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Kearney teacher visits space camp
By Carrie Alexander
For fifth-grade teacher Amy Cordle, space and science have always been of interest. So when she received news that she had been awarded a scholarship that would allow her to attend one of the country’s most prestigious space camps, she was undoubtedly elated.
“It’s really difficult to get into this program,” Cordle said. “Only one teacher from Missouri and Kansas combined are selected each year. I was so excited that they chose me.”
Cordle went to the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala., where she received training similar to that a real astronaut would receive before going into space. She learned how to work the controls in a spaceship, how it felt to be weightless and all about the various components that astronauts need to know.
“My favorite part was the simulated missions,” Cordle said. “We worked as a team; each of us had a specific role to play to make our mission successful. There was a lot to do in one week.”
Cordle and 17 other educators from around the United States and the world built rockets, hot air balloons and several other projects that they were able to bring back home to share with their students.
“You come back with so much,” Cordle said. “I now have 17 new teacher resources, and I walked away with classroom materials, lesson plans, projects and other resources. I’m really looking forward to sharing all of this with my students this year.”
At the camp, Cordle was told that fewer and fewer kids are considering jobs in the fields of engineering, science and math. And Cordle said that while she may not be able to prepare her students for those careers at this level, she could certainly get them interested.
“I don’t know if at the fifth-grade level I can prepare them, but I’d like to interest them and give them a solid foundation,” Cordle said.
While few of her students hoped to one day become an astronaut, many agreed that knowing about space was important for other careers.
“It’s important to learn all of this stuff,” student Savana Dunavin said. “One day you may want to be an astronaut or a pilot or even work with computers or technology, so it’s good to know.”
Besides all of the resources and information Cordle came home with, she also is able to teach her students better because they can see what they are learning about from another perspective.
“I’m looking forward to learning about the planets,” student Claudia Szymala said. “By her going to camp, we are able to understand what she is teaching better and also it makes it more interesting.”
Cordle said that she hoped others would take advantage of the scholarship program and attend camp as she did.
“People should know that this opportunity is available,” Cordle said. “You just come back with so much. What I’m able to pass onto my students is immeasurable, and that alone makes the whole trip worth it.”
Staff writer Carrie Alexander can be reached at 628-6010 or carriealexander@npgco.com.
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“It’s really difficult to get into this program,” Cordle said. “Only one teacher from Missouri and Kansas combined are selected each year. I was so excited that they chose me.”
Cordle went to the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala., where she received training similar to that a real astronaut would receive before going into space. She learned how to work the controls in a spaceship, how it felt to be weightless and all about the various components that astronauts need to know.
“My favorite part was the simulated missions,” Cordle said. “We worked as a team; each of us had a specific role to play to make our mission successful. There was a lot to do in one week.”
Cordle and 17 other educators from around the United States and the world built rockets, hot air balloons and several other projects that they were able to bring back home to share with their students.
“You come back with so much,” Cordle said. “I now have 17 new teacher resources, and I walked away with classroom materials, lesson plans, projects and other resources. I’m really looking forward to sharing all of this with my students this year.”
At the camp, Cordle was told that fewer and fewer kids are considering jobs in the fields of engineering, science and math. And Cordle said that while she may not be able to prepare her students for those careers at this level, she could certainly get them interested.
“I don’t know if at the fifth-grade level I can prepare them, but I’d like to interest them and give them a solid foundation,” Cordle said.
While few of her students hoped to one day become an astronaut, many agreed that knowing about space was important for other careers.
“It’s important to learn all of this stuff,” student Savana Dunavin said. “One day you may want to be an astronaut or a pilot or even work with computers or technology, so it’s good to know.”
Besides all of the resources and information Cordle came home with, she also is able to teach her students better because they can see what they are learning about from another perspective.
“I’m looking forward to learning about the planets,” student Claudia Szymala said. “By her going to camp, we are able to understand what she is teaching better and also it makes it more interesting.”
Cordle said that she hoped others would take advantage of the scholarship program and attend camp as she did.
“People should know that this opportunity is available,” Cordle said. “You just come back with so much. What I’m able to pass onto my students is immeasurable, and that alone makes the whole trip worth it.”
Staff writer Carrie Alexander can be reached at 628-6010 or carriealexander@npgco.com.