The Cosmos, Cut to Size
Article Tools
Share This +
Loudoun Teacher Would Use County To Map the Heavens
Friday, May 22, 2009
If Rick Peck gets his way, the orbits of the planets would sweep around an arch 7 1/2 feet tall at Dominion High School in Sterling. A marble-size Pluto would lie two dozen miles away in Round Hill.
The solar system is that vast, which Peck says gets lost when textbooks crunch the whole thing onto one page. So the sixth-grade science teacher at Seneca Ridge Middle School has banded together with other teachers, parents and students to try to build a Loudoun County-size model.
Until recently, their notion of pairing school system with solar system seemed to be going nowhere. School officials had voiced concern that such a model might be too big for anyone to understand the scale, that it would be prohibitively expensive and that it could be a graffiti magnet at various campuses. But this week officials indicated they are warming to Peck's idea.
On paper, an inch-wide sun would render Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars invisible. Jupiter would be 3 millimeters wide — but 15 yards away. Neptune would be a millimeter wide and about a football field off the page.
Astronomers often complain that the public doesn't understand the planets.
Stephen Schneider teaches astronomy at the University of Massachusetts and has written about the need for better models of space. His introductory students don't always impress him.
Photo Gallery
A Hands-on Approach to Teaching Science in Loudoun
At Seneca Ridge Middle School, Edison Rolle, 11 (left), and Taaj Davis, 12, test their foil watershed map with water in Rick Peck's science class. (Tracy A. Woodward)
Science teacher Rick Peck gives his students a sheet of aluminum foil to create a map of rivers with their watersheds. From left, Meera Chauhan, 12; Janera Martinez, 12; Rick Peck; Aly Kamins, 12; and Jillian Kazmierczak, 12. (Tracy A. Woodward)
Seneca Ridge Middle School science teacher Rick Peck uses Google Earth images to discuss our area watersheds. (Tracy A. Woodward)
Seneca Ridge Middle School science teacher Rick Pack discusses the relationship of space with our watersheds. (Tracy A. Woodward)
Seneca Ridge Middle School science teacher Rick Peck calls on a student in his class. (Tracy A. Woodward)
"There's not a lot of progression from what they learned in fourth grade," he said. "They get this sense of this crowding."
Even Peck, who has taken astronomy classes and has taught science for 10 years, said he was stumped when he saw a similar solar system model in Switzerland a few years ago.
"I tried to guess where the next planet was, and I was totally off," he said. "I had zero visual sense of the locations and the size of the planets, even though I knew mathematically where they were."
When he flew home (a distance of one-sixth Earth's circumference, or one-sixtieth of the way to the moon), he tore pages out of a map book, slapped them on his classroom wall, and began working with his students to figure out how the solar system would look in Loudoun. Most of the planets, which range in size up to meter-wide Jupiter, could be put on school land. Dominion High would get an arch representing a chunk of the sun (which, with a diameter of 34 feet, would be too big to build in full) and Meadowland Elementary School, also in Sterling, would get a softball-size Earth.
The plans acknowledge marble-size Pluto's recent slip to dwarf-planet status. Another dwarf, Ceres, and an asteroid, Vesta, would get representations as big as pebbles.
Peck and company found support from a few principals and parent organizations, scrounged commitments for almost half of the $45,000 they thought they would need and sent the idea to the school system.
That was two years ago.
INTERNET ENHANCED
Related Link
Related Coverage
Advertisement
Supporters say they feel as though they've been strung along. But several departments have raised concerns, said Loudoun assistant superintendent for instruction Sharon Ackerman. Instruction staff thought computer representations could be just as effective, she said in an e-mail, and support staff thought some of the installations would be too small. Nevertheless, she said, "the project will go forward" if Peck finds the money and agrees to certain conditions.
Dominion High Principal John Brewer said that it was an intriguing idea and that he would play a "willing host" to the sun, so long as it didn't become a maintenance problem.
"We certainly think that Dominion High School is the center of the universe," he joked. "I didn't even realize how bad a typical scale model of the solar system is."
In Peoria, Ill., another scale model, this one 40 miles from sun to Pluto, has become a tourist attraction since it was built in 1992. The museum that maintains it runs a yearly planetary race and bike ride, and once fielded a call a week from curious astronomy fans around the globe.
"You can't talk about it or teach it unless it really exists. It's just not the same," said Peoria model-builder Sheldon Schafer, vice president of education at Lakeview Museum of Arts and Sciences. (He's also official "curator of the solar system.")
"And it works even if people visit just one or two of them. Just knowing the towns where it exists really gives it credibility as a teaching tool," he said.
A much smaller model on the Mall — with metal pylons that run between the National Air and Space Museum and the Smithsonian Castle, with an Earth the size of the head of a pin — opened in 2001. Those in charge of the exhibit say it's proved a popular destination. Several cities around the country have even plunked down $250,000 for reproductions.
After two years, the stars seem to have realigned for the Loudoun solar system. Ackerman met with Peck and his crew Monday and gave initial approval to the project. Peck said he hopes to build it by mid-2010. "I don't think long-term," he said. "I think: next year's kids."
Deal of the Day
$25 Off House Cleaning From Maid To Please!
Maid To Please is offering LoudounExtra.com readers $25 off their first house cleaning, or $10 their third house cleaning.
• View all deals from Maid To Please | All deals
Latest Deal
• $25 Off House Cleaning From Maid To Please! posted: 4/28/09
|
Search Deals and Business Directory |
Your Thoughts...
Are you happy that the school year is over?
Comments:
Note: LoudounExtra.com does not necessarily agree with comments posted below — responsibility lies with the relevant reader alone. Peruse our reader agreement and privacy policy
Her used to be my teacher!!! I'm glad he's doing his!! He is awesome!
Posted by ariana2k9 (anonymous) on May 22, 2009 at 8:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Great idea from an innovative teacher. His students are lucky to have someone with such an imaginative approach to teaching.
Posted by bobfonow (anonymous) on May 22, 2009 at 8:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This just shows how poor the teaching skills are of teaches today. When I was in grade school, and I have to say that was 40 years ago, I was tough how to understand the distance of the planets. We did have a model to look at just pictures. My teacher first taught us distance using examples in our life. Then to read maps using different sizes of maps and there scales to measure the distances and relating all that to the solar system. To build this is a disgrace when just as I was taught, a map with pins would do the same. It's plain to see that the teacher never taught his students to understand miles nor how to use or read a map. Its funny Copernicus, Galileo, Plato, Socrates all of these teaches never had models and yet they each taught there students to comprehend and to understand everything that each taught. This just proves my point that all teaches today do is spit out what is in the books and don't have the ability to get students to comprehend what they should be teaching. This is just an excuse for teachers to cover up there inabilities to break thins down into its simplest form so every student can understand. I am sad to say this does apply to a majority of teaches.
Posted by catr441 (anonymous) on May 22, 2009 at 9:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So this teacher comes up with a great, creative idea to teach kids (and the rest of us) and the school system says no. Then they wonder why the US is so far behind in math and science. Let the guy teach!! Just last week I discovered the Smithsonian's model - walk two blocks to Pluto - it was pretty cool. For this project, I will send in a donation. Address please.
Posted by ms1234 (anonymous) on May 22, 2009 at 9:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)
One more thing - catr441 - Looking at your grammar and typos, I wonder about your underlying education from 40 years ago.
Posted by ms1234 (anonymous) on May 22, 2009 at 9:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
It has already been done by the Smithsonian on the Mall.
Posted by Bitter_Bill (anonymous) on May 22, 2009 at 9:30 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Actually, this is a good example of good teaching skills. There are many different kinds of intelligence. There are a large number of people who think visually. Show them and they can grasp the concepts. There is a realitively small number of students able to reason mathematically. This doesn't mean that the visual kids can't crunch the numbers correctly or know HOW to do the math. It means that their minds don't intuitively grasp the concept from an equation or table.
Posted by mhoust (anonymous) on May 22, 2009 at 9:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Why not do this in a big City?? Put the Full 34' diameter Sun at the top of the John Hancock Building in Chicago or the GE Building in NYC, then use the Down Town area to place the rest of the planets? Students could walk through the streets of the city and see the representative distances???
Posted by pjh4102 (anonymous) on May 22, 2009 at 9:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
So catr441, how is it that you know "that all teaches (sic) today do is spit out what is in the books and don't have the ability to get students to comprehend what they should be teaching?" (BTW, students can't comprehend what teachers *should* be teaching," only what they actually teach, and "there inabilities" is "their inabilities").
Maybe your teachers should have used some models.
Posted by frank.mclaughlin (anonymous) on May 22, 2009 at 10:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Use the map provided at this link (http://www.myersfamily.com/SolarSystemMo...) to design your own model. Enter the address and decide how big you want the sun to be and it will plot the orbits of the planets. (The Post has a link to this model on their main article but didn't include it here for some reason)
Posted by EdwardMyers (anonymous) on May 22, 2009 at 12:52 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My granddaughter went to the University of Maine at Presque Isle, Me. They have a similar model
www.umpi.maine.edu/info/nmms/solar/
Posted by phobrien31 (anonymous) on May 22, 2009 at 2:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Try this:
http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/spacem...
Click on "Washington, DC Area" then number 7.
NASA also has a paper map of all 21 sites.
Enjoy.
Posted by rlesaar (anonymous) on May 22, 2009 at 3:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Let me tell you about Mr. Peck from personal experience. Our youngest is in his sixth grade science class. Everyday she comes home and exclaims "Mr. Peck did..." "Mr. Peck showed us...." "Mr. Peck allowed us to..." "Mr. Peck...". I am sure you get the idea. I sometimes goggle at the things they do in his class because they are so neat!
He is an awesome teacher with original and innovative ideas that excite the kids. He is a breath of fresh air in a sometimes cookie cutter world of "teaching to the test" and SOLS and I really hope his idea is allowed in the county.
We moved to Loudoun County four years ago and I have to say the quality of teachers and their methods are wonderful for the most part. [But I agree with our daughter, Mr. Peck is the best. :) We are going to miss him next year. ]
Congratulations Mr. Peck and I hope you are able to build it. I promise we will come.
Posted by Aveo (anonymous) on May 22, 2009 at 4:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Here's the web address of a similar idea but one that relies on the repeated experience of the students ... something I've learned to be important in comprehension for most of my students (it helps that it's a really fun activity, too!).
http://www.noao.edu/education/peppercorn...
It allows the students to represent a planet of their choice, walk the rest of the class out to the appropriate distance (relative to the size of the planetary models) and share interesting factoids about their chosen planet. The exercise takes about a half hour to 45 minutes, depending on the number of students/participants and what they have to say about the planets, and can be repeated as often as you like, and with participants of any age. I've done this with groups of kids from various grades K-12, and with adults.
And the most important aspect of this, even more so than the obvious educational relevance to participating in the activity, is that it's pretty much FREE. No fundraising involved.
Check out the website. =)
Mahalo
(and an extra mahalo to Frank McLaughlin for his comments on catr441's illiterate diatribe demonstrating that he was "tough to understand")
Posted by MakBeth19 (anonymous) on May 22, 2009 at 6:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What a wonderful idea and it is so great to hear about a fine teacher who brings creativity and excitement to his teaching! I wish I had had a science teacher like Mr Peck when I was in high school 30+ years ago.
Posted by momof2 (anonymous) on May 22, 2009 at 6:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Anyone interested in donating may remit to "Parents, Teachers, and Students for a Scale Model Solar System in Loudoun County" p.o. box 650643, Sterling, VA 20165-0643. We are a non-profit corporation, and expect to be recognized under sec. 501(c)(3) IRC. Thank you, Ariana -and I have had only one student of that name - remember her well - and others, for your comments. Even the one I find tough to follow is good, as half the battle is getting people engaged in something. Some of the models described in the comments, such as a scale model solar system in a city, at the Smithsonian, etc. have scale model Earth fairly small. My rule of thumb is that you've got to be able to recognize Florida on it, or it's not Earth, it's just a sphere. Young students are often concrete thinkers, and for them to do the abstract thinking that connects the model to reality needs all the help we can give them via context. My school email is jerome.peck@loudoun.k12.va.us
enjoy
Posted by MrRPeck (anonymous) on May 23, 2009 at 6:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank you for the comments, Ariana (and I remember an Ariana well), and others. Anyone feeling like donating may remit to Parents, Teachers, and Students for a Scale Model Solar System in Loudoun, and send to P.O. Box 650643, Sterling, VA 20165-0643. We are a non-profit corporation, and expect to be recognized by the IRS as a sec 501(c)(3) entity. As for pepper corn Earth, the model at the Smithsonian, and other alternatives - all of which contribute to learning - my rule of thumb is that if you can't see Florida on a sphere, it's not Earth. Many young students are concrete thinkers, and need context and other aids for them to connect a model with reality. Space is cool, and most students are fascinated with it, so whatever we can do to help them along their paths is great to work on.
Posted by MrRPeck (anonymous) on May 23, 2009 at 7:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I am a lifelong educator, now retired and looking to do my part in improving science education. I taught sixth grade science for seven years, following my retirement. Peck is doing something I think science education needs- fun and excitement while students learn about the discoveries of science and how they were achieved.
Posted by sidenstick (anonymous) on May 23, 2009 at 11:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
What a great idea! I went to the Hayden Planetarium as a child, but had no concept of the enormous distances between the planets until, as a parent, I read a little book by Isaac Asimov. I'll be sending a donation, and look forward to walking the model with some grandchildren... Ann Wood
Posted by annpwood (anonymous) on May 30, 2009 at 1:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Dont have an account? Sign up!
Post a comment