The Sun and Its Planets

"The outline was very helpful - modeling questions reinforced information. The planetarium teacher was very effective, patient and clear. Everything was great - we learned a lot!" St. James School

Students have fun as they collect data about each individual planet. Once students collect and record their data, they must apply this information on their scavenger maps to find the missing treasure. As they go, students use the stars to find their way through the night sky.  Teachers, this exercise helps your students learn how to use the scientific method and have fun too!

Moon Madness

Treat your students to a hands-on lab about the moon. This program explores the motions of the moon and its phases.  Students learn how to read a moon map and are trained how to locate specific features on the moon's surface.  Meteors, meteorites, comets, asteroids, and other space phenomena are covered in this enjoyable program. Students also use a star chart to locate the planets and stars of the seasonal sky.

Project Star-walk

Take your students on a journey through the night sky based on the seasonal changes of our Earth. This program is designed to provide elementary students with a lab experience that allows them to actually use the scientific method (process approach) by graphing, predicting, observing, and drawing conclusions about what they experience in the planetarium. Students are challenged to use repetitive events like seasons, sunrise, or moon phases to help them tell time. The concepts of rotation, revolution, seasons, axial tilt, constellations, and time are explored during this program.

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Specialty Programs For Grade 3

Planet Patrol

This extremely dynamic and informative program will take you on a guided tour of our solar system in the capable hands of that famous private eye, Sam Snork, and his faithful student side-kick, Elmo. As the pair of super-sleuths race through our solar system in pursuit of a very troubling source of communication interference, they visit all of our Sun's planets. The information is current and interesting, as well. The music and visual effects hold the audience, keeping them in the action at all times. This is a very good overview of your students planetary studies.