Earth & Sky*
Space Room: We leave no stone unturned in this classroom session where we can investigate topics such as day and night, moon phases, tides, seasons, Matariki and the Maori New Year. Questions are encouraged during this interactive learning time.
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 followed by a live tour of the celestial sights above Auckland, reinforcing the key learnings from the Space Room session.
We recommend:
Visit the education show library for a full list of our planetarium shows.
Take it home! 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 and will understand the fundamentals of astronomical systems. This module can also include links to Matariki. When booking, just let us know that you would like it covered as a topic during the Space Room session.
Curriculum links: Levels 1, 2, 3 & 4
Resources: You might find these teacher resources useful Hello Earth and Daytime Moon. You can download all the resources here.
Studying the Stars*
Space Room: Take a seat in the Space Room and learn more about the sparkling dots in the sky. Topics can include star size, distance, formation, nebulae and Matariki. Questions are encouraged during this interactive learning time.
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 followed by a live tour of the celestial sights above Auckland, reinforcing the key learnings from the Space Room session.
We recommend:
Visit the education show library for a full list of our planetarium shows.
Learning outcomes: Students will discover why the Sun is classified as a star how it is different to the other stars outside our Solar System.
Take it home! Each child will receive a pass to visit Stardome again.
Learning outcomes: Students will discover a why the Sun is classified as a star when it looks different to other stars in the sky. This module can also include links to Matariki. When booking, just let us know that you would like it covered as a topic during the Space Room session.
Curriculum links: Levels 1, 2, 3 & 4
Resources: You might find these teacher resources useful Stars (Part 1) and The Pleiades. You can download all the resources here.
Our Solar System
Space Room: Take a closer look at the other planets and objects in the Solar System in this classroom session. Topics can include the Sun, planets, dwarf planets, comets, asteroids, as well as concepts of size, distance, time and formation. Questions are encouraged during this interactive learning time.
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 followed by a live tour of the celestial sights above Auckland, reinforcing the key learnings from the Space Room session.
We recommend:
Visit the education show library for a full list of our planetarium shows.
Take it home! Each child will receive a pass to visit Stardome again.
Learning outcomes: Students will learn about the complexities of the Solar System by developing their understanding of astronomical classifications.
Curriculum links: Levels 1, 2, 3 & 4
Resources: You might find these teacher resources useful Scale of the Solar System and Why Planets are Different. You can download all the resources here.
A Guide to the Universe*
Space Room: This module takes on the universe with a guide to star clusters (like Matariki), nebulae, the hunt for new worlds, galaxies and beyond. Questions are encouraged during this interactive learning time.
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 followed by a live tour of the celestial sights above Auckland, reinforcing the key learnings from the Space Room session.
We recommend:
Visit the education show library for a full list of planetarium shows.
Take it home! Each child will receive a pass to visit Stardome again.
Learning outcomes: Students will better understand the natural world by discovering that the Solar System is one of many systems. By learning about distant planets and stars, we can learn more about our own. This module can also include links to Matariki. When booking, just let us know that you would like it covered as a topic during the Space Room session.
Curriculum links: Levels 1, 2, 3 & 4
Resources: You might find these teacher resources useful Comet and Ancient Asteroids. You can download all the resources here.
Space Exploration and Technology
Space Room: Launch your class into space and take a look at the technology, spacecraft, rockets, probes and satellites that venture into the unknown. Find out how astronomers discover our Universe from here on Earth or what we learn from travelling in to space. Questions are encouraged during this interactive learning time.
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 followed by a live tour of the celestial sights above Auckland, reinforcing the key learnings from the Space Room session.
We recommend:
Visit the education show library for a full list of planetarium shows.
Take it home! 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: Levels 1, 2, 3 & 4
Resources: You might find these teacher resources useful Pluto Rediscovered and Exoplanets. You can download all the resources here.
Matariki
Space Room: Using interactive activities, students will learn about Matariki, the Maori New Year and Maramataka, as well as explore why the Matariki stars are different to our Sun. Questions are encouraged during this learning time.
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 the planetarium show Matariki Dawn (Y3+) followed by a live tour of the celestial sights above Auckland, reinforcing the key learnings from the Space Room session.
Visit the education show library for a full list of our planetarium shows.
Take it home! Each child will receive a pass to visit Stardome again.
Learning outcomes: Students will develop an understanding of the astronomical cycles of Earth, Moon, and Sun, in the context of the passing of months, years, and seasons. They will understand how early Maori could recognise these signs in the sky (particularly the apparent movements of Matariki and the phases of the Moon) and their importance to their way of life. They will also better understand the different types of stars, star life cycles, star clusters, as well as the Sun and Moon and their effects on planet Earth.
Curriculum links: Levels 1, 2, 3 & 4
Resources: You might find these teacher resources useful: The Pleiades, Matariki Wobble, Matariki – A Space/Time Guide and our 2019 Matariki Kete.
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 for all shows then fill in the enquiry form below.
