Posted 10:03 am Friday, July 15, 2011
Children Get To Know Solar System In Portable Planetarium
By JACQUE HILBURN-SIMMONS
Staff Writer
Little Olivia Scott, 7, knows a little bit about the solar system and its mysteries.
She gained part of her knowledge from school and parents, the rest from a movie about mythical creatures in the sky.
Staff Writer
Little Olivia Scott, 7, knows a little bit about the solar system and its mysteries.
She gained part of her knowledge from school and parents, the rest from a movie about mythical creatures in the sky.
The wide-eyed youngster from Tyler was among a lucky few children who spent part of Thursday experiencing a galaxy far, far away at Tyler's Glass Recreation Center — in a portable, blow-up planetarium on loan to Tyler Junior College from Texas A&M University-Commerce.
“I saw everything,” the girl said. “I know all about the constellations; it's awesome.”
Tall words for one so small, but helping children connect the dots between knowledge and reality is what makes learning fun and meaningful, TJC instructor Paul Shaw said.
“I saw everything,” the girl said. “I know all about the constellations; it's awesome.”
Tall words for one so small, but helping children connect the dots between knowledge and reality is what makes learning fun and meaningful, TJC instructor Paul Shaw said.
“There seems to be a disconnect on what kids think is nature,” Shaw said. “Many of them don't realize a feature of nature is above their heads. Getting rid of the disconnect is important.”
It doesn't matter where children live, they can always look up when conditions are right and see stars and planetary bodies.
The portable presentation is helping spark that interest, which can be extended at TJC's new celestial learning facility — the Center for Earth and Space Science Education — expected to open in September as a compliment to the long-standing Hudnall Planetarium.
It doesn't matter where children live, they can always look up when conditions are right and see stars and planetary bodies.
The portable presentation is helping spark that interest, which can be extended at TJC's new celestial learning facility — the Center for Earth and Space Science Education — expected to open in September as a compliment to the long-standing Hudnall Planetarium.
Helping children discover the world around them helps them developmentally and academically, he said.
“The big ‘wow' is when you take them outside at night and they look through a telescope,” Shaw said, expressing satisfaction when students connect classroom knowledge with nature.
“The big ‘wow' is when you take them outside at night and they look through a telescope,” Shaw said, expressing satisfaction when students connect classroom knowledge with nature.
Similar “wow” moments happened Thursday as young participants of the Glass center's summer activities programs caught a glimpse of the inflatable planetarium.
“It looks like a giant bean bag,” one wide-eyed child remarked, grinning widely.
As the youths gathered around, Shaw introduced them to some of the wonders around them.
“This is a portable planetarium,” he said. “This is a machine that puts stars and planets above our heads. Are we ready?”
After the chorus of “yessssssss” died down, the knowledge journey started as each child crawled into the dome, which was inflated with use of large fans.
As the lights dimmed, the wonders of the universe began to unfold — squeals, along with plenty of “ohhhhhs” and “ahhhhhs” suddenly filled the darkened dome.
“Listen now,” Shaw said. “Nothing can bother you. When you go outside at night, these are the stars.”
A large, perforated tube placed over a light fixture replicated the universe — stars, planets, meteors, the sun and north star.
Squirming youngsters at once fell silent and gazed upward.
“See that ‘V'?” Shaw said. “That's the head of Taurus the bull.”
There also were characters such as Pegasus the horse, Scorpio the scorpion, and Cancer the crab.
“Who is Walt Disney's dog?” Shaw said.
A chorus of “Pluto” rang out from the darkness.
“Yes, here's little Pluto right here,” Shaw said, pointing out various features in the solar system.
When the lights finally came up, most of the children were sprawled out on their backs, using their hands as pillows, looking to the heavens in amazement.
“Do you understand where all this came from?” Shaw said. “People looked up at the stars and saw these things.”
When the children's planetary education ended, it was on to the next activity — art class.
Glass Recreation Center manager Ann Santana said child enrichment activities such as the one Shaw presented are critical for healthy development.
“It keeps their minds busy, their hands busy and their bodies moving,” Ms. Santana said. “It's a fun way of learning.”
On that point, little Olivia agreed.
“I didn't get to tell the man, I did see the (mythical characters in the planetarium) that I saw in the movies,” she said. “I thought it was going to be so scary, but it wasn't.”
“It looks like a giant bean bag,” one wide-eyed child remarked, grinning widely.
As the youths gathered around, Shaw introduced them to some of the wonders around them.
“This is a portable planetarium,” he said. “This is a machine that puts stars and planets above our heads. Are we ready?”
After the chorus of “yessssssss” died down, the knowledge journey started as each child crawled into the dome, which was inflated with use of large fans.
As the lights dimmed, the wonders of the universe began to unfold — squeals, along with plenty of “ohhhhhs” and “ahhhhhs” suddenly filled the darkened dome.
“Listen now,” Shaw said. “Nothing can bother you. When you go outside at night, these are the stars.”
A large, perforated tube placed over a light fixture replicated the universe — stars, planets, meteors, the sun and north star.
Squirming youngsters at once fell silent and gazed upward.
“See that ‘V'?” Shaw said. “That's the head of Taurus the bull.”
There also were characters such as Pegasus the horse, Scorpio the scorpion, and Cancer the crab.
“Who is Walt Disney's dog?” Shaw said.
A chorus of “Pluto” rang out from the darkness.
“Yes, here's little Pluto right here,” Shaw said, pointing out various features in the solar system.
When the lights finally came up, most of the children were sprawled out on their backs, using their hands as pillows, looking to the heavens in amazement.
“Do you understand where all this came from?” Shaw said. “People looked up at the stars and saw these things.”
When the children's planetary education ended, it was on to the next activity — art class.
Glass Recreation Center manager Ann Santana said child enrichment activities such as the one Shaw presented are critical for healthy development.
“It keeps their minds busy, their hands busy and their bodies moving,” Ms. Santana said. “It's a fun way of learning.”
On that point, little Olivia agreed.
“I didn't get to tell the man, I did see the (mythical characters in the planetarium) that I saw in the movies,” she said. “I thought it was going to be so scary, but it wasn't.”
