Upcoming Events at the Cradle

Event Horizon - Escaping a Black Hole!

Winter Recess - Mon-Fri, February 20-24, 12-4 PM

Deep in the heart of our Galaxy lurks a black hole four million times as massive as our Sun. We now believe that many or most galaxies contain similar supermassive black holes, hidden in most cases by clouds of dust. What are these black holes? How do we know they are there? How do they form? Investigate all these exciting questions when you join us during the February vacation break.

Activities include:
Black Hole Workshop exploring NASA’s NuStar telescope with spectroscope demonstrations
And make a spaghettification flip book to take home! See how a black hole is formed and what will happen if you get too close to one.

Half hour workshops Mon-Fri. February 20-24, 12-4pm.
Free with museum admission.

Rube Goldberg Machine Contest!

Saturday, February 11

Sign-up your high school team! Build the zaniest machine possible, this year's task: Inflate a balloon and pop it! Download our flyer for more info, (1.2mb pdf) or contact Rick Angler at the Cradle at 516-572-4033.

In The News

State Farm funds support for the Westbury Magnet Academy Service Learning Program at the Cradle of Aviation Museum

Magnet Academy students are joined by State Farm representatives (starting from the left) Ed Borenstein, Peter Kelly, Naomi Johnson and Beth Serrano.

Garden City, N.Y. November 21, 2011 – Magnet Academy students from the Westbury & Uniondale school districts was in attendance Friday morning when representatives from State Farm Insurance presented a $10,000 check to support the academy summer service learning program. The Cradle of Aviation Museum is home to an innovative program known as the STEM Magnet Academy. Started in 2007, the museum is host to 200 select high school students from the Westbury & Uniondale School Districts who attend classes at the museum for part of their academic day. This exciting arrangement uses a “Physics First” approach while combining formal and informal education models to produce innovative Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics- STEM programming and provide each student with a dynamic environment in which to excel in these content areas.

One important component to the Magnet Academy is the summer program, in which incoming 9th grade students become familiar with the museum and learn about the expectations for the Academy. With funding from State Farm Insurance, the museum and the school districts are able to expand and continue a service-learning component for the summer experience during which upper-grade Academy students design and mentor students who are new to the program.

Empowering young adults is key to developing successful communities while impacting student achievement and civic responsibility. State Farm believes in experiential learning that gives students an opportunity to apply what they are learning in the classroom to relevant problem solving in the community. Engaging young adults as resources enhances their academic experience, cultivates civic responsibility, advances work performance skills, and constructs opportunities for growth and reflection.

The Cradle of Aviation Museum is located on Museum Row in Garden City, New York and is home to one of the world’s most diverse and outstanding aerospace collections. The museum serves over 250,000 visitors each year providing a “wow” experience as they travel through time seeing over 75 air and space craft; from hot air balloons to jet aircraft and an actual lunar module! For more information call 516-572-4011

National Grid Foundation Brings Freeport Students to the
Cradle of Aviation Museum for Studies in Climate Science.

Students from the J.W. Dodd Middle School are joined by Robert Keller,
President, National Grid Foundation for their visit to the Cradle of Aviation.

May, 2011

Garden City, N.Y. – Students from Freeport’s J.W. Dodd Middle School and the Carolyn Atkinson Intermediate School participated in a new groundbreaking science program called TREE (Teaching Renewable Energy Education) at the Cradle of Aviation Museum.

The program is supported through a grant from the National Grid Foundation and has been developed to expose students to the variety of renewable energy sources that exist as well as the research being performed here on Long Island on climate change. The 6th and 7th graders participated in hands-on museum classes and workshops throughout the day to provide them with a better understanding of our environment that’s right here on Long Island.

“The TREE program provides students with a unique way to explore climate change and renewable energy,” said Robert Keller, President, National Grid Foundation. “The hands-on Renewable Energy Discovery Cart encourages students to use their creativity and intellect to think about future solutions to climate change.”

The National Grid Foundation was created to enhance the quality of life in areas where National Grid provides services. The Foundation’s ongoing challenge is to create opportunities for solutions to educational and environmental issues. Its objective is based on the principle that giving people the tools to build hope is an essential ingredient in the development of individuals, families and communities. Since its inception in December of 1998, the Foundation has provided more than $15 million in grants to hundreds of organizations.

Verizon Foundation Funds “Days of Discovery” for Freeport Students at the Cradle of Aviation Museum

The Verizon Foundation has funded the Cradle of Aviation’s “Days of Discovery” program to excite young students’ interest in exploring science, technology, engineering and math ("STEM").

The Verizon Foundation has a long history of supporting quality educational resources and literacy programs. They focus on preparing children to be successful; enabling teachers, parents and caregivers to help children learn; and educating adults so they are prepared to achieve their goals and contribute to their communities.

The Cradle of Aviation Museum's "Days of Discovery" Program has developed several components, in conjunction with the New Visions Elementary School of the Freeport, School District. This partnership will engage the entire school, consisting of approximately 450 students in grades K-4, in a series of events and programs designed to increase the students' awareness of, and interest in, STEM subjects. The program includes school trips to the museum, outreach visits where museum programs will be brought to the school, as well as a special "Day of Discovery" at the museum.

During the weeks of December 6th and 13th, Cradle of Aviation Museum educators will visit students in their classrooms to teach students all about the science of flight. These outreach activities will then culminate with a Discovery Day on December 17th at the museum. Through participation in fun, hands-on activities, students who attend will be motivated to look at these subject areas with new interest and relevancy for middle school, high school and future careers. The Discovery Day is a day-long event, held during the scheduled school day. Students will rotate in supervised groups of 15-20 among six workstations, each representing a museum gallery and its connections to STEM. Presenters will bring artifacts, exhibits and subject matter to life, exposing students to the challenging concepts that they will face in middle and high school in an age appropriate, creative manner.

The Verizon Foundation understands that education and literacy does not begin or end in the classroom. They are investing in programs and vehicles to reach every type of learner across the lifespan. Take a look at Thinkfinity.org, the Thinkfinity Literacy Network and some of the other strategic programs the foundation supports.

freeport

Nassau students get historic lesson from space

By TULA BATANCHIEV
tula.batanchiev@newsday.com
Photo credit: Howard Schnapp

John Bush, of Wantagh Horizons, along with other elementary school children from Nassau speak to astronaut Tracey Caldwell Dyson, who is in the International Space Station. (June 10, 2010)

When fourth-grader Corry Brinken asked astronaut Tracy Caldwell Dyson what challenges she faces as the only woman on the International Space Station, she answered honestly: "I have no one to talk to about my hair. It's a big nuisance sometimes and I'm the only one up here who seems to have that complaint."

While Dyson spoke, her brown mane swayed above her head in the microgravity of space as students shouted their admiration.

Brinken, from Polk Street Elementary School in Franklin Square, was part of a group of 290 students from seven Nassau County school districts who engaged Thursday in a live video dialogue with Dyson at the Cradle of Aviation Museum, a first in Long Island history.

Questions from 20 students from the Franklin Square, Freeport, Wantagh and Westbury districts were approved by NASA to be part of the 20-minute real-time discussion of science, space and the challenges of exploring the heavens over a special downlink provided by Cablevision, which owns Newsday. Elementary school students from Bethpage, Great Neck and East Williston also attended.

"It's such a nice day for students to see something that they would never experience in their classrooms," said Kim LaRegina, 34, a fourth-grade teacher at Franklin Square's John Street school.

The Cradle of Aviation Museum, in East Garden City, is one of six institutions around the country selected by NASA to participate in the "Teaching from Space" program this year, which hopes to spur student interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

"The Cradle is really trying to promote those areas, get kids excited in those areas and to seek careers in those areas," said Jennifer Baxmeyer, education director at the Cradle of Aviation Museum.

In partnership with the museum, students from Franklin Square, Freeport, Wantagh and Westbury have been taking weekly classes and participating in hands-on lessons. They have researched the ISS and Dyson herself, a California native who has been onboard the space station since April, orbiting 220 miles above Earth alongside two cosmonauts from Russia.

"This is better than doing the Pythagorean theorem," said Amanda Majano-Rodriguez, 11, from the Drexel Avenue School in Westbury, who asked a question about exercising in space and learned that the ISS has onboard a stationary bicycle, treadmill and universal weight set.

The students have been suppressing their excitement: the downlink was postponed two previous times.

Benjamin Steinberg, 11, from Wantagh Elementary School, considered it worth the wait. He said he expected the downlink to be like a webcam chat, but was pleasantly surprised. "It was so much more," said the fifth-grader. "It was really great."

Nasir Letman, 10, from Freeport New Visions School, loved seeing Dyson on the big IMAX screen. "I feel so happy," he said. "This is probably my best moment."