BY SAUNDRA AMRHEIN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
PRICE HILL -- Some wriggled with excitement while others chatted or played with classmates' chairs.
But at T-minus 50 seconds, all eyes were forward and focused on the television at the front of the classroom at Quebec Heights Cincinnati Academy of Math and Science.
At that moment, more than four dozen students from grades four through six began counting down in unison, leaning forward and gaining speed as they neared zero for John Glenn's departure.
"Blastoff!" they screamed.
Clapping and pounding
A few feet from the television, the wide eyes of 9-year-olds Johnita Merchant and Robin Wright watched as red sparks flickered into flames and a white cloud of smoke ballooned around the shuttle Discovery. As the shuttle lifted and arched into Florida's blue sky, the children laughed, clapped and pounded on tables.
Within minutes, though, the chatting resumed.
"Three thousand five hundred miles per hour," yelled science teacher Christopher Profitt, trying to keep their attention just minutes after liftoff.
No, the students aren't riveted as children were when Mr. Profitt was in nursery school watching Mr. Glenn's first launch in 1962, he said.
But as at other schools in the Tristate planning science programs around Mr. Glenn's return to space, the launch this time is a way to get kids involved in science, not just history.
They are learning about laws of motion and about gravity, boosters and G forces.
"Back then, there was not a whole lot of talk about what was happening scientifically," Mr. Profitt said. "It was more of an event." The children from all three grades were assigned to write essays about the laws of motion and how it would apply to Mr. Glenn's launch.
Social studies classes are using it as a springboard to learn about Mr. Glenn's other role as a senator and what U.S. senators do.
Articles shared
Mr. Glenn's trip into space has also been a way for children to get involved in current events.
Across the hall in Angie Auel's class, 11-year-old Shane Webster has been bringing in newspaper articles leading up to the launch to share with classmates.
"I think he's brave to do it again," Shane said. "I think he's taking a risk now that he's older shooting up that fast with his heart and that."
Planets and the solar system have fascinated 11-year-old Matthew Smith since he was 4 years old.
With Mr. Glenn's launch Thursday, his interest and goals have risen to greater heights.
"There's just one question I want to ask him: Who's the youngest person that's ever going to be in space?"
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• Glenn's first words
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• Questions and answers
• Discovery Notebook
• Back to Glenn Page
