School visits
Visiting the Planetarium
A visit to a planetarium can be invaluable in communicating ideas of scale and distance in space. Such things simply do not fit into books, or even classrooms! The huge domed screen gives a sense of immersion and the whole experience is awe-inspiring and memorable.
The DCSF suggests a visit to a planetarium in year 5 to aid teaching of the Earth, Sun and Moon topic.
Schools may book planetarium shows as a stand-alone activity. However, we would recommend also spending time in our exhibition spaces! For more about what we offer schools, prices and for help with planning a visit, see the Education section.
To book, call Jane King on 01962 863 791.
Practicalities
We ask that teachers and helpers sit amongst the students to aid discipline during the show. Teachers will be provided with red torches which can be used, if necessary, to provide reassuring light, identify troublemakers or to aid exit during the show.
There is a loud unexpected bang in Neighbourhood Earth! If you wish to be warned when this will be (for instance if you have a child who may be alarmed), then just ask the presenter who will be happy to let you know! The section can be removed upon request when booking your show, and is not normally included in the KS1 show.
No food or drink in the planetarium please.
Available shows
• Neighbourhood Earth (30min + Q&A) – our recommended choice for KS1-KS4, a show designed around the National Curriculum. A live presenter tailors the show to the ability of the group and takes questions at the end. See below for details and show outline. Pre/post-visit KS2 resources available for free download. We run this show for adult audiences too.
• Cosmic Journey III (25min) – a journey around our solar system, visiting the planets and other objects in space. Good if you particularly want to see the planets, which are not covered in detail in Neighbourhood Earth. This show does not have a live presenter but it may be possible to arrange for a Q&A session after the screening.
• Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity (25min) – especially good for KS3+ and those studying GCSE Astronomy. Stellar evolution, the Big Bang, distortion of spacetime and Black Holes! This show does not have a live presenter but it may be possible to arrange for a Q&A session after the screening.
• Bespoke shows – GCSE Astronomy and A-level groups may be interested in a bespoke show based on a ‘live fly’ experience where our presenter flys in real time around the observed universe. We can display the magnetosphere, satellite orbits and zoom out to the edge of the Observable Universe. We can also show the sky as observed at different wavelengths. Smaller groups may be interested in getting students to make observations while in the Planetarium. Please get in touch to discuss what we can do for you.
Neighbourhood Earth
For KS1-4, we recommend ‘Neighbourhood Earth’, which has been developed in line with the National Curriculum. Having a live presenter allows the show to be tailored to the ability of the children. Pre/post-visit KS2 resources are available for free download.
For KS1, there is a simplified version of the show with an extra stage demo about light sources and reflection, and without the more potentially ‘scary’ sections.
Neighbourhood Earth has been produced in partnership with Global Immersion, and features high-quality full-dome video, a specially commissioned soundtrack and interactive sections with the opportunity for a question and answer session at the end.
The standard KS2 show contains the following sections:
· Earth: our home, our changing view of space (rotation/orbit using volunteers)
· Sun: the Sun as a giant explosion and light source
· Moon: surface features, not a light source, why we see phases
· Orientation: finding the plough, North Star, how the stars seem to move
· Constellations: seasonal constellation(s), mythology
· Planets: a brief look at any planets visible tonight, then all 8 orbiting the Sun
· Dark skies: stars are different (Sun as a star), supernovae, nebulae
· Galaxies: the Milky Way as a galaxy, there are lots of galaxies, galaxy distribution
· Earth: sense of scale. Final attempt to inspire people to look up into the sky!
The show has relevance to the following sections of the science curriculum:
• KS1
Sc4 Light and Sound
3a To identify different light sources, including the Sun
• KS2
Sc4 The Earth and beyond
4a That the Sun, Earth and Moon are approximately spherical
4b How the position of the Sun appears to change during the day
4c How day and night are related to the spin of the Earth on its own axis
4d That the Earth orbits the Sun once each year, and that the Moon takes approximately 28 days to orbit the Earth
• KS3
Sc4 The Earth and beyond
4a How the movement of the Earth causes the apparent daily and annual movement of the Sun and other stars
4b The relative positions of the Earth, Sun and planets in the solar system
4c About the movements of planets around the Sun and to relate these to gravitational forces
4d That the sun and other stars are a light source and that the planets and other bodies are seen by reflected light
4e About the use of artificial satellites and probes to observe the Earth and to explore the solar system
• KS4
Sc4 The Earth and beyond
3a The relative positions and sizes of planets, stars and other bodies in the universe. (comets, meteors, galaxies and black holes)
3b How gravity acts as a force throughout the universe
3c How stars evolve over a long timescale
3d About some ideas used to explain the origin and evolution of the universe
Last Modified: 06/05/2008