Rossana Chiarella, a dedicated pre-kindergarten teacher and Space-STEM (S-STEM) Club coach at Palm Springs North Elementary in Florida, embodies the spirit of innovative education. As a Space Foundation Teacher Liaison Officer, she tirelessly works to enhance science education for young minds. Her journey, deeply rooted in a childhood fascination with space exploration, took an inspiring turn when she connected her passion with her Peruvian heritage.
Chiarella’s story began in Chiclayo, Peru. Witnessing the moon landing at age six ignited a lifelong love for space. The Challenger tragedy in 1986 further shaped her path, revealing the possibility for teachers to contribute to space endeavors. This realization propelled her to dedicate her career to teaching space and science to the youngest learners.
For over 26 years, Chiarella has transformed her classroom into a dynamic science laboratory. Her hands-on experiments and engaging activities are designed to cultivate a love for science and space in her pre-kindergarten students. Becoming a Space Foundation Teacher Liaison in 2014 expanded her reach, enabling her to collaborate with the aerospace community and NASA, bringing enriching STEM programs to her district and conducting workshops for fellow educators. Her training at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, including certification in handling lunar and meteorite samples, further solidified her expertise.
Rossana Chiarella engaging with students at Patapo School in Peru, fostering a love for learning through interactive science education.
In 2016, Chiarella achieved a significant milestone by participating in the Space Academy for Educators in Huntsville, Alabama. This immersive program marked the culmination of three decades of preparation and fueled her desire to give back to her homeland. Inspired by the story of Miss Baker, a Peruvian squirrel monkey who ventured into space, Chiarella envisioned a unique way to connect with students in Peru. Miss Baker, a familiar sight in Peruvian markets during Chiarella’s childhood, became the bridge between space exploration and young Peruvian learners.
This idea led Chiarella to Patapo, a small, resource-limited town near her hometown of Chiclayo. Collaborating with a local school principal, she designed an engaging project using readily available materials and a captivating PowerPoint presentation centered around Miss Baker’s extraordinary journey.
Bringing Space to Patapo: The Story of Miss Baker
The journey to Patapo revealed a town brimming with potential despite its modest resources. The warmth and politeness of the community were immediately apparent as Chiarella arrived. The town’s relaxed atmosphere and close-knit community, centered around the bustling fruit and vegetable market, painted a vivid picture of rural Peruvian life.
Enthusiastic pre-kindergarten students warmly welcome Rossana Chiarella to Patapo school, eager to learn about space science.
Patapo, home to descendants of the ancient Mochica culture, is primarily an agricultural community. The children, full of enthusiasm and a thirst for knowledge, made Chiarella’s visit exceptionally rewarding. The school, a central brick building with open-air classrooms embracing the mountain breeze, provided a unique and inspiring learning environment.
Chiarella’s presentation began with introducing Miss Baker, the space monkey mascot of her S-STEM club. She showed the pre-kindergarteners a stuffed monkey astronaut doll adorned with a traditional Peruvian hat. This visual immediately resonated with the children, as squirrel monkeys are commonly seen in local markets. She then shared the remarkable story of Miss Baker: born in Iquitos, selected for space training by the U.S. Navy, and on May 28, 1959, launched into space with a rhesus monkey named Able. Miss Baker’s successful return to Earth captivated the children, sparking their imagination and connecting space exploration to their own familiar world.
Miss Baker, the pioneering squirrel monkey astronaut, pictured with a model of the Jupiter missile after her successful space mission in 1959.
Hands-on Activities: Igniting Scientific Curiosity
To further engage the young learners, Chiarella led hands-on activities designed to be both fun and educational. The first activity involved designing airplanes using magnet puzzles and Legos, encouraging creativity and problem-solving skills. Next, the students constructed hoop gliders from simple materials like paper, straws, and tape. Testing these gliders outdoors on the school patio brought the lessons to life, allowing the children to observe basic aerodynamic principles in action.
Rossana Chiarella guides students in Patapo through a hands-on airplane design activity using Legos and magnet puzzles, promoting STEM learning.
The children’s curiosity was palpable. They asked insightful questions about the glider’s function and the concept of wingless airplanes. Chiarella explained the innovative applications of ring-shaped wings in modern aviation, stimulating their imaginations and connecting their traditional knowledge of flight with cutting-edge aerospace technology. The students’ enthusiasm and innovative ideas underscored their potential as future scientists and engineers.
Chiarella’s experience in Patapo highlights the power of culturally relevant and engaging educational approaches. By sharing the story of Miss Baker and incorporating hands-on activities, she successfully sparked an interest in space science among children in an underserved community. Her dedication extends beyond the classroom, as evidenced by her participation in a Civil Air Patrol Teaching Orientation Flight and even creating educational videos while paragliding over Peru, further demonstrating her commitment to innovative teaching methods.
Miss Baker, the S-STEM Club mascot, dressed as an astronaut with a Peruvian hat, symbolizes the blend of space exploration and cultural heritage in STEM education.
Rossana Chiarella’s message on the Hayabusa2 spacecraft, “Educators provide an opportunity for all children to succeed in life,” encapsulates her profound belief in the transformative power of education. Her work exemplifies how creative and culturally sensitive approaches, like using relatable stories of space monkeys, can make STEM education accessible and inspiring for children everywhere, fostering the next generation of science and space pioneers.
Rossana Chiarella paragliding over Peru, capturing unique perspectives and creating engaging video content for her students.
Learn more about Space Station Explorers and discover resources to inspire young learners at www.spacestationexplorers.org.
