ASTRO-Tucson Teacher's Corner
Two April events a success!
Sierra Middle School, Tucson, AZ
by Chris Taylor
On April 8, 2005 Sierra held a Star Party with the theme “Exploring the Future.” In order to build up excitement I hid two postcards a day for a week in advance of the Star Party. The student who located the postcard was entered into a drawing. On Friday before the Star Party I went on our in house Ram Vision television program and drew out the winning post card. The winner received a Star Theater Projector from National Geographic.
We sent home a flyer with each student of the students at our school. The night of the Star Party we were honored to have five astronomers from the TAA including Nick DeMesa one of my Project ASTRO partners. During the evening the students built functioning mechanical hands in the Learning Resource Center, were there was standing room only for two hours. The students completed a paper airplane design contest following specifications in the Gym where they were able to test their designs. They explored the phases of the moon and the lunar cycle in the foyer using “Predicting Phases and Features.” We had constant long lines at the telescopes where the students were experiencing a fantastic viewing experience. After the Star Party I was thanking Andy Cooper and he said that he believes he had 400 - 500 students come through the telescopes. He had a never ending line for over two hours. We had students overflowing from all the activities the entire night. We had so many students with over twenty adult volunteers it made for an awesome night.
Over 70 students in class that week were able to view the Partial Solar Eclipse through Mr. DeMesa’s telescope. Others were able to participate in the model of the universe using play doh and the gravity of the planets using the bottles. We have been able to explore numerous Project ASTRO Activities this year.
Safford Elementary School
by Cecilia Chavarin
April 15 is a night that Safford Elementary and its community will not forget. It started with two teachers getting the Project Astro and the Family Astro training through NOAO. As the months passed and lessons were taught (many with our Astronomer-Partner, Richard) interest in Astronomy began to manifest itself. For example, there were no books on the solar system left in our library. Students were asking to see movies about Space. Newspaper articles about space were being brought in or singled out in the newspaper. Many newsletters and ads were sent home about the Star Gazing Evening. We received responses from (almost) 90% of the student population (an otter pop was the “pay” for bringing the form back), and we proceeded to get ready for the evening. Hot dogs, chips, cookies, and a drink were offered to all attendees. A program was handed out with times for the Planetarium show as well as a menu of the 10 activities we prepared, all teacher-assisted. Richard brought three telescopes and two of his astronomer buddies. The portable planetarium was here (albeit a little late…).
Our families began to arrive 30 minutes EARLY! We had said 6:30 pm. In any case, as people arrived and started to have dinner, it was evident the evening was going to be a huge success (and we hadn’t even gotten “started”). Our principal, Terri Ross, and one of our Assistant Principals were in attendance. They kept getting more and more excited as the evening progresses. Mrs. Ross was behaving like a student (in the BEST sense). She was giddy with excitement at having seen a young star, a nebula, a dying star, and JUPITER!!!!! Some of our activities were: the playdough planet sizes (thank you for letting us use your playdough), the “filter” glasses coloring activity, make a flag for a planet, make your own constellation, the lunar phases, Orion storytime, your weight in different planets, toilet paper planet distance, the planetarium, and of course, the telescopes. Our attendees had many activities to choose from and everyone partook of many of the activities. Some of us had done some of these activities in our rooms, so we could have samples to show and that worked out very well.
Our best estimate is that 200 people were here. One of my helpers passed out 78 programs (one per family). We were ready for 250 (food-wise) and we had some food left over, although not everybody ate dinner (like some late-comers).
The evaluations were excellent, all praising the “learning” aspect of the evening. The telescopes, of course, were the big hit. It was a fabulous night for viewing. Richard and his buddies were so patient and generous with our students and families. Our students showed exemplary behavior, even while waiting in lines. Afterwards, the astronomers stayed so we, the teachers, could see the magnificence of our solar system. I, for one, never thought that I would EVER see JUPITER (my favorite planet) with my own two eyes. It was awesome.
We are already getting ready for next year. We will do a winter evening. All the teachers were so excited and I treated everybody to lunch (those who volunteered to help, giving up their Friday evening). I heard parents comments as I walked around that it was one of the most fun they had ever had with their kids. All in all, a wonderful night for everyone.
