StarLab
 If you can't come to Drake Planetarium, we will come to you with StarLab, our portable planetarium. It is an inflatable dome capable of accommodating up to 25 students. Inside the dome, a cylinder projector is not only able to show us the night sky devoid of any light pollution; it can take us on a journey from the South Pole to the Equator and on to the North Pole. We can see the sky as it looks right now in Ohio as well as at the far end of the Australian outback. We can observe our whole galaxy and study the Solar System. We can look deep beneath the Earth's crust to see the tectonic plates and study causes and effects of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. StarLab can also serve as a great vehicle for exploring different cultures. We can see the sky through the eyes of ancient Egyptians and Greeks, learn the legends of ancient China and Africa, and study the tales of Native Americans.
 We will turn your students natural curiosity into a hunger to learn more. Our 14 foot inflatable dome will give your classes a day or week of exciting instruction. All we need is a large meeting room or gym to set up in. Choose the dome for one day or design an entire Space Week for your school. Forget about transportation costs, permission slips, and organizational headaches. We come to you for a fraction of the cost of a traditional field trip -- and it's worth every penny!
Kindergarten - Grade 2 Programs
Meet The Stars
Treat your kindergarten students to a science lesson in the stars! Students will use interactive activities to learn about the Sun, planets, stars and moon.
 Are The Stars Out Tonight?
Students are introduced to the concepts of day and night, plus how the rotation causes this effect on Earth. While exploring the day and night sky, students will learn about the Sun, planets, stars and moon, and be able to locate them in the planetarium sky.
Name That Constellation
This show illustrates how the rotation and revolution of the Earth cause stars and constellations to change position in the night sky. Students will learn to find directions using the Sun and the stars. While exploring the night sky, students will find and identify seasonal constellations.
Special Programs
The Sun's Family Tree
Students can enjoy a trip through the Solar System to discover facts about our nine planets. The formation of the solar system, is explained and even moons, asteroids, and comets are described.Students will also put their knowledge of stars to use and find visible planets in the night sky.
Native American Mythology
Students will be introduced to the night sky using stories and legends of the Native American people of North America. This program includes colorful outlines of figures from Native American folklore such as Long Sash, the Great Bear, First Man and Woman, Spider God and many others. An identification key contains legends drawn from the Navajo, Shoshoni, Blackfoot, Cherokee, Tewa, Hopi and Algonquin tribes. Excellent for use with K-6 students studying astronomy, social studies or language arts.
African Mythology
Take your students on a trip through space to explore the star stories of the African culture. Students will be intorduced to the starts and constellations with the stories of Africa.This colorful program depicts constellation figures as seen by many African cultures such as the Dogon, Bushmen, Masai, Egyptians and more. The appearance of these constellations marked key events such as the beginning of the planting season, and signified important moral lessons. Useful for astronomy, mythology, art, literature, social studies and history for all grade levels.
Follow The Drinking Gourd
The drinking gourd program illustrates how African-American slaves followed the Big Dipper in the sky to navigate their way to freedom in the North. Your students will use this story and song as an introduction to constellations found inthe night sky.
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