Silhouette of three people, two children and an adult, pointing and looking at a star against a dark green background, enclosed in a white circle.

astronomy immersion: earth’s place in the universe

Schedule Trip
All Field Trips

For questions on programs or for any booking issues please contact the Education Department at 458-292-9995 or by email: programs@snco.org.

Grades: 3-12
Duration: Field Trips duration is ~3 hours and includes: 60-minute interactive lesson, 30-minute lunch break, 30-minute Observatory time including solar viewing, 30-minute scale model activity, and approximately 30 minutes of unstructured time for snacking, restroom visits, and chaperone/teacher led exploration of the site.
Availability: Field Trips duration is ~3 hours and includes: 60-minute interactive lesson, 30-minute lunch break, 30-minute Observatory time including solar viewing, 30-minute scale model activity, and approximately 30 minutes of unstructured time for snacking, restroom visits, and chaperone/teacher led exploration of the site.
NGSS Connection: ESS1-1, MS-ESS1-1, MS-ESS1-2, MS-ESS1-3, HS-ESS1-3, HS-ESS1-6
Location : SNCO Campus
Pricing: $250/program; maximum of 35 students. Includes nature center and observatory admission.

Description:

Our Earth has an interesting role in our solar system. We will focus on the relationships Earth has with the Sun and nearby planets. Students will learn about the behaviors of the Earth, the Moon, Venus and Mars in space. Students will also look at our planet and others to evaluate day and year cycles, as well as seasons relative to our Sun.

Learning goals:

  • Recognize that Earth rotates on its axis, in a 24-hour pattern creating common cycles such as day-night cycle, seasons, and moon phases.

  • Understand the Earth’s gravitational effect with other objects in space depends on their relative masses and distances between each other.

  • Understand that the Sun’s gravitational pull holds the planets in their orbits, just as the planets keep their moons in their orbits.