It was such a pleasure meeting O’s first grade teacher, Mrs. V. last year. She had a deserved reputation as a teacher who was devoted to science and nature and had a classroom packed with bird nests, insects, tree ring samples, and even a real chicken coop. She is also one of those people who are so good at what they do, and it is such a natural extension of who they are that they have no real sense of just how special they really are.

Mrs. V. ran a little classroom program called “Meet the Experts” where a parent or other community adult would visit the class and talk about their job or area of expertise. These visitors might be park rangers, doctors, firemen, etc.

At the end of the first parent teacher conference, I found myself volunteering to take part. Mrs. V. has that effect on people. I told her I was interested in astronomy and that I’d like to talk a little about it with the children. Of course, we realized that it would be so much better as an evening activity so that we could actually go out and see some of the things I was talking about. And so it was conceived.

A short time later I visited the classroom briefly in the afternoon. I gave a little twenty-five minute introduction to astronomy for the class of six year olds. I then announced that if any of the students were able to return that evening, they could look through my telescope and see the moon and Jupiter. I was pleasantly surprised when most of the students showed up with a parent later that evening. I then gave a fifty minute presentation.

Of course, with children, you have to present these things with a certain amount of drama. But thankfully, the world of astronomy provides plenty. Don’t go to Venus! It rains sulfuric acid instead of water and anything that goes there will melt! Why is Uranus the only planet that spins on its side? Is it lazy and laying down and taking a nap? I went on talking about everything from the planets, to comets, to galaxies, and also black holes.

Yes, I said black holes. It sure wasn’t part of my original plan, but the questions that I got from these six year olds astounded me. One boy asked, What happens when you go into a black hole? What a great question! I then proceeded to explain the basics of the bizarre world of astrophysics to these children. (“You see, there are really big things in outer space, and when big things get big enough, weird stuff starts to happen...”) And they got it! And more amazing questions kept coming.

Finally we headed outside where several telescopes had been set up by myself and other parents. It was a cool clear evening and the moon was in a perfectly lit quarter phase. The children were so excited to be able to see the rough surface of the moon with its craters and shadows. The evening was a huge success. Mrs. V. thanked me profusely for my efforts and remarked, “Do you realize that you kept a group of sixteen six year olds perfectly still in rapt attention for one hour without anything but a marker and a marker-board?”

I’ve always considered that the nicest compliment I’ve ever received and certainly one of my proudest achievements.

click for full size

I was invited back in February and this time it was a slightly more organized effort with a potluck dinner and a few prepared slides. I even made a little poster with caricatures of the children floating in space. Almost every student in the class was able to attend. And it is such a testament to the desire of small children to learn. They have big questions, and I think they liked getting some big questions explained, like: why are there seasons? Why is half the day bright and half the day dark? What is a year? All good questions and all questions that can be answered through a little astronomy.

Beyond the factual knowledge imparted, there is also the contagiousness of sheer enthusiasm. I will always remember the response from one little boy when he looked though my telescope at Jupiter and four of its moons orbiting nearby, ”Holy crap! I can see the moons of Jupiter!” he yelled out loudly when he brought his eye to the eyepiece.

There is no doubt that these evenings were golden moments for me. I feel so lucky to have been able to participate in Mrs. V’s amazing classroom. I was so happy when my daughter was assigned to Mrs. V’s class this year. She pulled me aside early in the year and asked,” Papa, will you do a star talk for my class too?” What father could refuse such a request? I was happy to host another star talk just last month. Hopefully there will be many more.

Today I ring the Depot Bell for Mrs. V, and for being able to share my interests with the most amazing six year olds in the world.

. . . . . . . . . .