Academic Programs –> National Air and Space Museum
National Air and Space Museum
 In the planetarium, students learn about Earth's rotation and what else is in the solar system.  On a clear day, students can see the sun directly through this telescope and identify certain features. | Pre-Trip Lesson : During this unit students examine the solar system, focusing on the sun, planets, and other orbiting bodies. Students explore how the movement of the earth and moon create days, months, and years, and investigate the relative size of the planets and sun. They also learn about the relationship between the names and characteristics of the planets and the Greek gods and goddesses they are named for. Trip : At Air & Space, students enjoy a planetarium presentation on the solar system and study the sky from the Observatory. They also learn about features of the sun’s surface and atmosphere. Using special telescopes with different colored lenses, students view these features and draw what they see. Post-Trip Lesson : As a culminating activity, students create their own constellations and write a myth about how their constellation got into the sky. Students also test their knowledge of the solar system as they compete in a collaborative review game and take written assessments. Academic Standards: Reading (5.LD-V.8, 5.LT-F.5); Mathematics (5.NSO-N.3); Science (5.3.1, 5.3.3) |