SCHOOL GROUP SHOW INFORMATION
For
reservations or more information, call
the Planetarium at (908) 231-8805
Monday-Friday from 8:30am to 4:00pm,
or
e-mail us at: planet@raritanval.edu
All
shows run approximately 40 minutes.
Fee: $6 per
person for one show.
$11 per person for two shows.
One adult is free with every ten students. Minimum group size:
15 students.
|
Program |
Recommended Grade Levels |
|
Rockin' Rocket Ride |
PreK |
K |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9-12 |
|
Sky Lights |
PreK |
K |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9-12 |
|
Tycho to the Moon |
PreK |
K |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9-12 |
|
The Little Star that Could |
PreK |
K |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9-12 |
|
Secret of the Cardboard Rocket |
PreK |
K |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9-12 |
|
Follow the Drinking Gourd |
PreK |
K |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9-12 |
|
Earth, Moon, and Sun (and Coyote) |
PreK |
K |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9-12 |
|
Laser Kids |
PreK |
K |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9-12 |
|
The Problem with Pluto |
PreK |
K |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9-12 |
|
Touch the Stars |
PreK |
K |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9-12 |
|
Space Bus |
PreK |
K |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9-12 |
|
Constellations Tonight |
PreK |
K |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9-12 |
|
Time Keeping |
PreK |
K |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9-12 |
|
How Big is the Universe |
PreK |
K |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9-12 |
|
Two Small Pieces of Glass |
PreK |
K |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9-12 |
|
Moons of the Solar System |
PreK |
K |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9-12 |
|
Infinity Express |
PreK |
K |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9-12 |
|
The Planets |
PreK |
K |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9-12 |
|
SETI |
PreK |
K |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9-12 |
|
Live Seasonal Sky Show |
PreK |
K |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9-12 |
|
Light Waves |
PreK |
K |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9-12 |
|
Fright Light |
PreK |
K |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9-12 |
|
Winter Wonder Light |
PreK |
K |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9-12 |
Preschool - Kindergarten
ROCKIN' ROCKET RIDE
Designed for Preschool - Kindergarten
Put on your space suit and blast-off into outer space to visit the
Moon, Sun and planets. A lively experience for young people with
selected music from "Journey Into Space" by Jane Murphy.
Related NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards: Science 5.9 (Astronomy)
SKY LIGHTS
Laser and Video Concert
Recommended for PreK and K.
Our youngest audience members can sing along with songs by mr. RAY (Family
Ride, Kalien the Alien) and Jane Murphy (Moon Rock Rock, The
Planet Song). Some songs are illustrated with lasers and other
songs feature video images.
Grades
1-3
TYCHO to the MOON
Designed for Grades K – 3
Meet Tycho,
a dog who doesn’t just howl at the Moon, but wants to go there.
Blast off on an amazing ride. Learn about night and day, space
travel, the phases of the Moon, and features of the lunar surface.
Take a close up look at the Sun, watch the effects of gravity, see
the Earth from space, and watch meteors shoot across the sky. This
is a Full Dome animated planetarium experience.
After the
story, we’ll discover some of the stars and constellations we can
see in tonight’s sky.
The SECRET of the CARDBOARD ROCKET
Designed for grades 1 - 3
See the new full-dome version of our popular show! Students travel with two adventurous youngsters in their cardboard
rocket as they explore the Sun and the planets of the solar system.
This show is designed to encourage the use of libraries, enhance
language skills and develop individual imagination.
Related NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards: Science 5.4 (Earth
Systems Science)
The LITTLE STAR THAT COULD
Designed for grades 1 - 3
Fully animated, new,
all-dome version of our popular show. Travel with an average
yellow star on his quest to get a “name” and a planet to call his
own. A “cool” red star, a “hot” blue star, a dying star, double
stars, and the Milky Way Galaxy teach the Little Star some important
things about being a star. Imagine Little Star’s surprise when he
discovers planets already going around him! This show is a great
introduction to the different kinds of stars in space as well as the
planets in our solar system. After the story, we’ll discover some
of the stars and constellations we can see in tonight’s sky.
Related NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards: Science 5.4 (Earth
Systems Science)
FOLLOW the DRINKING GOURD
Designed for grades 2-4
Learn to find the Big Dipper
and several other constellations in our night sky. Then, we’ll go
back in time as a slave trying to escape oppression. Follow the Big
Dipper through a frightful but rewarding voyage out of slavery. Run
through the rivers, forests, fields and mountains while trying to
find a helping hand to freedom. Sing along with the slaves who used
the song of the Drinking Gourd to travel north on foot from Alabama
to Canada. Based on Jeanette Winters’ book by the same title, this
show describes the astronomy behind the slave song “Follow the
Drinking Gourd.”
Related NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards: 5.4 (Earth
Systems Science)
Grades 3-5
EARTH, MOON, and SUN (and COYOTE)
Designed for grades 2-5
Coyote has a razor-sharp wit, but he’s a little confused about what
he sees in the sky. Join this amusing character (adapted from
Native American oral traditions) in a fast-paced and fun, full-dome
show that tells Native American stories, explores lunar phases,
eclipses, and other puzzles. Engaging and immersive, “Earth, Moon &
Sun” also examines how humans learn through space exploration. This
program is followed by a brief tour of the current night sky.
The PROBLEM with PLUTO
Designed for Grades 3 – 6
Follow Lucy on her trip through the solar system as she gathers data
on Pluto’s status as a planet. Discover current information about
the planets and investigate where Pluto belongs in the overall
structure of the solar system. This is a
Full Dome animated planetarium experience.
Related NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards: Science
5.4 (Earth Systems Science)
TOUCH the STARS
Designed for grades 3 - 5
Learn how to observe the Earth's rotation, satellites and meteors.
Chart moon phases and the sun's changing position in the sky This
show includes lots of humor and songs by the popular children's
singing duo, Doug and Gary
Related NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards: Science 5.9 (Astronomy)
SPACE BUS
Grades 3-5
Climb aboard the Space Bus
with Stella and her classmates who win the ultimate prize for a
well-written essay: a trip to space! Zoom past all the planets and
even some moons. Stella learns that the solar system is a cool
place to visit and explore. Share the class’s adventures and
misadventures in this exciting story.
CONSTELLATIONS TONIGHT
Grades 3 and up
Our astronomer takes you
on a guided tour of tonight’s sky. Students learn to use a star
chart, identify stars and constellations that are visible, and hear
stories that have been passed along through thousands of years.
TIME KEEPING
Grades 3 and up
NJ Science Standards
require that students observe the motions of the Sun and Moon. Who
wants to wait a whole month to see the Moon change shapes (Standard
5.4, by grade 4), or a year to see the changing height of the Sun
(Standard 5.4, by grade 6). These are just two of the motions we
can accurately recreate in one class period. Time can pass quickly
in the planetarium, allowing us to watch the daily changes of the
stars and Sun in our sky. Directions, daily motion, annual motion,
change of latitude, moon phases can all be addressed as appropriate
for your age level. Call to discuss topics you’d like to cover
during this show.
Grades 5-12
MOONS
of the SOLAR SYSTEM
Designed for grades 5 - 12
The year 2009 celebrates 400 years since Galileo first turned his
telescope up to the sky and turned the scientific and religious
worlds upside down. We will observe our Moon changing in the
sky, recreate Galileo's observations of Jupiter, when he discovered
four moons circling the giant planet, and fly by some of those
moons.
A live interactive presentation in four stages
1. Observing the Moon from Earth
2. Modeling Moon Phases with a Moon
Ball
3. Tracking Jupiter’s moons as seen
from Earth. (Recreates Galileo’s observations)
4. Tour of moons around Mars,
Jupiter, and Saturn as time allows. This portion is accurately
displayed as if the audience is in a spaceship orbiting the planet.
The show ends with a quick trip back to Earth.
Related NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards:
5.4 (Earth Systems Science)
How Big is the Universe – Grades 4 – 12
A live interactive presentation based on the film “Powers of Ten”,
this program surveys distances and sizes of things in the Universe.
How do astronomers know the distances to objects in space? The
program starts with ordinary objects and travels out to the Moon,
Sun, nearby stars, through the Milky Way galaxy to the nearby
galaxies. Parallax, radar and comparing brightness of objects
measure distances.
TWO SMALL PIECES OF GLASS
Designed for grades 5 - 12
"Two
Small Pieces of Glass" traces the history of the telescope from
Galileo’s modifications to a child’s spyglass—using
two small pieces of
glass—to the launch of NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope and the future
of
astronomy. It explores the wonder and discovery made by astronomers
through out the last 400 years. "Two Small Pieces of Glass"
runs about 30 minutes, and is paired with a 10- minute introduction
to the stars we can see in tonight's sky.
Related NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards:
5.4 (Earth Systems Science)
INFINITY EXPRESS
Designed for grades 5 - 12
A remarkable blend of science, art, and entertainment, "Infinity
Express" takes the audience on an exciting journey of discovery,
from the search for solar systems to the mapping of the Universe.
Dramatically communicating the latest breakthroughs in our quest to
understand the Cosmos, this shows features our new planetarium
technology, all-dome video!
"Infinity Express" runs 25 minutes, and is paired with a 15-minute
introduction to the stars we see in tonight's sky.
Related NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards: Science 5.4 (Earth
Systems Science)
The Planets
– Grades 6 – 12
Presented in the style of a game show, The Planets tests
people’s knowledge of the planets in our solar system. The audience
find themselves transported from planet to planet, immersed in
spectacularly different environments. Great fun, the show also has
enough facts and concepts to provide real educational value.
S.E.T.I. –
Grades 6 – 12
The prospect that we may not be alone in the universe is taken as a
fact by the movies, writers, and a great many scientists. As yet,
we have no hard evidence of another living thing outside Planet
Earth. S.E.T.I. – The Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence – is
a show that explores all sides of this topic, from the planets we
are finding around other stars, to the feasibility of traveling to
the stars, and what aliens might actually be like, to the
possibility that UFOs have been visiting and the various methods
that scientists are using to get in touch. Will we make contact in
our lifetimes? This stunning immersive show guides you through the
myriad of ideas to a surprising conclusion.
LIVE
SEASONAL STAR SHOW
Modified for each group, grades 3-12
Introduce your students to the wonders of the night sky. This program
includes locating stars, constellations, and planets in the current
evening sky, stories of the constellations, movement of objects
across the sky, and current events in astronomy. Program can be
geared towards current topics in the news or tailored to your needs,
such as Seasons, Moon Phases, coordinate Systems, Daily and Annual
Motion of the Sky and Planets.
Related NJ Core Curriculum Content Standards:
5.4 (Earth Systems Science)
All
Grades
LASER LIGHT CONCERTS
Watch lasers draw pictures on the dome while music plays.
Fee: $6.00
per person for school groups, $11.00 per person for two shows on the
same day.
Schools get one adult free for every ten students who attend.
Minimum group size: 15 students.
SKY LIGHTS laser
and video concert
Our youngest audience members can sing along with songs by mr.
RAY (Family Ride, Kalien the Alien) and Jane Murphy (Moon
Rock Rock, The Planet Song). Some songs are illustrated with
lasers and other songs feature video images. Recommended for PreK
and K.
LASER KIDS
An introduction to how a laser works is followed by popular
music from the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s, like Little Deuce
Coupe, The Lion Sleeps Tonight, The Adams Family theme song, and
more. Recommended for grades 1-5.
LIGHT WAVES
Features songs by Remy Zero, Collective Soul, Coldplay, Moby,
and U2.
Recommended for grades 6 and up.
Rock Laser
Concerts
Looking for more rock and roll? We’ve got Pink Floyd, Led
Zeppelin, ELO, Beatles, Legends of Rock, and more. Recommended for
grades 6-adult.
FRIGHT LIGHT
A Halloween Laser Show with Monster Mash, Thriller and
the theme from Ghostbusters. Recommended for grades 3 and up.
WINTER WONDER LIGHT
Laser Show featuring holiday music, including Jingle Bells,
Santa Baby and others. Recommended for grades 1 and up.
Educational Shows Performance Information:
Show times are Monday - Friday at
10:00 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
12 Noon
1:00 p.m.
Admission Fee: $6.00 per person for groups of 15 or more
or $11.00 per person for two planetarium shows on the same day.
There is a minimum group charge of $90 for one show and $165 for two
shows.
One adult admitted free for every 10 students.
Reservations are required at least two weeks prior to performance.
Our February - June calendar fills up very quickly. Please
call early in the school year to reserve your trip.
For reservations or more information, call
the Planetarium at (908) 231-8805
Monday-Friday from 8:30am to 4:00pm,
or
e-mail us at:
planet@raritanval.edu |
