School Programmes
 Educational and Teachers Information
The Planetarium at Stardome Observatory is available for school, preschool, language, special needs and public group educational sessions. We can simulate the night sky with near perfect realism regardless of the weather and offer all students quality curriculum based programmes designed to meet their astronomical unit studies.All educational programmes are 90 minutes in duration and can include some of the items listed below
- Stardome planetarium show
- Live night sky
- Large screen videos, multimedia presentations, live internet and NASA Television
- Rocket launching
- Sunspot imaging
- Earth Moon and Sun demonstration models
- Hands on Meteorite programmes
- Solar system planet models
- Telescope viewing (clear evenings only) ...and much more.
We are a LEOTC provider
LEOTC stands for Learning Experiences Outside the Classroom. "The LEOTC project provides support for quality teaching and learning experiences for primary and secondary students enrolled in state, integrated, and registered private schools. Learning outside the classroom is an important complelment to the learning that happens inside the classroom. It brings learning to life." *
All LEOTC services must meet core requirements specified by New Zealand's Ministry of Education (the MOE). Stardome has held contracts continuously with the MOE for the delivery of LEOTC programs since 1996.
*text copied from LEOTC Providers' poster published by the MOE July 2006
2008 Programme Overview
Stardome has developed a new programme structure for 2008 to align with the new curriculum and use the newly refurbished planetarium to best effect for an out of this world learning experience for students of all ages. Each session will be a total of 90 minutes and include presentations and shows in both our 360 degree Planetarium and our multimedia “Space Room’.
- I Spy the Sky 1 (Year 0-4)
Designed for children to learn and recognise objects in the sky. Identifying the Southern Cross for example. Education 1 Details 
- I Spy the Sky 2 (Year 5-13)
Practical observing and discovering major constellations. Learning how to distinguish Stars from Planets. Education 2 Details
- In a Spin (Year 0-4)
Improving children’s knowledge of their place within space. Understanding everything in the sky is moving. Education 3 Details
- Don’t be fazed by the phases (Year 3-8)
A closer look at the moon including eclipses also learning about other Planetary phases. Education 4 Details
- The reasons for the seasons (Year 5-11)
Learning the fundamentals of seasonal changes and the suns effect on the earth. Discover “Matariki” A group of stars visible in the mornings through mid winter. Education 5 Details
- Return to the moon (Year 5-13)
Nasa has plans to return humans to the moon in 2020. Learn what is involved in making such a adventure possible. Education 6 Details
- Telescopes by day (Year 5-13)
Learn how Telescopes work and what we use them for. Education 7 Details
- Telescopes by night (Year 5-13)
Learn how Telescopes work and what we use them for. Education 8 Details
- Navigation and time (Year 6-13)
Students will discover basic tricks and techniques of Navigating the stars. Education 9 Details
- Exploration of the planets (Year 7-13)
Did you know the Earth orbits the Sun 100 times faster than a plane. Learn that and more. Education 10 Details
- Crumbs of the Solar System (Year 7-13)
In this unit we will introduce you to many other objects that orbit the Sun. Education 11 Details
- Life of the Stars (Year 8-13)
A night sky with focus on Stars at different stages of their lives. Students will see the complete “lifecycle” of Stars. Education 12 Details
- Anyone for a Spatial relationship? (Year 7-13)
By using Stardome’s outstanding Technology, students will be able to move away from the Earth to view the sky. Education 13 Details
- Launch a Rocket
Any age. Education 14 Details
How good are the programs?
Stardome's core curriculum area is astronomy, which is part of Planet Earth and Beyond in the NZ Science curriculum. The other contextual and integrating strands in science are relevant too. Astronomy is easily integrated with other learning areas including maths, technology, and social sciences.
If you have an idea or request for a program that uses astronomy as a context to teach other (non-science) learning areas, please let us know. With some negotiation it may be possible to put something together for you. In the past, as an example, we have devised a program about Roman Astronomy to complement NCEA Level 1 Latin, and an activity introducing non-Euclidean geometry for an extension maths group.
For booking or information enquiries please contact
Jasmine McConnachie 0n (09) 6241246 ext 201
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