Since this blog is actually called Today's Lessons because I want to use it to record what my family is learning, I'm going to post about our field trip today. Funny thing, when I post about things like this, I feel like I'm letting you down, you person who comes to read my blog.I've been thinking about making a new blog called, like, "Today's Records" or "Today's Activities," or something so I can post all the little stuff we do everyday that I want to record for our yearly portfolio, but I'm not sure I'd keep up with it.
Anyway, I say all that to say this: I'm sorry if my life bores you. It rarely bores me. ;-)
Our field trip today, organized, and I do mean organized, by the oh-so-organized Blue, was to the NASA Glenn Research Center. This was very timely for us, because we've been reading Neil Armstrong: Young Flier as part of our Five in a Row curriculum. When you read a Five in a Row book, you say that you're "rowing" the book, so if you see that term in my blog or in my sidebar, that's what it means. So, right now, we're "rowing" Neil Armstrong.
Here's the way mobie cool part. Because I've been working with the family on being organized (which has been no picnic, let me tell you. I'm getting five changeback messages for every positive comment I hear about the fairly organized state of our house), our laundry was all clean, the beds were made, the dishes were done, and the van was in decent shape to hold all of us and our junk. I got up early and woke the kids shortly after I got up. Usually I wait until the last possible minute, then I wake them up. My idea is to get some peace and quiet before we have to rush, rush, rush out the door. This is a stupid strategy. With the kids up when I got up today, I was able to adjust our schedule for the few kids who procrastinate and get sidetracked almost hopelessly. Plus, they actually got to EAT before we left (which still didn't keep them from moaning that they were hungry during the ride). I even had the time--and the clothes--to change The Baby when she had a full-scale diaper blow-out two minutes before I walked out the door.
And when I walked out the door (now, don't hate me for this), I didn't even have to look for my purse, my checkbook or my keys.
It's totally true. I would not lie to you about something so sacred. I'm so serious about this, I may even post a picture of my kitchen for you. Later. If you're good.
After a quick stop at Panera for a chicken salad sandwich for breakfast (For me. Not for them. They only got breakfast. And danishes. And part of my lunch. And pizza.), we were on our way. And we were, even with getting lost once and going in the wrong building once, totally and completely ON TIME. Don't you dare hate me. I so deserve being on time once in a while.
The NASA presentation was cool. The guy giving the presentation was wearing a little cross for a tie-tack, so I ventured to ask him his impression of how astronauts' faith is affected by their space travel. He mentioned James Irwin and Alan Shepard as two astronauts who were greatly affected by their time in space. Irwin, he said, went on to become a minister. The Apollo 8 team read from the book of Genesis on their Christmas Eve broadcast.
When we first walked into the center, there was a wall full of airplane models of airplanes that were manufactured in the U.S. from the 20s on. We looked for the Tin Goose, or the Ford Tri-Motor, which was the first airplane Armstrong had ridden in when he was just six years old. None of the employees seemed to know what it was, so we looked through the list and found it. There it was, in the 1930s category, just like we remembered. That was kinda cool.
After a slide show, the kids were given free reign of the exhibits where they were to do a scavenger hunt for facts. What I seemed to find while doing the scavenger hunt is that the kids didn't really have a true hunger for the knowledge they were seeking--they just wanted to fill in the blanks. So they'd read a piece until they found the answer for which they were looking, and then they ran off to find the next answer. I don't think it was until all of the blanks were filled that they began truly learning stuff.
After the scavenger hunt, we went back into the theater for a movie about what the astronauts did that summer, which included taking supplies to the International Space Station. It was entertaining and informative, and the video even showed a demonstration of one of the astronauts using the toilet. Well, pretending to, anyway. The narrator for the film, one of the astronauts, said that "How do you go to the bathroom?" is one of the most frequently asked questions they get from kids. I'd imagine most adults wonder, too, but are just too chicken to ask.
After the film, we hung out in the hands-on exhibit area for a bit longer, then we headed to Malley's Chocolates to pick up some goodies for our Easter baskets. We knew we'd found the place when we saw the giant pink inflatable bunnies on top of the building.
Dinner at Steak and Shake and we were good-to-go. Patty melts and Steak and Shake fries may be the death of me.
It was quite a fun day. I hope to head out to the Armstrong Air and Space Museum after we've finished rowing Neil Armstrong: Young Flier.
Have I mentioned how much I love field trips? I'm hoping to score this t-shirt before my next adventure. :-)
