Teacher Training

Pennies, Feathers and Flying Ice Cream Sandwiches – it gives a whole new meaning to food fights.

Imagine eating an ice cream sandwich. Now imagine eating the same dessert while it hurtles through space!

We take gravity for granted as we journey through our lives on Earth, but astronauts face all sorts of challenges like pinning down their food and moving around the shuttle as their bodies float through space.

Astronauts even need special training to use bathroom facilities in an anti-gravity situation!

Eyes to the Skies: An Astroclub member uses a pair of high quality binoculars to view the moons of Jupiter on a clear, spring evening.

These are a few of the topics explored in "Living In Space" – a Star Station One™ demonstration that compares how living in space differs from living on Earth. The 20-minute demo is just one facet of the Astronomy Discovery Lab at the New York Hall of Science.

"The lab helps people understand why there’s a real need to do experiments in space," said Preeti Gupta, Director of Education at the Hall. "The public often doesn’t realize how space science benefits medicine, agriculture, biotechnology, pest control and even improving communication."

Star Station One is a national program designed to educate the public about the building of the International Space Station. The program now has a permanent home at the Hall of Science in the domed Astronomy Discovery Lab.

Visitors can also explore and boost their comprehension about everything from gravity and mass with pennies and feathers to discovering the reason for seasons.

The lab offers opportunities to learn how changing gravity affects our bodies and an experiment that demonstrates why it’s better to wear light colored clothing in the summertime.

Four computer stations allow visitors to explore astronomy, and the lab includes 3-D models of the planets. Take a tour of Venus via map. There’s even a weather station to check out accurate up-to-date meteorological information.

The Astronomy Discovery Lab is also a base for teacher training, providing educators with the latest techniques to introduce their students to the wonders of the universe.

Teaching the Teachers: an instructor demonstrates how to operate an LX-50 telescope to view sunspots so the teacher can intrigue her middle school students.
For more information about the Astronomy Lab teacher educational program, contact Frank Signorello at 718.699.0005 ext. 303 and visit the Education Programs section on our Fun and Learning Web page.

Recommended for ages 8 and up, the Astronomy Discovery Lab is open to the general public Tuesday - Wednesday from 11 am - 2 pm and Thursday - Sunday from 11 am - 4 pm, although the lab may be reserved for classrooms. The "Living in Space" demonstration happens daily at 11 am.