[ATM] 5th/6th Grade Class ATM Presentation

["RC Stargazer" <david@tabor.com>]

Hi, ATM'ers!

A little background:
Last year, with the help of the Springfield Telescope Makers at Stellafane, 
I made an 8" f/6.2 mirror, which I put into a scope over last summer.  This 
year, again with the help of the Springfield Telescope Makers, I'm assisting 
my daughter in making a mirror for her own scope, a 4.25" f/3.8.  (She might 
be done, and ready to coat.  Just need Stellafane's Dave Kelly Seal of 
Approval.)

Now:
My daughter has described our being in mirror class with her teacher who 
mentioned to me that they do a unit next year in 5th/6th grade classes on 
astronomy, and she'd like my daughter and I to bring our telescopes on 
Starparty night, and also do a class on making our telescopes.  It sounds 
like fun, and my daughter and I are excited to talk about making our scopes, 
as I'm sure is the case with almost all ATM'ers.

My question(s) to the list:
1)  I'm sure that a little bit of the discussion will be in describing how a 
newtonian reflector telescope focuses, magnifies, gathers light, etc.  Is 
there anyone out there who might have good easy to follow powerpoint type 
presentations or images on how a reflector scope works, who might also be 
willing to allow me to share it with a group of 5th and 6th graders?  I'd 
also appreciate links to existing items of this sort, that are posted on the 
internet, ready for download.

2) I'd also like to make the talk as exciting as possible.  Does anyone have 
any special thoughts of points that help to keep the interest and excitement 
up?  I'm sure our scopes themselves, and a quick powerpoint presentation of 
'The Making of Our Scopes" will help in that respect, just looking for extra 
ideas.

Thanks, everyone!
- Dave

PS:  I'll post information to the list on how the presentation went, and my 
own personal visual presentations, after the class next year. 

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