California Science Center: overview and exhibits

¶ … museum that was visited for purposes of this report was the California Science Center. Five earth science exhibits were reviewed and related to a corresponding California educational standard in earth science. The first exhibit to be observed was entitled "Stars and Telescopes." The educational standard it relates to is item 2(d) from the earth sciences unit for grades 9-12 that states, "students know that stars differ in their life cycles and that visual, radio, and x-ray telescopes may be used to collect data that reveal those differences."

The way this particular exhibit relates to the standard is that it focuses on teaching students about how scientists use the telescope to learn about different aspects of the universe, such as the creation of galaxies and the life cycles of different types of stars. Different types of telescopes are explained about through the exhibit such as the Chandra x-ray observatory, the Hubble optical telescope in space, and the first orbiting x-ray telescope named Uhuru. The way the exhibit conveys the standard to visitors from grades 9-12 is by displaying models of the different types of telescopes available and by showing how telescopes collect information such as images from the visible spectrum, infrared, and x-ray data.

The second exhibit to be observed was entitled "Mission to the Planets," one of its highlights being in particular the SAGE I satellite. Observation of this satellite is related to the educational standard 4© from the earth sciences unit for grades 9-12. It states that, "students know the different atmospheric gases that absorb the Earth's thermal radiation and the mechanism and significance of the greenhouse effect."

The way this exhibit relates to the standard is that it teaches about these atmospheric gases by revealing how this satellite was responsible for measuring the concentration of ozone and aerosol particles in the Earth's atmosphere. It performed this measurement by collecting data on the amount of radiation entering the atmosphere from the sun. This satellite was responsible for helping scientists find out how much change the Earth's climate and atmosphere had undergone over the years. The exhibit's way of conveying the standard to visitors from grades 9-12 is by displaying a replica of the satellite.

The third exhibit was another highlight from "Mission to the Planets," which was the Cassini-Huygens Probe. This highlight is related to the educational standard 4(e) from the earth sciences unit for grade 8. It states that "students know the appearance, general composition, relative position and size and motion of objects in the solar system, including planets, planetary satellites, comets, and asteroids." This exhibit relates to the standard by revealing how scientists are still discovering new information about planets like Saturn and their moons like Titan within the solar system through unmanned spacecrafts like this one.

Cassini-Huygens is responsible for finding out about Saturn's gravitational and magnetic fields, mapping Titan's surface, and studying Saturn's and its moons' atmospheres and ionospheres among other things. The exhibit conveys the standard by displaying full-scale models of Cassini-Huygens that are covered by insulating blankets; the blankets can be pulled back to reveal the spacecraft underneath.

The fourth exhibit to be observed is called "Creative World: Structures" and under it is the highlight "Earthquake Experience." It is related to the educational standard 1(d) from the earth science unit for grade 6, which states "students know that earthquakes are sudden motions along breaks in the crust called faults and that volcanoes and fissures are locations where magma reaches the surface." This exhibit relates to the standard by basically helping students understand how earthquakes are experienced. In it the standard is conveyed by having visitors experience a simulated earthquake and by then learning about ways to prepare for real quakes.