Nothing offers opportunities for learning better than travel, whether to destinations that are near or far. Travel allows the student—and the teacher who practices lifelong learning—to fully experience a locale with all the senses: sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste. And one of the most fascinating destinations for travel for both students and teachers is Alaska.

Alaska offers wonderful natural environments for scientific study and observation. On a recent trip to the state, I explored several excellent opportunities for learning that teachers could share with their students. The most spectacular of these is the Northern Lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis.

Of course, most teachers are unable to escort their students on a field trip to observe this magnificent natural phenomenon, but students can still learn about it from some excellent resources online. A brief description of the science behind the Aurora can be found on the website of the US Government’s Space Weather Prediction Center. Another brief explanation of the phenomenon can be found on the website of National Geographic. Information about predicting Northern Lights in Alaska, including a question and answer section, can be found on this website for the Geophysical Institute sponsored by the University of Alaska, Fairbanks. You could also share this three-minute YouTube video of the Northern Lights that was recorded at about the same time of our visit:

My husband, Hal, and I were fortunate to observe the Aurora while we were in Fairbanks. We had to select a night with little cloud cover in the sky, travel about a half-hour’s drive away from the city in order to escape the lights of the city, and wait until the later hours of the night. We also had to dress head-to-toe in protective snow gear to shield us from the cold temperatures. But we were well-rewarded for our effort.

Author Terry Lee Marzell (left) and her husband, Hal (right), enjoy the spectacular phenomenon of the Aurora Borealis on a recent trip to Fairbanks, Alaska. The experience offers opportunities for science instruction for students of all grade levels. Feb. 10, 2024. Photo Credit: Robert FrankevichPhoto Credit: Robert Frankevich (Our Alaskan tour guide)

One of the surprising aspects about the Northern Lights that we learned is that we thought the colors were better perceived by the camera than by the naked eye. This observation opens the door for an informative lesson about the human eye,  how rods and cones in the eye function, and how these functions affect our visual perceptions. Despite the limited ability of our human eyes, we were amazed by the beauty of the stunning Northern Lights, not to mention the glittering starscape in the sky above us.

Remember, too, that Alaska is not the only place where the Aurora can be observed. There are terrific viewing spots in Canada, Iceland, and Scandinavia, particularly in Norway and Finland. And there are also the Southern Lights, also known as the aurora Australis, which can be seen in Antarctica, New Zealand, and parts of Australia.

I hope this blog post helps educators in the Lower 48 share the science and the beauty of this spectacular display with their students, no matter what the grade level. Enjoy!