"Dayzed" and Confused?!

Why do some months have 30 days and others have 31 days?

This is waaaaay more complicated than I ever thought it would be so here's what the resources I accessed have to say directly. The bottom line is that it has to do with the moon, an emperor, and a Pope:

The calendar is based on three key astronomical events.

• A day, which is the time from one sunrise to the next sunrise — one complete rotation of the Earth.
• A year, which is approximately 365.24 days — one complete orbit of Earth around the Sun.
• A month, which is approximately 29.53 days — one complete orbit of the Moon around the Earth.

Since these time spans are not easily divided, calendars have always been imperfect. Some were rooted in tradition, while others evolved as humankind gained a greater understanding of science and astronomy. Some calendars, like the Christian calendar (which is the primary calendar in use today) focused on the Earth’s orbit. Others, like the Islamic calendar focused on the Moon’s orbit. Still others, like the Jewish calendar and Chinese calendar, combine both.

Most calendars are based on astronomical events. From our perspective on Earth, the two most important astronomical objects are the Sun and the Moon, which is why their cycles are very important in the construction and understanding of calendars.

Our concept of a year is based on the earth’s motion around the sun. The time from one fixed point, such as a solstice or equinox, to the next is called a tropical year. Its length is currently 365.242190 days, but it varies. Around 1900 its length was 365.242196 days, and around 2100 it will be 365.242184 days. f

Our concept of a month is based on the moon’s motion around the earth, although this connection has been broken in the calendar commonly used now. The time from one new moon to the next is called a synodic month, and its length is currently 29.5305889 days, but it varies. Around 1900 its length was 29.5305886 days, and around 2100 it will be 29.5305891 days.

Note that these numbers are averages. The actual length of a particular year may vary by several minutes due to the influence of the gravitational force from other planets. Similarly, the time between two new moons may vary by several hours due to a number of factors, including changes in the gravitational force from the sun, and the moon’s orbital inclinatio

The motion of the Moon in its orbit is very complicated and its period is not constant. The date and time of this actual observation depends on the exact geographical longitude as well as latitude, atmospheric conditions, the visual acuity of the observers, etc. Therefore the beginning and lengths of months in these calendars can not be accurately predicted.

The problems of creating reliable lunar calendars may explain why solar calendars, having months which no longer relate to the phase of the moon, and being based only on the motion of the sun against the sky, have generally replaced lunar calendars for civil use in most societies.

The Gregorian calendar, like the Julian calendar before it, has twelve months:

1. January, 31 days
2. February, 28 days, 29 in leap years
3. March, 31 days
4. April, 30 days
5. May, 31 days
6. June, 30 days
7. July, 31 days
8. August, 31 days
9. September, 30 days
10. October, 31 days
11. November, 30 days
12. December, 31 days

The average month in the Gregorian calendar has a length of 30.4167 days or 4.345 weeks in a non-leap year and 30.5 days or 4.357 weeks in a leap year, or 30.436875 days in a mean Gregorian month overall (365.2425 ÷ 12).

SOURCE:

Calendars Through the Ages http:www.webexhibits.org/calendars

Gregorian Calendar http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gregorian_calendar

Climate Armageddon?

land hurricane or derecho?

you decide.

Satellite image from Weather Channel April 2006

Windstorms may last for just a few minutes when caused by downbursts from thunderstorms, or they may last for hours (and even several days) when they result from large-scale weather systems. A windstorm that travels in a straight line and is caused by the gust front (the boundary between descending cold air and warm air at the surface) of an approaching thunderstorm is called a derecho. Gustavus Hinrichs, a physics professor from the University of Iowa and the founder of the Iowa Weather Service, applied the term derecho—a Spanish word that means “straight” or “right”—to straight-line winds in 1888. Derechos are capable of causing widespread damage and landscape devastation. For example, the winds of a derecho occurring in northern Minnesota, U.S., on July 4, 1999, peaked at or near 160 km (100 miles) per hour and blew down tens of millions of trees.

Longer-period windstorms have two main causes: (1) large differences in atmospheric pressure across a region and (2) strong jet streams and winds overhead. Horizontal pressure differences may accelerate the surface winds substantially as air travels from a region of higher atmospheric pressure to one of lower. In addition, the vertical turbulent mixing of stronger jet-stream winds aloft can produce strong gusty winds at ground level.

Science Video

The Climatology of Derechos

SOURCES:

britannica online

www.spc.noaa.gov/misc/AbtDerechos/derechofacts.htm

Coniglio, M. C., and D. J. Stensrud, 2004: Interpreting the climatology of derechos. Wea. Forecasting, 19, 595-605.

sciencedaily.com

Role of the School Library Media Specialist

School librarians must be leaders in teaching information literacy to students, teachers and the entire school community. They must be collaborators when planning and teaching information literacy skills in conjunction with content standards. This means that school librarians must help teachers develop instructional activities, as well as provide expertise in the selection, evaluation, and use of information. School Librarians must translate curriculum needs into the school library media program goals and objectives. They must work diligently to advocate for the library program so that it is supported with the understanding that it is the heart of a school community.

Information Literacy

Information literate students are competent, independent and socially responsible life long learners. They know their information needs and actively engage in the world of ideas. They display confidence in their abilities to solve problems and know how to locate relevant and accurate information. Information literate students can manage technology tools to access information and to communicate. They operate comfortably in situations where there are multiple answers, are flexible and can adapt to change, and are capable of functioning independently and in groups.

source:
Riedling, A. M. (2004). Information literacy: What does it look like in the school library media center? Westport, Connecticut: Libraries Unlimited.

Tradition

How did Mother's Day begin?

Many countries have special days to remember mothers. In America, the second Sunday in May is set aside to honor mothers. On Mother's Day, children of all ages show their love for their mothers. Many people also remember their grandmothers, stepmothers, aunts, or other women who have been like mothers to them.

History Of The Holiday
Mother's Day may have come from a custom in England called Mothering Sunday. This was a day in the spring when servants went back to their homes for a visit. Many of these servants were young, so they were glad for a chance to see their families. Some might pick flowers or bring a small treat for their mothers if they could. Because it was Sunday, they also would attend their home church, or "mother church," as it was called. That was how Mothering Sunday got its name. Other people do not think this holiday was the start of Mother's Day, even though it is similar in some ways.

The idea for Mother's Day came from Anna Jarvis. After Jarvis's mother died, Jarvis wanted to have a special day to remember mothers. Jarvis then came up with the idea for Mother's Day. Jarvis's church in Grafton, West Virginia, held the first Mother's Day services on May 10, 1908. Soon other states began to celebrate the day. By 1912 all 48 states were celebrating Mother's Day. President Woodrow Wilson made Mother's Day a national holiday in 1914.

Celebrating Mother's Day
Mother's Day is a time to let mothers know how much they are appreciated. Most people give their mothers cards or gifts. Flowers and candy are popular gifts. More flowers are sold for Mother's Day than for any other day of the year. Some children serve their mother breakfast in bed. They might also take her out for a meal at a restaurant. Children who live far away usually visit or call their mothers on this special day.

Children also can honor other women besides their mother on this day. They can give gifts or cards to the women in their lives who love and care for them. These women may be relatives, stepmothers, neighbors, or anyone else who is important to them.

To remember a mother who has died, Jarvis suggested wearing a white carnation. Carnations were her mother's favorite flower. Wearing a pink carnation shows that a person's mother is still living.

Source Citation:
"Mother's Day." Kids InfoBits Presents: Holidays of the World. Thomson Gale, 2007. Reproduced in Kids InfoBits. Detroit: Gale, 2009.
http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/KidsInfoBitsDocument Number: BX3201341075

Reflecting on Resources

Howard Gardener and Thomas Armstrong are both resources I will use in the future to reference multiple intelligences and further develop strategies to address these in the library.

Slideboom is a tool I will use with my students to upload presentations and for ease of sharing.

Using a blog to demonstrate learning will be a great way to communicate for all learning styles.

I would not use the Knol as a tool with students because I found it difficult to work with if you want to be creative.