Introduction

Hello Students!

Today is going to be a great day for field trip. But instead of going to the actual location we are going to explore it online through a virtual field trip. We will be exploring Seattle's very own Pacific Science Center. Pacific Science Center is a fun interactive museum where you learn a lot of fascinating information and facts that will blow your mind. The science center is full of not only science information, but also math and history. They cover lots of topics at this facility and true educate students on everything they have to offer. Most of the things available are touchable and able to take pictures off. Its supposed to be a hands-on experience.

So for our field trip we are going to explore eight special exhibits and discuss them. For our field trip you are going to have to put on your thinking brain and get our your journal. For every exhibit I want you to write a paragraph about what you thought of it and would it be something you would want to see in real life. Then on that same page you need to write "5" things you learned at that exhibit. So total you should have 8 journal entries and 40 facts about what you learned. We will discuss all these things you wrote down in class on Monday.

Please Read this history before you experience the field trip so you have a little background on it:

Some Fun Facts about the Pacific Sciences Center's History:

-Its original buildings were the United States Science Pavilion, part of the 1962 World’s Fair in Seattle.

-The fountains appeared in the movie It Happened at the World's Fair with Elvis Presley. After the fair ended, the museum was re-opened as the Pacific Science Center. The land and buildings were leased for $1.00 a year until 2004 when the title deed was signed over and Pacific Science Center Foundation officially took ownership.

-Pacific Science Center is located within walking distance of the Space Needle, and is next to the Seattle Center. It is housed in what was the United States Science Pavilion for the Century 21 Exposition in 1962. The complex was designed by Minoru Yamasaki, who also was the architect of the World Trade Center in New York. The walls of each building, composed of many pre-cast concrete slabs, form an arch motif used by Yamasaki in a number of buildings.



1960s

-In the 1960s, many exhibits were carried over from the original World's Fair exhibition, though only a few of these original exhibits remain, such as the Lens and Mirror machine and a suspended moon. Many current parents and engineers fondly remember their parents taking them there.

-One of the most notable exhibits at the time was a ramp where the buildings were built at a tilt. This exhibit was reproduced in the late 1990s. The domed Spacerium, now known as the Seattle Laser Dome and used for laser shows, was designed for a wide-angle movie journey through space. Before IMAX, a previous movie theater there showed films like NASA's Apollo 8 (to the soundtrack of Yellow Submarine) and the 21st Century with Walter Cronkite. Future governor Dixy Lee Ray would head the Science Center for many years.

1970s

-In the mid 1970s, the lower-level math area was dominated by the IBM Mathematica exhibit where demonstrators in orange jackets made soap bubbles and showed audiences how the stylish new Chevrolet Chevette was paving the way for the quick adoption of the Metric system.

-Upstairs, a giant normal curve Pachinko machine would ring an alarm before emptying out its balls. An aerospace building contained a full-sized lunar module mockup from which suited astronauts would climb out. The Life building contained the Sea monster house, a Kwakiutl long house, and a working hydraulic modle of Puget Sound. With the physical sciences, the physics witch on Halloween would ask "Would you like to boil blood in a paper cup?" or Groucho Marx would dump liquid nitrogen on the ponds after a demo. The presenters in question here were Janie Mann, who did dynamic combustion shows dressed as a witch circa 1977-78, and Dan Cox, who did physics demos as Groucho Marx in the same era. Cox would later go on to become a professor of physics. These staff were part of the "OJ" program (short for "Orange Jacket," the uniform of the time). The program consisted of 24 work study students, whose leader in the late 1970s, Carl Linde, set a format for the program that would last into the late 1990s. The Eames theater was originally created for a special multi-screen IBM movie for the World Fair. It was later converted into an IMAX screen in 1979, the first of two IMAX theaters at the center.

1980s

-Pacific Science Center grew dramatically in the 1980s. A key step in its evolution was the hiring of George Moynihan as Executive Director in 1980. Moynihan, from the Lawrence Hall of Science in Berkeley, would run the center for the next two decades. His leadership team in the 1980s included Diane Carlson in public programs, Dennis Schatz in education and exhibits, and Dave Taylor in exhibits.

-In 1984 the science center took a gamble on hosting the exhibit "China: 7000 Years of Discovery." The success of the exhibit helped put PSC on the map as a leading science center. Other notable successes later in the decade were several iterations of a traveling robotic dinosaur exhibit, which led to the center eventually installing a permanent dinosaur display in the 1990s.

-Pacific Science Center hosted the annual Association of Science and Technology Centers conference in October 1987 and opened several major exhibits in the same period, including Kids Works, Body Works, an animal area and a tide pool.

So I want everyone now to imagine that we are on the bus and we just got to the Pacific Science Center. Now its time to get off the bus and explore something we have never experienced. At some points be prepared to print off worksheets and do them along the way. And don't forget..HAVE FUN!!

First Stop: Animation Exhibit

The first exhibit we will see on our field trip is the new exhibit of animation. This animation presentation is a combination of the beginning and the present. It is one of there most interesting exhibits and something that is completely different than things they have had in the past.

Explore how art, math, science, and technology come together in the exciting world of animation. In Animation's stimulating and fun environment, you will explore the process of animation from concept tso finished product - from storyboarding, character design, and drawing techniques to movement, timing, filming, and sound. Larger-than-life graphics of popular Cartoon Network characters provide a colorful backdrop to the exhibit, which also explores the history of animation and features a screening room and a cartoon museum.Just some of what you'll see:

The Early Days of Animation: while cranking a handle, watch a spool of images flip around, like a Rolodex, creating an animated sequence.

Animated Animals: manipulate a two-dimensional horse and see if you can create an animation that realistically portrays a horse's natural gait. Guided by a backlit template, pose the horse at each key stage of movement and snap a quick picture of each new position.

Visual Effects: you can jump or pose, while several digital cameras around a circular screen area take your picture simultaneously. The still images are then played back in rapid succession on a large monitor above, creating an animation in which you are viewed from several angles.

Talking Pictures: choose from three animated clips, and then follow the words onscreen, adding your own voice to match the characters' action and mouth movements.

DONT FORGET TO WATCH THE VIDEO OF THIS EXHIBIT WHICH IS FOUND IN THE VIDEO SECTION AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE.

Second Stop: Dinosaur Exhibit

After seeing the Animation exhibit then we will move to the dinosaur exhibit where you will get to experience real life dinosaur bones and meet the famous tyrannosaurus rex. You can never be to old to find old bones not cool. We will also get to meet many other dinosaurs and learn about there lives back in there time era.

Travel back in time to the Mesozoic Era, where you'll meet seven moving, roaring, robotic dinosaurs in a lifelike environment. You can also stand in the footprint of a giant duckbill dinosaur, take the controls of the Pneumoferrosaurus -- "Air and Iron Lizard" -- to see how animatronic dinosaurs work, and explore the Mesozoic world with interactive exhibits, real fossils, dioramas and more.

Print off this worksheet and read through it before the field trip:
http://www.pacsci.org/schools/field_trips/pdf/dino_pre_visit.pdf"

Third Stop: Facing Mars

WOW! So many things to look at and only a through three exhibits. Well the next exhibit will blow your mind. Now that you have seen the animation of cartoon network, and the dinosaurs of the prehistoric time its time to see what goes on outside of this world. Its time to go outer space. We are going to the "Facing Mars" exhibit that is truly one of a kind.

Would you leave behind your family, friends, and familiar surroundings to risk your life on a three-year, round-trip voyage to Mars? In Facing Mars, you have the chance to answer this question twice: as you enter the exhibition and again as you exit. While exploring each of the 28, thought-provoking exhibits, take the opportunity to reflect on your initial answer and some of the ethical questions about human exploration of Mars.

Should we even go to Mars? Are we ready as a species - will it be a global affair, a corporate venture or an expression of nationalism? Will humans go to Mars for scientific or financial gain? You can actively explore some of the thornier questions about life - and death - in space.

NOW I WANT YOU TO WATCH THE VIDEO IN THE VIDEO SECTION NAMED "FACING MARS" AND TAKE NOTES.

Forth Stop: Butterfly Exhibit

The next stop is one of the most famous stops at the Pacific Science Center. It's the Butterfly Exhibit, where they have 4,000 sq ft of warm, beautiful climate with amazing plants and 500 gorgeous butterflies from all over the world. In Seattle you don't tend to get the beautiful warm climate all year round which is why this butterfly green hours was crucial for allowing these creatures to survive, in which they did. There are so many different facts to learn about when in this house. Each creature has its own story and information.

Here are a few facts that I would like you to read:

LIFE CYCLE QUESTIONS

How long do butterflies live?

Butterflies can live from a few days to a month or longer. We estimate the average life span to be a couple of weeks.

How long does the entire life cycle take?

It varies according to species and environment. In general, eight to 15 days as an egg, a few weeks or more as a caterpillar, and from a week to 9 months as a pupa. Some butterflies complete a generation in one month! A few species have a two-year life cycle.

Why is this one's wings damaged? Will it recover?

It may have flown into a window, fallen into a puddle and then stuck to something, or chased another butterfly and crashed into something. A careless touch from a person may have damaged it. Butterflies lack the physiology to repair damaged tissue; however many butterflies can fly with extensive wing damage.

If their life is so short, how do you get new ones? Do you raise them?

We do not raise our butterflies from eggs, for two reasons. 1) We do not have permission from the USDA. 2) We could not sustain enough plant material for them. We purchase our pupae from butterfly farms in tropical countries, where they are sustainably farmed. If you look on the boards where the chrysalides are pinned, you can see the names of the suppliers.

Where do your butterflies come from?

The butterflies in the Tropical Butterfly House are imported. We receive weekly shipments of pupae primarily from El Salvador, Costa Rica, and the Philippines.

The butterflies we have are not wild captured, but are raised on butterfly farms. Female butterflies are placed in netted areas and supplied with native plants appropriate for their eggs, and the resulting caterpillars are protected and fed until they pupate, and then shipped here. Two important points are that wild populations are not depleted to obtain these butterflies, and the land where they are farmed is not destroyed.

Perhaps even more important, butterflies are farmed locally, by people whose jobs often draw on resources in the rainforests. This provides jobs that promote stewardship of the environment, & that bring with them a greater appreciation for the complexity of the butterflies' natural habitat. Rather than being forced to view the forest as a commodity to be used as quickly as possible, butterfly farming allows people to find profit in caring for the plants and animals around them. In a world where jobs and the environment are often pitted against each other, butterfly farming supports both at once.

How do you stop them from laying eggs?

Most species of butterfly only lay eggs on a few types of plant. They recognize the plants by distinctive chemicals the plants produce. If the chemicals are not there, butterflies will not be stimulated to lay eggs. To prevent the butterflies from reproducing, we do not grow plants on which they normally lay eggs.

What is a pupa?

A pupa is the stage between larva and adult (in insects with complete metamorphosis) where larval cells and structures gradually reform into adult cells and structures.

What is a chrysalis?

Chrysalis is a special name for the pupa of a butterfly. Chrysalids or chrysalides is the plural. All chrysalides are also pupae. When you look at a chrysalis, what you see is actually its exoskeleton, just as the skin of a caterpillar is its outside. They may resemble bird droppings, parts of plants, or lichens.

What is a cocoon?

A cocoon is an outer casing constructed by larva of silk or dead leaves which protects the chrysalis. Cocoons are made by moths and other insects.

OPERATIONAL QUESTIONS

How much to pupae cost?

We pay about $2.50 per pupa, plus shipping fees. We purchase about 350 - 600 pupae every week.

How and why do you pin them?

We need to pin the chrysalides to allow air circulation around them, and to place the animal in the most natural position to emerge. Most chrysalides have a small silk pad attached to the tip of their abdomens. We put the pin through the silk, and into the soft foam of the pinning board. If the silk has come off, we glue the pin to the pupa using a low temperature glue gun.

Why can't I touch a butterfly? Why is the person in the window touching them?

Any time anyone touches a butterfly, they risk damaging its wings. Even very careful handling can damage the wings. In order to get the butterflies from the window into the exhibit, somebody has to touch them. The animal care staff is trained to handle butterflies with minimum risk of damage, and they also try to handle them as little as possible.

What do you do when it is injured or dead?

If a butterfly is only slightly injured, we don't do anything. If it cannot fly, we humanely destroy it. Dead butterflies are collected, autoclaved, and incinerated, or used internally for educational purposes. That is the USDA requirement. We cannot give them to visitors, not even teachers.

Why is the window dirty?

Because of the fluids which newly emerged butterflies release. These fluids can stain, and make the place a little messy. In case you are worried that butterflies will poop on you, we have never had a report of this happening! (Fun fact: caterpillars produce huge quantities of poop. The technical name for caterpillar poop pellets is frass.)

Why is it so hot in here?

We grow tropical plants in here, and most of our butterflies are from warm climates. The warm temperature keeps them healthy.

Do you let them sleep at night?

Both the plants and the butterflies need rest. We have the lights on a computerized timer to give the Tropical Butterfly House eight hours of darkness in every 24 hour period.

Why can't I take a plant or butterfly?

Plants are slow growing, and if you damage them or take parts of them, it will make the exhibit less enjoyable for others. We are also obligated by our permit to destroy any plant material that we remove from the exhibit It is a violation of our USDA permit to remove butterflies. We could be closed if the USDA found our butterflies outside. We certainly don't want one of our butterflies to pass a parasite to a native species, or to damage an indigenous plant population.

Why shouldn't I pick a tiny flower and walk around with it?

As long as it is on the plant and producing nectar, that flower is useful to the butterflies. Once it is picked, it no longer provides nectar. Besides, you will not attract butterflies by showing them the tiny flowers. They can only see wide patches of color, so they probably are not even aware that you have a flower in your hand.

BEHAVIOR QUESTIONS

Will they bite me?

Absolutely not. Butterflies' mouthparts do not allow them to bite, chew, pierce or even nibble. They are tube-shaped, like straws, and can only be used to sip. That is why we have to let the fruit in the feeders get so icky. Until it is over- ripe enough to exude juices, the butterflies cannot eat it. The butterfly only eats solid food in its larval stage.

Why did it land on me? Why won't it land on me?

We have not found a formula for why butterflies land on certain people. We have found that they are attracted to bright colors, especially red and yellow. If a butterfly does not land on you, please do not be disappointed, and don't try to make it crawl onto you.

Why is this butterfly on the ground?

Butterflies do not always want to be flying. They need to rest too! The butterflies are not aware that the walkways are potentially bad places to land. So be careful to watch your step so you do not disturb the resting butterflies. You may also notice that they often land on the ground near the fans. Butterflies enjoy the airflow and will often position themselves so that they are oriented near it.

What are those butterflies doing?

You may often see two butterflies attached at the abdomen. These butterflies are mating. Once a mate is chosen the male will grasp onto the female's abdomen with claspers. He transfers sperm into her abdomen where it is stored in a special pouch. When the female lays her eggs they have to pass through this pouch and are then fertilized.

What happens when they emerge?

First the legs emerge. They reach out, find something to hold onto, and pull the rest of the body out. The wings are small and soft, but soon expand as the butterfly pumps fluid into them. When they are fully expanded, the wings can dry. The butterfly excretes excess fluid, and is ready to be released. We do two releases each day. Even if butterflies are ready to go, they wait. Opening and closing the emerging window dries out the chamber, and can cause damage to the pupae.

GARDENING QUESTIONS

How can I attract these butterflies to my yard?

These species are not native to our area. But you can attract many beautiful butterflies. Plant large masses of brightly colored flowers, and provide blooms over a long season. Learn the host plants of local butterflies, and provide some. Encourage everyone in the neighborhood to plant butterfly gardens, and to consider going pesticide free. Learn to love caterpillars!

Should I put out a fruit feeder in my back yard?

That would not work in Seattle. Most of the butterflies in temperate climates eat nectar rather than fruit. But ants and yellow jackets both love rotten fruit.

SPECIES QUESTIONS

I saw this butterfly at Woodland Park zoo's butterfly exhibit. Is it a native or a tropical species?

Many butterflies native to the southern tip of the US are also native to central and South America. No butterfly in the Tropical Butterfly House is a Washington state native, except for the monarch, which is found east of the cascades.

How many butterflies/species are in here?

We don't know exactly. We try to maintain a population of eight hundred to twelve hundred. Depending on the time of day and how recently we got a shipment of pupae, there may be more or less activity. We have had over 100 species since we opened. At any given moment, we have fewer. Even tropical species are seasonal.

Why are there ants, fruit flies, slugs, aphids, mealy bugs, etc?

Most nursery plants are treated with insecticides before they you buy them, but we got untreated plants so that the nectar would be safe for butterflies. The plants came with many uninvited critters. We use biological controls, and accept that there will be some pest species living in the butterfly house.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND CLASSIFICATION

What is an arthropod?

Arthropod refers a phylum of invertebrates that is characterized by having an exoskeleton, segmented body, and jointed appendages.

What is an insect?

Insecta is a class of arthropods. To be an insect you must have three body segments (head, thorax, abdomen) three pairs of legs, antennae, compound eyes, & usually one or two pairs of wings.

What is a Lepidoptera?

Lepidoptera is the order of invertebrates that contains butterflies, moths, and skippers. The name means scale wing. Both butterflies and moths wings are covered in small overlapping scales. This is why we must be so careful to not touch their delicate wings.

Currently there is no scientific consensus as to the exact date of when moths/butterflies appear in the fossil record. Here are two of the most popular opinions:

The first primitive moths appear in the fossil record about 140 million years ago, during the Age of Dinosaurs. The oldest known fossil butterflies date to about 40 million years ago, from the Age of Mammals. OR: The first primitive moths are found in Cretaceous amber which dates from the Age of Dinosaurs, over 70 million years ago. The oldest known fossil butterflies are from Green River Shale in Colorado, which dates from the Age of Mammals, about 48 million years ago. [Different sources differ on the ages.]

The closest relatives of Lepidoptera are the caddisflies (Trichoptera). The caddisfly larva resembles a caterpillar and spins a cocoon out of silk. Like Lepidoptera, caddisflies have wings with a large surface area. Some caddisflies link their front and hind wings in flight as moths do.

Fifth Stop: Insect Exhibit

Very similar information to the butterfly exhibit is the insect exhibit. Between live, dead and plastic bugs they have every type of insect you would ever dream about in this museum. From all over the world the Pacific Science Center explores this topic very carefully and wants kids to have a good basis on not only butterflies but all insects.

Please click on this link to learn more about insects and to fill out the questions at the end of the page. Please print off:

http://www.pacsci.org/schools/field_trips/pdf/insect_pre_visit.pdf

Sixth Stop: Planetarium

The sixth stop is going to be great because were going to see the Planetarium. The Planetarium is a place where you can feel like you are in outer space. You can see the sky in a different light and experience things you only dream of. Everyday they have a new set up for what they show you in the Planetarium. It's great for all students and allows them to learn lots about whats outside the world.

Here are some handouts I want you to read and write what you feel about them:

http://www.alicesastroinfo.com/

http://www.pacsci.org/planetarium/Starmaps.html

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/highlights

http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx

Seventh Stop: Laser Show

Now sadly we are almost done with our exploration field trip, but we have two more stops to go. The seventh stop is to the amazing laser show dome where they place famous musicians music on the ceiling of this huge dome. From great sellers like Queen to Pink Floyd they play these shows that will make your mind go crazy. From the pictures and video at the bottom you can see that this show is something spectacular to watch.

Here is a break down of a few of there shows:

Laser Floyd: The Wall
Fridays and Saturdays at midnight

Seattle's longest running late night laser tradition shines on.
Tear down Laser Floyd's Wall brick, by brick, by BRICK! A favorite of many first time laser fans, if you've never been to the Seattle Laser Dome then the Laser Floyd shows are a great way to experience just what our Laser Artists are capable of. Laser Floyd: The Wall is performed LIVE, every Friday & Saturday at the ultimate Laser Floyd time... the stroke of Midnight!

Laser Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon
Fridays and Saturdays at 9:15 p.m.

Explore Pink Floyd's immortal album in its entirety, featuring digitally re-mastered sound and brain tingling visual laser effects. A favorite of many first time laser fans, if you've never been to the Seattle Laser Dome then the Laser Floyd shows are a great way to experience just what our Laser Artists are capable of. Laser Floyd: Dark Side of the Moon is performed LIVE, exclusively on Friday and Saturday nights at 9:15 PM.

Laser Queen
Sundays at 8:00 pm

There can be only one... Laser Queen! Since its World Premiere at Pacific Science Center, Laser Queen has been an instant favorite for audiences of all ages. Created originally, just for our laser fans here in Seattle, Laser Queen has since been featured at venues across the United States. Laser Queen is performed LIVE, in the Seattle Laser Dome, every Sunday night at 8:00 PM.

Laser Beatles
Thursdays at 8:00 p.m.

A classic favorite for laser fans of all ages, the Seattle Laser Dome presents Laser Beatles, featuring classic Beatles songs choreographed live in brilliant laser light. All of the newest Laser Beatles imagery was created right here, on site by our very own PSC Laser Artists, using the newest in state of the art, laser programming technology. You cannot see this show anywhere else in the world except at Pacific Science Center. Laser Beatles is performed LIVE, every Thursday night at 8:00 PM.

Eighth Stop: IMAX Theater

The last stop is on our virtual field trip is to the famous IMAX theater. The only one found in Seattle. This theater shows not only recent new movies out in regular theaters, but also educational films that are also very interesting.

About the Theaters
The Boeing IMAX Theater is the Ultimate IMAX Experience on Seattle's biggest screen! Immerse yourself in a cinematic experience like no other as spectacular films come to life on a screen six stories high (60 feet) and 80 feet wide, with 12,000 watts of stereo sound. Our 3D films take advantage of our state-of-the-art IMAX 3D® technology, putting you right in the action. The 405-seat theater features plush, comfortable seating, a full-service concession stand, and an enthusiastic staff trained to make your IMAX experience great.

The Eames IMAX Theater boasts a screen measuring 35 feet in height and 60 feet from side to side. In operation since 1979, the theater seats 350 people. See for yourself the difference in clarity, color, and movement brought to you by IMAX®!

Sources Used:

http://www.pacsci.org/

Pacific Science Center's website where I got most of my information and worksheets for my students to use.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Science_Center

Wikipedia was another source I used just to get some basic information and some fun facts about the history of the Center and what is was like back in history.

http://www.pacsci.org/animation/

Animation site where I got all the information about the exhibit.

http://www.pacsci.org/schools/field_trips/pdf/dino_pre_visit.pdf

This is the worksheet the students got for the dinosaur exhibit.

http://www.alicesastroinfo.com/

This is the Facing Mars information that I used throughout the field trip.

http://www.pacsci.org/butterflies/butterfly_house_faq.html

This is the information for the Butterfly exhibit.

http://www.pacsci.org/schools/field_trips/pdf/insect_pre_visit.pdf

The worksheet that everyone got to do some research with for the insect exhibit.


http://www.pacsci.org/planetarium/Starmaps.html

http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/highlights

http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx

http://www.pacsci.org/facingmars/

All of these websites were to help the students be able to understand the sky better.

http://www.seattlelaserdome.com/

The resource for the information on the Laser Show.

http://www.pacsci.org/imax/

The information on IMAX theater.

Conclusion

Hey students!

Overall I hope you had an amazing time on your adventure today and learned a lot of different information that you will be able to use for other things we are working on in this class. Hoped you liked the pictures and videos that you saw throughout the virtual field trip. I know I had a great time and hope that all of you did the same. Now I also hope everyone wrote in the journals and read over all the worksheets and readings that I gave you.

Glad you guys had a good day searching through on your virtual field trip!

See you guys on monday!

Miss Kaitlin :)