Uploaded on: 1/25/2007
St. Joseph teacher launches new space curriculum
Dave Schultz talks to his eighth-grade literature class at St. Joseph School in West St. Paul about the book “October Sky,” which he has incorporated into his curriculum.
12B-patch
St. Joseph’s 2006-07 Space Patch was designed by its students.
Teacher Bruce Becker is bringing space exploration to the classrooms of St. Joseph School in West St. Paul.
Last June, Becker joined a select group of middle-school teachers from around the world at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala., to learn how to include space exploration and rocket science studies in their schools’ curriculum.
The Honeywell Educators at Space Academy Program, sponsored by the Honeywell Corporation, provides 40 hours of intensive classroom, laboratory and training time focusing on rocket science, space science and space exploration.
One of the goals is to help middle-school teachers inspire the next generation to pursue careers in math, science, technology and engineering.
“I have done a pretty rigorous application here at St. Joseph of what I learned in Huntsville,” said Becker as he pointed to the NASA program display in his math classroom. “Right now, we are really trying to make this jell with our present curriculum.”
Taking off into new studies
Becker introduced the school to the book, “October Sky,” by Homer Hickam which is being used by other faculty members as they teach science, history, literature and music.
The memoir describes Hickam’s childhood growing up in the small mining town of Coalwood, W.Va., where he became fascinated with learning about and building rockets.
“Not only is this good literature, but it has something that a lot of other literature doesn’t have. It has a focus on math and science,” Becker said.
“October Sky is ideal because the book is aimed at junior high and middle-school kids,” he said.
Becker, who has taught algebra at St. Joseph for 18 years, began implementing the program in December.
His students created their own space mission patch and helped Becker create a display for his classroom.
Meanwhile, science teacher Marsha Kimmerling taught a unit on the early space program and early astronomers.
Kimmerling recalls Becker selling the “October Sky” idea over the summer.
“We all read the book and made plans to integrate it into our lesson plans,” Kimmerling said.
“In my class the students did research papers on astronomy and early astronomers,” she said.
Dave Schultz, a literature teacher, is teaching the students the first three chapter’s of Hickam’s book.
History teacher Pat Gannon conducted a debate on whether Americans should build a settlement on the moon.
“This worked great in the history context because it is analogous to the settling of the Old West. It’s a good way to incorporate a space debate,” Becker said.
On Feb. 8, the entire school will assemble for a special look into space, and they will view the film “October Sky” based on Hickam’s book. Robert Gehrz, a University of Minnesota astronomy and physics professor, will attend the assembly to discuss the latest news in space exploration.
The school band and choir are planning to compose and sing a space studies-inspired song.
Future endeavors
Beginning in May, Becker will work as a teacher instructor at the Space Camp in Alabama for four weeks.
“I’ll be teaching teachers from across the world,” he said. “I am actually surprised. It makes me feel blessed and grateful to find my talents are desirable.”
Becker participated in astronaut-style training and simulation programs to learn activities designed to promote life-long learning in a classroom setting.
Academy participants also may have an opportunity to participate in future NASA astronaut-training exercises including high-performance jet simulation, scenario-based space missions, and land and water survival training, Becker said.
While at the space academy last year, Becker joined teachers from 32 U.S. states and 17 foreign countries.
His space team was composed of teachers from the United States, Germany, Belgium, Czech Republic and China.