HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015 09-23 Gethsemane science teacher Cheri Stockinger attends Space Camp MAPLEWOOD REVIEW2/18/2016 Gethsemane science teacher Cheri Stockinger attends Space Camp I Lillie Suburban Newspapers - LillieNews.com
Gethsemane science teacher
Cheri Stockinger attends
Space Camp
Submitted by adminl on Wed, 09/23/2015 - 7:35am
By: Erin Hinrichs
Preparing to repair a broken spacecraft window in
space, Cheri Stockinger puts on a spacesuit for the
simulation activity. (submitted photo)
Cheri Stockinger (far right) corresponds with the
International Space Station from "mission control" at
Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. (submitted
photo)
School year takes off with space -themed
lessons in Maplewood classroom
Students wondering where they need to drop off their completed homework
assignments in Cheri Stockinger's classroom this year will be sent to "mission
control" — a bulletin board adorned with an image of a spaceship.
The space decor and lingo are inspired by Stockinger's week-long experience
at Space Camp at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Alabama,
this past summer.
One of 20 Honeywell grant recipients, she immersed herself in the space camp
for educators and is already sharing what she learned with her students at
Gethsemane Middle School in Maplewood.
And her creative spin on what she gleaned at camp doesn't stop at the bulletin
board.
"I'm just buzzing with new ideas," she says. "Even my language for this year is
kind of trendy and space related, because I'm so excited about it.
"I don't want to sound corny, but it was an out -of -this world experience!"
For the love of science
Stockinger, 42, has been teaching middle school science at Gethsemane for
the past three years. Prior to that, she was a substitute teacher for 15 years,
while raising her children.
She says science has always been her go -to subject. "I just have a passion for
science. I really enjoy ... all of the 'aha!' moments kids have in science and
explaining to them how all the different things in nature are related."
Witness to Stockinger's enthusiasm for science, school principal Scott Revoir
encouraged her to apply for a Honeywell grant to attend Space Camp. He had
attended the camp in 2010 and knew she'd enjoy it.
"Cheri is a very dedicated teacher who is always looking for ways to make
science 'real' for her students. Her enthusiasm for science is contagious," he
says.
So she pulled together three essays for the application and — much to her
surprise — ended up receiving one of 20 grants that were awarded to an
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Gethsemane science teacher Cheri Stockinger attends Space Camp I Lillie Suburban Newspapers - LillieNews.com
Stockinger straps in for a spin in the G -force simulator at
Space Camp. (submitted photo)
Stockinger participated in a water landing simulation, much
like astronauts were trained in for landing the original Apollo
and Mercury missions. (submitted photo)
international pool of thousands of applicants.
The grant, totaling about $2,500, covered admission to Space
Camp and all of her travel expenses.
At the site, she roomed with a participant from India. Other math
and science teachers flew in from China — where astronauts
are looking to reach to the Moon — Indonesia, Russia and other
countries.
"it was very interesting because there were Muslims and
Buddhists and Hindus, and we were talking about space travel,
which is a fascinating topic for everybody, especially students,"
she says.
Missions and simulations
The U.S. Space and Rocket Center, where Space Camp is
held, serves as NASA's official Visitor Information Center for the
Marshall Space Flight Center. Here, Stockinger fully immersed
herself in a week of space -related activities meant to enhance
her own knowledge of space exploration and equip her with
new lesson ideas to promote science, technology, engineering
and math in the classroom.
Dressed in a blue jumpsuit, similar to those worn by American
astronauts, she strapped into a G -force simulator, experienced
zero gravity, and participated in team missions meant to imitate
actual astronaut training.
During the lunar mission, they were told an electrical storm had
broken one of the windows on their spacecraft, she says.
Wearing a full white spacesuit and helmet, she had to fix the
window, working under the strain of poor lighting and a limited
oxygen supply.
Asked if the rigorous training ever felt stressful, she laughed
and countered with "it was wonderful!"
She crammed as much as she could into each day, living and
breathing space from about 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., ready to sacrifice
more sleep had there been more to explore.
While Stockinger enjoyed the hands-on activities, she also
appreciated the lectures from astronauts and NASA engineers,
along with the lesson planning sessions.
"You have access to things you don't normally have access
to ... particularly in Minnesota," she says.
Launching 'egg-o-nauts'
Students in Stockinger's science class this year will soon pick
up on her enthusiasm for space exploration, if they haven't
already.
To start out the school year, Stockinger had students research
various mission patches and then design their own to
personalize their notebooks. In the space world, a mission
patch is an embroidered reproduction of a spaceflight mission
worn by astronauts and personnel affiliated with that mission.
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2/18/2016 Gethsemane science teacher Cheri Stockinger attends Space Camp I Lillie Suburban Newspapers - LillieNews.com
In the classroom, this activity gave way to creative interpretation — a school bus taking flight into space, new constellations
and at least one cat astronaut.
In addition to having her students research space -related items, she will also be drawing from her newly expanded
knowledge bank.
"I have all sorts of back -stories to bring to the classroom to add interest to whatever we're doing," she says.
For instance, she may preface their next group assignmentwith a story about NASA's Apollo program.
Working in teams, her students will be designing spacecrafts equipped with parachutes and an "egg-o-naut." They'll drop
their spacecrafts off an outdoor landing, watching to see if each ship's passenger lands safely on the moon, shell intact.
Then they'll need to design a rover to transporttheir "egg-o-naut" across the lunar surface, she says, noting that'll complete
the upcoming technology and engineering unit.
"I just have a whole bunch of brand new ideas that the students have never seen before that I am able to directly incorporate
right away this year into my teaching," she says.
Erin Hinrichs can be reached at 651-748-7814 and ehinrichs@lillienews.com. Follow her at twitter.com/EHinrichsNews.
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