Florida Science Trip - October 2017
NASA, the Epcot Centre, Universal Studios and lunch with an astronaut were all part of this amazing trip!
An excited group of Years 8-10 pupils headed out to Florida this half-term for the Science trip of a lifetime. Head of Science, Miss Holbrook, listed the highlights for us:
- We spent a day at the Kennedy Space Centre where we were able to view Atlantis - it was amazing! We also enjoyed a guided tour around the rocket garden to learn about the history of rocket launches, before lunch with the astronaut Ed Gibson who captivated us with his presentation about being in space and answered lots of the girls’ questions. We ended the day with a bus trip out to the launch pads.
- We took a Boggy Creek Airboat ride to get up close to the natural wildlife of Florida, including alligators and bald eagles.
- We visited EPCOT, Animal Kingdom and Universal Studios where the girls continued their study of light and sound, whilst having a lot of fun. It was definitely the best way to get them learning Physics! The fireworks we watched at Magic Kingdom and EPCOT were truly amazing.
- We took part in a Disney YES educational programme which saw pupils studying energy and wave physics whilst at the Magic Kingdom. The girls got the opportunity to go behind the scenes of the rides to see how light is used to create stunning visual effects.
Year 10 pupil Lucy told us, “My favourite part of the whole trip had to be the Kennedy Space Centre. I was in awe of the sheer size of the rockets and the realisation of what I was witnessing, when the screen in front of me lifted only to be faced with the rocket of Atlantis! I will never forget the look on everyone’s faces (especially Miss Holbrook’s) when we realised what we were witnessing! Having lunch with the astronaut, Ed Gibson, and hearing his stories about his time in space will also stay with me forever.
Our time spent at the various Disney parks was also incredible. Being able to go backstage and see how the magic happens was very interesting and scientific, but it was also an opportunity you don't normally get. Some people enjoyed the rides more than others, but the atmosphere with the constant buzz and Disney background music, supported by our various outburst of song, kept us going until the fireworks, which were astonishing, both at Disney and Epcot Centre.
Overall, it was an incredible trip that we all thoroughly enjoyed and would definitely recommend to others. I could write so many more positive things about this trip. The fun never ended!”
To see the photos from this fantastic experience, just click here.
