Program Descriptions

Art in the Planetarium [All]
The STARLAB Planetarium will provide the setting in which students can experience the vastness of the universe, celestial motion, seasonal constellations or the characters of mythology. These experiences will provide the inspiration for the creation of original works of art.

Big Dipper [Elementary]
The concepts of the earth's rotation and revolution will be demonstrated using the Big Dipper as reference. After observing apparent stellar motions students will predict future positions and discuss possible explanations for these movements.

Biological Cell [Intermediate, Sr. High]
The Biological Cell cylinder can be used to introduce the complexities of cell structure or to assess the students' grasp of cellular components as a unit review. Protein synthesis can be discussed by tracing the intricacies of interaction of each cell part.

Boehm Concepts [Kindergarten]
Using the night sky this program provides an interactive setting to facilitate augmentation of basic concepts that are part of the daily vocabulary of kindergarten students.

Directions: North, South, East and West [Elementary]
The basic concepts of the earth's shape, and movement will be reviewed. In the planetarium, students will experience both day and night skies. Using observations of the Big Dipper, Polaris, the apparent path of the sun and stars, group discussion and deduction, students will learn how to predict north, south, east and west.

Earth Science Sky [Intermediate, Sr. High]
Developed to offer a visual presentation of a multitude of Earth Science topics, this program can be used as an introduction to or a review of: longitude and latitude; Polaris-latitude relationship; apparent stellar motion at 0, 43, and 90 degrees; seasonal path of sun; moon phases and constellations. Time permitting teachers may select some or all of the topics listed. It is recommended that a double class period be allocated for this presentation.

Foreign Language - French, Spanish [Sr. High]
With the Planetarium operator as a technician and a recorded script, students are taken on a planetarium adventure. Using both the Earth and Northern Sky cylinders, students can: (a) travel the French countries of the world; (b) travel the Spanish countries of the world. Designed to be interactive, teachers are requested to interject questions or comments throughout. Minimum Level 2 language skill required.

Geography Lesson from Space [Elementary, Intermediate]
A class of elementary Social Studies students takes a space "fieldtrip" on STARLAB Voyager. Once in orbit, a flyby gives students an "astronauts eye view" of the continents, oceans, peninsulas and islands. The concepts of latitude and longitude will be reviewed and then reinforced as students identify the coordinates of various vacation spots.

Greek Mythology [All]
Beginning with the STARLAB Greek Mythological Constellation cylinder, a variety of presentations can be offered. Teachers may select the myths to be told or leave the decision to the discretion of the operator. Either the teacher, the operator or, in a joint effort, both may elect to narrate. Students may also relate the myths that they have researched - the operator in this case would identify the star groups associated with the chosen story.

I'm a Star Finder [Elementary, Intermediate]
This program will introduce the student to the myriad stars visible in the current night sky. By using a star chart, the students will become proficient in locating specific stars in both the real night sky and the STARLAB Planetarium.

Indian Legends, American [Elementary. Intermediate]
The Northern Sky cylinder will introduce the Indian's perception of the night sky as a calendar, clock, road map and teacher of moral values. The American Indian Legend cylinder will project Indian star figures overhead as a various Native American star tales are presented.

Longitude and Latitude [Elementary. Intermediate]
From an astronauts perspective, continents, oceans and the hemispheres to which they belong will be identified. The relationship between lines of longitude and time zones will be demonstrated. The Tropic of Cancer and Capricorn will be introduced. A final "orbit" will compare ocean sizes often distorted by flat maps. A switch to the Celestial Coordinate cylinder and students will see the similarities and differences between latitude and longitude and declination and right ascension used for star mapping.

Moon Phases [Elementary, Intermediate]
Moon morphology, properties and phases will be reviewed with a slide presentation. The Northern Sky cylinder will then be used to demonstrate the position of both the moon and the sun and the resulting phases at various points during the moon's revolution around the earth. Once a pattern has been established, students will be asked to predict the time and position of the next phase.

Multicultural [Intermediate]
Many cultures looked to the sky as part of their everyday life. Using Greek, Chinese and African Mythology Cylinders, star lore of each culture will be explored and compared.

Ocean Currents [Elementary, Intermediate]
This interdisciplinary program incorporates Social Studies and Science. After reviewing longitude, latitude and the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, students track a hurricane from its point of origin in the ocean until it hits land. This hands-on activity acts as a springboard for discussion of the affect of ocean currents on weather, climate, whale migration, navigation and shipping routes. Time permitting, students can calculate the speed of a hurricane at various points of its path.

Physical Science [Intermediate]
This presentation is based on the New York State Intermediate and Physical Science Core curriculum. Teachers may customize a presentation by choosing from the following topics: plate tectonics; weather; earth's tilt/season relationships; and planets.

Planets [Elementary, Intermediate]
A slide program will acquaint students with the planets of our solar system. The STARLAB Northern Sky cylinder will then be used to guide students to locate the visible planets in the night sky.

Optics [Intermediate]
The planetarium provides an ambient light-free optic lab for demonstrating the properties of light. Angle of incidence and angle of reflection are introduced using mirrors and protractors. Experimenting with convex lenses, students explore the relationship of lens type to magnification, clarity and focal distance. The practical applications of using mirrors and lenses in everyday life are discussed. Limited to classes of 12 or less.

Plate Tectonics [Intermediate, Sr. High]
This program will familiarize students with the concept of plate tectonics, relating the morphology of the earth and sea floor spreading to sites of active volcanism and earthquakes.

Poetry in the Planetarium [Intermediate, Sr. High]
Using the Northern Sky cylinder, students will be introduced to the night sky. Recorded poems will then be heard. Teachers may chose from the available bibliography, read poems of their own choosing, or have students write and record poems to be played in the planetarium. With sufficient advance notice of poems selected, slides may be used to expand visual concepts.

Seasonal Constellations [All]
The STARLAB Planetarium projector will be set to simulate the night sky of the current season. Circumpolar constellations will be reviewed. Seasonal constellations and visible planets will be located and identified. Time permitting, the night sky of a different season can be projected and comparisons made with the current seasonal sky.

Sky Patterns [Elementary]
A pattern will be introduced as a repeating sequence of objects or events. The Planetarium will be used to demonstrate sunrise and sunset. Students will observe similarities and variations in sunrise-sunset directionality and path length. Once a pattern is established students will label the inside of the Planetarium with predictions of the next sequential step. Additional patterns utilizing the moon and/or Big Dipper can also be explored.

Star Patterns [Elementary]
Designated to offer a general awareness of night sky objects for primary students, star color, size, brightness and pattern will be noted and discussed. Day and night will be experienced in the STARLAB. Students will observe that stars do shine during the day but that we do not see them because their light is obscured by the brightness of the sun. Using the Northern Sky cylinder, familiar constellations and star patterns will be identified. The Greek Mythology cylinder will then aid the students in "seeing" the constellations. Returning to the night skies, students will be encouraged to find and share their own constellations with their classmates.

Stellar Altitude-Latitude Relationships:
Polaris and Star Motion [Intermediate, Sr. High]
Using the Earth cylinder, altitude and latitude will be discussed and the relationship between and imaginary line drawn from a person standing anywhere on the earth and that persons latitude will be demonstrated. Stars in the constellations, Ursa Major, Ursa Minor and Cassiopeia will be identified and the concept of circumpolar constellations will be introduced. The movement of the circumpolar stars will be observed at 0, 43 and 90 degrees latitude. (Part of Earth Science Sky program)

Stellar Coordinates [Sr. High]
Through the use of three cylinders, Earth, Northern Sky and Stellar Coordinates, students will name and give the stellar coordinates of six bright stars in the night sky. The similarities and differences between latitude/longitude and declination/right ascension will be discussed.

Sun and Seasons [Intermediate, Sr. High]
Slides will be used to reinforce the concept that revolution and the earth's tilt result in seasons. The angle of the sun's rays during the seasons and the affect on seasonal climate will be noted. The STARLAB Northern Sky cylinder will then be set to demonstrate the position of the sun on June 21, September 21, December 21, and March 21 (the vernal equinoxes and solstices). Direction of sunrise and sunset, altitude of noon sun, and length of sun's path will be observed by the students. Time permitting, monthly changes in direction of sunrise and sunset will be demonstrated.

Weather [Intermediate]
The Weather cylinder graphically depicts the world's major weather patterns. The position of wind systems, pressure systems and jet streams and their affect on atmospheric circulation will be discussed. Students will be encouraged to infer the affect of weather on transportation, migration and climatic differences. May be used in combination with the Ocean Current Cylinder and discussion of hurricane origin and path.

Zodiac Constellations [Intermediate, Sr. High]
The Greek Mythology cylinder will be used to present the zodiac constellations and the legends associated with each. The position of the zodiac constellations within the ecliptic will be noted. Using the Northern Sky cylinder, the constellations and planets of the current season will be located and identified.

New for 2002 - 03

• Physical Science (intermediate)
• Misconceptions (being piloted - all levels)