Third-grade students from Winthrop Avenue School had the unique opportunity to enjoy an astronaut’s view of the earth’s surface when they participated in the in-house field trip, Our Living Planet. As an extension of their science and geography curriculum, the third-graders explored a 19-foot inflatable replica of the earth, known as the “Earth Balloon,” as part of the program.

The third-graders observed the silk-screened outer portion of the earth before entering the balloon to receive insight from educational consultant Rich Brundige on the position of the continents, the deep coastline canyons, waterways that flow through each of the continents, and the countries situated in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres.

Mr. Brundige also discussed biomes, and the students participated in a comparative study, where they learned about the weather extremes that can occur on the same continent.