Motions of the Solar System
Rock Fund Program: 5th Grade Planetarium Show
© Kabsik Park
Days: Tuesdays
Program Times: 10:30 am sharp
Duration: Approximately 40 minutes
Location: Please line up at the dome by 10:15 am
Additional Supports: When you exit the dome at the end of the show, be sure to pick up an envelope filled with Science Adventure booklets for each student to take home, as these contain free tickets for their entire family!
Please reach out to us if there are specific accommodations that would help your group engage with the activities. therockprogram@calacademy.org
Transportation: A Guide to Securing a Paid Sponsored Bus for San Francisco Unified School District
Overview
During this show your students will become virtual space explorers who will examine what causes the predictable motions in the sky as observed from Earth. Then, they will jet off to other objects in our solar system and try to apply their new understanding of Earth's cycles in order to discover some surprising patterns other planets have. The presentation will often touch on the following topics:
predictable patterns and motions on Earth, including:
moon (and Earth) phases
yearly cycles of constellations as viewed from Earth
planet tilt
close-up views of some of our solar system's planets
the scientific variation in "days" and "year" motions
atmospheric models
View of a planetary system around another star
Extended Activities:
Observe the moon 3-4 days in a row, at the same time and draw what you see here. After a couple of days, discuss with your family or class:
Where did you see the Moon each night? Was it in the same or different place?
How did the Moon’s appearance change over the days/nights?
What part of the sky did you observe the Moon
Watch 'Why Do We Have Different Seasons'
What do you notice?
Do you recognize any patterns?
Watch the video again looking closely at the North pole.
Does the tilt of the Earth ever change?
Where does it seem to be pointing towards?
Watch the video one last time.
Pick two spots on the planet, one in the northern and southern hemispheres.
Pause the video in:
January
March
June
September
Each time you pause, compare the light in the northern hemisphere to light in the southern hemisphere
What do you notice about the light on the northern and southern hemispheres?
Does one have more, less, or the same amount of light in that specific month?
How do you think the light affects the temperature of different places on the planet?
A Social Story to help students know what to expect on a field trip
Social stories help young people know what to expect and how to act in a new environment or social situation.
The social story below helps students learn about their upcoming field trip. Some students and their families may have never taken a trip to a museum like the Academy. To help them know what to expect, to aid your class in transitions, or to alleviate anxiety of a new place, you may use the social story below.
Next Generation Science Standards
The planetarium shows are designed to support some aspects the Next Generation Science Standards. This activity is just one of many that could help prepare your students to meet the performance expectations.
Disciplinary Core Ideas, Grade 5
ESS1.B: Earth and the Solar System: The orbits of Earth around the sun and of the moon around Earth, together with the rotation of Earth about an axis between its North and South poles, cause observable patterns. These include day and night; daily changes in the length and direction of shadows; and different positions of the sun, moon, and stars at different times of the day, month, and year. (5-ESS1-2)
Crosscutting Concepts, Grades 3 -5
Patterns: Similarities and differences in patterns can be used to sort, classify, communicate and analyze simple rates of change for natural phenomena. (5-ESS1-2)
Scale, Proportion, and Quantity: Natural objects exist from the very small to the immensely large. (5-ESS1-1)
Science and Engineering Practices, Grades 3 -5
Analyzing and Interpreting Data: Use observations (firsthand or from media) to describe patterns and/or relationships in the natural and designed world(s) in order to answer scientific questions and solve problems.
Developing and Using Models: Use models to describe and/or predict phenomena.
