wolf Ridge in May

January Phenology - Peace Garden

January in the Peace Garden