Comments and anecdotes about the event:
As a follow-up to the presentation made by Patrick O'Brien on October 3, 2008 to the 4th Graders at Dennison Elementary School in Lakewood, CO, Patrick O'Brien challenged the students to go out each night and observe the phases of the Moon pointing out to them that for October, 2008 was special in that every Tuesday there was the possibility of seeing the key phases of the Moon (i.e. 1st Quarter, Full, Last Quarter and New Moon). Patrick asked the students to see if they could develop a calendar with their observations and the 4th grade teacher (Mrs. Hancock) thought it was such a good idea that she also assigned it as a homework project. Since Patrick had to return to Omaha, Nebraska to continue with his therapies, he told the students that he would work with his nephew (Charles O'Brien) and provide weekly updates by photographing the phases as seen from Lakewood, Colorado. This turned out to be a real fun activity for the students and many of them took photos or drew diagrams of the Moon phases each night over the month of October. The 4th graders were surprised at how the Moon "moved" across the sky each evening and at different elevations. On cloudy nights Patrick asked them to record the temperature on their calendars. Mrs. Hancock thought this was such a great idea that she said she plans to do this with future 4th graders - so Patrick's legacy will live on at Dennison Elementary School!