Big Screen Families 1st Night Expedition
BIG Screen or Little Screen? (How to become a BIG SCREEN Family.)
Parents…Let me guess, your family spends a great deal of time in front of a screen. It’s true. The screens in our homes range from huge to 2.5”X5”, some may be even smaller.
Time for some “screen assessment.” We’ll use these questions:
1. Have you counted the number of screens in your home?
2. Have you given thought to the amount of time each family member spends facing a screen?
3. Last question…Would it be good for your family if everyone spent less time in front of a screen?
You can be formal in this assessment-do the math-literally answer each question with quantitative numbers. If you do, the last question will be easier to answer after doing the first two.
OR, you may already know the answers. Let’s assume you said, “Right, we spend too much time on screens. We actually could search for something else to do. Are there alternatives?”
While some screen time is necessary, there can be little disagreement with these three statements-
We could spend less time in front of screens.
It will be healthier, physically and mentally.
We need alternative screens for when the electricity goes off.
Our title is BIG Screen or Little Screen. Time for another question set…
1. True or false, we like big screens. I’ll answer for us-True.
2. Next question… What is the largest screen on earth? (give me a little liberty)
Answer: Outside!
There are actually two outside screens: earth and sky. The earth screen stretches horizon to horizon, and the sky screen stretches to infinity! Neither requires electricity and both are always available, day and night. Another thing…these two nature screens constantly change. The BIG shows on these screens are always new.
I have a suggestion for you and your family: Go outside and view the screens. I also have a first suggestion: begin with the night screen. Here it is:
The “Show” needs a name: “Orion the Hunter Show” (This show is “aired” in September-October-before sunrise in the southern sky.)
How to see the show:
1. Do your research…before you make the family announcement-you’ll want to know some things about Orion to teach your family.
2. Begin the night before…check the weather forecast, you will need a clear sky. Understand, the nature screens always change…plan accordingly.
a. Tell your family that all of you are getting up at 5:45 AM. To lessen the shock, tell them you will get them up, if the sky is clear-Orion visible. They can sleep if not. (time is based on Central Standard Time)
b. After the shock wears off…inform them that the whole family will be watching the “Orion the Hunter Show” on the BIG screen on your deck or front step-whichever faces the southern sky.
c. Tell them to dress for the weather. Get out warm clothes… help everyone to bed early. (You may get a second early to bed the next night because everyone was up early to see the show.)
3. If there is Clear sky-“The Orion Show” is on! Cloud cover-“The Orion Show” is off.
4. When you have a clear sky for the show, consider doing these simple things:
a. First point out the stars which compose Orion.
b. Betelgeuse and Rigel are 640 and 870 light years away respectively
c. Point out the belt, the sword, the shield, Orion’s Big hunting dog is found by locating Sirius, the heart of the “Big Dog.”
d. Now…time for quiet. Let the majesty of Orion impact everyone in your family. You know how long your children can be still. Let quietness extend for 2-5 minutes.
e. End your family “Orion Show” with these words from the book of Amos (5:8): “He who made the Pleiades and Orion, who turns midnight into dawn and darkens day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out over the face of the land—the Lord is his name.”
Astronomy is a marvelous family activity…Look for more Family Astronomy suggestions in How to Become a BIG Screen Family. More in the days ahead!
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