About the programs

The "basic" school field trip program
is presented live and involves a lot of interaction with students. It begins with a star and constellations identification session that will allow your students to go into their own backyards and find the constellations on their own. From here, we'll talk about our own Milky Way (and distances in the universe, depending on grade level and time). Next, we'll head back to "home" and take a close look at our own solar system, beginning with the Sun and working our way out to Neptune - and beyond, including why Pluto has been reclassified.

It is impossible to cover the universe in one field trip, let alone everything else involved with space (spacecraft, telescopes, historical figures, etc.), so the basic field trip program, then, is an overview. If you would like something covered in depth, let me know. For example, if you've been discussing a topic of current events in social studies (the New Horizons mission to Pluto and the Kuiper Belt or life on Mars, for example), or have been covering the moon landings in history class - let me know and I'll stress the topic for you.

Recommended:
Third grade and older; must be able to listen appropriately to a live talk.

Other field trip locations
Make the most of your field trip by combining your visit to the planetarium with another destination. The Mahoning Cultural Collaborative has compiled a Field Trip Guide that contains a wealth of information about area sites. Please download the pdf file from the link to the left.

Beyond Basic We have an extensive library of special topic programs. You are welcome to request any of the programs listed below. More titles will be added as we convert older programs into digital formats. All recorded programs are introduced and/or concluded live and include seasonal star and constellation identification. Grades 1 and up: Schedule 1 full hour for each program Pre-school and Kindergarten: Schedule 45 minutes	More Details My recommended grade levels, length of program, etc. A yellow box means the program is presented in all-dome video.	Ohio Standards The most important standards addressed are listed; other standards in science and some cross curricular are mentioned. This column will be completed as I have time.
*Adventures Along the Spectrum* A humorous look at the complex world of energy and light - the electromagntic spectrum - as presented by Prof. Photon. The program covers how we discovered "light" beyond the visible spectrum and what our knowledge of it has allowed us to learn about our universe. An excellent introduction to the spectrum and its importance to astronomy.	Recommended: - grades 4-7 - any level studying light, energy, nature of matter - Recorded portion: 41 min Optional demonstrations available on: - emission spectra - electricity, dc/ac, converting energy (schedule extra time if you would like demonstrations)	Ohio Standards Physical Science: Temperature as thermal energy; electricity; sources of energy; nature of matter; wave nature of light Earth & Space Science: Nature of stars; life cycle; using technology to understand the universe; how all objects emit, reflect or absorb electromagnetic radiation Includes others from Science & Technology, Scientific Ways of Knowing
Big The universe is big. Really, really big. This all-dome program shows how distances can be measured by the time it takes to travel from point A to point B. (All distances are in metric.) From the National Space Centre. Narrated by Richard Attenborough.	Recommended: - grade 8 and above - focus on distances, measurements, speed of light Recorded portion: 23 min
Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity Narrated by Academy-Award nominated actor Liam Neeson, Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity brings the current science of black holes to the dome screen. Supported by grants from NASA's high-energy GLAST telescope project and the National Science Foundation, this cutting-edge production features high-resolution, animated visualizations of cosmic phenomena, working with data generated by computer simulations. We'll bring you striking, immersive animations of the formation of the early universe, star birth and death, the collision of giant galaxies, and a simulated flight to a super massive black hole lurking at the center of our own Milky Way Galaxy.	Recommended: - high school juniors & seniors - high school science clubs Recorded portion: 25 min
The Case of the Disappearing Planet The name's Watcher. Skye Watcher. And this gumshoe is on the job to discover what happened to Pluto. Students play detective, collect clues, and travel through time to examine how people have viewed planets and how new technology and discoveries have changed how we determine what's a planet.	Recommended: - 3rd or 4th grade - early middle school Recorded portion: 28 min
*Centuries* Ohio has a unique place in the quest for space: the Wright Brothers, John Glenn, Neil Armstrong, and more astronauts than any other state in the union. The program covers our state's geology and history as well as astronomy topics (precession, tilt, and eccentricity as the cause of the ice ages; Ohio's Underground Railroad routes and how the Big Dipper was used). Recommended: Combine this program with a visit to the Arms Family Museum, the Museum of Labor and Industry, and/or the Clarence R. Smith Mineral Museum	Recommended: - advanced 4th grade - middle school - high school - Ohio history and geology classes Recorded portion: 50 min
*Daughter of the Stars* An anthology of Native American stories about the sky, Daughter of the Stars recounts how the Earth, stars, sun, moon, and other celestial objects came into being. Find out about Mother Earth and Father Sky, the mud turtle that supports the land, how fire came into the world, and the seven sisters that dance in the sky.	Recommended: - 5th grade and older - any class studying Native Americans, mythology, or star lore Recorded portion: 30 min
Evolution: Galaxies, Stars and Life on Earth We live in an evolving universe. Galaxies form, change, and occasionally collide over time to create structures more beautiful than any work of art. Stellar evolution is driven entirely by a never-ending battle between gravity and pressure. Life on Earth has grown into a complex tapestry and we humans have evolved as well. As we come to understand different pieces of the puzzle, we are placing them into a more complete picture of this dynamic, evolving universe in which we live.	Recommended: -gifted/advanced middle school - high school Live program Presenter: Richard Pirko
Explorers of Mauna Kea The first explorers to the islands of Hawaii were awed by the active volcanoes and endowed them with human spirits. Today's scientific explorers have made Mauna Kea, now dormant, the ideal home for the huge telescopes that peer into the farthest reaches of the universe. The program includes two live interactive segments. Excellent for classes studying telescopes, current topics in astronomy, weather, and celestial coordinates.	Recommended: -gifted/advanced middle school - high school Recorded section: 45 min (time varies depending on hands-on activities) Teacher's Guide available
The Friendly Stars You can introduce your youngster to the heavens above (and to the planetarium environment) with The Friendly Stars, a show made just for our youngest skywatchers. The show features explanations of why Earth is a good place to live, the importance of the sun, and basic constellations. Be prepared to sing "Twinkle Twinkle" for the stars.	Recommended: - pre-school or K on first trip to planetarium Recorded Program with live interaction; approximately 40 min
Geology on a Roll Take a journey through the last 600 million years of Earth’s history with Geology on a Roll. The program covers some of the most bizarre life forms ever to walk on land, crawl through Paleozoic swamps, and swim ancient oceans, and helps you understand just how long 600 millions years is. For general audiences (upper elementary and older). Recommended: Combine this program with a tour of the Clarence R. Smith Mineral Museum.	Recommended: - advanced 3rd or 4th grades - middle and high school Live program Presenter: Richard Pirko
George & Oatmeal Save Santa Santa Claus is missing, and it’s up to George the wizard and Oatmeal the snowman to find him - and show him how to use the North Star to find his way back to the North Pole. The program also includes holiday music and special features just for children.	Recommended: - pre-K, K, and elementary school during December Partially recorded, partially live
The Great Space Treasure Hunt Bleamer has found a treasure map and takes the students along to find "x" marks the spot. A fun program with music; covers travel into space, constellations, star mythology, different objects in space (galaxy, nebula, etc), the solar system, and Earth; focus on Earth's special place in space.	Recommended: - 2nd-3rd grade - mixed groups (wide range of ages) Recorded portion: 40 min
The Halloween Show All the teachers are sick so it’s up to Holly, a student witch, to go to the annual Halloween Conference. What if she gets lost? No problem. A friend, Jack O’Lantern, shows Holly how to use the stars to find her way around the night sky. The two explore a few Halloween superstitions and Holly learns how to say “Happy Halloween” in cat, bat and goblin. The history and traditions of Halloween are presented in a fun, non-scary style, making this show ideal for all ages.	Recommended: - any elementary school grade (up to 5th grade) in October Recorded portion: 40 min
*In My Backyard* Children's entertainer Fred Penner narrates and sings for this lively journey into his backyard, where we discover all sorts of things - colors of the rainbow, bugs and spiders, the different seasons, the planets, the Moon, and the stars in the nighttime sky.	Recommended: - older and advanced pre-school - kindergarten - first or second grade early in the school year Recorded portion: 35 min
*Journey Into The Living Cell* From outer space to inner space: the Planetarium takes a trip inside the human body. Journey Into The Living Cell melds the technology of the planetarium to the exciting study of the cell. We start the program with the film Powers of Ten to illustrate the difficulty humans have in comprehending large distances in space and the tiny distances between the cells.	Recommended: - high school - any class needing an introduction to the cell (including college classes) Recorded portion: 28 min
Oasis in Space Take a beautiful journey through the solar system and beyond in search of water – and water worlds like our own planet Earth. Oasis in Space incorporates the latest results of astronomical research and exploration and offers a new look at water, that simple mixture of hydrogen and oxygen that seems to be the key for all life on Earth.	Recommended: - middle school and up Recorded portion: 24 min
Ringworld The Cassini spacecraft has been in orbit around the ringed planet Saturn since 2004. This updated full-dome show highlights some of the amazing images from Saturn, its rings, and its satellites. Ringworld II is narrated by John Billingsley from Star Trek: Enterprise, and was produced by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology.	Recommended: Recorded portion: 30 min
The Sky Above Mr Roger's Neighborhood Wondering about the moon, the shapes in the clouds and the stars of the Big Dipper will spark children's curiosity and imagination about science in this recorded show, starring Fred Rogers. You will see familiar faces in the characters from The Neighborhood of Make-Believe, who will explore the sky with you.	Recommended: - pre-school or K on first trip to planetarium Recorded portion: 25 min
Super Sky Show It's a talk show with a twist: host Semour Sky has guest "stars" that really shine. Covers movement of Sun and Earth (and differences between them), seasonal constellations, star mythology. Students are the audience and read "cue cards" for instructions, so is somewhat interactive. The final song, "You're a Star," is a real self-esteem booster.	Recommended: - first grade - second grade early in the school year - good tie in with reading skills Recorded portion: 35 min
Wilbear's Adventure Wilbear's in all-dome! The Ward Beecher Production of Wilbear's Adventure – all about a teddy bear who wants to fly – has been transformed into our first all-dome program for children by the planetarium at the St. Charles Parish Library in Luling, LA. Includes the story of the Wright Brothers and finding constellations.	Recommended: - kindergarten - first grade Recorded portion: 22 min
Women Hold Up Half the Sky Women have contributed much to our understanding of astronomy and space science – and they have often struggled to make these contributions. Women Hold Up Half the Sky looks at eleven women astronomers and features interviews of some of today’s leading ladies of astronomy, including Carolyn Shoemaker, Vera Rubin, Margaret Geller and Shannon Lucid.	Recommended: - 5th grade and older - special focus visit (careers in science for girls) - Girl Scouts Recorded portion: 40 min
WSKY The framework: we're listening to WSKY, the "Radio Station of the Stars." And watching it. Once you get over the idea of visible radio (don't we call that television??), the program is fast-moving, fun, and full of some really great music. Covers a wide range of topics and objects in space: planets, solar radiation, weather on other planets, star mythology, distances in space, and more.	Recommended: - specifically written for middle school (7th and 8th), but will be appreciated by 6th graders and high school (9th and 10th) as well Recorded portion: 35 min