By MARY LYNNE O'NEAL

Staff Writer

Students in kindergarten through eighth grade learned how to survive in space, thanks to the College of Education, Tech Planetarium, IDEA Place and A.E. Phillips Laboratory School.

Tech hosted students from area schools for a program called "Fit for Space," April 12-15, where they learned every aspect of being an astronaut, from how to eat like one to how to train like one.

"This is our second year to do this, but our third program to do," Dr. Connie LaBorde, the chair of the program and an associate professor of health and exercise science, said. "We had between 1,100 and 1,250 students, primarily from North Louisiana, as far east as Tallulah, and some as far west as Haughton."

LaBorde said they also had a school from Arkansas come to visit.

"I think the program is outstanding for a number of reasons," LaBorde said.

"We want to promote fitness, good nutrition and science."

LaBorde said it is also a great opportunity for Tech students who want to go into the field of teaching, because it is a great opportunity to see what it is like to take kids on field trips, to teach them and to learn classroom management. It also gives the visiting students an opportunity to see what goes on at a college campus, LaBorde said.

Glenn Beer, the director for the Planetarium and IDEA Place, said the program was created after another program they host, called "Space Days," would not accommodate all of the schools who wanted to attend.

"We wanted to create another event that would more directly involve teacher candidates at the College of Education," Beer said.

Beer said the students could learn about space and science through the Tech Planetarium and IDEA Place, physical activity at the A.E. Phillips Laboratory School and nutrition at an interactive station outside the IDEA Place.

Caren Bennett, a senior elementary education major, helped at a station for nutrition. She gave students information about the food pyramid and the proper amount of servings to get from each group.

"The kids would come around the table and try three different foods," Bennett said. "They got to see what kinds of food and drinks the astronauts eat, such as Tang [an orange, citrus-flavored drink]."

Bennett said, even though the attendance numbers were down from last year, there were up to 500 students that came every day for four days.

Alice Lee, a sophomore biology education major, said over 50 people helped to put the program together and volunteered to help out at the stations.

Lee said the students seemed to enjoy the program.

Beer said Tech plans to host this program every year from now on, eventually holding one program planned for each quarter.

Beer said, "The teachers I've spoken with seemed to really appreciate the activities and the work that goes into it."