The fall semester is spent finishing up and testing the payloads, and readying
the curriculum for the classroom. The teams then schedule either in-person or
remote classroom visits with their partner teacher and present their lessons and
activities to the K-12 students. The highlight is the balloon launch at each partner
teacher’s school during which real data is collected by the payloads. This data can
later be analyzed in a follow-up lesson.
For a 1 minute video of a UW LIFT launch, go to:
https://youtu.be/MKgPvl93Tak
10.2.2 Sisters High School RISE Program
Students at Sisters High School in Sisters, OR are taking learning to new heights
through an innovative STEM program involving stratospheric ballooning.
Dozens of experiments have been sent into near space on stratospheric balloons
in recent years by students in the Research in Sisters Environments (RISE) program. This gave the students experience of how science experiments are
designed, managed and implemented. A STEM grant from the non-profit Battelle
enables the school to continue to develop the program and open up new opportunities for students.
The RISE ballooning program came about through a partnership between
Sisters High School and local resident stratospheric ballooning expert Steven
Peterzen, who founded International Science Technology and Research
(ISTAR). ISTAR supports near-space research by organizations worldwide,
including NASA, the Italian Space Agency, Andøya Space Center in Norway
and various universities. In 2015 Peterzen approached Sisters High School
with a proposal for developing a stratospheric ballooning program for their
students. He quickly found a partner in chemistry teacher Rima Givot. All
students at Sisters have the opportunity to participate in the program as part of
their chemistry class because the Gas Laws are certainly applicable to balloons. In the past few years, students have sent all kinds of materials aloft on
stratospheric balloons, from duct tape to radish seeds. One study examined
how exposure to near-space conditions impacts the growth rate of E. coli bacteria. Another assessed the insulation properties of commercial down jackets
relative to NASA spacesuits. Every project was designed, led and implemented
by the students with guidance by Peterzen, Givot and other mentors.
Sydney Wilkins, a sophomore in Ms. Givot’s chemistry class, noted, “This feels
more real than a normal high school science experiment. It’s entirely done by the
students and for the students. It is really interesting to see the kinds of ideas that
people come up with. Kids get really interested and invested in it.”
10.2 Examples of Balloon Education Programs 237
the curriculum for the classroom. The teams then schedule either in-person or
remote classroom visits with their partner teacher and present their lessons and
activities to the K-12 students. The highlight is the balloon launch at each partner
teacher’s school during which real data is collected by the payloads. This data can
later be analyzed in a follow-up lesson.
For a 1 minute video of a UW LIFT launch, go to:
https://youtu.be/MKgPvl93Tak
10.2.2 Sisters High School RISE Program
Students at Sisters High School in Sisters, OR are taking learning to new heights
through an innovative STEM program involving stratospheric ballooning.
Dozens of experiments have been sent into near space on stratospheric balloons
in recent years by students in the Research in Sisters Environments (RISE) program. This gave the students experience of how science experiments are
designed, managed and implemented. A STEM grant from the non-profit Battelle
enables the school to continue to develop the program and open up new opportunities for students.
The RISE ballooning program came about through a partnership between
Sisters High School and local resident stratospheric ballooning expert Steven
Peterzen, who founded International Science Technology and Research
(ISTAR). ISTAR supports near-space research by organizations worldwide,
including NASA, the Italian Space Agency, Andøya Space Center in Norway
and various universities. In 2015 Peterzen approached Sisters High School
with a proposal for developing a stratospheric ballooning program for their
students. He quickly found a partner in chemistry teacher Rima Givot. All
students at Sisters have the opportunity to participate in the program as part of
their chemistry class because the Gas Laws are certainly applicable to balloons. In the past few years, students have sent all kinds of materials aloft on
stratospheric balloons, from duct tape to radish seeds. One study examined
how exposure to near-space conditions impacts the growth rate of E. coli bacteria. Another assessed the insulation properties of commercial down jackets
relative to NASA spacesuits. Every project was designed, led and implemented
by the students with guidance by Peterzen, Givot and other mentors.
Sydney Wilkins, a sophomore in Ms. Givot’s chemistry class, noted, “This feels
more real than a normal high school science experiment. It’s entirely done by the
students and for the students. It is really interesting to see the kinds of ideas that
people come up with. Kids get really interested and invested in it.”
10.2 Examples of Balloon Education Programs 237