Pickford Film Center Bellingham, WA
Ashley Petronella
Middle School STEM Teacher
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial— Why pedal when you can fly?
Program Description
Before we dive into the magic and wonder of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Whatcom Middle School STEM teacher Ashley Petronella will pose a simple but surprisingly thought-provoking question: If your bike could fly, would you still need to pedal it?
This conversation invites audience members to look closer at what they see and to think about how motion, energy, and even habit play roles in both real life and fiction. It’s a moment to pause and wonder about how the things we think we understand can surprise us when we see them in a new way because sometimes, the best part of a story isn’t just what happens… it’s what we learn from wondering how and why.
Presented At
Pickford Film Center Bellingham, WA
Film Synopsis
A young boy summons the courage to help a friendly alien escape Earth and return home.
A gentle alien becomes stranded on Earth and is discovered and befriended by a young boy named Elliott (Henry Thomas). Bringing the extraterrestrial into his suburban California house, Elliott introduces E.T., as the alien is dubbed, to his brother and his little sister, Gertie (Drew Barrymore), and the children decide to keep its existence a secret. Soon, however, E.T. falls ill, resulting in government intervention and a dire situation for both Elliott and the alien. This epic sci-fi film received nine Academy Awards nominations and won four, and became the highest grossing film of all time when it was released.
About the Speaker
Ashley Petronella is a STEM teacher at Whatcom Middle School. She absolutely loves creating, designing, and problem-solving, which makes teaching STEM the perfect job for her! When she's not teaching, Ashley's spending time with her wonderful husband and three kids. As a family, they love to travel, go on walks, and play games. Ashley also enjoy capturing memories through photography. In her free time, you'll likely find her on the pickleball court with friends, staying active and having fun.