Steele Planetarium

Programs

Listed below are the program offerings for the Steele Planetarium for the 2006 - 2007 school year. New for this year we are offering directed science lessons in the Exploratorium. Lessons available and details for participation can be found below. Please consider us a resource for questions pertaining to science or science lessons. If we can’t answer your questions, we can usually point you in the right direction to find someone who will. We are a resource center for the PRISM Science and Math Kits. To order a kit for use with your class or to find out more about them please call me at Steele School.

The Hands on Science Room also known as the Exploratorium, will again be available for student investigation while classes are waiting their turn to attend their scheduled planetarium program. We are constantly adding to the kinds and numbers of self directed stations and activities there. Additionally, there are science videos you may choose to view while in the science room and you are always welcome to bring your own lessons, videos or reading material while your class is waiting for its program time.

New for this year are directed science classes in the exploratorium. To take advantage of this program you must arrive as a single class of no more than 30 students. Two to three parent or other adult volunteers would be appreciated. The first hour will be spent in the Planetarium for the program of your choice. The second hour will be spent in the exploratorium for one of the following lessons which will be adapted for your grade level. Please call or email for further information.

Magnetism: grades 1-6 Electricity and Magnetism: grades 3-6 Solids, Liquids and Gases: grades 1-6 Planetary Atmospheres: grades 4-6

If you have any questions or wish to schedule a planetarium program for your class, please contact me at Steele School, 303 - 744 - 1717.

Sincerely, Ralph Sodano

PROGRAM OFFERINGS FOR 2006 - 2007

KIDDY COSMOS, A PRESCHOOLER'S LOOK AT THE SKY (ECE, Kindergarten)

The moon, constellations, and the importance of our sun is the main focus of this program designed for children ages four and five. Children get to use their colors and animal sounds as they tour the heavens.

STARS, SUN, EARTH AND MOON, A FIRST GRADE PRIMER (GRADES 1 & 2)

This program is recommended as a first trip to the planetarium for first graders or for second graders needing to build basic concepts about space. The program shows the importance of light energy from the Sun to support life on Earth and demonstrates the motions of our home planet that account for night, day, the seasons and the length of an Earth year. Students will also join an Apollo Mission to the moon and learn the reasons for the moon's phases.

THE SOLAR SYSTEM: A FIRST TRIP (Grades 1 & 2 )

A trip through our solar system begins with a look at Earth and the unique features which allows it to be a habitat for humankind. As the journey continues, the children will be fascinated with the other planets and moons of our solar system, but soon discover that there's truly no place like home. The Earth's rotation and revolution are discussed along with the nature of our own back yard star, the Sun. Please have students a week or two into their solar system unit before attending this program.

THE SOLAR SYSTEM (Grades 3-6)

An imaginary trip through our solar system lets the students see the importance of the Sun in terms of light, atmosphere, temperature, water, surface features and other conditions relative to human exploration and habitation. The basic motions of the Earth and other planets are discussed. Please have students at least a week or two into their solar system unit before attending this program.

REASONS FOR THE SEASONS (Grades 4, 5 & 6)

The use of models and the projection of the seasonal transit of the Sun across the planetarium's domed sky helps to illustrate why the Earth gets differing amounts of energy throughout the year, accounting for our seasonal changes in weather.

CONSTELLATIONS AND MYTHOLOGY (GRADES 1-6)

Students learn the mythology behind the different constellations as seen projected on the planetarium dome. As stars and constellations change position in the sky from month to month, so do the stories of this particular program. Students get to participate in some of the story telling by projecting constellation images with hand held mini-projectors.

THE SUN (Grades 3-6)

The Sun's structure, composition and its electromagnetic emissions are all covered in this program. The importance our own “back yard” star has for life on Earth is also discussed. Follow up activities can include looking for sunspots, (weather permitting) through one of the planetarium's telescopes or new Solar Observatory.

SCIENCE AND SKY LORE OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN (Grades 1-6)

This program views the sky by way of stories and traditions of different North American Indian Tribes. But students will also find that the American Indian was an astute observer of the sky and had many ingenious methods of plotting celestial objects to plan their activities and calendar year.

DINOSAURS AND THE COSMIC CONNECTION (Grades 1-6)

Dinosaurs are a favorite of most children. But what were they really like, and how can we be so sure our ideas are accurate? The planetarium's dinosaur program tries to illuminate some of the detective techniques paleontologists use to answer these questions. The program also tries to show how different kinds of dinosaurs were adapted to fill the very same niches in nature that modern animals occupy today. How did it all come to an end for these magnificent creatures? Several theories including some that point to a cosmic culprit are presented.

BALARAT NIGHT WALK PREPARATION (Grade 5)

Prepares students to recognize and have understandings about some of the celestial objects that they will see in the night sky at Balarat during their evening walk. Planets, star types, constellations, moons, galaxies or any other significant night sky object currently in the sky will be discussed along with an ecological view of our planet's air and water resources. Many of the night sky objects presented during the program can be seen from the students' yards which helps make the information useful even if the skies are overcast at Balarat.

THE BACKYARD ASTRONOMER (Grades 1-6)

Similar to the Balarat Night Walk Preparation Program, but scope and information is adapted to grade level and is geared more to urban back yard observing.

MOONLIGHT AND LUNAR MADNESS (Grades 3-6)

Where in the galaxy did our moon come from? Will the moon always be there? Does light from the full moon cause madness? What does the future hold for human exploration and settlement of our moon? The answers to these and many more questions are covered in this program on our closest neighbor in space.

THE SECRET LIFE OF STARS (Grade 5 & 6)

How are stars born? What are they made of? How do they die? Will our own star, the Sun last forever? Are we all truly made from star dust? What is meant by a star's "magnitude"? The Secret Life of Stars was designed to help fifth grade teachers cover the life cycle of stars and the concept of stellar fusion.

MARS BECKONS Grades (3 - 6)

Students get a look at how mankind has perceived Mars down through the ages and what modern space exploration has revealed about the Red Planet. The latest information from the Mars’ rovers and other recent missions will be included. Students will find that with every new bit of information we learn about Mars, new and even more intriguing questions arise.