Planetarium
Lesson Plans
We typically teach 6 planetarium classes per grade per school year. You will find the topic for each lesson listed below.
Each class is 45 minutes and is divided into a Lecture Section and a Dome Section. We encourage a different parent to take each section so you have a teaching buddy.
The first half is referred to as the lecture portion of the class. However, the lecture looks like a lot of different things depending on the volunteer and the topic. The lecture can be a power point presentation, a game show, a play, an engineering or art project or something else entirely! Choose a technique that will ensure you love teaching the material and the students love learning it! This part of the lesson requires little or no planetarium dome practice or preparation (although we do have lots of props and supplies available to support your lesson). Most of your preparation can be done at home.
The second half of the class is the dome portion. This is when the kiddos get under the dome and you get to navigate the night sky. This is when we share mythological stories and sometimes use costumes to act out mini-plays. This part of the lesson requires some practice in the planetarium. We suggest you read through your lesson and then practice accessing what you would like to show the students on the dome some time before the class. See "Volunteer Support" to learn how to schedule your practice time.
Lesson plans and a wealth of supplemental resources are now available for all grades on Google Drive.
KINDERGARTEN: Introducing Space!
Lesson 1: Introduction to Planetarium, the Sun and constellations
Lesson 2: The Sun and other stars
Lesson 3: The Eight Planets in our Solar System
Lesson 4: REVIEW; Comets/Asteroids /Meteors
Lesson 5: The Moon
Lesson 6: Review – an interactive lesson
1st GRADE: A Moving Picture
Lesson 1: Planets, galaxies, stars, constellations REVIEW
Lesson 2: Directions; Rotation & Revolution
Lesson 3: The Sun and shadows
Lesson 4: The Moon
Lesson 5: All the objects in our Solar System – planets/comets/asteroids/meteors and the role of gravity
Lesson 6: Let’s Go to Space – Space travel
2nd GRADE: Our Solar System
Lesson 1: Mercury & Venus
Lesson 2: Earth
Lesson 3: Mars including Curiosity/Spirit & Opportunity
Lesson 4: Asteroid Belt; Jupiter & Saturn
Lesson 5: Uranus & Neptune; dwarf planets; My Galactic address
Lesson 6: Walk of the Planets
3rd GRADE: Paths in Space
Lesson 1: The Sun
Lesson 2: Moons and satellites (Earth’s moon, other moons, man-made satellites)
Lesson 3: Southern Skies - Longitude & Latitude; astronomy from different perspectives/cultures
Lesson 4: Cardinal directions including North Star; maps & compasses
Lesson 5: Reason for the Seasons
Lesson 6: Gravity and Space
4th GRADE: Exploring at the Universe
Lesson 1: Native American skies
Lesson 2: Changing views of the Universe through time (Aristotle, Ptolemy, Copernicus, Galileo, Kepler, Newton, Einstein etc)
Lesson 3: History of Space Travel
Lesson 4: Living in Space
Lesson 5: Looking at the Universe (The Big Bang; Hubble findings; light/electromagnetic waves)
Lesson 6: Down to Earth
5th GRADE: Follow the Stars
Lesson 1: Star Properties and Life cycles
Lesson 2: Galaxies
Lesson 3: The Zodiac
Lesson 4: Tides & Explorers
Lessons 5 & 6: Create your own star myth