Friday, June 21, 2013

Sizzling Summer Solstice, 2013

This year in the Northern Hemisphere, summer begins on June 21, 2013.


This first day of summer is called Summer Solstice.

Sol + stice comes from a combination of Latin words meaning "sun" + "to stand still." As the days lengthen, the sun rises higher and higher until it seems to stand still in the sky.

As a major celestial event, the Summer Solstice results in 
the longest day and the shortest night of the year. The Northern Hemisphere celebrates in June, but the people on the Southern half of the earth have their 
longest summer day in December!



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What are your favorite activities during summer?

Do you have any special summer plans?

Leave a comment, and let's stay in touch!

3 comments:

  1. Dear Mrs. Ranney and class,

    Australia is one of the few countries not to use solstices and equinoxes to mark the beginning of seasons although I prefer the real season starters. Here, most people accept the first pf the month as the start of the season.

    Two days before the solstice, I was skying with Mrs. Watson's class. We compared the weather. Summer was about to begin for them and winter here yet the maximum temperature that day was the same. Temperatures here can be very different to Canada. We have days over 40C in summer and many in the 30s.

    I hope you all have a wonderful vacation and return in the new school year ready for new learning adventures.

    Ross Mannell
    Teacher (retired), N.S.W., Australia

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dear Mrs. Ranney,

    This summer I am in Zabljak, Montenegro and I will also go to Ohrid, Macedonia soon. Here in Montenegro, it does not feel like summer. There is storms with heavy rain, bright lightning, and really loud thunder. We usually have to stay inside, but when the sun is shining, we enjoy the outdoors.

    There is a lake close to us and we can easily just walk to it. The name of the lake is Blake Lake, and because it has been bucketing rain lately, the lake has been flowing into a huge river. It also has many fish and tadpoles.

    Can anyone find Montenegro on the map?
    (Hint: It is located in Europe.)

    Have a great summer!

    Cheers,
    Alexandra

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dear Mrs. Ranney,

    My favorite thing to do over the summer is go to sleep away camp. First, it's a sports camp. I love sports! Second, Most people are very nice! I made 3 pretty good friends. Finally, it's just fun to be away from my parents for a little while.

    Sincerely,
    Jaden (Lexi's brother)

    ReplyDelete

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