09
Jun

Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five…

Filed in That's Life Wednesdays

I’m going into space today.  spaceclipart

Okay, maybe not truly, but kinda. Sorta.

My fifth grader is going to a space mission simulator with some of her classmates and I volunteered to go along (really, who can resist a chance to pretend something so cool as space travel?!?!?). If I understand correctly, the kids will get to see what a mission into space truly entails. While there, they’ll perform the tasks that a real team must perform every single time we go into space. There will be kids who get to be the astronauts, kids who get to be the communication officers, kids who get to work with the gear, etc.  You know, a real hands-on learning experience that will make them see space exploration in a whole new way.

Now, I realize I’m only there as an extra set of eyes for the teacher, but I have to tell you…I’m more than a little excited. I mean, really, how many times in life (as an adult) do you get to experience something so cool through the eyes of kids (one of which is your own)?

So, since I’ll be learning space jargon and all the buttons you’re not supposed to push, I leave you all to carry on a conversation together. As for a topic? How about the coolest field trip you’ve ever been on (as a student or a chaperone) and what made it so cool…

~Elizabeth

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14 Responses to “Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five…”

  1. Shel
    June 9th, 2010 at 1:31 am

    A regular thing for the junior high students at my school was a trip to the Discovery Center in Amarillo, Texas. It’s a planetarium type museum, and they have a really cool auditorium set up where they show a simulation of the night sky with constellations. I liked it so much as a kid, that I took my own kids back when they got old enough.

  2. Lynn
    June 9th, 2010 at 6:38 am

    When my son was in first grade, we went to the zoo. The best part of the trip was watching this other six year old follow him around with big doe eyes. I even have a pic of him eating lunch and her looking star struck in the background. We still talk about Kendra and her plans to marry Alex some day…

    Funny how early romance seeps into our lives.

  3. Lynn
    June 9th, 2010 at 8:39 am

    Hey Shel,
    The panetarium sounds like something I would LOVE. My hubby and I have been trying to make field trips around here since we aren’t from Illinois. Last summer we went to the Lincoln Muesum which was amazing.

  4. Dru
    June 9th, 2010 at 8:48 am

    I always love my trips to the Statue of Liberty and the American Museum of Natural History. Where else can you see far and down below and where else can you walk through the door and had the biggest elephant greet you or walk down the hall and find a whale floating over your head. The final stop is the planetarium where the stars and moon rise above you. To sit there and dream..what fun.

  5. Joe
    June 9th, 2010 at 8:50 am

    Shel,

    If you have a long weekend, make the trek to Adler Planetarium in Chicago. I was there about 20 years ago, and I still remember it. Awesome place. But honestly, you can’t beat a dark sky and a full moon, some snacks, a cheap telescope, and some Deep Woods OFF. Great way to spend an evening.

  6. Joe
    June 9th, 2010 at 8:58 am

    Elizabeth,

    Did you visit a Challenger Center for Space Science Education? Kevin J. Anderson and his wife Rebecca are writing a series of young reader books for the Challenger Centers, with the intent of interesting kids in science. My son visited the center in St. Louis. Had a really good time there.

  7. Joe
    June 9th, 2010 at 10:20 am

    Dru,

    I’ve always wanted to see New York–especially the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building.

  8. Lynn
    June 9th, 2010 at 10:45 am

    Joe/Dru – I went to NYC as a teenager. I loved the Empire State building but didn’t get to go to the top. The statue of liberty I still remember looking throught the little windows in her crown. Way cool!

    One day I want to go back to DC and spend a week at the Simsonian.

  9. Lynn
    June 9th, 2010 at 10:47 am

    I guess I can’t spell Smithsonian today…..

  10. Nikki
    June 9th, 2010 at 11:55 am

    In high school (NJ) we took a trip to Six Flags Great Adventure with my PHYSICS class. We had packets with assignments and had to go to various rides and figure out things like the velocity of the roller coaster, the centripetal and centrifugal force of the thing that pins you to the wall when the floor drops out :-D

  11. Joe
    June 9th, 2010 at 12:24 pm

    Nikki,

    Awesome field trip! Now that’s my kinda science.

  12. Joe
    June 9th, 2010 at 12:32 pm

    My son and I have an ongoing debate about who had the best field trip ever.

    You decide.

    My field trip: We spent the morning touring a Hostess bakery, and at the conclusion of the tour, we were served FREE Hostess cakes. Student’s choice! Annnd we were back in time for lunch.

    My son’s field trip: Last year, he was selected to represent his elementary school as one of two student ambassadors in the NASA LEGO Robotics science program. As such, he got an all-expense paid trip to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. He conducted experiments, did a presentation, spoke with NASA personnel, toured the facilities, and generally came home fired up about science and the space program.

    However, during the three days he was gone, no Hostess cakes were served.

    Now I ask you, who had the better trip–NASA boy, or his father, diner of fine golden cakes baked to perfection?

  13. Nikki
    June 9th, 2010 at 4:04 pm

    Sorry Joe–I’ve got to go with the boy this time :)

  14. elizabeth
    June 9th, 2010 at 4:22 pm

    I’m baaacccckkk. Yes, Joe, it was one of the Challenger Centers here in New York. It was very cool!!!! My daughter was the “data officer.” Every kid had a job and had to perform it. Very neat!

    And as much as I love those Hostess cupcakes with the white swiggle across the top, I have to go with your son’s trip, too!

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