Michigan—Eight years ago a special learning center opened in Grand Rapids. The Intermediate School District of the public school system purchased a NASA Aeronautics Learning Laboratory. Grand Rapids Adventist Academy's fifth and six graders were one of the first three school groups to become involved in this exciting new program.

Each year the students visit the aeronautics lab to learn about flight. The lab is designed for students to use computers and design their own airplane, view the earth from outer space, and listen in on the pilots talking to tower at the Gerald R. Ford International Airport. The students also explore the history of flight, construct various styles of paper airplanes, study the weather, use a wind tunnel and learn about careers that deal with flight. The most exciting learning station is where each student gets to "pilot an airplane" by using the $20,000 flight simulator.

Through the years the program has grown, and the experiences have expanded. In recent years, before the students' travel to visit the lab, the director visited the middle and junior high classrooms throughout the county, providing opportunities for a variety of science learning experiences.

Now the director and her assistants visit Grand Rapids Adventist Academy three different times to conduct various interesting science experiments. On the first visit of the year the students learn how to mix certain chemicals to make both a soft and a hard type of plastic foam. On the second visit the lab supplies soldering irons, and the instructors train the students on how to use a soldering iron. On the third visit the students use their new skill to assemble a small circuit board. When the board is soldered correctly, red and green lights flash.

This year, during the first Friday of our special science class, the director informed my students that she loved coming to our school. "Not only is the physical temperature of the building warm, but when I walk in the halls I feel comfortable, and when I come to your classroom it looks nice, and I enjoy being here. I always look forward to visiting your school each year. You are very fortunate to be students here."

The director visits our school at the beginning of the day. At times I have wondered if we might make her uncomfortable as we begin the day with the class kneeling while a student and I pray. The director and her assistants always stand and wait for us. This year I thought briefly that perhaps we should just begin with the science lab and have worship and prayer after our guests left. Despite my concern, each time we began with prayer, just like any other school day.

After the third Friday's visit, the director took me aside and said, "I want you to know, I love hearing your students pray in the mornings. I visit many classrooms in this school district, and I always schedule you for first thing in the morning so I can hear your students pray. I have been impressed every year at how beautiful and sincere their prayers are, and it doesn't matter who is praying, it is always like that. I don't think you realize how special it is to hear children pray publicly like yours do."

At Grand Rapids Adventist Academy we always work to prepare our students to be representatives for Jesus out in the community. I learned they are a wonderful witness to the community without even leaving the classroom.

For more additional information, call 616-791-9797 or visit www.graaweb.org.

Judy Shull, sixth grade teacher, Grand Rapids Adventist Academy