NewsPre-K to 8
Fourth Graders Study Space; Benefit from Guest Speakers
May 1, 1999 8:00 AM
By Stefan Eady - Faculty
During the fourth grade’s study of space, Dr. Smith Johnston, a medical space doctor with NASA in Houston, Texas, visited the Lower School as guest of Dr. Jim Santoro, Will Santoro’s father.
Johnston used slides to explain how astronauts experiment in space to study bone loss, weakened muscles, and other effects of weightlessness. The students also learned that these space studies often lead to solutions for similar problems people encounter on Earth. Then Johnston shared information about the NASA program .
Johnston also discussed the importance of good health habits as children grow, and how they can prepare themselves for a career in space programs.
Ford Riddle’s dad, Chip Riddle, visited the fourth grade during their study of space exploration history to explain celestial navigation procedures using a sextant and star patterns in the sky. He shared how, in the past, water navigation relied on star constellations for direction. He also demonstrated the proper way to use a sextant to measure the angle of a star or the sun from the horizon.
Johnston used slides to explain how astronauts experiment in space to study bone loss, weakened muscles, and other effects of weightlessness. The students also learned that these space studies often lead to solutions for similar problems people encounter on Earth. Then Johnston shared information about the NASA program .
Johnston also discussed the importance of good health habits as children grow, and how they can prepare themselves for a career in space programs.
Ford Riddle’s dad, Chip Riddle, visited the fourth grade during their study of space exploration history to explain celestial navigation procedures using a sextant and star patterns in the sky. He shared how, in the past, water navigation relied on star constellations for direction. He also demonstrated the proper way to use a sextant to measure the angle of a star or the sun from the horizon.
