How would you design a restraint system to land an astronaut safely on a distant moon or planet with a budget of only $800?  That was the challenge 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students from The Renaissance School faced in one of their first learning adventures at Starbase Vermont.  Math and science were intimately entwined as students considered both safety and cost in selecting materials to keep "Eggbert the Astronaut" in his seat and protect him from the forces that would affect him in a crash landing.  All the astronauts stayed in their seats, and children discussed Newton’s third law of motion as they examined each Eggbert astronaut after a bumpy landing!  Throughout the five day program, children eagerly participated in a variety of hands-on learning experiences designed to enrich their knowledge of, and enthusiasm for, STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.

In addition to safely landing an Eggbert astronaut, the students conducted an experiment to determine which type of sand to recommend for a Coast Guard underwater training project, compared endothermic (heat absorbing) and exothermic (heat releasing) reactions, and prepared for flying missions by learning about the five S’s of map reading as well as the geographic grid system of latitude and longitude on which our modern Global Positioning System (GPS) is based.  All the facets of Starbase were interconnected, and each was related to a real-life scenario, making for valuable and memorable learning experiences.  After learning about longitude and latitude, for example, the students used a map of Hawaii to determine the geographic coordinates for a base camp, a stranded cyclist, and a hospital.   They then used Starbase’s Computer Aided Design (CAD) program to add first aid kits, a stretcher, a winch, and propellers to an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle which could be used to rescue the stranded cyclist.

Teamwork is an integral part of the Starbase program, modeled constantly and effectively by the Starbase instructors.  Students developed and exercised their teamwork skills on many levels, from helping partners stay on track when using Flight Simulator software to working in small groups when constructing model rockets, solving problems, or conducting experiments, and even working as a whole-class team to solve a challenging puzzle.  Each challenge had its own set of rules and once they solved a puzzle, children enjoyed stretching their skills to a higher level.  For instance, once students figured out how to get a golf ball from one place to another without touching it and using only half pipes, they then were challenged with different sizes and types of balls and with tighter limits, such as not allowing the balls to move backward or keeping them constantly moving forward without stopping.

“The Starbase program is a wonderful way to enrich our science studies of matter and energy this year,” commented their teacher, Eve Dubois.  “The program includes so many key ideas that are included in our curriculum, such as Newton’s laws of motion, forces of flight, electric circuits, and molecular structure, and presents them in ways that are memorable and meaningful for the children.  Starbase kindles the children’s imaginations with lots of wonderful possibilities that they can explore with science!”

Dan Myers, Unit Chief of Starbase’s South Burlington location, ended Tuesday’s graduation ceremony by congratulating the students on their successful completion of all the missions and assignments and by letting them know how much their Starbase teachers enjoyed working with them.  Although this group of children has officially graduated from the Starbase program, they are looking forward to one more visit from the team of Starbase educators on November 11 when, weather permitting, they will launch the hot air balloons and model rockets that they made.