Five For Friday {June 21}

Happy Friday and Happy Summer!  It's Friday and time to link up for Five for Friday at Doodle Bugs Teaching! This one's gonna be a short and sweet round up of week  2 at the Space Foundation!

1.

No, this is not a Medieval torture device, or is it?  Actually, it's a Barany chair, used in flight training to simulate the disorientation caused by the vestibular system.  Week 2 of Space Across the Curriculum focused on biology and the impact of space travel on the human body systems.  Several brave souls took a spin, however, those proned to motion sickness were strongly encouraged to "observe."

2. 

Rovers Rock! And the marine rovers were no exception!

4.

During our afternoon at a local high school pool, we also navigated through an underwater maze to simulate microgravity!  The first time through we used regular goggles, and the second time we used blackout goggles!

3. 

We designed and tested thermal protection systems.  It was awesome!  I totally want to do this with my class this year! I wonder what my principal will think about a blowtorch in the classroom?

5.

We took a road trip up Pikes Peak, stopping numerous times along the way to take measurements and conduct experiments, before arriving at the summit for some Pikes Peak donuts.  

This was such an amazing 2 weeks with an awesome group of teachers from across the state and the amazing instructors at the Space Foundation!  My head is still spinning, and I can't wait to start incorporating it into my classroom in the fall.  And the best part... I get to do it again next summer, focusing on astronomy and geology!

My First Ever Five for Friday!

I'm so excited to be linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday!  I love reading everyone's Five for Friday posts.  It's my Friday evening thing when I get home!

1.

Space Suits

I started my Space Across the Curriculum classes at the Space Foundation this week.  What an amazing week, but I am totally exhausted, like first week of school beat!  These space suits are just one of the amazing artifact displays I get to walk by every morning on my way to class.

2.

Space on the Sphere

Science on the Sphere is absolutely the most amazing thing I have seen in a really long time!  The picture doesn't do it justice.  It is a giant sphere suspended in the center of the room.  Three projectors simultaneously project data from NOAA onto the sphere as it rotates.  Over the course of the week we ran data sets on numerous weather and climate patterns and examined the Sun and Sun spots.

You can find out more about Science on a Sphere here.

3. 

Preparing to view Sun Spots

We used telescopes, with Sun filters of course, to view the Sun. 

4.

Field Trip to NOAA

We loaded up in 15 passenger vans and traveled to NOAA for field trip.

5.

NOAA Meteorologist preparing severe weather alert for Black Forest Fire

While we were in Boulder, the Black Forest Fire was raging back at home.  On our tour we saw a NOAA meteorologist preparing a severe weather alert for high fire danger areas.
Please keep our community in your thoughts and prayers!  Last summer the northwest area was ravaged by the Waldo Canyon Fire, and one year later firefighters from all over the country are here again battling the Black Forest Fire, which has consumed 2 lives, 15,500 acres and 419 homes.  We had some rain today, which lowered the temperature and allowed the firefighters to reach 30% containment!