Let Us Bring Our Universe to You!
We now offer a variety of outreach programs that can be scheduled at your school! You can choose from the program types below, or combine half-day or full-day formats. Our pricing is based on travel distance and time spent at your location. These activities may also be added to a planetarium visit for an additional charge. Please see our pricing & options for additional details.
Presentation or Hands-On Activity: Ideal for a single classroom, we have developed the following presentations, which can be tailored to your grade-level to fit your curriculum. You may select any combination for a one-hour classroom presentation.
- Space time travel (20-25 minutes): We chart the distances to multiple celestial bodies in our universe to use as a teaching guide on topics like the speed of light and different methods of travel. 4th grade and up
- Planets (20-25 minutes): Using physical models of the planets, students will review planet order, discuss what defines a planet and the different characteristics of each planet. All Ages.
- Planet coloring sheet (20-25 minutes): A hands-on way for younger students to understand the characteristics of different planets while through activity and discussion. Pre-k- 5th grade.
- Bernoulli bag (Approximately one hour): This three part lesson helps to explain the earth’s atmosphere by illustrating the relationship between velocity and the pressure exerted by a moving fluid. 4th grade and up.
- Planet perspective (15 minutes): This lesson can be used to give a general perspective on distances of celestial bodies in our solar system. All ages.
- Meteorites and asteroids (35 minutes): This lesson provides a detailed understanding of the asteroid belt and explanation of the formation of the solar system along with discussion about gravity. Includes a theory of how our moon was made using a video from NASA. All ages.
- Colors of stars (approximately one hour): Students observe colors in the flame of a burning candle to explore the basic concepts of matter and energy. All ages.
- Hot air (approximately one hour): Students will produce observations from cool and hot air to demonstrate the effects of waves in everyday life, using interactions with refraction. They will also understand the impact of energy in transformations and the properties of matter. 4th grade and up.
- Hubble Space Telescope Picture Presentation (20-25 minutes): Students will explore the latest in space imaging and learn about how the Hubble Space Telescope is helping scientists reach the furthest places in our universe. All ages.
- Planetarium Trivia Game (20 min to one hour): A great add on to any presentation, students are tested on their general astronomy knowledge and other scientific ideas. Prizes can be awarded or can be used as test prep for your classroom. All ages.
Outdoor Activities: Outdoor demonstrations can only be reserved for Half Day or Full day programs and can also be paired with a classroom half day or full day set of activities. The lessons include:
- Rocket Launch:Using air rockets, students explore physics concepts including how rockets produce thrust and focus on Sir Isaac Newton’s Laws of Motion and how they relate to rocketry. All ages.
- Planet walk: This interactive lesson is good with any size group and also very good for a scouting group. This is an outdoor activity and needs a min of 200 ft of more to work. Needs at least 30 min time to execute. All ages.
- Sun Spotter Demonstration: Using a Keplerian telescope, we can observe the sun’s surface and watch as sunspots appear, move across the surface of the sun and vanish. All ages.
Combination Programs: For your science fair or science day, we can customize a schedule that combines classroom and outdoor activities.