Students and teachers from Birmingham, England, trace their route to the U.S. while visiting Pearl Hall Elementary.
Students and teachers from England visited Pearl Hall Elementary recently as part of the Space Education Adventures program. The visitors joined with Pearl Hall Elementary third- and fourth-graders in various space-related activities, including the building and launching of paper rockets.
Twenty-one students and six teachers from Birmingham, England, participated in the activities.
"Working with these students has been wonderful," said Emily Russell, one of the students from England. "They're so excited to learn."
Pearl Hall was one of the first stops for Space Education Adventures students and teachers on their 10-day journey to the U.S. The group will visit the Johnson and Kennedy space centers and other aeronautic facilities to help expose students interested in the fields of science and math to career options.
"This gives our students the opportunity to teach younger students, build cultural bridges and boost understanding of science and math," said James Jordan, an informational technology teacher for Space Education Adventures.
The event was a part of Pasadena's ISD's efforts to encourage young students to consider science, technology, engineering and math careers.
Pearl Hall students eagerly watched the blastoffs and enjoyed the anticipation of seeing which group's rockets traveled the farthest. Group's with the longest flights received British coins.
Pearl Hall fourth-grader Jacqueline Ochoa said she learned a lot from getting to work with Russell.
"She made me think like a scientist -- I even felt like one!" Ochoa said. "I also learned the trick to make the rocket spiral. I will never forget the opportunity my school and teachers gave me to have such a different learning experience."
Event photos follow.
Andrew Speare (left) and Thomas Mahon (right), from Space Education Adventures, interact with Pearl Hall students.
British visitors Ben Wright (left) and Sophie McCarty discuss rocket-building with students at Pearl Hall.
Emily Russell gives a group hug to her new friends from Pearl Hall.
