StarLab

See the 48 major constellations - popularized by the creator of Curious George, H.A. Rey - projected onto a clearer view of the Milky Way than you have ever seen before. We will begin the lesson by looking at the individual figures of our nightly sky - planets, nebulae, significant stars. Then, projecting the constellations of H.A. Rey over the Milky Way, students will be able to establish their bearings in the expanse of the night sky. StarLab allows us to fast-forward through the Earth’s revolution to observe the motion of the stars and the constellations they compose - illuminating the seasonality of nightly vistas. These familiar constellations will help facilitate your stargazing on camping trips and other outdoor excursions.

Projecting a detailed world map onto the StarLab sky, students will explore the paths taken by migratory bird species around the planet. We will examine the adaptations facilitating such feats of flight, as well as the variations that allow some species to stay year-round in wintry regions, while others must follow food. Geography is integral to this lesson as we explore why these birds migrate in the first place, and the obstacles the birds must contend with along their migratory routes. Live animal encounters and teaching artifacts are also available for this presentation.

Explore Ancient Greek civilization through the lens of its storytelling tradition! This lesson begins by looking at the individual figures of our nightly sky - planets, nebulae, significant stars. After this initial investigation, we will overlay the vista of the Milky Way with the constellations of Ancient Greek mythology. The stories included in this lesson will shed light on the many allusions to Greek Mythology present throughout literature.

Learn about the rich mythology and astronomy traditions of Native American societies! We will begin this lesson by looking at the individual figures of our nightly sky - planets, nebulae, significant stars. We will then overlay the vista of the Milky Way with the constellations of various Native American cultures - including the Navajo, Shoshone, Blackfoot, Cherokee, Tewa, Hopi and Algonquin tribes. The panoramic view in the StarLab will guide our exploration of the mythology connected to each constellation, as well as the rich oral tradition in which these myths arose. This lesson includes special emphasis on the oral tradition of the Navajo - natives of the four-corners region of Utah, Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado.