Planetarium information – prices – typical day

Science in the Stars

Some areas of the Science National Curriculum can be hard to deliver in schools. How can we help children experience the full wonder of the sun, earth and moon in space? How can we communicate the apparent changes that the sun goes through, or how day and night are related to the spin of the earth? How can we explore sources of light and its properties, when it is hard to get the classroom dark enough? The answer is with our mobile planetarium! This inflatable dome, with its special projector, and a data projector gives your children a chance to experience the magnificence of the universe, right in their own school hall!

For Foundation Stage

What a Wonderful World - The Sun, Moon and Stars

We give your Foundation Stage children a wonderful opportunity to satisfy their curiosity about space, with our audio-visual presentations. They will learn about the sun, moon and stars in an age appropriate way..We will look at the starfield and hear the story of Orion. The follow up pack for this session includes photographs and age appropriate worksheets, along with extra ideas for more practical activities.

For Key Stage 1

Sources of Light

In the darkened dome Years 1 and 2 will explore light and darkness. They will learn about the sun, day and night and shadows, the moon and stars and other sources of light. On the starfield they will be shown the Milky Way, and some constellations. They will hear the story of Orion. The follow up pack for this session includes work on Orion and how constellations are put together, and work on light and shadows, day and night.

For Key Stage 2

The Sun and the Solar System

The children will learn about the sun, moon, earth and planets, with a tour round the universe. They will learn about how the earth's movements create day and night and the seasons, about each of the planets and the sun and moon. On the starfield we will find some constellations, and find out about the stars that are brightest and closest to earth. The follow up pack provides a comprehensive range of activites around the sun and stars.

Light and Shadow

This session explores natural and manmade light.It demonstrates properties of light and shadow. Then it's lights off and out with the torches to explore light in an exciting practical session, which covers reflection, splitting light and mixing light.

Not Just Science...

We don’t just teach Science in our dome. Looking at the stars and planets gives ideal opportunities for creative writing and story telling, for exploring the beliefs of ancient cultures, and for exploring beliefs about the origins of the world.

For Foundation Stage

Sam the Astronaut

With Sam the Astronaut – a friendly, space travelling puppet, children will have the opportunity to extend their language skills. A visit to the dome and time to talk with Sam the Astronaut will give children a chance to practise doing and saying things they are not able to do in real life. In fact, a journey into space is the example given in the Foundation Stage guidance! For this trip we are off to the moon, and will hear some of the stories associated with this part of space. For their follow up work back in the classroom, they record their experiences in words and pictures, to share with each other, or their parents and carers.

For Key Stage 1

Sam the Astronaut

Sam the Astronaut visits Key Stage 1 to encourage creative writing. Letters from space, poems about the planets or a news report from Neptune – the possibilities are endless! Sam may be familiar to your children from a Foundation Stage visit, but with their increasing writing skills, Sam is able to extend their Speaking and Listening, and Writing, by stimulating the imagination.We tour all the planets in our solar system on our way to an as yet unexplored body. Where in the Milky Way will we end up? The follow up work for this session is based round the idea of creating a new planet to explore.

For Key Stage 2

Ancient Greeks and Ancient Egyptians

The Ancient Greeks and Ancient Egyptians looked to the stars as a source of inspiration. After an audio visual introduction on our data projector, your children will learn about the importance of the stories in the stars to these cultures, and how their belief systems were displayed across the skies. We will re-tell some of the stories, pointing out the constellations as they appeared to the different ancient civilisations. Follow up work can involve further research into the stories behind the constellations, and perhaps creating a story of their own!

Creation Stories

With the stars overhead, creation stories from a variety of religions and cultures can be shared, giving a real sense of awe and wonder.

Other shows

At different times of the year we will be offering seasonal shows – look out for our leaflets, or give us a ring to find out more.

Scouts, Cubs and Beavers

We also run three shows suitable for the astronomy badge for scouts, cubs and beavers. Give us a ring and we can give you full details.

Prices

A full day visit to your school – five shows in all – costs £300. This works out at around £2 per head for five classes of 30; much less than the cost of a school trip!

A half day visit to your school – mornings only, three shows – costs £200. This works out at around £2.25 a head; still much less than the cost of a school trip!

Typical Day

8.00 - 8.30– arrive at your school

8.30 - 9.45– setting up the planetarium – we will need a space measuring 6.5m by 6.5 metres. A school hall or gym is ideal, and the planetarium can be deflated over the lunch hour.

9.00 – 9.50 -the first show of your choice! The show will last around 40 minutes, but we like to have extra time to explain how the dome works, for the children to remove their shoes, and to get into and out of the dome. We will also take this time to give the class teacher their follow up pack.

9.50 - 10.40– the second show of your choice!

10.40-11.30 – the third show of your choice!

We then often deflate the dome over your lunch break.

1.30 – 2.20 – the fourth show of your choice!

2.20– 3.10 – the fifth show of your choice!

The times for the afternoon shows have a little flexibility, to fit in with lunch and home time. Time must be allowed to re-inflate the dome, if it has been taken down over lunch. This takes roughly 10 minutes