For thousands of
years, humans have been fascinated by the sky. More specifically, our race has
looked to earth's fellow planets as a way to expand. Is it possible for people
to live there? Who else shares the galaxy with us? Are we truly alone? On April
18, Wright's sixth graders joined the millions who have pondered the same
questions. Certainly the Wright Cougars didn't solve the universe's
mysteries--our kids are smart, but if Galileo couldn't do it, maybe we could at
least give them until next year--but they did have the opportunity to learn a
little something about how our world turns at the Santa Rosa Junior College
planetarium.
During the weeks leading up to their trip, the sixth grade studied the sky. No, this does not mean that one of our Cool School classes stood with their mouths gaping open, gawking at the clouds and the sun. Rather, I was proud to see our mentors engaging the kids in discussion about where each planet was situated in the solar system, why days shortened in the winter and extended in the summer, and even how stars can navigate people. When the lights darkened on the "Observing the Sky" presentation, even though I couldn't make out faces, I could tell from their oohs and awes that our kids were familiar with the material! Further, I was never so proud than when they could rattle off answers such as, "Mercury is the planet closest to the sun!" Or when they asked why the planets were named after Roman gods and not Greek gods. While I'm gushing over our students, however, I would be remiss if I didn't throw our mentors a little viral recognition. Thank you to Ms. Lindsey Tanaka and Ms. Natalie Paraiso for creating such elaborate, creative, thorough lesson plans. The experience that your sixth graders had would not have been as meaningful without your cosmic brilliance--excuse the dorky pun. All joking aside, you may have inspired a future John Glenn or Buzz Aldrin.
During the weeks leading up to their trip, the sixth grade studied the sky. No, this does not mean that one of our Cool School classes stood with their mouths gaping open, gawking at the clouds and the sun. Rather, I was proud to see our mentors engaging the kids in discussion about where each planet was situated in the solar system, why days shortened in the winter and extended in the summer, and even how stars can navigate people. When the lights darkened on the "Observing the Sky" presentation, even though I couldn't make out faces, I could tell from their oohs and awes that our kids were familiar with the material! Further, I was never so proud than when they could rattle off answers such as, "Mercury is the planet closest to the sun!" Or when they asked why the planets were named after Roman gods and not Greek gods. While I'm gushing over our students, however, I would be remiss if I didn't throw our mentors a little viral recognition. Thank you to Ms. Lindsey Tanaka and Ms. Natalie Paraiso for creating such elaborate, creative, thorough lesson plans. The experience that your sixth graders had would not have been as meaningful without your cosmic brilliance--excuse the dorky pun. All joking aside, you may have inspired a future John Glenn or Buzz Aldrin.
Lauren Loeffler
Wright Charter VIP
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