JFK students get lesson in astronomy
By Maria Prato-Gaines, Staff Writer
JAMESBURG — By the faint glow of the moonlight, one could see hands stretched out and tiny nimble fingers wiggling, hoping to be the next one called upon.
The only catch for these John F. Kennedy Elementary students was that during this question-answer session, it was the middle of the school day and they were huddled around their teachers in the gym.
And so was the scenario with each class that visited the Starlab Planetarium, catching an astronomy demonstration that no one will soon forget.
Between Feb. 5 and Tuesday, children were given an up close and personal experience with the stars, getting the ins and outs of the various components that make up their solar system, compliments of the planetarium.
”We had a brand new science curriculum, which did not include the solar system,” said third-grade teacher Karen Harris, who received specialized training to instruct the lab. “But I think students need to know why we have light and what the power of the sun is for.”
Although it’s been about five years since the planetarium last visited the school, fifth graders who may have experienced this lesson as kindergartners were given a customized lesson plan that catered to their current learning capacities.
”It helps them get a sense of where they are in space,” said fellow instructor and fifth-grade JFK teacher Lisa D’Andrea. “It helps them see how it’s all connected.”
After a short solar system briefing, students made a low crawl through the lab’s entrance, sitting cross-legged in a circle, their eyes heaven-bound, antsy for what was to come next.
Hovering above them was a dark canopy scattered with both bright and dull lights, reminiscent of a clear night’s starry sky.
The children sat like sponges, soaking up this unexplored information, which ranged from star fields, to the progression of the moon, to Greek Mythology.
”It looks like the Big Dipper,” Ms. Harris said as she pointed the constellation out to the children. “Here’s the part that’s the spoon and here’s the handle. A long time ago, people looked up at the sky and imagined the different pictures they saw.”
To see the constellations, the children didn’t have to use their imagination, as the lab connected the dots for them, producing full images of Orion’s belt, the dragon, Drago, or any number of star-lit drawings.
From outside the inflated silver dome, all anyone could hear was the occasional, “ooh” and “ahh,” or the random, “Look, a bunny.”
Although many of the students went with little knowledge of the universe, they came out as star-gazers.
”We learned about the different stars,” said Gabrielle Bisignano, a third-grader at JFK. “I liked the lion.”