Educational Programming at the Planetarium

Educational programs for schools or other community groups may be scheduled during the school day.

Programs may be scheduled during the morning starting at 9:30 a.m. Morning programs must be finished by 11:00 a.m.

Afternoon programs may be scheduled as early as 12:30. The time at which afternoon programs must be finished is dependant on a school corporation’s bus schedule.

Educational programs may be scheduled by calling the Planetarium 812-462-4272. If no one is in the office please leave your information on the answering machine.

The educational programs at the Planetarium have returned to a teaching style program. Through the use of a variety of audio visual materials information is presented. While certain programs exist to help teachers meet Indiana State Standards, programs can be changed to fit a teacher’s needs.

Educational Programs

Daycare or Preschool- Children watch The Magic School Bus projected onto the planetarium dome while images of the planets are projected on either side. A presentation of the night sky with an introduction to the constellations the Big and Little Dipper and either Orion or Leo, depending on the time of year concludes the program.

Second Grade- The Indiana State Standards focus on learning about cycles. Second grade classes will be introduced to the following cycles: Day and Night, the monthly cycle of the moon phases, and the seasonal cycle of the constellations.

Third Grade – The Indiana State Standards focus on the Moon. This program introduces the motions of rotation and revolution as they apply to planets and the moon. The appearance of the moon phases will be presented. The night sky will be presented with what ever moon phase and planets location are occurring at the time of visit.

Fifth Grade- The Indiana State Standards involves telescopes and the life cycle of stars. The fifth grade program introduces students to the two basic types of telescopes and why they are located in remote regions of Earth or sometimes in orbit. Through the use of laser disk images students are introduced to galaxies, nebulae, and the supernova of 1987. A demonstration of star sizes relative to the sun and a discussion of a star’s color help students through the life cycle of a star. The night sky is presented with specific stars being shown that represent various stages and colors of stars.

Enrichment programs- The most commonly asked for program is a general overview of the solar system. This program can be modified depending on the grade level. Through the use of laser disk images the planets and other objects in the solar system can be shown and discussed. The night sky is presented at the end of this program with a general discussion of constellations visible in the sky during the time of year in which the visit occurs.