On April 16, Park physics classes swung into an immersive learning experience taking a trip to Target Field stadium to enjoy physics day at the Minnesota Twins game. Students learned about the physics behind baseball then were able to apply what they learned to real life.
Senior Faye Miller said there were demonstrations set up before the game to teach students about the physics in baseball, and then the game began and they were able to see the science play out in real time.
“At the beginning there were different stations set up to learn (about the) different parts of physics that are in baseball and after that we got to watch the game,” Miller said. “(The stations) taught us specific parts of physics before and then you got to watch it happen during the game.”
According to Park science teacher Peter Dangerfield, this was the perfect opportunity to give back to his students and teach them physics in a more unique and interesting way.
“I really wanted to take this opportunity to do something special, especially for the seniors that take physics,” Dangerfield said. “As a teacher, you’re always trying to find ways to integrate the subject matter that you’re teaching with the everyday experience of kids — when you learn strictly inside a classroom everything can feel disconnected from your everyday experience.“
Senior Thomas Smith said the trip was enjoyable as well as beneficial for students to experience learning in a real life setting. He said it was not extremely educational, but it offered students a chance to socialize similarly to how they would in school.
“(The experience was) not super educational but a big part of school is also socializing,” Smith said. “There’s so many things that aren’t necessarily in the curriculum that are important to (real) life.”
Miller said the Twins game provided an excellent opportunity for students to apply the knowledge learned in class to their own personal interests. She said the stations before the game were generally pretty engaging.
“We got to apply (material) to real life events, rather than just at school,” Miller said. “I went to one station where they hit the bat with a hammer (where you had to) feel the sweet spot of the bat which was really cool.”
When asked how the field trip helped teach students about physics, Smith said there was an entertaining station demonstrating a ball drop experiment and its connections to energy.
“There was an interesting ball drop station before the game where we learned about conservation of energy and how the material of the ball changes that,” Smith said.
Dangerfield said the field trip was a overall total success and all of the students who attended were great representations of Park. He said he intends on organizing the same trip for next year’s physics students.
“It was a smashing success. We took, I believe, 138 students and almost every single one of them was absolutely fantastic at the game. They represented Park so well,” Dangerfield said. “This senior class has set a fantastic example for classes in the future and I’m 100% looking forward to the schedule for next year to see when this day is and if we can do it again.”
