December 2008 Results

Congratulations are in order for our winning team of Meheret & Natnael!










The winning Funny Photo goes to Jose and Elder. They will participate next month for free.
Here's their photo (which shows that it might be the funniest but Jose worked hard to get his friends to vote for his photo).










Here are the official results:

1) Meheret & Natnael = 675 points

2) Cameron & Joel = 451 points

3) Asha & Ariel = 372 points

4) Rose, Evelyn & Rebekah = 275 points

5) William & Christopher = 250 points

6) Jose & Elder = 249 points

7) Terel & Aaron = 175 points

8) Ti'Aira & Crystian = -74 points

Disqualified = Caron & Michael (For not starting on the correct clue)

December Results

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Winter Solstice Scavenger Hunt Answers

Clue #1 - It’s All In the Timing
Head to the A Journey to Our Future section of the Air & Space Museum and find the section related to the problem of getting to the moon. Scientists at NASA decided to use the spinning force of the Earth to help send a rocket into space but you have to time it right. You must wait for the “__ __ __ __ __ __ window.”

Since the Earth spins so fast, it’s like getting a giant push to send the rocket into space.
How fast does the Earth Spin anyway?
a) 5000 miles an hour
b) 1000 miles an hour
c) 3000 miles an hour

Go around the corner and get a photo of both of you on the moon signing your answer and pointing to Earth.







Bonus Video - To the Moon and Beyond
Stay in the same section as the “__ __ __ __ __ __ window” in Clue #1. Now you must successfully get your spaceship to the moon. Try it a few times until you know how to do it exactly.

Film one successful trip to the moon from beginning to end!


Clue # 2 - Orbital Vistas
Head to the Looking at Earth section of the Air & Space Museum and take a look at Earth from the International Space Station. These images were taken from the International Space Station which must be pretty far above the Earth to get great photos like this!

How far above the Earth is the International Space Station?
d) 1000 miles above Earth
e) 20 miles above Earth
f) 200 miles above Earth

One of NASA’s launch stations is in Houston, Texas. Use the joystick to zoom in on Houston and get a photo of one of you signing the correct answer while pointing to Houston, Texas.






Clue #3 - Kepler’s Laws
Head to the How Things Fly section of the Air & Space Museum take a look at the importance of Johannes Kepler’s work. He studied paths that planets traveled (their ORBITS that is!). He learned a lot of things using his math skills and his observation skills.
What did he learn about the orbits of the planets?
g) Orbits are circles and the closer to the sun the slower a planet moves. .
h) Orbits are ellipses (ovals) and the closer to the sun the faster a planet moves.
i) Orbits are ellipses (ovals) and the closer to the sun the slower a planet moves.

Get a photo of both of you signing the right answer in front of the picture of an orbit on Kepler’s wall.






Clue #4 - In the Land of the Ancient Times
Head to the Exploring the Planets section of the Air & Space Museum and find the section that deals with the title of this clue. Knowledge of the stars and planets goes back centuries to the Egyptians, Greeks and even civilizations before them. This knowledge also influenced the work of astronomers during the Renaissance and Scientific Revolution like Copernicus. He used the legacy of the past to make his famous “discovery” about all the planets.

What did Copernicus discover about the planets?
J) The word “planet” means ball in Greek and Copernicus said all planets orbited the Sun.
K) The word “planet” means journey in Egyptian and Copernicus said all planets orbited the Earth.
L) The word “planet” means wanderer in Greek and Copernicus said all planets orbited the Sun.

Get a photo of both of you in front of Copernicus signing the right answer.







Clue #5 - Man on the Moon
Head to the __ __ __ __ __ __ to the Moon section of the Air & Space Museum and find the large timeline close to the floor to find the year with the “First manned landing on the Moon.” This spaceship is named after the Greek Sun God.

What was the name of this Greek Sun God/spaceship and when did it land on the moon?
m) Apollo 11 and it landed on the moon in 1969
n) Mercury 7 and it landed on the moon in 1978
o) Zeus 3 and it landed on the moon in 1953 .








Clue #6 - Take a Long Walk
Head outdoors to “Walk the Solar System” in front of the Air & Space Museum. Go directly to Earth but pay attention to its position in the Solar System. Here is the first part of this challenge:
How long does it take the Earth to orbit the Sun?
p) 3652.5 days
q) 36.525 days
r) 365.25 days
Photo: Now you have to travel to take your photo. Head to the entrance of the American Indian Museum. Outside the main entrance of the museum there is a “date stamp” of the planets. This means the sun is in the center of the circle and the planets are orbiting the sun. Find the symbol for Earth and have one of you sign the answer in front of this symbol. Remember, I must see the symbol of Earth AND your answer to this clue’s question in the photo. Only one person needed in the photo.







Clue # 7 - Earth’s Orbit Explained
Head to the main entrance to the American Indian Museum. On the ground in front of the museum you will see the “date” the museum was opened. The Sun is in the center and all the planets are orbiting it. Each planet has a different symbol. Find the symbol for Earth (How far is it from the sun? for a hint see clue #6). Now follow these instructions to complete your video.
1) Read the resource handout that explains: Why do we have Seasons? and also the Seasons of the Northern Hemisphere.
2) Shoot a video of one of you doing the following things:
--You must start at Earth’s symbol and make a complete orbit around the sun.
--While you orbit, shout out where each season will begin along this orbit…look at the diagram carefully.



Clue # 8 - Tilt a Whirl
Head to the National Gallery of Art’s West Building and solve this clue (Don’t forget to use your resource sheet):

First you’ll need to find the room # on the GROUND Floor…
[2 X (the degree of the Earth’s tilt)] - (the number of seasons in 1.5 years) = _________

Once you are in the right room, use your resource page to answer this question:

Which of these statements is true?
s) December 22 or 21st is the Winter Solstice and this is when this season ends.
t) December 22 or 21st is the Winter Solstice and this is when this season starts.
u) The Winter Solstice happens when the Sun shines on the Tropic of Cancer.

Photo: Take a photo of both of you signing this answer in front of the painting that BEST connects to this question.








Clue # 9 - Planet Business
Head to the National Gallery of Art’s West Building and find the room that is shaped most like the orbit of a planet. It also only has one major piece of art in this huge and central room.

Who is the Roman God of business and travelers?
v) Neptune
w) Venus .
x) Mercury
Figure this out by finding the god in the center of the room.
Solve this clue by taking a photo of both of you signing the answer in front of this statue.







Clue #10 - Sail the 7 Seas
Head to the National Gallery of Art’s West Building and find another planetary god. This time you’ll have to go to the room on the GROUND floor that is the answer to this problem:

2 X (the number of seas) = ____________

Once you are there, find the god that is on a Sea Monster.

Who is the God of the Seas?
y) Neptune
z) Mercury
a) Jupiter

Winter Solstice Scavenger Hunt Handout

On Saturday December 13th, we headed to the Air & Space Museum and learned about the upcoming Winter Solstice and our position in the Solar System.

Here is a hard copy of the actual scavenger hunt. Students had to find the correct answer and then use the American Sign Language alphabet to show the correct answer.
Hometown Discoveries Dec 13

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