African Kindergarten and Lunar Eclipse

Astronomy Night was an absolute success! The San Antonio Astronomy Association donated 10 telescopes. We invited the science teachers from the schools we are working with and trained them on how to use the telescopes. Then we waited for it to get dark. It's the rainy season in Liberia, but it was mostly clear...except for where the full moon was. There was an enormous cloud right in front of the moon. We knew it was going to be a full moon and everyone waited with great anticipation. While waiting all the teachers were busy finding stars. Finally the moon rose above the clouds and it was a full lunar eclipse! Imagine looking at the moon through a telescope for the first time in your life and seeing a rare central lunar eclipse. Everyone was excited and did not want to end the event.

Today Melanie taught an hour of kindergarten.  We were observing a kinder class and the teacher asked her to teach a little.  Melanie sang songs, told stories and had a phonics lesson. She had a great time and the kids had fun too.  I taught a writing lesson to 46 high school students.  It was quite an experience and at times it felt more like crowd control.  The teachers observing the lesson had many questions and are wanting to form a cohort to share their lessons and strategies.