About LASF: Contra Costa Sun Articles

LASF and Lafayette schools set sights on the stars

By Sandy Mouat
CORRESPONDENT

Astronomy is the next frontier and the Lafayette Arts and Sciences Foundation (LASF) has adopted a plan to bring the subject "into light" within the Lafayette School District.
        This plan began with innovative curriculum built around the Hale-Bopp comet two years ago. LASF took the first step and bought a telescope to pilot the curriculum at Happy Valley School. Now, fifth grade teachers are working with NASA scientist and Lafayette parent Dr. Margaret Race to develop a new program using lesson materials designed and compiled by Race. These learning materials include portable "Astronomy boxes" filled with videos, slides, posters, software, books and thick manuals of enough relevant curriculum to present lessons in astronomy every day of the school year.
        Dr. Race has devoted countless hours to the project, compiling materials from many sources within NASA and elsewhere. She will conduct teacher training workshops and provide ongoing technical support.
        Last Month, a Burton Valley Elementary School class enjoyed an evening astronomy lesson sponsored by fifth grade teacher Jake VanAkkeren. All eyes were focused on the night sky as the telescope highlights of the star party, including the crescent moon, Jupiter, Saturn and the Andromeda galaxy, brought parents and children together in shared wonder. The event was so well attended that the upcoming LASF Family Astronomy Nights, dates to be announced, are expected to be a great success.
        The first such event, still in the planning stage, will be held at Stanley Intermediate School, hosted by teachers Glenn Hoxie and Chris Rasmussen, along with LASF science instructor and co-coordinator, Dianne Chandler. As an introduction to the star-gazing for the evening, there will be a video, "Power of Ten," which gives students an engaging perspective of Earth's place in the universe.
        "When our students can experience knowledge learned in class outside the classroom setting, the new knowledge takes on greater significance," Hoxie said. "For many people, their earliest memory of 'science' is looking through a telescope. An event like this makes a science class real for the children we serve."
        Amateur astronomers are encouraged to bring their telescopes to the LASF Family Astronomy Nights. Expect to accommodate lines of avidly interested spectators. For more information about these upcoming events, contact Dianne Chandler @jdcck5@aol.com or check the LASF Website at www.lasf.org.
        November is proving to be an exciting month in the realm of astronomy. Of interest to both amateur and professional astronomers, is the Leonids Meteor Shower, expected this week. The shower is the result of the Earth passing through the debris cloud trailing the Temple-Tuttle comet. The meteor shower will last for several days, but the most intense part, the storm, was expected to last only two to three hours.
        Information about the Leonids Meteor Shower can be found at the Website maintained by The Aerospace Corp., www.aero.org/leonid/. Visit the site to find a wealth of information and photographs of the Leonids Meteor Shower.
        The breathtaking sight of hundreds of meteor particles deepens the mystery of the stars and heightens our delight in the beauty of natural phenomena.

11/18/98 Reprinted with permission. Visit the Contra Costa Times on the web at www.contracostatimes.com.

      Next article