Planetarium programs are offered to schools outside of the Dekalb County School District throughout the school year (August - May). Programs are offered Monday – Friday @ 9:45 AM and 11:30 AM. Programs are offered for different grade levels each semester.
The planetarium programs are aligned with the Georgia Standards of Excellence and are approximately 45 minutes to an hour in length, depending on grade level. Each program includes a tour of the current night sky and a presentation using our new 10K! laser projector system which creates a stunning immersive environment, while guiding students through the wonders of the universe. Scroll down for program descriptions and video trailers.
Schools and home school groups (outside of the DeKalb County School District) should contact the scheduler, Audrey Poole, between the hours of 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
P: 678-874-7113
E: Audrey_Poole@dekalbschoolsga.org.
Please schedule your visit at least one week in advance.
This procedure does not apply to DeKalb teachers. DeKalb teachers click here for more information.
The price for non-DeKalb County students is $5.00 per student.
For each fifteen students, one teacher or adult chaperone will be admitted without charge.
All other adults beyond this number will be charged $10.00.
Payment may be made by cash, check or credit card.
Big Bird, Elmo and their friend from China, Hu Hu Zhu, take viewers on a journey of discovery to learn about the Big Dipper, the North Star, the Sun, and the Moon.
Grade Level: Kindergarten
Georgia Standard of Excellence: SKE1. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate observations about time patterns (day to night and night to day) and objects (sun, moon, stars) in the day and night sky.
Key Vocabulary: Sky, Earth, Sun, Moon, Stars, Day, Night
When the seasons go crazy it’s up to Annie and Max to set things right. But fixing this will take something extraordinary, and a little help. Come on a whirlwind adventure as the siblings learn just how the seasons and work, and discover that sometimes, all we need is a new angle on the world.
Grade Level: 1st Grade
Georgia Standard of Excellence: SKE1. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate observations about time patterns (day to night and night to day) and objects (sun, moon, stars) in the day and night sky.
Key Vocabulary: Seasons, Sun, Earth
What causes Moon phases? What is a lunar eclipse? Coyote is sharp, but he has some strange ideas about the universe. Students will learn the reasons for seasons, why the Moon seems to change shape, and hear some Native American stories about the sky.
Grade Level: 2nd Grade
Georgia Standard of Excellence: S2E2. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to develop an understanding of the patterns of the sun and the moon and the sun’s effect on Earth.
Key Vocabulary: Atmosphere, Rotate, Lunar eclipse, Seasons, Orbit, Solar eclipse, Planet, Telescope
Get a new view of the objects in our solar system. Join a family from another star’s system, searching for the best vacation spot in our Solar System. Starting at the outer edges of our planetary family, scan the Kuiper belt, fly through the rings of Saturn, check out Mars’ giant Olympus Mons volcano – even soar through solar storms on our central star, the Sun. Which planet will they choose? Or will they choose a comet?
Grade Level: 4th Grade
Georgia Standards of Excellence:
S4E1. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to compare and contrast the physical attributes of stars and planets. d. Evaluate strengths and limitations of models of our solar system in describing relative size, order, and appearance of planets and the Sun.
Key Vocabulary: Solar System, Planet, Asteroid, Moon, Comet, Sun, Impact, Orbit,
Atmosphere, Volcano, Solar Prominence, Solar Flare, Continent, Earthquake
Feel the Fury! Get ready to take cover when you see nature go FORCE FIVE! Extreme weather takes center stage with images not seen by naked eye due to their life-threatening nature. Using real movies and NASA based images, Force Five offers a vantage that would never be safe in the real world, creating a sense of what it would look and feel like if you were standing in the middle of a deadly storm. "Experience a storm without getting wet!"
Grade Level: 5th
Georgia Standard of Excellence: S5E1. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to identify surface features on the Earth caused by constructive and/or destructive processes.
Key Vocabulary: Extreme Weather, Storm, Water, Atmosphere, Meteorology, Climate
Impact Earth teaches about meteors, meteorites, asteroids, and comets. The film shows dramatically the effects of the Chixulub and Tungusta events, plus the Pallasite impact that resulted in the Brenham meteorite fall. Impact Earth describes ways that asteroid hunters seek new objects in the solar system, and how ground penetrating radar is used to find meteorites that have survived to the Earth’s surface. Narrated by astronaut Tom Jones, the show also discusses ways that humans might try to deflect an asteroid or comet that is on a collision course with Earth.
Grade Level: 6th Grade
Georgia Standards of Excellence:
S6E1. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about current scientific views of the universe and how those views evolved. e. Ask questions to compare and contrast the characteristics, composition, and location of comets, asteroids, and meteoroids.
S6E5. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to show how Earth’s surface is formed. e. Develop a model to demonstrate how natural processes (weathering, erosion, and deposition) and human activity change rocks and the surface of the Earth.
Key Vocabulary: Meteoroid, Meteorite, Meteor, Comet Asteroid Cycle
Black Holes takes you on a fully immersive journey through one of the most mystifying, awe-inspiring phenomena in the universe: a black hole. Where do they come from? Where do they go? How do we find them? Is there one on Earth’s horizon? What was Einstein’s connection to them?
We will also explore stellar evolution - the life cycle of a star. What is the significance of a star’s color? Why can’t we see the majority of stars that are in our stellar neighborhood? What will be the fate of our Sun? These questions among others will be answered on our journey.
Grade Level: High School
Georgia Standards of Excellence:
SAST5. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the connections between mass, gravity and fusion with respect to the life cycle of stars. a. Develop and use models to explain the process of stellar evolution from star birth to star death, including binary
systems. b. Construct an argument based on evidence from the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram to assess the properties of stars, including density, luminosity, temperature, rates of fusion, and spectral class. c. Ask questions to evaluate evidence that predicts the lifespan and final stage of stellar evolution based on mass. d. Construct an argument based on evidence that explores the connections among various cosmic phenomena and leading theories.
Key Vocabulary: Meteoroid, Meteorite, Meteor, Comet Asteroid Cycle
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