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Toolik, Daylight and DarknessToolik, Daylight and Darkness

Details

  • An interactive exercise that actively engages learners. Activities may include educational games, experiments, demonstrations, and arts and crafts.
  • This resource relates to the research, science, people, or expeditions in the Arctic region.
  • This resource is intended for middle school students, but may be user or modified for an older audience.
Completion Time: About 1 period
Permission: Download, Share, and Remix

Materials

  • Computers
  • Internet access
  • Document (attached)

Download Files

Overview

Students will review charts of day length to determine when the sun will set at Toolik Lake.

Objective

Students will learn the following:

  • The sun is the major source of energy for phenomena on the earth's surface, such as growth of plants, winds, ocean currents, and the water cycle.
  • Seasons result from variations in the amount of the sun's energy hitting the surface, due to the tilt of the earth's rotation on its axis and the length of the day.

Preparation

Make copies of the attached document. Students/teachers need computer(s) with Internet access.

Description

Hand out document to students. Introduce concept of looking at pattern of daylight and darkness to predict when the sun will set for the first time after months of constant daylight at Toolik Lake, Alaska. After students predict, visit the website http://www.gaisma.com to find local charts. Teachers can use the website for students to compare the latitude and length of daylight/darkness at various locations.

Resources

www.Gaisma.com

Credits

Submitted by Cathy Campbell, a2sciteach [at] aol [dot] com
Permission received from website publisher, in addition fair usage is allowed under disclaimer section of website.