Andrew, Mary Anne and I arrived at the science museum a few minutes before the doors opened at 9:30 am. We quickly purchased our tickets for the museum, the submarine tour, the IMAX movie, Wild Ocean and asked directions to the Lego Robotics demonstration. Even with many hours ahead of us, the task of taking in all the exhibits would be a difficult...but there’s nothing I love more than a challenge. We were off and running...well at least Andrew, Mary Anne and I were...Mom in her “low high heeled boots of two
inches made it gracefully to the submarine in her own time. The kids were jumping on their tiptoes to board a real submarine. Our tour guide had been sharing the story of the USS Blueback , the U.S. Navy’s last non-nuclear submarine, for ten years and knew all the details of this fine vessel and the men that kept her running for thirty-one years. Mary Anne recognized the sub as the same from the movie Hunt for Red October. Andrew and Mary Anne got behind the wheel, pushed buttons, looked out the telescope to see the view across the river, sat in the Mess Hall and even tried out one of the beds. From the torpedo room to the engine room, we learned all about the important but dangerous jobs and harsh living conditions that the 82 men aboard the submarine had to endure.
Next we were off to observe the Lego Robotics demonstration. This event was the compelling reason we stayed an extra day with my sister and hocked our MET Live opera tickets at Tinseltown in Medford.It seems as if every kid Andrew’s age is obsessed with Legos. Today’s designs and possibilities, of the little snap on pieces, have far exceeded the early version of rectangles and squares. Now a box set can be purchased with extravagant themes and shapes consisting of pirate ships, castles, cities and Star Wars, stamped with price tags ranging from five dollars to $100.00. My most recent discovery is that Legos is moving into robotics with children as the inventors.
There is an international organization called “First” that has teamed up with the Lego Corporation to promote physics and engineering for students. I had never heard of the First
Lego League before until I came to Hoonah. Ben, the math teacher does an after school program in Lego Robotics that includes the sixth through twelfth grade. They work in teams, program the robots to complete tasks and compete at the regional state levels against other students their age.If there is one thing that that I have learned from Steve is that life and learning must be authentic. To have children excited about their future, learning must have real life application. Capitalizing on Andrew enthusiasm for Lego’s combined with his affinity for math, Jr. FLL is something that I want to get Andrew involved in yesterday!
Here is what we saw at the OMSI demonstration…
Teams were given a challenge: Climate Connections Challenge! Discover the links between science, people, resources and communities. Unearth how we learn about past climates and delve into questions surrounding our current and future climatic conditions. Join FLL or Jr.FLL teams in creating a global game plan as they make these Climate Connections!
After Andrew walked through and analized every display he took pictures …here are some of his favorites….
I have watched documentaries on the differences between high schools in India, China and the U.S. I read facts about how our children, especially boys are failing in school because the system is extremely convoluted. I look at the overall statistics of how we rank in educationally across the world. I am embarrassed. Yet even as I encourage Andrew to make his education a priority…the connection to the movies and stats seemed literally a world away.
As I walked through the Lego Robotics displays I observed those who were participating and who were the parents making this opportunity happen? Portland is a diverse community, but in this slice of the science museum I was the minority. I predominately heard European accents; I saw fathers and mothers of Indian and Asian descent. It was a clear representation of the global personalities who place an emphasis of nurturing the minds and potentia
l of future engineers and scientists. As the world suddenly became much smaller to me, I felt an affirmation of the commitment to Andrew’s education. Here in this small room is the future and if Andrew wants to work side by side these aspiring scientists, he deserves every opportunity to do so. I will everything in my power to help him.Steve and I are looking into the different avenues of how to get Andrew involved with the Robotics A.S.A.P. For my friends in the Medford area, the local 4-H has a group that students can join. For more information on the big scope of this organization here is one website I found: http://firstlegoleague.org/community/HomePage.aspx
After a quick bite to eat, we made our way into the IMAX theater. Surround sound, oversized domed screen turned Wild Ocean into a personal experience. It was about a preserved section of the waters off the coast of southern Africa. It is only other protected waters in the world other than the Barrier Reef in Australia. Its characteristics are that of what oceans would have looked like a hundred years ago, before humans started over fishing. It wasn’t an hour long commercial for not eating fish, but more a plea to keep the food chain in balance by all countries enforcing reasonable regulations. The fast pace footage set to the African rhythms was breathtaking. At one point Andrew jumped in his seat as a fish leapt into the screen. We left, dizzy with images and full of new facts about our wild oceans.
Andrew and Mary Anne took a spin in the motion simulator…depicting a trip through Ancient Egypt and then raced through more science exhibits. We left at 4:00, with glazed eyes, minds brimming and ready to have some down time. Andrew wanted me to tell you that we all had a great day at OMSI and he can’t wait until he can go back again!
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