Planetarium/Space Science Programs
Our Planetarium Programs are out of this world!! Inside the digital Abbitt Planetarium theater, students will make important connections to essential space science "SOLs as they explore the solar system, travel to distant galaxies and marvel at the mysterious celestial objects in our own night sky.
Length of Session: 45 minutes
Number of Students: 60 maximum
Fee: (includes self guided tour of exhibits)
Contract Schools: Please call for information
Non-contract schools: $9.75 per student ($360 minimum)
Classroom teacher and school staff are free. One chaperone is required for every 10 students and is admitted free. Additional chaperones are $16 each.
For more information or to make a reservation, call the Reservations Coordinator at 757-595-9135 Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. or fill out the on-line request form.
Funded in part by Langley Federal Credit Union.
SOL Revisions
For the 2011-2012 school year, SOL correlations for planetarium programs will remain aligned with the SOLs for Science adopted in 2003. For information concerning the VA. Dept. of Education timetable for implementation of the SOLs revised in 2010 click here.
Virginia Skies
Grades K-12
SOLs vary by grade level
Explore the evening skies above Virginia in this classic planetarium presentation. A staff astronomer will discuss seasonal constellations as well as any planets visible. Additional topics may be explored depending on celestial happenings around the time of your visit. While this program can be tailored for any grade level, it is especially effective for introducing kindergarteners to the planetarium theater experience.
More information about Virginia Skies
The Skies of Jamestown
Grades 1-5
Science SOLs 1.1, 3.8, 5.1
History and Social Science SOLs 1.1, 3.2, 3.3, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.7, 5.1, 5.2, 5.9
Students will discover the dangers of ocean travel in the early 1600s and come to better understand how important the stars were to two cultures as the colonists began to learn how to live with their Powhatan neighbors. This program includes a live discussion of the stars, planets and other heavenly bodies we see today in the skies above Jamestown.
Day and Night
Grade 1
SOLs 1.1, 1.2, 1.6
The motion of the Earth on its axis produces the most profound change in the sky apparent to the young child. Explore the motions of the Earth and the changes they produce in our sky. A staff astronomer will guide your class through an interactive demonstration of the cause of day and night, and help you explore the wonders of the evening sky around the time of your visit.
The Zula Patrol: Under the Weather
Grades 2-3
SOLs Science 2.1, 2.3, 2.6, 3.1, 3.9
Introduce your students to weather science through this engaging program starring The Zula Patrol, an intrepid band of space heroes currently featured on many PBS stations. Students will learn about different kinds of weather, the elements that make up the weather in a given place, and compare the weather on different planets in our solar system, all within the backdrop of a great story and engaging characters that will get your students excited about studying weather science.
More information about The Zula Patrol: Under the Weather
Follow the Drinking Gourd - a Quest for Freedom
Grades 2-5
SOLs science 3.1, 3.8, 4.7, History and Social Science 2.9, 3.3, 4.7, 5.7
Experience the fear and the joy of a flight to freedom from the tyranny of slavery. Your students will analyze the clues hidden in the song "Follow the Drinking Gourd" and learn how to use the sky to navigate their way north. This poignant program will also explore the skies of the United States as interpreted by slaves from Africa. A perennial favorite science and social studies program, especially for Black History month.
Assignment Earth
Grades 3-4
SOLs 3.1, 3.8, 3.11, 4.7
There's an alien among us! And he's going to help us look at the interconnections between the Earth, Moon and Sun with new eyes! This exciting and engaging program will be sure to capture the attention of your students and help them learn about Moon phases, tides, Earth motions, seasons and so much more! Don't miss out on this wonderful exploration of our own planet.
Reasons For The Seasons
Grade 4
SOLs 4.1, 4.7
Perhaps the most misunderstood topic in space science, the causes of the Earth's seasons can be very difficult for the elementary age student to grasp. A staff astronomer will lead your students through this tough topic, focusing on the motions of the Earth, and how those motions make themselves evident to us standing here on the ground. Common misconceptions about how the seasons change will also be discussed and disproved. An excellent review for students preparing for science SOL exams in the 5th grade!
Oasis in Space
Grades 5-9
SOLs 5.1, 5.4, 5.7, 6.1, 6.4, 6.5, 6.8, ES.4, ES.12, ES.14
Discover the uniqueness of our home planet as we tour through the solar system, seeking that most basic necessity for life - water. Does water exist elsewhere in the solar system? Can life survive beyond the confines of Earth? These questions and more will be discussed in this visually stunning program about the origins and nature of the worlds that surround us.
More information about Oasis in Space
Two Small Pieces of Glass
Grades 5-12
SOLs 5.1, 5.3, 6.1, 6.8, PS.9, ES.3, PH.8, PH.9
Originally produced in celebration of the 400th anniversary of Galileo's groundbreaking work with his telescope, this program takes your students on a journey through the history of telescopes, how they are made, and how they have helped astronomers make so many astounding discoveries about the universe. A brief look at the current night sky is included with the program.
WSKY
Grades 5-12
SOLs 6.1, 6.2, 6.11, LS.1, ES.4
Learn about everything from the problem of light pollution to the eventual fate of the universe in this exciting planetarium presentation! Students will enjoy discovering more fascinating facts about stars, planets, galaxies, black holes and other celestial wonders with this lively program, which features three original space-themed songs.