Elementary Age Shows.

All shows may not be available, please call (517) 355-4676 for more information.

Science Standards How our shows align with current science standards.

Pre-recorded Shows.

The following programs are recorded shows. Each lasts approximately 30 minutes and is followed by a 30 minute live presentation of the current evening sky.

One World, One Sky
Grades Pre-1

You don't need a spaceship to learn about the sun, moon, and stars-just a little imagination! When Big Bird, Elmo, and their friend from China, Hu Hu Zhu, take an imaginary trip to the moon, they learn amazing things along the way.

Instructional Materials
Show Trailer

In My Backyard
Grades Pre-1

Join children's entertainer Fred Penner as he explores things large and small, from the colors of the rainbow, to the reasons for the seasons. Through the use of entertaining songs and immersive environments, children are encouraged to participate while learning about the planets, constellations, meteors, the moon and more.

Our Place in Space
Grades Pre-2

While solving a crossword puzzle about the sky, Scarlet Macaw and her friends explore the cause of day and night, the importance of our star the Sun, the beauty of the constellations, and the variety of objects that make up the Universe.

Zula Patrol: Under the Weather
Grades Pre-3

The stalwart heroes of The Zula Patrol are on an expedition collecting samples of weather for scientist Multo's research. When the Zula gang inadvertently hurts their loyal pet Gorga's feelings, he decides to leave Zula and find another planet to live on. Villain Dark Truder then tricks Gorga into helping with his latest nefarious scheme to rule the universe. The Zula Patrollers find out and go after him-in the process learning all about weather, both terrestrial and interplanetary. Based on the hit TV series.

Instructional Materials
Show Trailer

Perfect Little Planet
Grades 1-5

Discover our solar system through a new set of eyes-a family from another star system seeking the perfect vacation spot. Fly over the surface of Pluto, our best known Dwarf Planet. Dive down the ice cliffs of Miranda. Sail through the rings of Saturn. Feel the lightning storms at Jupiter. And walk on the surface of Mars. Which destination would you choose?

Instructional Materials

Dinosaurs
Grades 1-5

Like almost all children, Celeste is fascinated with dinosaurs. She is preparing a talk for her class about how they went extinct when Moon, a very wise and magical character, poses a tantalizing question: what if I told you that there are still dinosaurs among us? Celeste will join Moon in a journey through time. An exciting adventure that will show them the Earth as it was in the very, very distant past. They will see the fascinating transformations that these animals underwent over millions of years, creating giant creatures, armored beasts and super predators, until the day that a cataclysmic impact event caused a mass extinction on Earth. But all is not lost. Celeste will discover the key to their survival.

Beyond the Sun
Grades 1-5

TWhile going to sleep, Celeste is visited by a friendly particle of light called Moon. Together, they travel beyond the Sun in search of new worlds and enjoy the delights and mysteries of exoplanet hunting. Find out how to detect exoplanets with Celeste and Moon and learn about all the different types of worlds including rogue planets, oceanic worlds and super-Earths. Even more, learn about real-life exoplanet hunters who observe the sky and search for other planets that are like Earth.

Instructional Materials

The Little Star That Could
Grades 2-5

The story about an average yellow star on a search for planets of his own to warm and protect. Along his way, he encounters other stars, learns what makes each star special, and discovers that stars can combine to form clusters and galaxies. Eventually, Little Star finds his planets, and each is introduced to audiences along with basic information about the Solar System.

Instructional Materials
Show Trailer

Sky Tellers: Seasons and the Moon
Grades 3 and Up

Seasons and the Moon:

Listen to stories of the stars told by Native American Master Storytellers. In this show, you will hear two stories. "Spring Defeats Winter" retold by Joseph Bruchac (Abenaki) and "The Girl Who Married the Moon" retold by Gayle Ross (Cherokee).


Instructional Materials

Sky Tellers: North Star and Meteors
Grades 3 and Up

North Star and Meteors:

Listen to stories of the stars told by Native American Master Storytellers. In this show, you will hear two stories. "Why the North Star Stands Still" retold by Lynn Moroney (Chickasaw) and "Coyote and the Dancing Stars" retold by Lynn Moroney (Chickasaw).

Instructional Materials

We Are Stars
Grades 4 and Up

What are we made of? Where did it all come from? Explore the secrets of our cosmic chemistry, and our explosive origins. Connect life on Earth to the evolution of the Universe by following the formation of Hydrogen atoms to the synthesis of Carbon, and the molecules for life. Narrated by Andy Serkis.

Instructional Materials
Show Trailer

Imagine the Moon
Grades 5 and Up

Explore how the Moon has inspired human creativity, learning, and exploration ever since we have looked to the sky. Each discovery has brought new opportunities to contemplate and imagine, until, driven by dreams, we left Earth and went there in the amazing journeys that culminated in astronauts walking on the Moon. People have imagined the Moon as a glowing disk in the sky, a destination in space, and a world that shares its origin with the Earth. The power of human imagination continues to inspire our relationship with the Moon as our partner in space and companion in our sky.

Show Trailer

Skywatchers of Africa
Grades 5 and Up

For thousands of years, Africans have used their knowledge of the sky to build their societies, shape their spiritual lives, and meet their physical needs for survival. Skywatchers of Africa highlights the diversity of African astronomy, examines cultural uses of the sky that developed throughout history, and celebrates our shared human experience.

Two Small Pieces of Glass
Grades 5 and Up

Learn how the telescope has helped us understand our place in space and continue to expand our understanding of the Universe. Explore the history of the telescope and the discoveries these wonderful tools have made. See how telescopes work and how the largest observatories in the world use them. View the Galilean Moons, Saturn's rings, and spiral structure of galaxies. Learn about the discoveries of Galileo, Huygens, Newton, Hubble, and others.

Instructional Materials
Show Trailer

Big Astronomy
Grades 5 and Up

It takes many people with diverse backgrounds, talents, and skills to run a world-class observatory. Meet a few of these people as they share the wonder of the sky--and the excitement of discovery. Explore the world-class observatories nestled in northern Chile’s mountains and learn why Chile, is an ideal environment for studying the cosmos.

Instructional Materials
Show Trailer

Live Shows.

The following five programs are live presentations. Each involve student interactions and participation. Each live presentation is tailored to the individual grade level. The programs are approximately 1 hour in length. These programs are not available during the summer, please call if you have questions.

Preschool Sky
Ages 3-5 Years

Basic awareness of the day and night sky are investigated with the help of models, stories, and the planetarium projector. Due to the special characteristics of this age group, the program length will vary between 30 minutes and an hour, according to attention span.

The Night Sky
All Ages

A basic introduction to the sky. All of the bright planets and most of the brightest stars and prominent constellations currently visible in the early evening will be found. Storytelling and student interaction will be used to enhance learning.

The Sun's Family
Grades K-5

Solar system information is presented using models, photos, and student interaction. Students learn to find the bright planets in the current sky.

Moonbeams
Grades 2-5

After watching the moon in the sky, students will look for ways to explain the changes observed. Lunar folklore and moon travel also will be discussed.

The Seasons
Grades 4-6

An overview of how the day and night sky change through the year. Students will predict and observe how the sun's path changes over the year and learn how that relates to changing seasons. They will learn why we see different constellations through the year by looking from an earth and space-based perspective.

Sky Patterns
Grades K-2

This show is geared toward early elementary students and addresses the 1st grade NGSS standard about patterns in the sky. Students will orient themselves in the planetarium using the Big and Little Dippers. Then they will make observations about day and night, how the length of day changes through the seasons, and then how the Moon changes shape over a month. Any time left will look at constellations in the sky.