Ritter Planetarium and Brooks Observatory

Preschool-1st Grade

The following programs are appropriate for preschoolers, kindergartners, and first graders:

Don't Duck, Look Up!! (Taped)

Dudley the DuckJoin Dudley, a precocious little duck, as he begins to learn about the sky along with a barnyard full of animal friends. Experience a thunderstorm, a sunset, and the shifting patterns of the nighttime stars. Don't Duck, Look Up!!, produced by the Davis Planetarium in Baltimore, also covers constellations and why we have day and night. This program is a wonderful introduction to both the day and night sky. Please allow pproximately 45 minutes for your visit to the planetarium, including time to visit the displays in the lobby. Get program follow-up activities (pdf).

The Sky (Live)

Cartoon representation of Moon and stars (not a real planetarium view)The Sky is a live introduction to the things we see in the sky, such as the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars. We will use the planetarium projector to demonstrate why we have day and night, talk about the Moon and its changing phases, and look at some of the easier-to-find constellations. Please allow approximately 45 minutes for your visit to the planetarium, including time to visit the lobby displays. Get program follow-up activities (pdf).

See how these programs meet Science Education Standards.

Last Updated: 7/15/24