Created by Patty Seaton

Would you like to find shapes in the sky? Review the properties of shapes with Freddy the Frog, and learn how to find common shapes in the stars of the night sky. These shapes are the first step to making constellations - pictures in the sky!

Created by Patty Seaton

The long running and much loved program that has been watched by thousands of students is now available on demand for you to share with your student's virtually! 

“Susie’s Snowflake” is an introduction to the easily recognized constellation patterns of the winter night sky, and to the characteristics of snowflakes. Susie is a young girl who observes and compares numerous physical properties of objects - including size, shape, color and texture - using her five senses. She uses the technology of lenses to study snowflakes with a magnifier and a microscope. When the sky clears and night falls, Susie and her parents join their neighbor for some stargazing with his telescope. After the planetarium presentation students will participate in a related program (“Scientific Sense”) where they will explore properties of air. They will be exposed to methods of investigation used by scientists.

Created by Zena Butler

Part 1 - Brighten Your Corner affords visiting groups to lighten up a little, as we venture into Part 1 of our program! First grade students investigate light from a broad spectrum, which extends to a narrowed focus on its path of beams. In this lesson participating groups can expect simple tests designed to mirror light responses, while also allowing student opportunities to predict resulting outcomes of the phenomena. Matching and sorting engagements are included amongst the supportive-interactive components within this program.

Created by Patty Seaton

Have your students observe the sun safely with Planetarium Patty! Their observations will help them to identify the changing position of the Sun at various times during the day. We will count the hours of daylight for the first day of each season to see how it changes throughout the year. And students can even “jump” through the seasons with a fun kinesthetic activity that is easily done at home!

Created by Virginia Fulton

This three part program addresses NGSS PE 1-LS1-1 which describes how animal and plant parts can be mimicked by humans to solve problems! 

Part 1- Students use the story Papa's Mechanical Fish by Candace Fleming to begin thinking about animal external parts. 

Part 2- A set of Google Slides helps students to explore different animal and plant external parts using stations. Students begin to think of how humans have mimicked animals and plants to solve problems. 

Part 3- Students use a PBS game to explore how animal parts are used for certain functions. Then, students mimic plant and animal structures to solve the problem of staying safe.

Created by Zena Butler

First graders role-play as Detectives in this On-Demand, Life-Science program! Your students begin the journey by dressing themselves up in (suggested) gear, as they train to uncover spying methods-of a practical nature, during their examination of plant and animal investigations. Investigations provide opportunities for participants to eye-witness similarities and differences, make comparisons, analyze details, and offer real-world ­­connections to students. Notable highlights from the lesson are the footage-from Southern Maryland farms inserted to promote long-lasting, memorable encounters.

Created by Zena Butler

Part 1 of our On-Demand program spotlights living diversity amongst plant, (insect) and animal habitats! Your second graders are tasked to observe, identify, label, count and collect data as they perform the duties outlined in this versatile, eye-catching program. Join us next year (SY2021-21) with your group for a field trip to continue with Part 2's live session at the Howard B.Owens Science Center!

Created by Virginia Fulton

Students use a storyline that they are working with the preparators in the Museum Fossil Lab (MFL) to receive fossils from four different dig sites around the world! While they unpack the fossils, they learn about the environments of the past and present, modern counterparts, the type, and the relative age! 

This student paced program meets almost all evidence statements of NGSS PE 3-LS4-1! 

Modified by Jessica Leedy

This modified version of The Great Fossil Find created by Steve Randak and Michael Kimmel uses Google Slides to create a choose your own adventure! Students become paleontologist and explore three different dig sites in Montana. Students analyze the fossils found at each dig site, then use Google Drawings to create a new fossil skeleton. This activity serves as an introduction for the Nature of Science, and well as 3-LS4-1. 

Modified by Jessica Leedy

This modified version of The Great Fossil Find created by Steve Randak and Michael Kimmel uses Google Slides to create a choose your own adventure! Students become paleontologist and explore three different dig sites in Montana. Students analyze the fossils found at each dig site, then use Google Drawings to create a new fossil skeleton. This activity serves as an introduction for the Nature of Science, and well as 4-ESS1-1. 

Created by Jessica Leedy

How do computer codes transfer information using patterns? Students will find out how while coding using Scratch, a free online program. Students will learn binary basics and dive into Scratch block coding. This program uses Google Slides and video tutorials to guide students into coding basics and applying their skills to the performance expectation (4-PS4-3).

Created by Patty Seaton

Join Planetarium Patty at the virtual planetarium to observe and collect data about the stars. Determine which patterns of stars are visible at different times of the year/night due to the revolution/rotation of the Earth (PE 5-ESS1-2).

Created by Jessica Leedy

How do computer codes transfer information using patterns? Students will find out how while coding using Scratch, a free online program. Students will learn binary basics and dive into Scratch block coding. This program uses Google Slides and video tutorials to guide students into coding basics and applying their skills to the performance expectation (4-PS4-3).

This activity can also be used with 5th grade to reinforce skills before MISA. 

Created by Patty Seaton

How bright are the stars? Compare bright stars in the sky, how bright they appear to look to you (apparent magnitude). Then collect data on their distances to determine how bright they REALLY are (absolute magnitude). Supports PE 5-ESS1-1.

Created by Patty Seaton

This program is designed to provide students an opportunity to develop a model based upon observations of the sun and use the model and data collected to develop an understanding of why we have seasons.

First, the students make observations to understand the astronomical definition of “Noon”. Then,  the students observe the path of the Sun by counting the number of hours of daylight and recording the height of the Sun at Noon for the first day of each season. They use this data to develop a model of sunpaths to help them visualize the differences. Last, students are introduced to the idea of the angle of the sunlight hitting the earth. They use this new information along with their observations of the height of the Sun in the sky for each season to develop their own explanation for the reason.

Created by Serena Gayles

Part 1: Students will explore the impacts of urbanization on our environment. Historical evolution of lifestyles and types of homes will be explored. Students will also explore tiny house and off-grid living concepts.

Part 2: This part of the program provides more detailed impacts of urbanization on our environment and eco-friendly lifestyle alternatives.

Created by Virginia Fulton

Join Ms. Fulton in Special Place to learn about the animals of HBOSC during each episode of “Animals Up Close”.  When entering the virtual space students can click on animals to view videos about animals housed at the Science Center,  learning about their habits, special behaviors and adaptations.  For episodes on animals that have not been published,  a simple google form can be accessed by clicking on the animal’s picture giving students an opportunity to submit questions about the animal that may be answered during an upcoming episode. .

Current Episodes and Labs!