Act II, Scene III
Washington, DC, Part 3
DC Adventures

Note to teachers and parents: If you haven't read the Introduction to this play experience, please go to this link before starting this scene with the students. You also might want to visit the Smithsonian site and have a look at the floor plans.

Setting and Where We Are in Our Adventure at This Time: Great Computer Hint <http://www.nasm.edu/NASMDOCS/PLANETARIUM/Einstein.html>.

Please fill in the scene at this time, here.... Don't forget to do this.

Additional characters for this scene: None

Curtain: (rises, stretches and is obviously in minor pain) The very stiff curtain rises after attempting to sleep on the floor the planetarium. This is, I assure you, is a great way to get people to look at the stars all night! I spotted the following constellations: (fill in) and they were beautiful. I'll bet Albert Einstein never have slept here. Of course, he couldn't have, or could he?

Student #12: (Be sure to change the student's names here to the names of classmates. Use find and replace on your word processor.) Of course not. He would have messed up his hair. And I know there are no blow dryers in the bathrooms, either.

Teacher: (Add your teacher's name here) All up, class! Before we have a hearty cheeseburger for breakfast, let's see what's happening in the Albert Einstein Planetarium today. Student #2, let me know what possible shows we might see.

Student #2: ZZZZZZzzzzzzz. Snore. ZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzz. Ahhhhzzzzzz. (Snores loudly while lying on the floor.)

Student #4: (perky and happy, like a TV announcer) I'll answer because Student #2 is sleeping rather loudly. Today in the Albert Einstein Planetarium we can see (fill in show).

Student #6: That would be really neat. I think we'd learn about (fill in). Can we stay for the show?

Great Computer: As soon as we have everyone up, we must move on. (Loudly, very loudly) GET UP STUDENT #2! (to audience as an aside) Egad! Some students are so lazy!

Student #8: I think we should visit the Langley Theater. Today's show there is (add show).

Great Computer: (lifting eyebrows to audience) Now watch me put them in their place. Tee Hee. (to students) All you want to do is to go to shows. You don't want to think for yourselves. Don't you know we have a schedule to follow? Abraham Lincoln has been waiting how many years for us to visit? We'll visit the Lincoln Memorial now. Student #10, can you tell me how tall the Lincoln statue is?

Student #10: (hesitates while going online to <http://www.washington.org/> to find the answer.) The statue is (fill in) feet tall, but he's sitting. Now I think he'd be about (GC Hint: fill in--Ho, Ho, you need to estimate this yourself) if he were standing.

Teacher: (smiles brightly at audience, obviously proud of Student #10) Why, Student #10, I'm so proud of you. Let's see if the rest of you can keep up with Student #10.

Student #10: (Proudly to audience) I am quite noticeably highly intelligent. My high IQ often brings me praise and adulation.

Student #5: (moans in disgust) Anyone could go online and get that answer. And as for the standing, that had to be a guess and it's probably wrong. Now Jefferson is standing, so (GC Hint: fill in by checking the Jefferson Memorial information in the Washington.org site).

Great Computer: Time for breakfast. I think we'll have a breakfast picnic on the National Mall, not too far from the tidal basin and our friend Thomas Jefferson. Check this site <http://www.washington.org/> again for information on how to get there. You'll find a very nice map of the National Mall.

Student #24: (clapping hands and jumping with pleasure) Oh, how I love to shop. What stores are in the mall?

Student #26: (rolling eyes at audience) Let's see, there's a gift shop at the National Gallery of Art, one at the Air and Space Museum, one at the American History Museum,....

Student #24: (interrupting) I mean real stores. A mall is for stores.

Students #26: The #1 definition of "mall" is a walk or a promenade usually lined by trees.

Teacher: Enough of that! Malls are malls and can be with stores, too, but not this one. But--guess what's for breakfast, class?

Everyone: (unhappily) Cheeseburgers. Not again!

Teacher: But you told me before this trip that that's what you liked best. We voted, remember? Therefore, we have cheeseburgers with cereal this morning. Eat up.

Classmate #5: I don't think this is a healthy diet you are feeding us. There is nutrition information on the AppleLearning Interchange that maybe we should check. This cheeseburger diet is making me long for all those fruits and veggies I wouldn't eat before.

Teacher: Good! (Winks slyly at audience and then says to students) Eat up.

Student #28: (looking at the mysterious breakfast) Mine has shredded wheat on it under the cheese.

Student #30: Corn flakes, all smashed up.

Student #32: I have cinnamon and oatmeal and raisons under the burger.

Student #1: I think I'm going to get sick again.

Teacher: What a creative breakfast! Now it's time to be on our way.

Student #14: (gets National Mall Map on the screen) From my understanding of the map of the National Mall, if we are picnicking by the Tidal Basin, then we have to walk (add direct and number of blocks) to get to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. That's where I want to visit. Can the rest of you follow the map?

Great Computer: Good idea, Student #14. Here we go....to the Museum of Natural History. <http://nmnhwww.si.edu/nmnhweb.html>. Student #16, describe what you see as you walk through the front door to the museum, please.

Student #16: Actually, I think the Museum of Natural History should be outside, don't you? (hesitates and smiles slyly at audience) I'd like to go outside and have another cheeseburger. I want one with grits this time. I will observe natural history outside.

Teacher: (gives her nastiest teacher stare to audience and then to Student #16) You will WHAT?

Student #16: I-I -I think I'll just describe the scene as I enter the museum. (describes scene). (to audience) By the way, the butterfly gallery of the Museum of Natural History IS outside.

Student #18: This place is so big we need to look at the maps for the floors. GC Hint: <http://nmnhwww.si.edu/VirtualTour/index.html#Floorplans>. I think if we click on them, they'll get larger and we'll know where we're going.

Great Computer: (raising eyebrows)

Student #10: (gives a little eeekkkkkk--but sounding a bit faked) Eeeeekkkkkkk. I hate spiders.

Teacher: Now, are spiders insects? You can find out by checking this insect site< http://ed.info.apple.com/education/techlearn/ccenter/insects.html>. By the way, when you have time, find the "Yuckiest Site on the Web." It's truly yucky and fun.

Student #6: Spiders are (fill in).

Student #4: I prefer mammals< http://ed.info.apple.com/education/techlearn/ccenter/insects.html>, and the Museum of Natural History has a great mammals collection. That leaping tiger, for example, is so beautiful. You can find out about endangered species there, too.

Student #20: I think I'd like to visit (pick out a gallery at the museum by checking the floor plan). You'll find (tell about it).

Great Computer: Ut oh. Time is going by. (smiles at audience.) Time for lunch. We'll head to the Old Post Office. Can you find that on the map?

Student #22: I don't see a Post Office in the Museum of Natural History. There is definitely no post office here!

Teacher: Oh my. Oh my. Where did that Post Office go? Can anyone find it?

Curtain: The curtain falls on Act II Scene III and calmly assures everyone that the curtain knows where the Old Post Office is.

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