Skip To Main Content

Planetarium

FAQ - The Planetarium

 

WhAt is it exactly? 

It is an inflatable dome that students, teachers, and adults can enter and can display different learning materials on the inside of the dome. More information from our vendor 

What does it look like? 

Picture of planetarium dome

 

How much room does it take? 

It will require a 30' x 30' floor space and a 15' ceiling clearance. For most elementary schools, the gym is the only place that will house it. 

How many can fit inside at a time? 

It can comfortably seat 25 - 30 adults.

How long can we check it out? 

You can check it out for a week at a time. I will bring it out on a Friday  and pick it up from you the following Friday.

Who runs the planetarium while it is at my school? 

Since it is housed in the gym, most schools have a PE teacher involved in the presentations along with one other teacher from the building. Who runs the planetarium is completely at the discretion of the school leaders. If you would like some suggestions, please contact Jenn Lowery.

does that teacher need to stay with the planetarium all day? 

One teacher that is trained will need to stay with it while students are using it. The other teacher involved can rotate and can even be the homeroom teacher of the students using it. It is recommended that the classroom teacher experience the planetarium with their students to continue the conversation and learning once they are back in class. 

Can we put it up and take it down multiple times a day? 

You can deflate it when it's not in use, but leaving it in place on the floor will be necessary until you are ready to pack it up for pick up. Moving it repeatedly causes a lot of wear and tear. 

Do all students use it? 

That is entirely up to the school. Some schools use it with grades 3 - 6 to give each class a longer period of time to use it. Some schools make it part of the specials rotation so that all students experience it. 

We have children with limited mobility issues. Can they use it? 

Absolutely! Typically you enter from narrow door, but there is a way to enter on the side if needed. 

How long does it take for each class? 

That completely depends on your schedule. If you choose to do it during specials - 2 of the topics could be shown. If you plan for a longer time period per class, you can possibly do three; however, consider the following: Is this a follow-up to a. previous lesson taught in the classroom; Is this an intro to a lesson? Is the part of the main part of the lesson? How you plan your time may need to be adjusted accordingly. 

Do we have to keep it a whole week? 

No. If you want to make arrangements to bring it back early or have me pick it up early, we can do that. 

What kind of training does it require? 

It takes about an hour to learn how to put it up and take it down. Training will be offered once a quarter, and you will need to attend the training the quarter PRIOR to your reservation. At least two teachers need to be trained. 

Tentative Training Dates for 26-27

  • August 25th 4:30 - 6:00 
  • October 20th 4:30 - 6:00 
  • January 4th 9:30 - 11:00 (Record's Day) 
  • January 4th 12:30 - 2:00 (Record's Day) 
  • February 19th 9:15 - 10:45 (TNT Day) 
  • March 23rd 4:30 - 6:00 

Anything new I should know about since the 25-26 school year?

Yes! We are upgrading to a digital planetarium! This means a lot less boxes and no more changing the canister. Everything is run through a laptop. This does mean that everyone will need to go through a new training before using the new system. 

What lessons are available with the new system? 

Access to the Teacher's Manual for Starry Night and Layered Earth

Starry Night

  • Night and Day 
  • Going Through a Phase- Moon Phases
  • Location, Location, Location - Finding your Way Around the Sky 
  • Myths Around the World - Constellations and Stars Lore 
  • Change of Season 
  • Now You See It, Now You Don't - Solar and Lunar Eclipses 
  • Welcome to the Neighborhood - Overview of the Solar System 
  • Welcome to the Neighborhood - The Planets
  • Moving Out - The Motion of the Planets
  • Big Macs - Meteors, Asteroids, and Comets
  • Calendar int he Stars - Seasonal Constellations
  • Star Light, Star Brights - The Properties and Life Cycles of Stars
  • Our Little Island - The Milky Way Galaxy 
  • The Biological Cell 
  • PlateTectonics
  • Ocean Currents
  • Weather
  • North American Constellations 

Layered Earth 

  • Solid Earth - Layers of Earth 
  • Plate Tectonics 
  • Minerals and Rocks 
  • Shaping the Earth 
  • Earthquakes 
  • Volcanoes
  • Geologic Time 

Full Dome Movies (Good to play while reading a book) 

  • Back to the Moon for Good
  • Flight Through the Cosmic Web 
  • From Earth to the Universe 
  • Giraffe
  • Light Echos 
  • Losing the Dark
  • Magnetism 
  • Phantoms of the Universe
  • Reef
  • Search for the Edge of the Solar System 
  • The Reefs of Belize 
  • Two Small Pieces of Glass 
  • Universe's Evolution 
  • Waiting Far Away 

How Do I reserve this for my school?

Complete the form. Please get permission from your school leader and before submitting this form.