
Learning Results & Northern Stars
Planetarium
Northern Stars presentations have always been
designed to provide good educational science information. We try to
cultivate student inquiry and investigations, and create a curiosity
and desire to learn. Now we are also embracing Maine's Learning
Results standards.
You will find many points relevant to Learning
Results presented in all of our programs. We have had many
inquiries concerning how our programs integrate Learning
Results, here is our list of presentations and some of the
Learning Results points that each program will touch upon.
Please note that as we create and update our programs we will pay
special attention to incorporate Learning Results
standards.
Planetarium Programs & Learning
Results
Each listing below will provide the program title, the appropriate
age level, and the Learning Results Categories (LRC) that are touched
upon in the presentation. The degree of depth the presentation
ventures within each category is shown by the order of categories
listed. Lastly we present a list of key concepts that are presented
within each program for you to better determine how the presentation
will correspond with your individual curricula.
- Pictures in the Sky
(Preschool-K)
- LRC: Science & Technology: G.
Universe, F. The Earth, B. Ecology, J. Inquiry & Problem
Solving
- Key Concepts presented: day/night
concepts, seasons, gravity, the sun, stars, constellations,
moon, planets, meteors, weather--(clouds, rain, snow,
lightning, rainbows), sky creatures--(bats, owls, insects)
- ABC's of the Sky (K-2)
- LRC: Science & Technology: G.
Universe, F. The Earth, H. Energy B. Ecology.
- LRC: Englis Language Arts: A.
Process of Reading.
- Key Concepts Presented: An ABC book on
Space and Astronomy. Each word is presented in written form on
the dome, along with many pictures to illustrate the concept.
Planets, stars, constellations, the Sun, space flight, light,
and tools of astronomy are all discussed.
-
- Our Family in the Sky (K-2)
- LRC: Science & Technology: G.
Universe, H. Energy, B. Ecology,
- Key Concepts Presented: Order and
characteristics of the planets, the sun, stars, constellations,
rotation & revolution, motions of the planets about the
sun, sun's energy and it's effects on life (both plants and
animals)
- Our Place in Space (1-2 &
Springtime Kindergartners)
- LRC: Science & Technology: G.
Universe, H. Energy, B. Ecology,
- Key Concepts Presented: Sun as a
star, gravity, rotation, day & night, order and simple
characteristics of the planets, near & far, distances,
galaxies & Milky Way
- Star Stories (1-2)
- LRC: Science & Technology: M.
Implications of Science & Technology, G.
Universe
- LRC: English Language Arts: B.
Literature & Culture
- Key Concepts Presented: Legends and
myths about the sky and constellations from Native American and
Greek sources, constellations, shows how different cultures
viewed and understood sky phenomena, story telling
- World of the Dinosaurs (1-3)
- LRC: Science & Technology: A.
Classifying Life Forms, D. Continuity & Change, B. Ecology,
F. The Earth, J. Inquiry & Problem Solving, K. Scientific
Reasoning, L. Communication
- Key Concepts Presented: Dinosaurs as
an ancient life form, how we learn about dinosaurs, fossils,
dinosaurs versus reptiles, different types of dinosaurs, how
and what they eat, how dinosaurs might have become extinct,
extinction, history of discovery, dinosaurs as compared to
mammals
- Follow the Drinking Gourd (2-4)
- LRC: Science & Technology: G.
Universe, F. The Earth, H. Energy, J. Inquiry & Problem
Solving, L. Communication
- LRC: Social Studies: Geography: A.
Skills & Tools, Human Interaction with Environments;
History: A. Chronology, B. Historical Knowledge, Concepts,
& Patterns
- Key Concepts Presented: Slavery, Who
were the slaves? Where did they live? What they knew about the
sky? the sun and it's motions through the sky in different
seasons, constellations, navigation by the north star and big
dipper, music, story telling
- Sandy, Pepper and the Eclipse / Moon Witch
(2-4)
- LRC: Science & Technology: G.
Universe, H. Energy
- Key Concepts Presented: Moon's
motion around Earth, moon, earth & sun relationship, phases
of the moon, total & partial eclipses, the sun, shadows,
common misconceptions about the moon--(the moon follows us, the
moon changes size & color), distances, rotation and
revolution, Apollo missions
- Birds in the Planetarium? (3-5)
- LRC: Science & Technology: A.
Classifying Life Forms, B. Ecology, J. Inquiry & Problem
Solving, F. The Earth, G. The Universe, L.
Communication
- Key Concepts Presented: How birds
have adapted to different environments, How to examine a bird
and determine where it lives and what it eats by studying
beaks, claws, wings, eyes, and tail. Color & camouflage,
migration, navigation, bird calls and sounds, bird
constellations
- A Ride on the Space Shuttle
(3-5)
- LRC: Science & Technology: G.
Universe, M. Implications of Science & Technology, J.
Inquiry & Problem Solving, I. Motion, L.
Communication
- LRC: Career Preparation: C.
Integrated and Applied Learning
- Key Concepts Presented: The Space
Shuttle and it's technology, parts of the shuttle and how they
work, why go into space, what astronauts do, the dangers of the
space environment, rocketry, gravity & weightlessness,
orbits, astronaut training, daily life for an astronaut aboard
the shuttle--(eating, sleeping, working, clothes, the bathroom,
excersizing, cleaning, etc.), experiments, satellites
- The Wonderful Sky (3-6)
- LRC: Science & Technology: G.
Universe, H. Energy, J. Inquiry & Problem Solving, L.
Communication
- Key Concepts Presented: The sun as a
star, stars, distances, brightness & magnitude, star
colors, constellations, visible planets, meteors, comets, the
moon,satellites
- Native American Sky Legends
(3-6)
- LRC: Science & Technology: M.
Implications of Science & Technology, G.
Universe
- LRC: English Language Arts: B.
Literature & Culture
- Key Concepts Presented: Legends from
Native American cultures that were used to explain sky
phenomena (such as star creation, constellations, clusters,
Milky Way, rainbows, etc.), constellations, story telling
- A World of Sky Stories (3-6)
- LRC: Science & Technology: M.
Implications of Science & Technology, G.
Universe
- LRC: English Language Arts: B.
Literature & Culture
- LRC: Social Studies: Geography: B.
Human Interaction with Environments.
- Key Concepts Presented: Legends and
mythology from around the world as it relates to constellations
in the night sky, constellations, the moon, Earth, day and
night, story telling
- Heroes, Gods & Monsters
(35-8)
- LRC: Science & Technology: M.
Implications of Science & Technology, G.
Universe
- LRC: English Language Arts: B.
Literature & Culture
- Key Concepts Presented: Greek
mythology as it relates to constellations in the night sky,
constellations, story telling
- Exploring Our Solar System (3-8)
- LRC: Science & Technology: G.
Universe, H. Energy, J. Inquiry & Problem Solving, L.
Communication
- Key Concepts Presented: More in
depth characteristics of the planets, rotation &
revolution, the sun, solar energy, gravity, planetary motions,
constellations
- Mars Magic! (3-7)
- LRC: Science & Technology: G.
Universe, J. Inquiry & Problem Solving, M. Implications of
Science & Technology
- Key Concepts Presented: An in-depth
look into our understanding of Mars, rotation, revolution,
retrograde motion, telescopic views, space probes, life on
Mars, history of exploration
- The Great Moon Adventure (4-6)
- LRC: Science & Technology: G.
Universe, J. Inquiry & Problem Solving
- Key Concepts Presented: Lunar
features--(craters, mountains, maria, rilles, etc.), phases,
rotation & revolution, eclipses, apparent motion in the
sky, Apollo missions to the moon
- Earth, The Ocean Planet (4-6)
- LRC: Science & Technology: F.
The Earth, G. Universe, H. Energy, I. Motion, J. Inquiry &
Problem Solving, D. Continuity & Change
- Key Concepts Presented: Water cycle,
earth's water: where is it found, historic exploration of the
oceans, waves, tsunamis, tides, ocean currents, gravity, the
moon and sun, deep sea creatures
- Volcano! (3-7)
- LRC: Science & Technology: F.
The Earth, G. Universe, H. Energy, D. Continuity &
Change
- Key Concepts Presented: Continental
drift, layers inside the earth, faults, types of volcanoes and
why they are different, lava and volcanic rocks, volcanoes on
other worlds
- Asteroids, Comets & Meteors
(3-8)
- LRC: Science & Technology: G.
Universe, H. Energy, I. Motion, E. Structure of Matter J.
Inquiry & Problem Solving
- Key Concepts Presented:
Characteristics of asteroids, comets, and meteors,
revolution and orbits, locations in the solar system, how the
sun's energy effects these objects, how they interact with
earth
- Discovering Geography with Columbus
(3-6)
- LRC: Science & Technology: F.
Earth, J. Inquiry & Problem Solving
- LRC: Social Studies: Geography: A.
Skills & Tools, B. Human Interaction with Environments;
History: A. Chronology, B. Historical Knowledge, Concepts,
& Patterns; Economics: D. International Trade & Global
Interdependence
- Key Concepts Presented: Who was
Columbus? Where was he from? What did he want to do? Why did he
want to do it? Why were spices and eastern goods so valuable?
Early views of earth through maps, Eratosthenes and the
discovery of a round world, Discovery of America, navigation,
compass & magnetism, routes to the east, Columbus'
journal
- Biology of the Cell (5-7)
- LRC: Science & Technology: A.
Classifying Life Forms, B. Ecology, C. Cells, D. Continuity
& Change, H. Energy, J. Inquiry & Problem Solving, K.
Scientific Reasoning, L. Communication
- Key Concepts Presented: The basic
needs of life: food, shelter (a safe enviroment), and
reproduction. Kingdoms of life. Simple and complex life forms.
Organs and their purposes. The cell, its parts (organelles),
and their functions. The microscope.
- Ideas and Discoveries (5-8)
- LRC: Science & Technology: F.
Earth, G. Universe, H. Energy, I. Motion J. Inquiry and Problem
Solving, K. Scientific Reasoning, L. Communication, M.
Implications of Science and Technology.
- Key Concepts Presented: Light
Pollution--the problems of it and the solutions to it. How we
discover planets going around other stars. Red shift and
Blueshift of spectra and how that relates to stellar motion.
Classification of planets, asteroids, comets and other solar
system objects as we discuss whether Pluto is really a
planet.
- Stars (5-8)
- LRC: Science & Technology: G.
Universe, J. Inquiry & Problem Solving
- Key Concepts Presented: Sun as a
star, working of the sun, sunspots, flares, prominences, birth
and death of stars, black holes, fusion versus fission,
supernova, constellations
- Telescopes: More Than Meets the
Eye (4-7)
- LRC: Science & Technology: G.
The Universe, H. Energy, I. Motion, J. Inquiry and Problem
Solving, L. Communication, M. Implications of Science and
Technology.
- Key Concepts Presented: The basic working
of a telescope, its parts, its functions. Understanding
magnification, resolution, and light gathering. Exploring how
celestial objects appear in different sized telescopes.
- Weather and the Seasons (5-8)
- LRC: Science & Technology: F.
Earth, H. Energy, G. Universe, J. Inquiry & Problem
Solving
- Key Concepts Presented: Revolution
of earth about the sun, tilt of earth and seasons, sun's
apparent path across the sky during different seasons, basic
weather systems, high & low pressure, clouds--(kinds &
formation), fronts, wind, storms, forecasting, instruments
- Listening to Space: Radio Astronomy
(4-8)
- LRC: Science & Technology: G.
Universe, H. Energy, J. Inquiry & Problem
Solving
- Key Concepts Presented:
Electromagnetic spectrum, wavelengths, energy, light, radio
waves, galaxies, planets, stars, telemetry, the limit of our
eyes
- The Sky Tonight (6-8)
- LRC: Science & Technology: G.
Universe, J. Inquiry & Problem Solving
- Key Concepts Presented: The sun as a
star, stars, distances, brightness & magnitude, star
colors, constellations, visible planets, meteors, comets, the
moon,nebulae, galaxies, telescopic views
Off site links:
Northern Stars Planetarium and Educational Services,
P.O. Box 302
Fairfield, ME 04937
(207) 453-7668
info@northern-stars.com