Here's an activity to use in science, math, language, and social studies classes. Have your students design a personal thermometer and answer the question, "How cold is cold?" or "How hot is hot?" My class has been writing to a meteorologist in Florida and my students keep telling him it is cold. To which he keeps asking, "What does that really mean?" Cold in Florida, may mean "No outside swimming, today." In Wisconsin, it may mean "Don't touch a wet finger to a metal pole outside or it might stick." To design a personal thermometer-- List location. List season (Summer or winter) Develop a scale of temperatures (Metric or Fahrenheit or both) Consider present weather to be basis for information-- For example, 30 degrees Fahrenheit--Leave scarf at home. 10 degrees Fahrenheit--Find other glove in a hurry. 0 degrees Fahrenheit--My teeth are shattering so much, I think they will break. Well, you get the idea. Activities--Post "thermometers" on a map given latitude/longitude Ask questions if details are lacking and answers aren't specific. Contact your e-mail friends around the world and see if they will design "thermometers" as well. Maybe responses will--warm up us winter folks and "cool" off our summertime friends, as well as broaden our understanding of seasons and latitudes. I asked my class to predict how many Wisconsin days (given high temperatures) it would take to add to 100. I won't post the answer, but it didn't vary much from their prediction of how many Florida high temps would add to 100. Guess I need to work on that skill. Looking forward to your thermometers!!!!! Remember if you are not registered on KIDPROJ itself, send responses to me rather than the list or subscribe to KIDPROJ. Listserv@vm1.nodak.edu Subscribe Kidproj Your First Name Your Last Name) or send to lwinrich@quest.arc.nasa.gov Kidproj subscribers, please post to the list. Leisa Winrich lwinrich@quest.arc.nasa.gov