2007-2008 Online Teachers' Guide
Programs in the Planetarium

Planetarium Reservation Information

The Planetarium is large and can accommodate more than one school group at a time. We suggest that you make your reservations early if you would like to see a specific program, since the programs are scheduled on a first-come-first-served basis. It would also help if you had a few dates in mind for your visit.

Please count on spending one full hour, which includes seating students, for each Planetarium program. For safety reasons, no one will be allowed into a Planetarium program once it has started, so please make sure your group is at the Planetarium entrance 5 minutes before your scheduled program.

The Friendly Stars (Grades Pre K-K)

Program length: 25 minutes. The planetarium theater can be a mysterious and scary place for the average kindergartner. Mr. Sun takes us on a tour of the night sky. Along the way your students will find out that the planetarium is a very fun and special place to visit. Oh yeah, before we finish, we will take a look at some of the constellations and planets visible in the sky the week you visit.

SSS:

• Science - Nature of Matter- 1
• Energy - 1 & 2
• Earth and Space - 2
• Force and Motion - 1

Day and Night (Grades 1-2)

This program focuses on what causes day and night. Students will explore the Earth's motions and find out why the Sun seems to move across the sky. We will do a hands on demonstration that will drive the concept home in a way the students will not forget. We will finish by taking a look at the stars and planets of the current night's sky. Let's hope it doesn't rain!

SSS:

• Science-Energy - 1 & 2
• Earth and Space - 1 & 2
• Processes That Shape the Earth - 1
• Nature of Science - 1 & 2

A Trip Through Space (Grades 3-4)

In this exciting new program we will take the students on a whirlwind tour of our solar system. We will visit each planet, some moons, and of course the Sun. We will learn amazing and exciting facts about each place we visit. There will be plenty of time after our tour for questions and answers with the students.

SSS:

• Science - Nature of Matter - 1 & 2
• Energy - 1 & 2
• Force and Motion - 1
• Processes That Shape the Earth - 1
• Earth and Space - 1 & 2

Mystery of the Missing Seasons (Grades 3-4)

Join us as our hero, an average student with an astronomy assignment, helps some aliens discover why their planet has no seasons. Along the way we will learn what causes seasons on the Earth. This fun program makes the difficult concept of the reason for the seasons easy to understand. We will also have time to take a look at the objects visible in the night sky during the season your students visit.

SSS:

• Science - Earth and Space - 1 & 2
• Energy - 2
• Force and Motion - 1
• Nature of Science- 1 & 2
• Processes That Shape the Earth - 1
• How Living Things Interact With Their Environment - 1

A Tour of the Solar System (Grades 1-12)

Students will take a whirlwind tour of the Solar System in this exciting program. We will take an up close look at the planets in the Solar System, including a short stop at the Sun. Along the way we will discuss recent discoveries with the various NASA space missions. There will be time during the program for answering any questions the students might have.

SSS:

• Science - Nature of Science - 1 & 2
• Earth and Space - 1 & 2
• Nature of Matter - 1
• Processes That Shape the Earth - 1
• Forces and Motion - 2

Follow The Drinking Gourd (Grades 1-4)

This planetarium program is a multidisciplinary combination astronomy and history. The program explains how slaves in the southern areas of the United States used the stars to escape to freedom on the Underground Railroad. One star pattern that was widely used was the Big Dipper. American slaves pictured these stars as a drinking gourd. The program explains the song "Follow the Drinking Gourd" that was sung by slaves to help them remember the path to follow north. As reinforcement to the main idea that the stars can be useful, the program relates the story of one family that successfully escaped to Canada.

SSS:

• Science - Force and Motion - 1,
• Processes of Life - 1
• Earth and Space - 2
• Nature of Science - 1 & 3
• Processes That Shape the Earth - 2

The Sky Tonight (Grades 1-12)

During this program students will take a close look at the current night sky. We will look at the brightest stars and connect them to make constellations. We'll also check and see if the Moon or any planets are visible. Program content varies depending on the grade and the season. For example, first graders may compare our sun to other stars, and talk about shapes and colors; while sixth graders may discuss black holes and quasars. Whatever the grade, this program is sure to be an exciting learning experience.

SSS: This program covers a wide variety of Sunshine State Standards which depend on the grade level seeing the program. For information on which standards are covered for each grade, consult this program's Teacher Information Kit.

Grades K-12 may also request the current public Planetarium program if appropriate for the given grade level.