Little Star Explorers
| AVAILABILITY | TUESDAYS AND WEDNESDAYS ONLY! September 10 until December 18, 2019. |
| TIMES | 10:00am - 1:00pm |
| COST | $11 per person |
| PLEASE NOTE: | This program requires a minimum of 15 paid participants and can serve a maximum of 50 participants. One free adult chaperone is required for every ten students. Additional adults will be charged the program fee and the parking fee. No other discounts, including SLSC membership discounts, apply to field trip package prices. Please arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your program start time as programs begin promptly at 10am. Doors open at 9:30am. Field trip schedule subject to change in order to better coordinate program components. |
Here’s your agenda for the day:
Explore Our James S. McDonnell Planetarium Galleries 10am-10:30am
Experience our two life-size space capsules, a Mars rover, and other exciting exhibits before traveling upstairs for your show!
Watch the Planetarium Show The Little Star That Could 10:30am–11:30am
Witness the story of an “average” star who travels the universe in search of planets of his own. Along the way, he makes many discoveries about planets, his fellow stars, galaxies and even himself.
Lunch – 11:45am – 12:15pm
Lunch may be purchased starting at $6 per student and $10.50 for adults, or you can bring your own.
CHOOSE ONE OF THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM OPTIONS:
NEW! Solar Superstars
12:15pm–1pm
Put on your coolest shades and get ready to join us on a “sunsational” adventure. In this new offering, children extend
their learning about the Sun and other stars as they engage in activities involving demonstration, movement, art, and play.
Children will learn about the sun as well as explore concepts including heat, light, shadow, day, night and sun safety.
Space Explorers
12:15pm-1pm
Imagine the possibilities of space travel and exploration, then work as a team to build a model of your own design. Design a craft to take you from Earth to another planet; create a rover for navigating the moon; or engineer a collection tool and gather samples from a far off world! Put on your space helmet and get creative with this unique design and building activity!
Pre and post-visit activities
Learning Goals (for field trip and pre/post-activities)
- Students will know some characteristics of stars, planets, and moons.
- Students will use materials to design and build a model space craft.
- Students will present their work to the class in a brief presentation explaining their design idea.
Standards Adressed (NGSS)
- NGSS K-PS3-2, K-ESS3-2
Pre-visit Activities
Before bringing students to the Science Center you may want to try some of the following activities in order to activate prior knowledge and prepare them for their field trip. (Grades K to 2) Lessons should be adjusted for grade level.
- Get to Know the Planets
- Read a book or watch a video about the sun, planets, and moons in our solar system.
- We recommend Dogs in Space by Nancy Coffelt or The Magic School Bus: Our Solar System by Scholastic
- Discuss the names of the planets and that some have moons.
- Exploring Space
- Visit Nasa.gov to learn about current missions and get to know some of the technologies used in space.
- Think and talk about how each technology works.
- International Space Station – Six astronauts from around the world live in space and perform studies and experiments.
- New Horizons – spacecraft that is studying Pluto and the icy region of our solar system.
- Curiosity Mars Rover – vehicle studying if Mars was ever able to support tiny (microbial) life.
Post-visit Activities
You can extend your visit to the Science Center back in the classroom with the following post-visit activities. (Grades K to 2) Lessons should be adjusted for grade level.
- NASA Kids Club
- Go to https://nasa.gov/kidsclub website to play games related to space.
- Use the Parents and Educators page (listed in the resources section of this document) to read about each game/activity and decide which are best for your students.
- Design Challenge
- Think of other design challenges that your students can complete related to your curriculum.
- Gather recycled materials (students can bring from home) to supply their builds.
- Organize students to work in small groups to create a design, build it, and present their work to the class.
Resources
YouTube Planets Song Video (3:48)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=noiwY7kQ5NQ
YouTube Exploring Our Solar System: Planets and Space For Kids (11:54)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qd6nLM2QlWw
NASA Kids Club – online games integrating cross curricular objectives with a space theme.
https://www.nasa.gov/kidsclub/index.html
NASA Kids Club for Parents and Educators – brief description of each game/activity with cross
curricular objectives clearly defined.
https://www.nasa.gov/kidsclub/text/extras/Game_Descriptions_National_Standards.html
NASA Missions – learn about recent missions and the technologies used to support them.
https://www.nasa.gov/
Download a PDF of pre & post field trip activities.
Bus parking is free – cars are $10 per vehicle, free parking for required chaperones.
NOTE: Reservations are required at least 2 weeks in advance and we must receive payment 10 days prior to your
scheduled field trip. Last minute additions to student or chaperone tickets must be made the day before arrival.
Download a PDF copy of this agenda
Cancellation policy: Payment is required 10 days prior to your scheduled field trip. Cancellation after that time period will result in forfeiture of the full activity amount. SLSC may cancel the program with at least one-week prior notice, in which case SLSC will promptly refund the amount previously paid and your organization will be relieved of any payment obligation. SLSC shall however, in no event, be responsible for any loss incurred by your organization other than the program payments received.
To make a reservation please call 314.289.4439, email us or fill out the form below to get started.
Plan Ahead
All groups should also be aware of our Group Policies, and should print, fill out out and bring our Group Policies Acknowledgement form. For more information, contact Group Sales by phone at 1.314.289.4424, or at groupvisits@slsc.org.