Passionately Curious

World Sunlight Map

I came across this incredible real-time map that uses computer illustrations to show the pattern of sunlight and darkness across the earth.  The clouds are updated every 3 hours using current satellite imagery.  From this site, you can create a gadget to add this map to your own blog, webpage or personal google page.  As I looked further, I also discovered OSXPlanet.  Gabriel Otte (a high school senior!), designed this program to use the map as a screensaver with Mac's OSX (not intel versions yet). 

Since my students keep track of the sunrise/sunset and hours of daylight, I thought it would be fun for them to watch as this map changes.   You can add cities and enable current cloud, storm, volcano and earthquake data. OSXPlanet also offers an option of viewing the moon and planets.  The maps and images are stunning!

Moon Calendar

One of the classroom jobs we have is Moon Calendar.  Two children work together each morning to record moon phase information.  First, they check the U.S. Naval Observatory website for an image of what the moon looks like today.  They compare this image to other photos of the moon to determine its current phase.  I have eight photos in all: new moon, full moon and two each of crescent, gibbous and first quarter/last quarter depending on whether the moon is waning or waxing.  These images were printed from this site, then labeled and laminated.  The children position these images (backed with Velcro) on our Moon Calendar board along with a "Waxing" or "Waning" label.

above: Moon Phase Photograph by Antonio Cidadao