Finding The North Star

If you can find the Big Dipper in the sky, you have a skymark to orient yourself both on the Earth and in the Heavens. The two stars that form the pouring side of the bowl point to Polaris, the north star. Polaris is a rather faint star about five times farther away than the distance between the pointers themselves, and marks the tip of the handle of the Little Dipper. The Big and Little Dippers pour into each other, just as the Big Bear and the Little Bear ceaselessly turn around and around the northern sky.

Where The Red Fern Grows

Here is a great Where The Red Fern Grows website. Click on the link for vocabulary and quizzes.

Wrestling Squirrels

I think these two squirrels need a lesson on Lack Lion rules! My trail camera caught these two naughty squirrels in a sumo wrestling position!

Elevation & Temperature

Here is a very cool graphic which shows how temperature drops about 3 degrees Fahrenheit/1,000' of elevation gain.

Nick's Refrigerator Art

Nicholas became famous Thursday night when his picture made the ABC27 evening news. Meteorologist Rob Dixon Showed his picture after the evening weather during the "Refrigerator Art" segment. Mr. Dixon, who was at Lack-Tuscarora in November, thought the picture reminded him of spring days ahead. Great job Nicholas! I hope your hand is not too tired from signing too many autographs! 

Annual Average Temperature

Here is the average annual temperature of the world in degrees Fahrenheit. It is easy to see the gradual temperature change as you move from the equator to the poles. You can also see that Antarctica is the coldest place on Earth. Pennsylvania's average yearly temperature is about 55 degrees F. 

Get Smart: Exercise and Get Off The Computer

People playing computer games to train their brains might as well be playing Super Mario, new research suggests.
In a six-week study, experts found people who played online games designed to improve their cognitive skills didn't get any smarter.
More than 8,600 people aged 18 to 60 were asked to play online brain games designed by the researchers to improve their memory, reasoning and other skills for at least 10 minutes a day, three times a week.
Researchers said the people who did the brain training didn't do any better on the test after six weeks than people who had simply been on the Internet. On some sections of the test, the people who surfed the Net scored higher than those playing the games.

Article courtesy of Tween Tribune 

Rare Winter Solstice Lunar Eclipse

On Dec. 21st, the first day of northern winter, when the full Moon passes almost dead-center through Earth's shadow. For 72 minutes of eerie totality, an amber light will play across the snows of North America, throwing landscapes into an unusual state of ruddy shadow.
The eclipse begins on Tuesday morning, Dec. 21st, at 1:33 am EST. At that time, Earth's shadow will appear as a dark-red bite at the edge of the lunar disk. It takes about an hour for the "bite" to expand and swallow the entire Moon. Totality commences at 02:41 am EST and lasts for 72 minutes.
If you're planning to dash out for only one quick look -­ it is December, after all -­ choose this moment: 03:17 am EST. That's when the Moon will be in deepest shadow, displaying the most fantastic shades of coppery red.

Hopefully I'll have a neat picture to post...

Holiday Fun

Charlie Brown tree, concert, and Santa...What could possibly spread more Christmas cheer??

Beaver Moon

Here is a picture of the Waning Gibbous 98% of Full "Beaver" Moon. This month's full moon was the culprit for blocking out a lot of the Leonid meteors. I can't be too upset, it sure is a neat sight in the night sky. The picture is a little hazy as there is a thin layer of clouds making for an eerie moonrise!

The Bear Named "Kitty"

This bear's name is "Kitty." Lacie and I wouldn't have believed it either, until it came into Lacie while she was calling, "Here Kitty...Kitty....Kitty." I opened the bedroom curtain and there it stood 3 feet from me on our front porch, just 30 seconds after Lacie came inside. The real tragedy here is that this bear believes it truly is a cat. I don't think Lacie will be calling for "Kitty" anymore, also known as Scruffy.

ABC27 StormTracker & Rob Dixon

Rob Dixon from the ABC27 weather team came to visit Lack Tuscarora and Mountain View. Rob talked about his career, the unpredictability of weather, and did some cool experiments. Our students were featured on the ABC27 evening news by meteorologist Eric Finkenbinder.

Halloween & "The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" Play

Congratulations to all my 3rd graders for putting on an excellent play! I'm very proud of all the cast members who gave it their best! 

The World War I flying ace on his imaginary mission

Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown

3rd grade will perform "The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" on Friday, October 29th. Come out and see if Linus will finally meet The Great Pumpkin, or if he is just a myth. Happy Halloween!!

Blue Moon On New Year's Eve

Tonight's full Moon is a "Blue Moon." It's the second full Moon this month and the first Blue Moon to fall on New Year's Eve in nearly 20 years. Blue Moons are rare (once every 2.5 years). Blue Moons on New Year's Eve are rarer still (once every 19 years).

Thanksgiving: From A Turkey's Point of View

Thanksgiving: From A Turkey's Point of View

by: Julia Rice

Hi, my name is Bob. I'm a turkey, and here's my point of view for Thanksgiving. Now don't get my wrong, I love Thanksgiving! Oh, except for the part where I become the meal. Now for the main course of the meal I would choose corn, fresh off the cob. I would sprinkle filling around the corn for a snazzy look. For Thanksgiving you have to have cooked pumpkin seeds too! For the second course, use fresh pumpkin for some pumpkin pie. Now I know this sounds weird, but I like whip cream on apple sauce! Oh, and on pumpkin pie also.
When you have it all ready, invite your family over. Before you eat, welcome everybody when they come in the door. Tell them to sit down politely and say a speech. Say a prayer and tell them to enjoy! When you are finished with the meal, play games like pin the gobble on the turkey, musical feathers, and put on a play. Once your all finished and everyone is home, start to clean up!

Icebergs

7/8th of an iceberg is underwater

Fall Foliage