As northern climate residents, we must be prepared to experience long winters. The latest I personally recall seeing snow in the Twin Cities is May 18. However, the heavy snowfall last weekend was unusual. According to the National Weather Service, it was the first time since 1983 that both Hennepin and Ramsey counties were under a blizzard warning. While shoveling upwards of a foot of snow, I wondered what ancient peoples would think of such a late, severe snowstorm. I also thought of Will Steger’s current expedition - a solo trek into Canada’s Barren Lands, a place known for high winds and harsh landscapes.
Options:
- Research an ancient culture’s ideas about winter. You could look into the Norse myths about Jotuns and Ullr, the Greek myths about Demeter and Persephone, the story of Jack Frost, how Coyote stole summer, or the Anishinabe story of Biboon, the spirit of the North Wind. Summarize the myth and how it explains winter, then write how you think that culture would explain our current long and snowy winter.
Helpful links:
North American Native Peoples’ Winter stories:
History of Jack Frost:
- Research a bit about Will Steger’s current expedition. Map his intended route, summarize what his goals and challenges are for this trip, and provide a bit of information about his big trips in the past and his current work for climate education.
Helpful links:
Steger Climate Change Education Center:
Star Tribune article about Steger’s current trip:
Expectations:
Edit your work for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and organization. An adult or older student may help you with this. Use topic sentences for each paragraph. Your work should be neat and legible. Fourth graders should write at least two paragraphs, fifth graders should write at least three, and sixth graders should write at least four. Cite your sources!
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