To Infinity and Beyond: Students Become Astronauts for Space Day [VIDEO]

In a race against the clock, Marston School astronauts donned their protective space suits and gathered lost parts as crew members calculated the damage expected from debris hurtling toward their vulnerable space station.

While those were only simulations, Hampton third graders got a taste of the space explorer life Thursday during the school's annual Space Day, which also featured crafting and deploying — or in some cases, exploding — Alka-Seltzer-powered paper rockets, practicing space station docking techniques and a variety of other hands-on exercises.

Students said they enjoyed setting the textbooks aside for a day in order put six weeks worth of space-themed lessons to use.

Jackson Nardone, a student in Michele Croteau's class, said he especially liked simulating meteorite damage by dropping coins from various heights onto a raw egg during the "Mission Impact" station, although he said he found the space dexterity station the most eye-opening.

"I think it would be hard for them," said Nardone, commenting on how astronauts have to make small repairs and grab objects while using motion-inhibiting gloves and tools. "It's actually really cool that they can bring stuff back using all those tools. It's amazing that they can actually do that."

All seven of Marston School's third grade classes participated in Space Day, which featured a series of eight stations designed to put the students-turned-astronauts' knowledge and physical abilities to the test.

"It felt like my hands were crammed," said Peter Hyatt, 9, who wore a "Star Wars" stormtrooper helmet and silver space suit to school Thursday, after completing the space dexterity station. "I couldn't move them and it felt like they were a big ball and it hurt."

[Video of Hyatt performing the simulation is attached to this article under the photos above]

The day started with "Capt." Dan Mitchell, Marston's assistant principal, leading the launch sequence countdown over the morning announcements. Mitchell guided the students through blast-off, which was successfully accomplished thanks to a variety of decorative, lighted and moveable control panels made by the students.

Students also dressed in a variety of costumes, from replica astronaut suits and homemade helmets to unique student-drawn crew badges and oxygen tanks crafted from soda bottles. Croteau said the students have been eagerly awaiting Space Day for weeks, as it's an annual celebration designed to cap a lot of hard work.

"A lot of [the Space Day activities] are for fun, but there's some educational value as well," said Croteau. "A lot of kids really get into it."

And that's exactly what the seven third-grade teachers who participated in this year's Space Day were hoping.

"I just love how excited they get about it," said teacher Jason Schrack. "Any time you can get students excited about learning, it's great. Plus, we get the parents in here, too.

"It's kind of a fun way to end a unit and incorporate what they've learned. They get a lot out of it."

Many of the parents who served as ensigns and advisors Thursday said they enjoyed helping out because of the impact that hands-on activities have on their children, especially when it comes to challenging lessons and theories.

"It really helps make learning fun," said Jen Kimble, the mother of Colin Kimble, who did the most egg damage during his class' "Mission Impact" runs. "The idea of force is a difficult concept for kids to understand, and for a lot of people to understand. So, to see it in use and trying different concepts in action — just trying the activities — makes them want to learn more."

Do you have photos or videos of the students in their space suits or perfoming Space Day activities? Post them in the gallery above by clicking the white and green "Submit Photos and Videos" button!

HAMPTON-NORTH HAMPTON PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates |