LM_NET: Library Media Networking
>It was such fun to come in this morning and find messages from all over the
>country. I have combined them in one letter for all who are interested. If
>anyone wants to add more , I know our teachers will get a kick out of it.
At the end there is a wonderful report on Groundhogs!
>We are Mrs. Anderson's fourth grade class at Garlough Elementary
>School in West St. Paul, Minnesota. We are going to try to predict
>the arrival of spring by tracking groundhog sightings throughout
>North America.
>>
>YES
>Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, England
>
>
>
>-- Dear Laurie and Friends,
>
> We live in Centralia, Missouri --- in the middle of the state,
>Northeast of Columbia.
>
>Mr. Groundhog will see his shadow today.
>
>
>
>
>No, the groundhog would not see his shadow in Bolivar, Ohio.
>--
>
>No. Circleville, Ohio
>
>
>Greetings!
>I am writing from Massapequa Park, NY on the south shore of Long Island. It's
>very sunny here, so if there is a groundhog in the vicinity, he or it would
>definitely see its shadow. However, the groundhog at the Staten Island Zoo,
>which is about 15 miles from here, did not see his shadow. Have fun collecting
>data. It would be fun if you posted a hit telling the places you heard from.
>Ruth Lessinger k12malsr@vaxc.hofstra.edu
>
>
>
>yes, Flint, Michigan
>
>
>Hello Laurie Carter,
>
>Phil - the famous groundhog - did not see his shadow this
>morning - early spring predicted.
>
>Phil lives in a cage about one and half to two hours from
>here. He normally resides in a special home in the public
>library until this important date, and other special days.
>He visits the local schools quite frequently, and shows up
>in a few parades.
>
>Temperature in Clarion, PA at 8:00 AM was 24 degrees and there
>was a light covering of snow on the ground!
>
>
>
>
>I am from Clarion, PA, and as a native of this area I
>take great stock in Punxsutawney Phil's predictions. I
>have never gone to Gobbler's Knob on Feb. 2 but, instead
>watch it on TV. The estimated crowd this year was 8,000.
>
>If you have not already heard, Phil did not see his shadow,
>predicting an early spring. It is more complicated than
>simply seeing his shadow and if you are really interested
>I can send you material. Also, if you were to write to the
>Punxsutawney Chamber of Commerce they would send you a list
>of items that can be purchased at reasonable prices. The
>videotape made a couple of years ago is worth purchasing.
>
>There may not be anything scientific about it, but it is a
>lot of fun and gives us something to look forward to after
>some of our harsh winters.
>
>Elaine Moore
>Clarion University of PA
>Clarion, PA 16214
>moore@vaxa.clarion.edu
>
>
>
>YES! Looks like 6 more weeks of winter for Cairo, Georgia.
>
>Ann Wooten
>Cairo High School "Home of the Syrupmakers"
>Cairo, Georgia
>
>
>No
>Waterloo, IA
>
>
>Good morning! The groundhog did NOT see his shadow today in Waverly, Iowa.
>It is cloudy today, and in the low 30's.
>
>
>
>yes, clear and sunny
>Arlington, Tx (between Dallas and Fort Worth)
>Jan Moore
>Foster Elementary
>
>
>
>HH HH EEEEEE LL LL OOOOOO
>HH HH EEEEEE LL LL OOOOOO
>HH HH EE LL LL OO OO
>HH HH EE LL LL OO OO
>HHHHHH EEEEEE LL LL OO OO
>HHHHHH EEEEEE LL LL OO OO
>HH HH EE LL LL OO OO
>HH HH EE LL LL OO OO
>HH HH EEEEEE LLLLLL LLLLLL OOOOOO
>HH HH EEEEEE LLLLLL LLLLLL OOOOOO from the North Star State!!!
>
>The groundhog *did* see his shadow here.
>
>
>
>
>The sun is shining in Cumberland Maine so I guess the groundhog saw his
>shadow. How sad. We are located 10 miles north of Portland. Our winter
>has been very mild and the ski industry is suffering. So if we have 6
>more weeks of winter, I guess they'll be happy.
>Judy Gray
>
>
>
> Subject: Yes, Warsaw, Missouri
>
>
>Yes, the groundhog saw his shadow at Clarksburg, MO (30 mi. W. of our state
>capital, Jefferson City, MO.
>
>
>
>Laurie,
>
>No, our Indiana hedgehog did not see his shadow.
>
>Plainfield, Indiana (7 miles southwest of Indianapolis)
>
>
>
>Yes, the groundhog saw his shadow today.
>Fort Worth, Texas
>
>
>
>
>NE Nebraska
>
>Foggy, 1/8th mile visibility *no shadow*
>
>
>
> The weather outside is cold . It's about 28 degrees faranheight. It is
>overcast in Lansing,Michigan . Today the groundhog didn't see his shadow due to
>the overcast.
>
>
>
>NO! Lowell,Arkansas (NW Arkansas)
>
>
>
>It is Thursday,February 2,1995.Today is Groundhog's Day and the weather is
>cloudy and overcast.The Groundhog did'nt see it's shadow so that means spring
>is just around the corner.
>
>
>ajaina keshick
>pattengill middle school
>lansing ,mi
>
>
>
>The ground hog did not see his shadow where I live (Champaign, IL) and it
>did not see it where I work (Rantoul, Il)--however it is supposed to snow
>tonight, tomorrow and probably Sat!
>Go figure.
>
>
>
> The groundhog at sunrise this morning could not have seen his shadow
>in Baltimore. It is now almost 10am and he would be able to see his shadow.
>We haven't really had any snow yet this winter- so his prediction could
>be either way. We are expecting snow this weekend.
>
>
>
>
>
>It is February 2 in Walla Walla, WA - no sun, no shadow!
>Jackie George
>Sharpstein Elementary
>Walla Walla, WA
>
>
>
>Hi! Goodlettsville, TN - *no*
>---
>
>
>Yes,the sun is shining brightly in Baldwin City, Kansas.
>
>
>No
>Omaha,NE
>
>
>
>Yes at 7:30 am MST; no at 9am MST (Helena is east of the divide)
>
>Cheri Bergeron
>Office of Public Instruction
>Helena, Montana
>mtopi@class.org
>
>
>
>
>The groundhog would see his shadow around here. It is sunny and 80
>degrees. I am Poteet TX (25 miles south of San Antonio. If the students
>would like to look it up it is at L 2902 25 N 98 34 04W.
>
>We divided up our class into five and we wrote the following report
>about groundhogs for you.
>
>Groundhog Day is a special day for many people in different areas.
>As far back as the middle ages, farmers used animals as weather
>predictors. When settlers moved from Germany to Pennsylvania,
>they brought this belief with them. In Germany, however, they
>depended on the badger to predict coming weather. Since badgers
>weren't common where they settled in Pennsylvania, the groundhog
>became the substitute. It is said that on February 2 a groundhog is
>supposed to come out of his den. If he sees his shadow, he will get
>frightened and go back into his hole for six more weeks. If it is a
>cloudy day and he does not see his shadow, he will comeout and it
>means spring will come soon.
>
>The ground hog has a very unique description. This woodchuck is
>related to the squirrel. The adult is about two feet long and weighs ten
>pounds. It has a broad flat head. This animal is gray on its upper parts
>and yellowish orange on its under part. Their legs and tails are dark
>brown and black. This warm-blooded animal has short legs and ears.
>This mammal has a heavy body. The ground hog has five toes and also
>twenty-two teeth. The hearing and sight of the ground hog is keen.
>The discription of the ground hog is impressive.
>
>The groundhog's habitat is very unique. This mammal's burrow
>cntains several chambers. There are three exits front, back and the
>drophole. The hole opens into a straight shaft that goes down two
>or more feet. They live in Canada and Eastern and Midwest United
>States. They dig their burrows with the sharp claws of their front
>feet. They scrape the dirt out of the hole with their hind feet. The
>colony may have a territory of two to three acres. Some tunnels
>may be over 30 feet long. They live in fields, open woodlands,
>rocky places and slopes of mountains. Their entrances are well
>hidden. Groundhogs line their home with grasses and leaves.
>The dens are snug and warm during the winter.
>
>The goundhog eats a variety of food. These creatures eat tender
>green plants, alfalfa, clover, roots bublbs, tubers, and seeds. This
>untamed animal doesn't store food in the winter because it hibernates.
>The woodchucks feed in groups while one stays on guard. This
>mammal digs dens near food and water. They eat large amounts of
>food in the fall.
>
>The woodchuck's young are fascinating. The female gives birth to
>four, five, or six cubs in the late spring. The cubs are born naked
>and blind. For one month the cubs will drink their mother's nourishing
>and rich milk. When they can start to see, they will eat tender grasses
>and explore the outside. By July, they leave their family and travel two
>to three miles and start their own family.
>
>The goundhog's hibernation is so cool it's hard to believe. They
>will eat a variety of foods before hibernation. The fat will keep them
>alive while in its burrow. While it's sleeping, it breathes every six
>minutes. The body of the groundhog will decrease in temperature from
>100 degrees to 38 degrees F. The heart and other organs will shut down.
>They will curl up in a tight ball and sleep.
>
>P.S. If you DON'T have groundhogs where you are, or if they don't
>hibernate where you live, be sure respond to this study!
>
>Special thanks to Heidi Hammond
>Garlough Elementary
>0197gel@informs.k12.mn.us
>
>
Laurie Carter- Library Media Teacher
Woodside Elementary School
3195 Woodside Rd.
Woodside, CA 94062
lcarter@woodside.K12.ca.us
"Minds are like parachutes. They only function when open."
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