Students at Stewart Elementary School in Lower Burrell got a closer look at Stonehenge and Pittsburgh’s night sky — all from the “comfort” of the school’s gymnasium floor.
On Thursday and Friday, members of the Spectroscopy Society of Pittsburgh and the Society for Analytical Chemists of Pittsburgh visited the school and set up an inflatable, 12-by-24-foot planetarium dome to teach students about the history of astronomy, constellations and galaxies.
The nonprofit organizations aim to boost science education in the region.
The presentation gives students a broader perspective on astronomy, said LeRoy D’Astolfo, who helped coordinate the presentation at Stewart.
“Just the enormity of the universe — compared to looking at a screen on a phone, look up at the sky,” D’Astolfo said. “It’s so awesome.
“I think it’s important to be curious about your surroundings in the world and learn as much as you can.”
The 35-minute presentation began with images of the monument of Stonehenge and a discussion about its connections with ancient astronomy. Students then viewed the night sky and were pointed to features such as the Big Dipper, Polaris and Orion’s Belt.
“I liked whenever they were showing the stars and what their names were,” said Mila Falk, 10.
The presentation aligns with state standards for fifth grade science, said April Sites, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) coordinator at Stewart.
“It reminds you of being in the (Carnegie) Science Center,” she said. “You’re sitting on the gymnasium floor, but the skies are changing.”
The attentive students oohed and aahed as the skies changed. Some knew certain constellations and stars.
Merilee Maskas, 10, thought the presentation added a little extra fun to the school day.
“I like seeing all the zodiac signs and what they look like in the sky,” Merilee said.
The presentation also gives students the opportunity to learn by seeing things for themselves, which Gracie Koteski, 10, said she liked.
“The kids are really enjoying this experience,” Sites said. “I try to bring these kinds of experiences to the kids to engage them.”
