Earth and Space Science*
Space Room: We leave no stone unturned in this classroom session where we discover how the forces of nature have shaped our home planet and the celestial bodies around us. Topics can include moon phases, eclipses, seasons, tides, Matariki and the changing view of the night sky.
Pipehenge: Upon request, before entering Stardome, your session can begin outside at the Pipehenge. Often mistaken for a jungle gym, this is a fantastic tool to visualise the movement of the Sun and stars throughout the seasons.
Space Gallery & Exhibits: In teams, students will complete a fun fact-finding quiz by exploring the Space Gallery.
Planetarium: In the immersive, 360-degree planetarium, students will watch a planetarium show and seasonal night sky presentation reinforcing the key learnings from the Space Room session. Choose from Tilt ( Y3-7); We are Stars (Y4-10); Wildest Weather in the Solar System (Y6+); From Earth to the Universe (Y7+); Capturing the Cosmos (Y7+), We are Astronomers (Y7+), Supervolcanoes (Y7+), Stories in the Sky (Y3-9) or Incoming!. Visit the education show library for the full list of our education shows.
Take it home! Each session will receive a poster for the classroom and each child will receive a pass to visit Stardome again.
Learning outcomes: Students will understand scientific thought processes by using their own reasoning and observations. They will also leave with a better understanding of the fundamentals of astronomical systems.
Curriculum links: Level 3 and 4
Resources: You might find these teacher resources useful Up vs Down and Lunar Eclipse. You can download all the resources here.
Studying the Stars*
Space Room: Learn more about the sparkly dots in the sky and find out how a star is born in this classroom session! Subjects can also include the size and distance of stars, the Matariki cluster, supernovas, pulsars and galaxies.
Space Gallery & Exhibits: In teams, students will complete a fun fact-finding quiz by exploring the Space Gallery
Planetarium: In the immersive, 360-degree planetarium, students will watch a planetarium show and seasonal night sky presentation reinforcing the key learnings from the Space Room session. Choose from an extended Night Sky (Y7+); We are Stars (Y4-10); Matariki Dawn (Y1+); or Wonders of the Universe (Y7+), Stories in the Sky (Y3-9) or Big (Y7+). Visit the education show library for the full list of our education shows.
Take it home! Each session will receive a poster for the classroom and each child will receive a pass to visit Stardome again.
Learning outcomes: Students will learn that the Sun is a dwarf star that came from a nebula and will investigate the fate of the Sun by studying the other stars outside of our Solar System.
Curriculum links: Level 3 and 4
Resources: You might find these teacher resources useful Stars (part 1) and (part 2). You can download all the resources here.
Exploring the Solar System
Space Room: Take a closer look at the other planets and objects in the Solar System in this classroom session. Topics of focus can include the Sun, planets, comets, asteroids, and dwarf planets.
Space Gallery & Exhibits: In teams, students will complete a fun fact-finding quiz by exploring the Space Gallery.
Planetarium: In the immersive, 360-degree planetarium, students will watch a planetarium show and seasonal night sky presentation reinforcing the key learnings from the Space Room session. Choose from Perfect Little Planet (Y3-6); Solar System Odyssey (Y3-6); an extended Night Sky (Y7+); Grand Tour of the Solar System (Y7+); Wildest Weather in the Solar System (Y6+); We are Aliens (Y4-10); We are Astronomers (Y7+); Wonders of the Universe (Y7+), Big (Y7+), Supervolcanoes (Y7+), Stories in the Sky (Y3-9) or Incoming! (Y5+) Visit the education show library for the full list of our education shows.
Take it home! Each session will receive a poster for the classroom and each child will receive a pass to visit Stardome again.
Learning outcomes: Students will discover the complexities of the solar system and develop their understanding of what makes each object in our solar system unique as well as the conditions required for life to exist.
Curriculum links: Level 3 and 4
Resources: You might find these teacher resources useful Astronomical Orbits and Scale of the Solar System. You can download all the resources here.
The Milky Way Tour*
Space Room: Step away from Earth and embark on a tour of the neighbourhood. Highlights can nebulae, Matariki, and strange planets.
Space Gallery & Exhibits: In teams, students will complete a fun fact-finding quiz by exploring the Space Gallery.
Planetarium: In the immersive, 360-degree planetarium, students will watch a planetarium show and seasonal night sky presentation reinforcing the key learnings from the Space Room session. Choose from an extended Night Sky (Y7+); We are Aliens (Y4-10); We are Astronomers (Y7+); Matariki Dawn (Y1+), Big (Y7+), Wonders of the Universe (Y7+), Stories in the Sky (Y3-9) or Capturing the Cosmos (Y7+). Visit the education show library for the full list of our education shows.
Take it home! Each session will receive a poster for the classroom and each child will receive a pass to visit Stardome again.
Learning outcomes: Students will understand that our solar system is one of many star systems, and by learning about distant planets and stars we can learn more about our own natural world.
Curriculum links: Level 3 and 4
Resources: You might find these teacher resources useful Stars (part 1) and (part 2). You can download all the resources here.
3,2,1 Liftoff!
Space Room: Launch your class into Space and take a look at the technology, spacecraft, rockets, planets, and satellites that venture into the unknown. Who knows, the first Kiwi astronaut could be in your class!
Space Gallery & Exhibits: In teams, students will complete a fun fact-finding quiz by exploring the Space Gallery.
Planetarium: In the immersive, 360-degree planetarium, students will watch a planetarium show and seasonal night sky presentation reinforcing the key learnings from the Space Room session. Choose from Solar System Odyssey (Y3-6); Astronaut (Y4-10); We are Aliens (Y4-10); Two Small Pieces of Glass (Y5-8); We are Astronomers (Y7+); Wildest Weather in the Solar System (Y6+); Big (Y7+); Capturing the Cosmos (Y7+), Incoming! (Y5+) or Beyond the Solar System (Y7+) . Visit the education show library for the full list of our education shows.
Take it home! Each session will receive a poster for the classroom and each child will receive a pass to visit Stardome again.
Learning outcomes: Space science is a field where every new answer leads to more questions and challenges. Students will appreciate the positive outcomes of having a curious mind and asking big questions.
Curriculum links: Level 3 and 4
Resources: You might find these teacher resources useful Introduction to Dawn and Ceres and Cassini-Huygens Spacecraft. You can download all the resources here.
A Guide to the Universe*
Space Room: It’s almost 14 billion years old, contains 300 billion galaxies and is expanding faster than ever; the universe is BIG! In this classroom session we take on the universe with a guide to galaxies, star clusters (like Matariki), the Big Bang theory, and the hunt for new worlds.
Space Gallery & Exhibits: In teams, students will complete a fun fact-finding quiz by exploring the Space Gallery.
Planetarium: In the immersive, 360-degree planetarium, students will watch a planetarium show reinforcing the key learnings from the Space Room session. Choose from Wonders of the Universe (Y7+); We are Aliens (Y4-10); Big (Y7+); From Earth to the Universe (Y7+); Two Small Pieces of Glass (Y5-8); Capturing the Cosmos (Y7+). Matariki Dawn (Y3+) or Beyond the Solar System (Y7+). Visit the education show library for the full list of our education shows.
Take it home! Each session will receive a poster for the classroom and each child will receive a pass to visit Stardome again.
Learning outcomes: Students will leave Stardome with an appreciation for how BIG the universe is how much there is to still discover. The dynamic interrelationship between Earth and the rest of the universe will also be better understood.
Curriculum links: Level 3 and 4
Resources: You might find these teacher resources useful Stars (part 1) and (part 2). You can download all the resources here.
Want Something Different?
The Stardome education experience can be customised to suit your learning unit to help your students reach their learning potential. Select the topic of study that matches your unit and any of our education planetarium shows and create your Stardome experience. Check out the education show library and visit the other year level pages and then fill in the enquiry form below.
