STARLAB PLANETARIUM

Solar System and Constellations

Learn about the Milky Way Galaxy, the Sun, and the planets. Then head to the Starfield and view the night sky, and the different constellations that are in our night sky, such as the Big Dipper, the North Star, Orion the Hunter, and Leo the Lion.

Science

Earth and Space Sciences

Benchmark A K – 2 Observe constant and changing patterns of objects in the day and night sky.

Grade K, Indicator 1. Observe that the sun can be seen only in the daytime, but the moon can be seen sometimes at night and sometimes during the day.

Grade 2, Indicator 1. Recognize that there are more stars in the sky than anyone can easily count.

Indicator 2. Observe and describe how the sun, moon and stars all appear to move slowly across the sky.

Indicator 3. Observe and describe how the moon appears a little different every day but looks nearly the same again about every four weeks.

Benchmark A Grades 3 - 5 Explain the characteristics, cycles and patterns involving Earth and its place in the solar system.

Grade 5 Indicator 1. Describe how night and day are caused by Earth's rotation.

Indicator 2. Explain that Earth is one of several planets to orbit the sun, and that   the moon orbits Earth.

Indicator 3. Describe the characteristics of Earth and its orbit about the sun (e.g., three-fourths of Earth's surface is covered by a layer of water [some of it frozen], the entire planet surrounded by a thin blanket of air, elliptical orbit, tilted axis and spherical planet).

Indicator 4. Explain that stars are like the sun, some being smaller and some larger, but so far away that they look like points of light.

Benchmark A Grades 6 – 8 Describe how the positions and motions of the objects in the universe cause predictable and cyclic events.

Grade 8 Indicator 1. Describe how objects in the solar system are in regular and   predictable motions that explain such phenomena as days, years, seasons,   eclipses, tides and moon cycles.

Indicator 2. Explain that gravitational force is the dominant force determining motions in the solar system and in particular keeps the planets in orbit around the sun.

Indicator 3. Compare the orbits and composition of comets and asteroids with that of Earth.

Indicator 4. Describe the effect that asteroids or meteoroids have when moving through space and sometimes entering planetary atmospheres (e.g., meteor-"shooting star" and meteorite).

Benchmark B Grades 6 – 8 Explain that the universe is composed of vast amounts of matter, most of which is at incomprehensible distances and held together by gravitational force. Describe how the universe is studied by the use of equipment such as telescopes, probes, satellites and spacecraft.

Grade 8 Indicator 2. Explain that gravitational force is the dominant force   determining motions in the solar system and in particular keeps the planets in  orbit around the sun.

Indicator 5. Explain that the universe consists of billions of galaxies that are classified by shape.

Indicator 6. Explain interstellar distances are measured in light years (e.g., the nearest star beyond the sun is 4.3 light years away).

Indicator 7. Examine the life cycle of a star and predict the next likely stage of a star. Indicator 8. Name and describe tools used to study the universe (e.g., telescopes, probes, satellites and spacecraft).

Scientific Inquiry

Benchmark A Grades K – 2 Ask a testable question.

Grade 2 Indicator 2. Ask “how do you know” questions (not “why questions) in appropriate situations and attempt to give reasonable answers when others ask questions.

Benchmark C Grades K – 2 Gather and communicate information from careful observations and simple investigation through a variety of methods.

Grade K Indicator 4. Use the five senses to make observations about the natural world.

Grade 1 Indicator 9. Describe things as accurately as possible and compare with the observations of others.

Grade 2 Indicator 5. Use evidence to develop explanations of scientific investigations. (What do you think? How do you know?) 

Indicator 6. Recognize that explanations are generated in response to observations, events and phenomena.

Indicator 10. Share explanations with others to provide opportunities to ask questions, examine evidence and suggest alternative explanations.

Benchmark B Grade 6 – 8 Analyze and interpret data from scientific investigations using appropriate mathematical skills in order to draw valid conclusions.

Grade 7 Indicator 5. Analyze alternative scientific explanations and predictions and recognize that there may be more than one good way to interpret a given set of data.

Indicator 7. Use graphs, tables and charts to study physical phenomena and infer mathematical relationships between variables (e.g., speed and density).

Grade 8 Indicator 3. Read, construct and interpret data in various forms produced by self and others in both written and oral form (e.g., tables, charts, maps, graphs, diagrams and symbols).

Scientific Ways of Knowing

Benchmark C Grades K – 2 Recognize that diverse groups of people contribute to our understanding of the natural world.

Grade K Indicator 4. Demonstrate ways science is practiced by people everyday (children and adults).

Grade 1 Indicator 3. Explain that everybody can do science, invent things and have scientific ideas no matter where they live.

Grade 2 Indicator 2. Explain why scientists review and ask questions about the results of other scientists' work.

Indicator 4. Demonstrate that in science it is helpful to work with a team and share findings with others.

Benchmark A Grades 3 – 5 Distinguish between fact and opinion and explain how ideas and conclusions change as new knowledge is gained.

Grade 4 Indicator 1. Differentiate fact from opinion and explain that scientists do not rely on claims or conclusions unless they are backed by observations that   can be confirmed.

Benchmark B Grades 3 – 5 Describe different types of investigations and use results and data from investigations to provide the evidence to support explanations and conclusions.

Grade 5 Indicator 4. Identify how scientists use different kinds of ongoing   investigations depending on the questions they are trying to answer (e.g., observations of things or events in nature, data collection and controlled experiments).

Benchmark D Grades 3 – 5 Explain that men and women of diversecountries and cultures participate in careers in all fields of science.

Grade 3 Indicator 4. Identify various careers in science.

Indicator 5. Discuss how both men and women find science rewarding as a career and in their everyday lives.

Grade 5 Indicator 6. Identify a variety of scientific and technological work that people of all ages, backgrounds and groups perform.

Benchmark C Grade 6 – 8 Give examples of how thinking scientifically is helpful in daily life.

Grade 6 Indicator 3. Identify ways scientific thinking is helpful in a variety of   everyday settings.

Grade 7 Indicator 3. Describe how the work of science requires a variety of human abilities and qualities that are helpful in daily life (e.g., reasoning, creativity, skepticism and openness).

Physical Sciences

Benchmark C Grades K – 2 Recognize sources of energy and their uses.

Grade 1 Indicator 8. Recognize that the sun is an energy source that warms the land, air and water.

Benchmark C Grades 3 - 5 Describe the forces that directly affect objects and their motion.

Grade 3 Indicator 1. Describe an objects position by locating it relative to another object or the background.

Indicator 2. Describe an objects motion by tracing and measuring its position over time.

Indicator 3. Identify contact/non-contact forces that affect motion of an object (e.g., gravity, magnetism and collision).

Science and Technology

Benchmark A Grades 3 – 5 Describe how technology affects human life.

Grade 3 Indicator 3. Investigate ways that the results of technology may affect the individual, family and community.

Grade 4 Indicator 1. Explain how technology from different areas has improved human lives.  Indicator 2. Investigate how technology and inventions change to meet peoples’ needs and wants.

Benchmark A Grade 6 – 8 Give examples of how technological advances, influenced by scientific knowledge, affect the quality of life.

Grade 6 Indicator 1. Explain how technology influences the quality of life.

Grade 7 Indicator 1. Explain how needs, attitudes and values influence the direction of technological development in various cultures.

Indicator 3. Recognize that science can only answer some questions and technology can only solve some human problems.

Grade 8 Indicator 1. Examine how science and technology have advanced through the contributions of many different people, cultures and times in history.

English Language Arts

Acquisition of Vocabulary

Benchmark A Grades K – 3 Use context clues to determine the meaning of new vocabulary words.

Grade K Indicator 1. Understand new words from the context of conversations or from the use of pictures within a text.

Grade 2 Indicator 10. Determine the meaning and pronunciations of unknown words using a beginner’s dictionary, glossaries and technology.

Communication: Oral and Visual

Benchmark A Grade K – 3 Use active listening strategies to identify the main idea and to gain information from oral presentations.

Grade K Indicator 1. Listen attentively to speakers, stories, poems and songs.

Grade 1 Indicator 1. Use active listening skills, such as making eye contact or asking questions.

Indicator 1. Compare what is heard with prior knowledge and experience. Indicator 3. Follow simple oral directions.

Grade 2 Indicator 1. Use active listening strategies, such as making eye contact and asking for clarification and explanation.

Indicator 2. Compare what is heard with prior knowledge and experience. Indicator 3. Identify the main idea of oral presentations and visual media. Indicator 4. Follow two- and three-step oral directions.

Grade 3 Indicator 1. Ask questions for clarification and explanation, and respond to others’ ideas.

Indicator 2. Identify the main idea, supporting details and purpose of oral presentations and visual media.

Benchmark E Grade K – 3 Deliver a variety of presentations that include relevant information and a clear sense of purpose.

Grade K Indicator 5. Deliver informal descriptive or informational presentations about ideas or experiences in logical order with a beginning, middle and end.

Grade 1 Indicator 4. Speak clearly and understandably.

Indicator 5. Deliver brief informational presentations that: a. demonstrate an understanding of the topic; b. include and sort relevant information and details to develop topic.

Grade 2 Indicator 8. Deliver informal presentations that: b. demonstrate an understanding of the topic; c. include relevant facts and details to develop a     topic.

Grade 3 Indicator 8. Deliver informal presentations that: b. demonstrate an understanding of the topic.

Benchmark A Grade 4 – 7 Use effective listening strategies, summarize major ideas and draw logical inferences from presentations and visual media.

Grade 5 Indicator 1. Demonstrate active listening strategies.

Indicator 2. Interpret the main idea and draw conclusions from oral presentations and visual media.

Indicator 3. Identify the speaker’s purpose in presentations and visual media. Indicator 9. Deliver formal and informal descriptive presentations recalling an   event or personal experience that convey relevant information and descriptive   details.

Benchmark B Grade 4 – 7 Explain a speaker’s point of view and use of persuasive techniques in presentations and visual media.

Grade 5 Indicator 1. Demonstrate active listening strategies.

Indicator 2. Interpret the main idea and draw conclusions from oral presentations   and visual media.

Benchmark F Grade 4 – 7 Give presentations using a variety of delivery methods, visual materials and technology.

Grade 5 Indicator 9. Deliver formal and informal descriptive presentations recalling an event or personal experience that convey relevant information and   descriptive details.

Benchmark E Grade 8 – 10 Give informational presentations that present ideas in a logical sequence, include relevant facts and details from multiple sources and use a consistent organization structure.

Grade 8 Indicator 9. Deliver formal and informal descriptive presentations that convey relevant information and descriptive details.

Mathematics

Measurement

Benchmark B K – 2 Select appropriate units for length, weight, volume and time, using U.S. customary units: inch, foot, yard, ounce, point, cup, quart, gallon, minute, hour, day, week and year.

Grade K Indicator 1. Identify units of time (day, week, month, year) and compare calendar elements; e.g., weeks are longer than days.

Grade 1 Indicator 3. Order a sequence of events with respect to time; e.g., summer, fall, winter and spring; morning, afternoon and night.

Benchmark E Grade 5 – 7 Use problem solving techniques and technology as needed to solve problems involving length, weight, perimeter, area, volume, time and temperature.

Grade 5 Indicator 7. Use benchmark angles to estimate the measure of angles, and use a tool to measure and draw angles.