March 16, 2010
The first day of spring and the vernal equinox is this week. The equinox will occur on Saturday, March 20th. The vernal equinox marks the start of spring, an autumnal equinox marks the start of fall. During the spring and fall equinox, the sun is directly over the Earth’s equator and day and night lengths are equal for most of the planet – 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness.
The earth rotates around the sun on a tilted axis, which doesn’t change. When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun, it experiences warmer, longer days. When the Northern Hemisphere tilts toward the sun, the Southern Hemisphere is tilted away, experiencing colder and shorter days.
As the earth continues on its path around the sun, there are two points at which the sun hits the Earth perpendicular to the axis. When the earth is in this position, the sun is directly over the equator and there is an equinox. The earth then continues to tilt the opposite side of the sun and the seasons change to winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in the Southern Hemisphere.
Where we live
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September 24, 2008

We are honored to periodically host the Carnival of Education. Hats off to our good friend Jane Goodwin for all of her work on the latest Carnival. – editor
It’s time to put on our thinking caps and experience the 190th Carnival of Education, right here at Steve Spangler’s blog!
All learning is scientific, you know. The world is a giant laboratory, and every day, we are all, regardless of our ages, making discoveries never before known to mankind.
Perhaps some of you will make some discoveries right here at the Carnival of Education!
Remember now, we don’t all necessarily have to agree on everything to appreciate it, or realize that it has a value.
Let’s begin with some Games for the Brain. That will make us alert and ready for some educational action.
Over at Three Standard Deviations to the Left, there is some discussion about low expectations. Mr. IB lets us know, in no uncertain terms, that HIS expectations are high.
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