2nd-3rd Grade
The Sky Tonight (Live)
The Sky Tonight is a full-length live tour of the night sky for the time of your visit. Students will learn the secrets to finding objects in the current sky, including the visible planets, constellations, some deep sky objects, and the Moon. We will also discuss some of the myths and legends associated with the celestial objects.
Bear Tales (& Other Grizzly Stories) (Taped)
Bear Tales, produced by Joe
Hopkins Engineering Productions, takes us on a family camping trip out to the dark
skies of the forest. Grandpa Ben tells tall tails about the
night sky, including Greek and Egyptian mythologies. This program introduces the constellations
of the spring sky. It also demonstrates the
different views one gets with binoculars, telescopes, or just the human eyes. Bear
Tales gets your students involved with generous doses of humor
and a sing-a-long. Get program follow-up activities (pdf)
Follow the Drinking Gourd (Taped)
Produced by the New Jersey State Planetarium, Follow the Drinking Gourd, a historical program, discusses how African-American slaves used the stars -- mainly the stars of the Big Dipper -- to find their way north to freedom. Students will learn the song they memorized to assist them in their trip. They will also hear the tale of one African-American family and their successful journey north to freedom. This program also includes a live sky talk. Get program follow-up activities (pdf).
The Moon Witch (Taped)
The Moon Witch is a taped
program produced by Bowen Productions. It is a fast-paced, entertaining, and informative
look at the Moon. The program discusses why the Moon
appears larger when it is near the horizon, why it can seem like the Moon follows
you, and why the Moon goes through phases. Finally, we travel
with our Moon Witch pilot to the Moon and learn what it would be like to actually
go there.
The Moon Witch is an exceptionally well-written and produced program that deals with the very challenging topic of lunal phases. This program also includes a live sky talk. Get program follow-up activities (pdf).
So, You Want to Be an Astronomer...? (Taped)
So, You Want to be an Astronomer...? is a Ritter Planetarium production that takes a look at backyard astronomy and examines what astronomers do and how they do it. It also looks at career options in astronomy. The program is the perfect introduction to the night time sky, amateur astronomy, and the life of astronomers for any student.
Amazing Stargazing!! (Taped)
Produced by the Minneapolis Planetarium, Amazing Stargazing!! is a fun, fast-paced, and thrilling introduction to many aspects of the nighttime sky for all children. This radio-style program covers constellations, shooting stars, comets, and moons, among other things. If your group has never studied astronomy, this program is a marvelous way to introduce it. Get program follow-up activities (pdf).
Our Planet (Taped)
We spend so much time exploring outer space here at the planetarium that it’s easy
to forget we live on a planet in space,
too. Our Planet takes a look at the Earth, and how it interacts with Sun and Moon.
Along the way, we discover why we have seasons, wind and rain,
tides and the Northern Lights.
Journey Through the Solar System (Live)
Journey Through the Solar System (JTS) is an entirely new and updated version of our classic school program. It begins with a live sky talk and then moves on to an examination of the Sun and a tour of the nine planets and their major satellites. Our current version of JTS includes some of the most recent images available from the most recent space expeditions. The program also examines the minor members of our solar system: comets, asteroids, and meteors. Get program follow-up activities (pdf).
Lifestyles of the Stars (Taped)
Lifestyles of the Stars is also produced by Bowen Productions. In this program we
join a tour group, climb aboard a celestial tour
bus, and visit some of the biggest, brightest, and hottest stars in the universe.
This fun, exciting, and educational program discusses how stars
are born, live out their lives, and finally die. The program also includes a live
sky talk
See how these programs meet Science Education Standards.