The fifth grade field trip to the Exploreum proved to be beneficial. I had hoped that it could be used to create prior knowledge for science lessons to come and that it would reinforce what we are currently learning. This quarter we are learning about the solar system. Our main objective is, ALCOS#11/4, to compare distances from the sun to planets in the solar system and describe the forms of energy. As a part of the Exploreum’s football exhibit, we were able to discuss distance and how speed affects a person rate of travel and relate it back to the rate of revolution of the planets based on their distance from the sun. We have several sub-objectives that were also covered during the field trip. The students learned about how solar energy is used to power the Mars Rover during the IMAX film. We also did an activity in the classroom lab that related the size of Earth to the planet Mars and identified the Mars Rover as space technology used to study the planets. In addition to preparing them for the present quarter, the virtual theater has already prepared students with prior knowledge about next quarter’s topic, the human body. It gave them a three-dimension ride through the body systems.

Click on this link to hear students talking about their trip to the exploreum:
podcast 1
podcast 2
podcast 3
podcast 4
podcast 5

Link to the exploreum website: Gulf Coast Exploreum