Space Shuttle Tire Project
The Abington Heights Middle School worked on an extraordinary project led by art teacher, Karen Taylor. The project involved the creation of a thematic mural designed around a main landing gear tire from the Space Shuttle STS-flight 95, which was from John Glenn’s last mission on loan by NASA. The effort to create this mural – an integration of art and science – involved 5th grade students at the Abington Heights Middle School who had been learning about space exploration and the fusion of art and science with the help of visiting artist-in-residence Nikki Moser.
The Space Shuttle Tire Project is an innovative hands-on experience for the middle school students. They first attended a special presentation of a portable planetarium show that revealed the structure and scale of the Universe through a thrilling journey out into the Solar System, through the Milky Way Galaxy and to the edge of the observable Universe. Using this knowledge, students learned research skills to acquire more information about space from their science teachers. Next, the Art teacher worked with the students to create individualized puzzle pieces that are space themed. The students then collaborated to mount the puzzle pieces on a wall mural in the cafeteria around the mounted Space Shuttle Tire.
The mural is a collection of puzzle pieces that contain scraps of photos and information on space exploration and astronauts in the timeframe of American history. Not only are the students learning about NASA, but they are also learning how artists incorporate information from various different subject matters in order to illustrate a concept. The students are also learning how to properly balance their compositions by learning about concept and principles of design including color, line, structure and shape. These students are learning first hand how to incorporate science and art.
All participants of the Space Shuttle Tire Project are students at the Abington Heights Middle School, a school of the Abington Heights School District which is in Lackawanna County.