Mission.io Disrupts My Classroom: The Friday Showdown. Crumbl Cookes and the Balloon Sculptures at the Space Center. Lakeview Academy Starts the Inschool Field Trip Program at the Lion's Gate Space Center. Imaginarium Theater.

Mission.io vs. Math: The Friday Showdown

Friday is our short day at Renaissance Academy in Lehi. I teach four periods of math before school ends at 12:15 P.M. for early release. Friday’s lesson was on calculating percents — a topic that can challenge even the most determined sixth grader.

There I was, guiding my students through how to find the original price of a video game that’s on sale for $28.00 — a price representing a 35% discount. I was mid-demonstration, fully focused, when my concentration (and that of all 28 of my Period 1 students) was suddenly shattered by a chorus of screams, shouts, and cheers erupting from Mrs. Taylor’s science class next door.

I knew those sounds immediately. They were the same ones I’ve heard for the past 43 years from students running my simulated space missions in our starship simulators.

“What’s happening?” one of my students asked.

“They’re having fun,” another muttered as he slid dramatically down in his seat and slammed his pencil onto his worksheet — a gesture that, let’s be honest, was clearly directed at me.

“Curse you, Mission.io,” I mumbled under my breath.

Of course, I knew exactly what was going on. I had helped Mrs. Taylor set up the year’s first Mission.io simulation earlier that morning. I expected her students would enjoy it, but even I was caught off guard by their sheer excitement — and this is coming from students who attend a school that literally has the USS Voyager, the largest starship simulator in Utah County, parked right in the building.

At 10:00 A.M., I found myself outside with Mrs. Taylor during morning recess. I (very politely) informed her that her class was disrupting all four of my math periods. My complaint was entirely tongue-in-cheek, of course. Her apology, however, was not entirely sincere.

“These kids are loving these missions — and they’re actually learning,” she said with a grin. “We’re going to do two a month from now on.”

Fantastic. Now I’ll have to find a way to make calculating percents as exciting as saving the galaxy. Way to go, Mission.io — thanks for making my job harder.

So in closing, I’d like to thank Mission.io for filling our sixth-grade hallway with ear-drum-busting cheers all morning long, through every single one of my math classes.

Sincerely,
Victor Williamson

One of our school's Voyager Club Middle School Squadrons Doing a Mission.io mission.

The above story is completely true. Kids really do get "that" excited about the Mission.io program.  We are grateful for our partnership with Mission.io and the way the program enables teachers to bring immersive, experience based learning into the classroom.  Mission.io gives students a REASON to learn beside a letter grade and pat on the head and a gold star.  

If your school, or your children or grandchildren's schools are not onboard with mission.io, contact me and I'll get you in touch with Skyler, Casey, and Brooks.  In no time they will have you up and running. There is NOTHING to lose and everything to gain, include a happier class and teacher.  vwilliamson@renacademy.org. or VictorWilliamson@AlpineDistrict.org.  

Here is a message from Skyler about the start of this new school year....

Crumble Cookies and the Space Center

By James Porter,

Space Center Director

We had some fun art added to our lobby thanks to a donation from our friends Crumbl . We're glad to share in their future focused theme. Come see our balloon friends in person this Friday when you join us for one of our planetarium shows.

-Beyond our Night Sky

-Beginner's Guide to the Galaxy

-Laser Taylor Swift

spacecenter.alpineschools.org/planetarium

The Lions Gate Space Center at Lakeview Academy Starts the Inschool Field Trip Program for Lakeview Students

The First Inschool Field Trip, the Kindergartners

The Lions Gate Space Center at Lakeview Academy at Saratoga Springs opened for the Center's inschool field trip program with a class of kindergarteners on September 30.  Lakeview Academy is a public charter school for students in grades K - 9.  All Lakeview students do at least three simulated missions in the school's two starship simulators throughout the school year. In fact, Lakeview pioneered the inschool program for all grade levels using a starship simulator.  

Nathan and team at the Lions Gate Space Center are also preparing to open two new starships and a space station simulator sometime next year.  What a fantastic program for Lakeview students and others in the local community who participate in the Center's public missions.   

Imaginarium Theater

The Week's Best Videos From Around the World, Edited for a Gentler Audience