Sixth grade visits Florida Space Coast

For the first time, the 6th grade classes participated in an overnight field trip to Florida's Space Coast. As a culminating activity for their unit on astronomy, the students are touring one of Florida’s most valuable educational resources, the Kennedy Space Center. The trip also includes a community service component at the Enchanted Forest Sanctuary.

Upon their arrival at the Kennedy Space Center, the students assembled in the new entry plaza in front of a fountain with an etched portrait of President John F. Kennedy and the quote:

For the eyes of the world now look into space,
to the moon and to the planets beyond,
and we have vowed that we shall not see
it governed by a hostile flag of conquest,
but by a banner of freedom and peace.

During the first day of their trip they were able to tour NASA's launch and landing facilities and visit the Rocket Garden. Perhaps the highlight of their visit to the Kennedy Space Center was being able to witness the launch of the Atlas V rocket on Wednesday night!

At the Enchanted Forest Sanctuary the students are learning about some of the area’s ecosystems. Students will have the opportunity to help preserve the plant and animal life through volunteering with the biological sanctuary.

Preparing students in competencies and skills in the four STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering, and math) have become a top priority in education. STEM education inspires future innovators that will move this country forward. This trip exposes students to two challenges that will face future generations - preserving the resources on planet the Earth and expanding their understanding of the universe. Activities like those the students engaged in on this trip create positive educational experiences that can foster a long-term interest in STEM, and inspire students to see themselves as the explorers-scientists-planners-engineers-writers-educators and more that will lead men and women to the stars.