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Volume 5 - Winter 2008 |
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Primary Lesson 1: Night and Day Lesson design contains:
Background for Instructor: In this lesson, students are presented with the observational evidence as it appears from the surface of the Earth and they are asked to present their own ideas about what causes day and night. They visually see the Sun rise, move across the sky and set. With the help of the Digital STARLAB projector, they are transported out into space to see an expanded view of the Earth/Sun system. From this perspective, they can see the rotating Earth and how the Sun only lights one half of the planet a time. NSES Connections: P1. The Sun, Moon and stars all have properties, locations and movements that can be observed and described. Examples of questions or activities from the script that demonstrates how this standard is addressed:
For additional examples from the Primary Lesson 1, click here. |
Quality science education requires effective operating standards to ensure success of the system. Guidance is always needed to aid in the successful implementation of reform. Equally important are the tools educators need to accomplish change. Digital STARLAB is one such tool that fits into the “grand plan” of standards-based science curricula and can no doubt play a significant role in improving the quality of learning and scientific literacy for all well into the 21st century.
The Digital Dish
The Cosmic Lesson Competition is On! Find out how your school can win a Digital STARLAB Planetarium!
On January 10, 2008 LTI announced a terrific opportunity for middle and high schools in the USA and Canada. The Cosmic Lesson Competition offers a wonderful educational experience for teachers and their students. Using a team approach, participants are challenged to create a dynamic lesson using Starry Night software for ultimate presentation in the Digital STARLAB Planetarium. Incorporating outside images, video and data, teams will attempt to create the most effective and impressive lesson possible. Here is a simple breakdown of what you need to do.
- Form a Cosmic Lesson Competition Team
- Register Your Team
- Take Advantage of Training Events
- Submit Your Lesson Plan by December 31, 2008
The first place award is a 5-meter complete Digital STARLAB All-dome Projection Planetarium (a $58,000 value!). The competition will challenge and inspire teachers and students in a way that will be educationally rewarding and memorable. For all the details and/or to register to enter the competition, please go to www.cosmiclesson.com.
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San Marcos High School Enhances its Astronomy Program with
a Digital STARLAB
Due to recent changes in the science requirements for graduation in Texas, students are now expected to take four years of science. Meredith Freeman, Academic Dean of San Marcos High School recently acquired funding to support the school’s astronomy curriculum by adding a Digital STARLAB. Instructor Eric Adkins teaches the astronomy enrichment as well as AP Biology. The Digital STARLAB provides his students with powerful new technology to reach, teach, and inspire his students. Eric and his colleagues plan to share the Digital in multi-disciplinary capacity. No doubt the astronomy program at San Marcos High School will have a long waiting list!
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Door Peninsula Astronomical Society adds Digital STARLAB
On Saturday, November 10, 2007, Gary Kratzer, an astronomy education specialist and Editor of the STARLAB e-News from Sulphur, Louisiana, presented the initial training workshop for nine Door Peninsula Astronomical Society members who will be operating the new Digital STARLAB planetarium at the Ray & Ruthie Stonecipher Astronomy Center at Crossroads, located in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.
Thanks to a grant from the Raibrook Foundation, the Door Peninsula Astronomical Society was able to purchase a room-sized dome, a digital STARLAB projector with a custom fisheye lens powered by Starry Night Small Dome™ software.
In the morning, Kratzer demonstrated how to set up the projector, care for the fisheye lens, connecting cables, booting the software, and use of the many software tools that project realistic images of stars, galaxies, deep sky objects, cultural constellations, graphics and movies. The software includes a number of instructional modules with lessons appropriate for learners of all ages and experience levels.
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You can see the new Digital STARLAB at the following upcoming conferences:
2008 NSTA National Show — March 27-30, 2008, Boston, MA
5th Science Centre World Congress — June 15-19, 2008, Toronto, ON, Canada
2008 International Planetarium Society (IPS) Conference — June 15-20, 2008, Chicago, IL
NSTA Area Conference — October 30-November 1, 2008, Charlotte, NC
NSTA Area Conference — November 20-22, 2008, Portland, OR
NSTA Area Conference — December 4-6, 2008, Cincinnati, OH
We hope to see you there! You can also contact us to set up a local Digital STARLAB demonstration. Contact Reed Varian.
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2008 Digital STARLAB Institute
We will soon begin planning for the 2008 Digital STARLAB Institute so look for details via e-mail coming soon!
STARLAB User News & Contributions
Check Out the Girlstart STARLAB Planetarium in Austin, Texas!
Girlstart, a non-profit organization created to empower girls in math, science, engineering, and technology, held its first community Science Extravaganza at the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders in Austin, Texas on December 1, 2007.
Girlstart’s Science Extravaganza included hands-on activities for the entire family! Over 450 parents and children created roller coasters, explored the solar system, learned the secrets to a winning science fair project, and identified their favorite constellations in Girlstart’s very own STARLAB Planetarium. Girlstart’s STARLAB, the highlight of the event, provided families the chance to discover more about constellations of winter sky.
Since Girlstart was founded in 1997, this first-of-its-kind technology center for girls has served over 10,000 girls and families through its innovative Saturday camps, summer camps, and after school programs. To learn more about Girlstart’s upcoming programs please visit: www.girlstart.org.
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Hard Work in STARLAB Does Pay Off — and in Many Ways!
This letter came in from John Meader of Northern Stars Planetarium who has been running his own business with a STARLAB in the state of Maine since 1987.
Hi Jane,
I just wanted to share the enclosed picture with you. Yesterday I visited a school that I've gone to every year since I started back in 1987. At the end of the last show, when I dumped the dome (as I usually do with the kids still inside at the end of the last show) the principal, art teacher, students, PTO president, and a few parents were all standing outside with this banner. The principal said a few kind words about Northern Stars Planetarium and presented me with an ink drawing of the school that was framed and matted as a thank you gift for 20 years of sharing the stars with their students and staff. We concluded with planet-shaped cookies all around. It was great fun and they booked again for next year too!
John
P.S. Every star on the banner has an astronomy question written by a third grader on it. I guess I've got some answering to do ;-)
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The Inside Scoop from LTI
| New! Correlation of STARLAB Cylinders to the National Science Education Standards
Download these new, easy-to-read, grade specific charts correlating the STARLAB Cylinders (that are used with the Standard and FiberArc analog projectors) to the National Science Education Standards. These charts show which STARLAB cylinders can be used to help students meet each of the National Science Education Standards. We have included the correlations with the Content Standards including Science as Inquiry, Physical Science, Life Science, Earth and Space Science, Science and Technology, Science in Personal and Social Perspectives, and History and Nature of Science. |
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| STARLAB Funding Finder Page
Finding the funds to realize your dream of owning a STARLAB or Digital STARLAB is well worth the effort. With persistence, patience, and a bit of luck, you can raise the funds you need. Although Learning Technologies is unable to offer grants, we are pleased to several free resources to assist you on your path to obtaining STARLAB funding such as:
Go to the newly revised Funding Finder page for more details. |
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| Does Your Dome Need Repair? Ask About Our New Dome Loaner Program!
LTI offers a "STARLAB Shape-up" program for systems in need of repair. Soon, we will be offering a "dome loaner" service so that you aren't left domeless while yours is in the shop! Contact us for details at 800-537-8703 or send us an e-mail if you think you might be interested. |
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| STARLAB Family Web page
We have a new page on our Web site dedicated to STARLAB users, people we refer to as our "STARLAB Family". Go there to get a quick look at the news, happenings and on occasion, a special offer! Check out the STARLAB User page at http://www.starlab.com/slfamily.html |
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| Looking for STARLAB Ambassadors
Interested in becoming a STARLAB Ambassador? Since posting our need for a few good, experienced STARLAB people to helping with training and/or demonstrations on a fee-for-service basis, we've gotten a really great response. But don't let that stop YOU. We need folks from all around the country and from all backgrounds. So, if you are an experienced STARLAB user who would be interested in helping please contact Reed Varian, North American Sales Manager, for further details and an application or click for details. |
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New Cylinders for Analog STARLAB Projectors Check out these new cylinders! |
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| Hands-On Optics Kits (HOO)
NSF-Funded Hands-On Optics Kits (HOO) are now available from LTI! Click for more . . . |
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Get Your Very Own STARLAB Shirt! Now you can teach your class or present your workshop in real style in this cotton, black piqué STARLAB shirt! We offer it with either the red Digital STARLAB logo or the white STARLAB Portable Planetarium logo in both men's and women's styles. The women's style (shown on the right with the white logo) features capped sleeves and a slightly fitted torso. Men's style (left) shown with red logo. Available in Men's sizes S, M, L, XL and Women's sizes S, M, L — $20.00 each (price includes shipping in USA). Please call us at 800-537-8703 or 617-628-1459 to place your order and let us know size and style you would like. These are not currently available as an online order.
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STARLAB Funding Finder
by Ellen WeinerThe New Funding Finder Web Page!
We have a newly revised Funding Finder page on our website! It includes tips for successful grant-seeking, a list of the free resources that we provide including a new edition of Star-struck: Finding the Funding to Make Your Dreams of a STARLAB Purchase Come True, and new easy-to-read, grade specific charts correlating the STARLAB Cylinders to the National Science Education Standards. It also provides a link to the new Funding Information Request Form that you can fill out if you would like to take advantage of our free Grant Research Service. It's all there, and it's all free! Go to: www.starlab.com/slfunds.com.
Funding Opportunities
Intel Schools of Distinction Program to Honor Excellence in Math and Science Education
Every year, Intel honors U.S. schools that have demonstrated excellence in math and science education as Intel Schools of Distinction. One elementary, one middle, and one high school in each of two categories — math and science — receive $10,000 cash grants and more than $100,000 in products and services from sponsors.
One of the six winning schools is chosen as the Star Innovator and receives an additional $15,000 grant from the Intel Foundation as well as additional products and services. In order to be considered as an Intel School of Distinction, schools must develop an environment and curricula that meet or exceed benchmarks, including national mathematics and science content standards. The awards program is open to K-12 public, private, charter, parochial schools in the United States, Department of Defense Dependents Schools, and Bureau of Indian Affairs schools. Home schools are not eligible.
The application process consists of a one-time online entry submission that will undergo several rounds of judging. Entries are limited to one per school. There will be three winners selected per category: one at the elementary level (k-5), one at the middle school level (6-8), and one at the high school level (9-12).
There are two categories for the 2008 Intel Schools of Distinction award: mathematics and science. A school may apply in either category. For further information, go to: http://www.intel.com/education/schoolsofdistinction/
Motorola Foundation Grants
To help cultivate the skilled scientists and engineers needed to create future breakthrough ideas, the Motorola Foundation will provide $4 million in Innovation Generation Grants to organizations that engage U.S. K-12 students and teachers in innovation, science, technology, engineering, and math. Grants are for one year of project work, starting after June 2008. Any U.S. nonprofit organization may apply. To check funding priorities and apply: www.motorola.com/giving.
Ask the Editor
by Gary KratzerHow can I prevent the stars from projecting onto the dome when conducting activities that demonstrate the seasonal paths of the Sun?
Actually there is a way. I will describe for you how to construct a cylinder mask that fits around the Starfield Cylinder and is held in place by the rivets (light blocks) that fill the 12 sun positions on the cylinder.
Find a sheet of white tissue paper that is at least 33” long by 10” wide. Remove the 12 light blocks from the Starfield Cylinder and carefully wrap the tissue around the cylinder and tape it together while on the cylinder. Make pencil marks or holes in the tissue where the sun position holes are located on the cylinder (you should be able to see the holes through the tissue paper). After marking or making holes in the tissue template, you are ready to transfer these hole positions to a piece of black construction paper or some similar material that is not too heavy. Although I have not tried cloth, I feel certain that black 100% cotton cloth fabric would work. The construction paper should be equal in length to that of the tissue and as wide as the cylinder is tall. The holes can be cut with a cork-boring tool.
After cutting holes in the mask you are ready to see if it fits. Match the holes in the mask to the holes on the cylinder. Once the mask is in place on the cylinder, put the rivets back on and they will hold the mask on the cylinder. All that is left is to cut out a 10” diameter circle from the construction paper to cover the top (circumpolar part) of the part of the cylinder. I would welcome ideas as how to properly mask the bottom of the cylinder.
I have tried the mask and find it quite effective in blocking out background stars when conducting activities such as “Reasons for the Seasons.” No longer will you have to ask your students to imagine that the stars are not really visible when demonstrating seasonal paths of the sun.
If you have a question for Ask the Editor, send it to gkratzer@rocketmail.com.
The Project STAR Corner
The Project STAR Sun Tracking Hemispheres Complement STARLAB Lessons
Are your students lacking some “real world” science experiences? Project STAR can help remedy that! With the Sun Tracking Hemisphere Kit students can record the apparent motion of the sun – daily, monthly, or during the equinoxes and solstices. They can predict the apparent path of the sun for a given day, collect data about the sun’s apparent path and then compare the actual data with their predictions.
This unique, inexpensive tool ties in well with National and State Science Education Standards and is especially easy to link to STARLAB activities. One such activity is entitled, “Reason for the Seasons,” from PASS (Planetarium Activities for Student Success) Volume 2. Daily motion in STARLAB can be shown for any day of any month and can be made to replicate the observations made by the students. For more information on this and other hands-on science activities, see the Project STAR webpage. Questions? Phone: 800-537-8703 or e-mail: starlab@starlab.comBulletin Board
Everything You Have Ever Wanted to Know About Astronomy and Space Science but Were Afraid to Ask
Do you ever get put on the spot with lots of people asking you questions about astronomy and space science? This website may be of interest to you if you are looking for new questions or answers.
http://www.phy6.org/stargaze/StarFAQ3.htm#q45_____________________
Looking for a great website to find information about what is going on in the night sky and special astronomical events? Check out his website operated by Sky and Telescope Magazine. You will find weekly format of comet updates, moon information, a planet roundup, and lots of interesting website links.
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/ataglance
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The International Year of Astronomy 2009!
2009 marks the 400th anniversary of Galileo's first astronomical observation through a telescope and with that, the International Astronomical Union is launching a global celebration. Their goal is to celebrate astronomy's "contributions to society and culture, with a strong emphasis on education, public engagement and involvement of young people, with events at national, regional, and global levels throughout the whole of 2009." To find out how you can be involved, please visit their Web site at www.astronomy2009.org.
Planet Positions & Moon Phases
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