Students blasted into space when they got their books as part of 1BookBG.

Every student in grades K-5 in Bowling Green City Schools’ three elementaries plus the city’s private schools were given books that followed the theme “”Out of this World Space Pioneers.”

“Last year we battled with animals, and the reader won,” said Kenwood Elementary first-grade teacher Shannon Lentz. “This year we will explore space and learn about some famous scientists like astronauts and engineers.”

Lentz had her students gathered around on the floor for the book reveal.

When she asked what engineers might do, one response was “they crawl in the vents” while another said, “they help the spaceships.”

The timeliness of the upcoming eclipse helped the 1BookBG Committee decide to focus this year’s titles on biographies of space scientists and information books about space, explained Stacey Higgins, a second-grade teacher at Crim Elementary and committee co-chair.

Kindergarten and first grade students received a graphic novel about Neil Armstrong, while fourth grade students received his book biography. Fourth grade teachers also received picture and chapter book biographies about John Glenn to share with the class, to connect to their focus on Ohio History in social studies.

Second grade students received a chapter book biography on Sally Ride.

Bowling Green’s first graders got a graphic novel about Neil Armstrong.

Third grade students received “What is NASA??” or “Where is our Solar System?” while fifth grade students received either “Who Was Galileo?” or “What are Constellations?”

Lentz went through the program calendar of events, plus the “mission stops” where students can collect a star sticker to fill out their flight log. One business a week also will feature a trading card of a “scientist of the week,” including Mary Golda Ross, Neil Armstrong, Sally Ride, Galileo and John Glenn.

Mission stops include the Wood County District Public Library, Call of the Canyon, Rock’em Sock’em Retro, Waddington Jewelers, For Keeps, Ben’s, Grounds for Thought, Biggby, Dairy Queen, Tropical Smoothie, Elite Collegiate Apparel, Staples, The Sweet Shop, Sundae Station, Sunset Bistro, the Bowling Green Community Center and Bowling Green Manor.

Students will be given a ticket for each visit to put in their schools’ raffle buckets.

At Kenwood, prizes include a young scientist set, Lego sets, activity books, and gift cards.

Students gasped in glee when they heard there were gift cards to Sundae Station, Al-Mar Lanes and Dairy Queen.

BGCS’s program will spread across six weeks and will include Teach Me Tuesday, when students who answer questions correctly will get raffle ticket; and Tell Me Thursday, where they can share with others something about their book and earn raffle tickets.

“The more you’re able to answer, the more tickets you’ll get,” Lentz said.

Spirit Days will be held on Wednesdays until the program’s last day on April 26, when students are encouraged to wear neon and bright colors to shine like a star.

On April 23, an Astro Expo will be held at Bowling Green Middle School from 5:30-7:30 p.m. A variety of hands-on activities and displays of students’ work will showcase what students have learned about the once in a life time solar eclipse event.

There also will be selfie stations of astronauts, including Armstrong’s one small step.