Young Learners Explore Space with Dr. Amber Bakkum

When students in Lisl Hass Gapinski’s ’92 junior kindergarten class began expressing an interest in space exploration, she knew just the person to speak with: Upper School Science Teacher Dr. Amber Bakkum. 

Not only has Bakkum participated in zero-gravity space flights, she was recently selected as one of just 12 teachers nationwide to participate in the Space for Teachers Program, a NASA-supported initiative that gives educators the opportunity to conduct real scientific research—in zero gravity.

Prior to winter break, the budding scientists held a brainstorming session to gather detailed and thoughtful questions. On Wednesday, Jan. 7, they journeyed to Bakkum’s Upper School classroom where they asked their questions, which covered topics like planets, gravity, stars, and being an astronaut. Bakkum even showed them videos of astronauts living and working on the International Space Station.

“We have several students interested in becoming astronauts, and several more interested in space in general, and I thought it was so fortunate that we had such an expert on site,” said Gapinski. “The students loved it.”