My Students

It's great when learning is exciting, and nothing could be more exciting than sending a science experiment to the edge of space! My students will explore the edge of space with a weather balloon flying 15-20 miles high.

I teach physics, engineering and environmental science at a low income, very diverse high school.

My students work hard and want to succeed, but it can be a challenge when many of them come from families that don't value education. I find the best way to engage my students is with projects. I have almost no budget for supplies, but that just means I have to get creative. My students help by scrounging old and broken equipment from home, which we then repair and use for class projects. Unfortunately, the weather balloon project requires a bunch of specialized equipment that we won't be able to find by scrounging. So my students and I are turning to you for help.

My Project

Students are much more excited about learning when they can apply what they learn to a project. The weather balloon project is great because it is relevant to many topics in physics, engineering, and environmental science. Students will spend several months designing and building the science payload carried to the edge of space by the balloon. The payload will include digital and video cameras to look at the view from a height of 15-20 miles. From that altitude they will see the blackness of space, the curvature of Earth, and the place they live from a whole new perspective. The payload will also include scientific instruments to measure pressure and temperature. There are also a number of other experiments we are considering for the flight. The data we collect will be used for the remainder of the year and in future years to learn more about the world in which we live. And the materials will be used in many more exciting projects for years to come.

This project is a great way to teach my students the curriculum related to the project, but that is not the most important effect.

Sending a science experiment to the edge of space will change my students' vision of what is possible. It will increase their confidence and change their view of the world. It will give them the drive they need to succeed at other challenges they will face. My goal as a teacher isn't simply to teach, it is to inspire, and this project will definitely inspire.