Fifth Years: Lesson Five

This lesson, Professor Nakamura knew, would be exciting for the students. At least he hoped it would. They’d get to go on a trip after all. He waited for everyone to enter before rising from his chair and greeting the class. “Good evening. As you remember, last week we took a look at asteroids.” Professor Nakamura chuckled a little to himself at the little rhyme but recovered quickly. “Tonight we are going to witness what happens when parts of asteroids break off and enter our atmosphere.”

“Now gather round this telescope – it’ll be our portkey for this evening,” Professor Nakamura said, making sure everyone had a hold on it before they were all whisked away to a mystery location, far from muggles and with a clear view of a meteor shower. “Please don’t wander off,” Professor Nakamura instructed as he led the students to a series of blankets he’d set up earlier in the day. There were lanterns as well, which Professor Nakamura turned on with a flick of his wand. “Take a seat and I’ll talk while we watch the meteor shower,” Professor Nakamura said. He didn’t sit down himself but stayed standing, positioning himself in front of the group of blankets just as he would in a classroom setting.

“Meteors are typically small pieces of asteroid that have broken off, primarily due to asteroid collisions. As they approach the earth, they are pulled in by gravity and burn on their entry into the atmosphere.” Professor Nakamura took a good look at his students, making sure they were paying attention. Some were already looking to the sky, which was bright with stars. Others were paying attention to him which he was thankful for. “These are commonly called shooting stars. These rocks can be as small as 10cm across and as large as several metres. The light you see is produced from the heat of the pressure as they enter the atmosphere.” As Professor Nakamura spoke, the meteor shower started, a few brightly passing through the sky. Some students pointed them out to each other, Professor Nakamura smiling, enjoying the delight of his students.

“Protecting this planet for hundreds of years have been the astronomy masters. Wizards such as Lapp Shamans near the north pole help rid us of dangerous meteors and also use magic to force them away from the earth,” Professor Nakamura commented before realising that the meteor shower was full in force, and hence much more interesting than him. He accepted that fact readily. They all stayed for another thirty or so minutes, just observing. Once it was over, they all made their way back to the telescope portkey. “No homework this week, but please revise for exams. I’m sure I don’t need to stress their importance for this year,” Professor Nakamura said above students packing away their things and getting ready to leave.

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Roleplay the lesson for full marks.

 

[Mikael Nightray]

Mikael had actually forgotten what the last class had been about so the reminder that it had been about asteroids was very slightly appreciated. He followed his classmates to the portkey despite his skepticism about stargazing. This was perhaps an activity that his boyfriend would like to do but Mikael honestly could not be bothered. The only thing nice about the activity was that it was quiet where they were. Or at least if he ignored the professor and his classmates. He settled himself on a blanket away from most of the other students and began to drift into a light doze. He did snap out of it though when exclamations of awe and surprise started happening all around as the meteor shower started. He blinked blearily at the meteor shower, only thinking that @Elio Boneheart would probably have loved to see this. Maybe one day he'll take Elio out on a date like this. He definitely did not pay any more attention to the rest of the class and only silently followed everyone back to the portkey once they were due to return.​

 

[Bailey Walden-Cade]

Bailey made her way up the steps of the astronomy tower for another lesson but no sooner had she settled into her seat did Professor Nakamura announce they would be taking a field trip to discuss asteroids. Specifically, they would be looking at what happens when they break off and enter the atmosphere, by seeing it first hand. Bailey wasn’t sure how he’d achieve that if they were going to a location, but she was opened minded and curious to see what the professor would do.

She placed her hand on the telescope portkey and was transported along with her classmates to an unknown location that had a spectacular view of a meteor shower. Bailey didn’t want to know how Professor Nakamura had been able to time it so well. She took a seat as instructed and listened to his lecture on what were known as shooting stars, she’d always wondered what they actually were though it did take some of the magic from them. She was glad she had no homework so she could focus on studying, Bailey stayed to watch more of the shooting stars until it was time to head back to the classroom. She packed up her things and took the portkey back.

 

[June Davenport]

The blonde made her way to the classroom and found her usual spot close to the professor. Making sure she sat ready to take notes, since usually in Astronomy it was a lot of lecture. Althought previous lessons they were short. But she could leave it for now since they would look at the telescope. And it was an portkey so they wouldn't stay here. She touched the portkey and before she knew it they were not in the classroom anymore. She took an seat on the blanket and watched in the sky. But she looked at the professor again as he explained some parts. And she still had her small notebook with her so could make quick notes. It was kind of interesting to see the meteor shower happening. But in a way if you thought deeper it were just stupid part of rocks. But June figured it wasn't nice if accidents would happen with this. As they were done she made her way back to the portkey and put her small notebook back in her pocket. Every professor had to mention OWLS. And they didn't had to tell her, June knew. She already knew from day one in this school that OWLS were important. How many times had her parents told her not.