Cardboard boxes, the kind refrigerators and washing machines are delivered in, have long been a source of entertainment for imaginative youngsters. Now, thanks to an imaginative parent of a kindergarten pupil at Shady Hills Elementary School, cardboard boxes have become a "life size" space shuttle and control center for pupils. Tom Soszynski built the cardboard space shuttle last year when his son, Justin, was in pre-kindergarten. One of the requirements of the pre-K program, Soszynski said, is that parents must spend some time in the classroom. Soszynski said that for him it was time well spent. "It gives you a real good insight on what goes on in the classroom and builds up your child's self-esteem," he said. Soszynski came up with the space shuttle idea, he said, when his son's class began studying space. This year, kindergarten teacher Shirley Granger and assistant Deborah Palmer decided to expand on Soszynski's idea by covering the space shuttle with red, white, and blue construction paper and adding a control center complete with a moon rock examiner. Soszynski brought in more cardboard boxes and taught the pupils how to make their own space helmets and jet backpacks. "We made the jet backpacks," said Soszynski, "when the kids were learning about the letter J." Pupils recently donned their foil-covered helmets and jet packs and ventured onto the playground to collect "moon rocks." "We learned how to touch in space," said Janine Mearers. "You have to wear gloves." While some pupils examine their new found moon rocks at the control center, others take turns commanding the space shuttle. Six-year-old Shae Garvin said that was her "favorite thing." But classmate Alan Kaplan said he liked the countdown best, "because that's when the space shuttle takes off." "Kindergarten should be full of play," Granger said. "It's constructive. We learn from our play." And while the activity is fun for pupils, it also provides them with a real experience. "The more life experience they have here, the better prepared they are for first grade and the rest of their schooling," she said.