Students will explore the world and beyond

Carole Anne Gravert loves to learn about space. The Willow Road School librarian visited NASA in 2000 and spent six weeks at the Langley Air Force Base in Virginia through the Aerospace Educators Workshop.

Recently, Gravert received a grant from the Nassau Educators Federal Credit Union that will allow her to share her love of space with students. She will have third-grade and sixth-grade students work together to learn about the planets, sun and constellations. To do so, Gravert needs some up-to-date resources. “You have to have current books,” she said. “You can’t give them old books because it’s not relevant anymore.”

She noted that information with space changes constantly — up until a few years ago, Pluto was a planet.

Gravert received $250 from NEFCU and hopes to purchase 15 to 20 books with the money. The grant money was available to teachers who belong to the credit union.

In April, Gravert will have students design a bulletin board in the school’s front hallway showcasing all they have learned. She said she will drape the board in black velvet and have the children hang up all their research.