Tuesday, July 7, 2015

New Hampshire!




As the only educator representing New Hampshire I feel it is important to recognize a true inspiration to educators and students everywhere, still to this day: 
Christa McAuliffe.

Proud to represent New Hampshire at Space Academy!

In 2011 my younger sister visited Florida's tribute to Christa while participating in an internship while working on her Engineering degree:



That same year my Dad won the Christa McAuliffe Sabbatical working with many schools in New Hampshire to start up a VEX robotics team.  Interested see his still active website: 



This week I was able to travel to Huntsville, Alabama to participate in Honeywell's Space Academy for educators.  I have experienced so many amazing things and learned a lot about space in the process.  I hope to get my students excited about space when I return to the classroom in the Fall.



I touch the future.  I teach.
- Christa McAuliffe

Day 6: Graduation

Today was a tough day for team Harmony.  Though we were all excited to go home to see our families we knew this would be the last time we would all be in one place.  This week we create a unique teamship working together in many new experiences.  I am thankful to have met this group of incredible educators and am sure I sill continue to learn from them as we move forward.



We started today with an introduction of a remarkable program founded by Dan Oates, a member of Space Camp Hall Of Fame.  He has inspired Space Camp for the visually impaired.  Students are able to participate in all of the activities we did this week through modifications to the equipment.  There were a plethora of wonderful stories created just because someone believed.



Following that we were given some time to visit the education center.  Here I found many different applications to my classes.  I was able to get three books sent to me.  They are due to come in this winter.  I can't wait!



Then we went to a presentation on ECLSS.  What is that?  Well it is a filtration system that turn's astronaut's urine into purified water.  They claim the water is more pure than the water you and I drink!  We created a filtration system and tested it.





We also listened to some great speeches from the ambassadors.  We were able to try out straw rackets as well as a couple of different launching systems.  They got me really excited about using systems like this next year with the Geometry and Measurement units.





The final event of the evening was graduation and celebrating our accomplishments!











Graduation from Michelle Kelly on Vimeo.

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Day 5: Final Mission


Today started with a lesson about a space shuttle's re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere.  We created a shield and tested it with an Egg-stronaut.

Planning and designing.

Getting set up.

Health check for the Egg-stromuat.



Following that was our second and final mission as Team Harmony.  We had a successful mission and the shuttle returned safely to Space Camp!



Base commander!


Then we had another challenge: to create a method of getting a payload to Mars and to have a payload that could move around and collect data.  Team harmony won the challenge!

The challenge!
Working together in a time crunch.


Look how far ours rolled!

Checking the eggs.

Doing the math to see who is the winner!





We finished the day off by firing off the rockets!

Ready to go!

Waiting our turn.

ARD Eagle is ready for flight.






3, 2, 1...



ARD Eagle has had a successful flight!





Tomorrow is the last day of Space camp.  I have learned so much and am excited to bring it back to my students!

Happy Father's Day

Today at the start of the mission as base commander I started with, "Good morning this is day 201 on the moon, Happy Father's day!"  We also celebrated Father's day on Team Harmony by giving trinkets to each of the father's we have on the team.  I want to wish a Happy Father's day to a man who has many influences beyond STEM, but has made a difference in many ways through his enthusiasm and dedication to the education of others.  Know as Mr. Kelly to many of his students, but I am lucky enough to call him dad.



Saturday, June 20, 2015

Day 4: Mission 1...COMPLETE!


Our team patch!


Today started of with Mission #1.  After breakfast we suited up in our blue space suits and got prepared for liftoff.  My job was to exit the space shuttle and complete a puzzle with "no" gravity. and then reenter the space shuttle for a safe return to Earth.  What an interesting experience to simulate doing anything in very little gravity!  Good news, even though it took us two times we landed safely back at space camp!

Getting ready!

MS 1 and 2






Mission complete! Go Team Harmony!


Following the mission we created rockets that we will set in flight tomorrow.  I painted mine green for ARD colors!







We then watched a very interesting and informative movie in the Imax theater here.


Watching the film being loaded.


Next we had some free time to explore the museum here.









On the moon!


Then it was on to practicing for mission #2 to take place in the future (2048).  I have a new role on this mission as Base commander.  It is neat to try out the different jobs and the instructors here have been great in helping us to understand what each of the jobs are responsible for.


Practicing for tomorrow's mission.



Checking out the other parts of the mission.


After practicing a mission to take place in the future we heard a speech about what the future of space travel looks like.




Then the real fun took place...SIMULATORS!!