Inter-Lakes hosts astronomy night for fifth graders, parents

MEREDITH — On a Friday night before February break, approximately 55 Inter-Lakes and Sandwich Central School students and family members explored the universe by gazing at the stars and planets as an extension of the the fifth grade astronomy unit. Starting indoors with a student-led presentation by Sadie Saulnier and Kerry Forkell, families learned how humans are made of star stuff and how atoms in human bodies were produced from the heart of stars that lived, died and exploded a long time ago. The group went outdoors to rotate through four telescopes pointed at Venus, Jupiter, Mars, the Andromeda Galaxy, and the Orion Nebula. 

The Astronomy Night event was organized by ILES fifth grade teacher Dan Reidy to be an enriching extension of the science unit, which includes topics such as the solar system, big bang, what makes stars shine, matter, energy, elements of nuclear fusion and an introduction to the periodic table. Parents learned alongside their children and children were teaching their parents.

The New Hampshire Astronomical Society volunteers Paul Winalski and Phil Babcock shared their wealth of astronomical knowledge and information on the library telescope program. Nearly every Lakes Region public library has a telescope available for loan similar to checking out a book.

“Students are so curious about the natural world around them, it makes a great vehicle for learning. It is hoped that students gain the perspective that we are all astronauts traveling through space. Working in a little fun math, we calculate that at ten years old, they have all travelled about three billion miles through space, although it’s all in a circle,” said Reidy.