News: 20 Years of Physics Tests at Kennywood!

Posted at 4:31 PM EDT (2031 GMT)

May. 20th, 2007 -- West Mifflin, PA —Tuesday, May 22, 2007 is the second distinctively educational day at Kennywood this year. 2007 is also the 20 th year for students to do work at Kennywood that was previously limited to a traditional classroom.

In 1987 a physics teacher from Westinghouse High School, located in the Pittsburgh City School District, contacted Kennywood to ask if he could develop an Amusement Park Physics Test for his students to use at Kennywood. Kennywood Sales Representative, Andy Quinn, said, “Sure, but remember that your students must pay to enter the park.” The teacher, Ed Henke, replied that was his expectation and that he would reserve group tickets.

After writing the test, Henke and a handful of colleagues in the High School Teacher’s Association brought their students to Kennywood. The group was comprised of 6 schools and approximately 100 students.

Twenty years later, Kennywood welcomes approximately 14 thousand students over two “Education Days” at Kennywood. On Tuesday, May 22, thousands of students will participate not only in Physics, but also in other Math and Science programs. Programs include: Physics, Mathematics @ Kennywood, Math & Science Passport, the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation’s Architecture Program, Phipps Conservatory’s worksheets entitled Plants at Kennywood, Space Exploration a NASA demonstration, Carnegie Science Center’s program Fire & Ice, Understanding our Watershed presented by RiverQuest & 3 Rivers Wet Weather and, in celebration of Pittsburgh’s 2007 Year of Glass, the Pittsburgh Glass Center will present Hot Glass Demonstrations. For schedule of events or further information, call 412.461.0500 or visit www.kennywood.com. Kennywood is open to students from 9:00 AM to 7 PM on Tuesday, May 22. (Note: Kiddieland is closed on May 22, 2007)