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 with the iconic Zeiss planetarium star projector and a presentation using our new 4k laser projector system which creates a stunning full-dome 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: K and 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: Sky, Earth, Sun, Moon, Stars, Day, Night
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
Imagine Earth were a distant place you once called home but could never visit again. What would you remember most about the planet, and how would you describe it to your grandchildren? Set on the surface of the Moon in the year 2081, a grandfather and granddaughter watch a solar eclipse from scenic cliffs overlooking their moon colony. Conversation leads to contrasts between the moon, the only home the granddaughter knows, and the Earth, where the grandfather has spent most of his life.
Grade Level: 3rd and 4th Grades
Georgia Standards of Excellence:
S4E3. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to demonstrate the water cycle. b. Develop models to illustrate multiple pathways water may take during the water cycle (evaporation, condensation, and precipitation).
S4E1. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to compare and contrast the physical attributes of stars and planets.
Key Vocabulary: Volcano, Orbit, Shadow, Eclipse, Ice Age, Asteroid, Earth, Water cycle, Moon, Sun
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
In this hands-on program students will investigate why Earth has seasons and will learn how to read a weather map. Students will watch video clips on the seasons and weather and will watch the stars change through the night sky. Then they will learn how to read a weather map and will act out the different parts of the weather map, such as fronts and pressure changes. Please note that this program does not include a full-dome planetarium program, but the planetarium will be used to show video clips and the stars.
Grade Level: 4th Grade
Georgia Standards of Excellence:
S4E2. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to model the effects of the position and motion of the Earth and the moon in relation to the sun as observed from the Earth.
c. Construct an explanation of how the Earth’s orbit, with its consistent tilt, affects seasonal changes.
S4E4. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to predict weather events and infer weather patterns using weather charts/maps and collected weather data.
b. Interpret data from weather maps, including fronts (warm, cold, and stationary), temperature, pressure, and precipitation to make an informed prediction about tomorrow’s weather.
Key Vocabulary: Seasons, High Pressure, Precipitation, Constellations, Weather, Low Pressure, Stationary Front, Cold Front, Orbit, Temperature, Climate, Warm Front, Revolve Forecast, Axis
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
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Atlanta, GA 30307
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