Pre-College Astronomy Shows


The youngest students seem to have nearly boundless interest in astronomy. We strive to fulfill this interest by offering free astronomy shows to pre-college student groups. Shows are arranged to meet the individual age level and needs of the specific groups. See below for a listing of previous groups.

 Shows are organized by private appointment. Most shows take place in the Department planetarium, classroom or roof-top observatories in Davey Lab, located in the heart of the University Park campus. Contact Chris Palma , Astronomy outreach coordinator, or the Astronomy Dept. office to arrange a show. Via telephone use (814) 865-0418. Planetarium shows and roof-top observing of the Sun, the Moon, stars, planets, and galaxies using telescopes are also carried out during Open Houses run by the Penn State Astronomy Club and the Penn State Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics.

 


Each year, roughly 2,000 young people attend astronomy programs offered by the Penn State Astronomy Department. The table below lists the various groups who received Astronomy shows in 2003, and a brief outline of the content of the show, the people presenting the show, and the age and organization of the group receiving the show. (You can also click on the following links to see listings of past programs offered in: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002.)



Past Astronomy Programs (from January 2003)

Date Group Ages No. Astr. Dept. 
volunteers
Activity(ies)
14 Jan 2003 Gray's Woods Elementary School grades 3-4 100 Kim Herrmann
Joe Masiero
Chris Palma
Christine Selders
Michele Stark
Mike Weinstein
planetarium show
astrolabe activity
16 Jan 2003 Gray's Woods Elementary School grades 3-4 50 Kim Herrmann
Joe Masiero
Christine Selders
Michele Stark
planetarium show
astrolabe activity
29 Jan 2003 Panorama Kindergarten grade K 62 John Debes
Kim Herrmann
Mary Beth Laychak
Joe Masiero
Chris Palma
Mike Weinstein
planetarium show
make your own constellations
30 Jan 2003 PSU Women's Club Mom's Group grades K-4 10 Mike Weinstein planetarium show
stargazing
5 Feb 2003 State College Friends School ages 5-6 19 Mike Weinstein planetarium show
telescope tour
16 Feb 2003 Park Forest Middle School grades 7-8 3 Mike Weinstein preparation for Science Olympiad
18 Feb 2003 Junior Museum ages 7 and up 15 Mike Weinstein planetarium show
Hubble Highlights
20 Feb 2003 Child Development Lab ages 3-6 18 Mike Weinstein planetarium show
23 Feb 2003 Cub Scout Den 6 ages 6-7 5 Mike Weinstein planetarium show
telescope tour
25 Feb 2003 Ferguson Elementary School grades 3-4 100 Kim Herrmann
Karen Lewis
Michele Stark
Mike Weinstein
planetarium show
astrolabe activity
27 Feb 2003 Ferguson Elementary School grades 3-4 25 Karen Lewis
Michele Stark
planetarium show
astrolabe activity
2 Mar 2003 Park Forest Middle School grades 7-8 3 Mike Weinstein preparation for Science Olympiad
4 Mar 2003 Park Forest Elementary School grades 3-4 25 Kim Herrmann
Karen Lewis
Joe Masiero
planetarium show
astrolabe activity
6 Mar 2003 Park Forest Elementary School grades 3-4 100 Chris Palma
Michele Stark
Mike Weinstein
planetarium show
astrolabe activity
17 Mar 2003 State High Delta Program grades 8-11 16 Mike Weinstein planetarium show
astronomy vs. astrology
18 Mar 2003 Houserville Elementary School grades 3-4 50 Kim Herrmann
Joe Masiero
Mike Weinstein
planetarium show
astrolabe activity
20 Mar 2003 Houserville Elementary School grades 3-4 100 Karen Lewis
Chris Palma
Michele Stark
planetarium show
astrolabe activity
25 Mar 2003 Junior Museum ages 7 and up 10 Chris Palma
Junfeng Wang
Mike Weinstein
planetarium show
comet demonstration
27 Mar 2003 Marion Walker grade K 46 John Debes
Karen Lewis
Michele Stark
planetarium show
make your own constellations
bubble rockets
28 Mar 2003 Grace Lutheran Dayschool grade K 12 Mike Weinstein planetarium show
telescope tour
8 Apr 2003 Corl Street Elementary School grade K 33 Chris Palma
Mike Weinstein
planetarium show
telescope tour
9 Apr 2003 Lemont Kindergarten grade K 54 Mike Weinstein planetarium show
10 Apr 2003 Girl Scouts grades 5-7 4 Mike Weinstein planetarium show
telescope tour
11 Apr 2003 Bennett Family Center pre-K 15 Mike Weinstein planetarium show
24 Apr 2003 Take Your Daughters and Sons to Work Day grades 7-12 38 Jane Charlton
Sally Hunsberger
Cathy Lutz
Chris Palma
planetarium show
comet demo
intro to the astronomy department
29 Apr 2003 Easterly Parkway Elementary School grade K 22 Chris Palma
Michele Stark
planetarium show
make your own constellations
29 Apr 2003 Junior Museum ages 7 and up 15 Tamara Bogdanovic
Karen Lewis
Mike Weinstein
planetarium show
bubble rockets
30 Apr 2003 Easterly Parkway Elementary School grade K 44 Megan DeCesar
Mary Beth Laychak
Mike Weinstein
planetarium show
make your own constellations
1 May 2003 Bennett Family Center ages 3-5 15 Mike Weinstein planetarium show
2 May 2003 Radio Park School grade K 58 Mike Weinstein planetarium show
9 May 2003 Belleville Mennonite School grade 8 22 Michele Stark planetarium show
telescope tour
23 May 2003 State College Friends School grades 5-6 19 Karen Lewis
Chris Palma
planetarium show
telescope tour
3 Jun 2003 Our Lady of Victory grade 3 50 Megan DeCesar
Chris Palma
George Trammell
Jon Trump
planetarium show
solar system tour
9 June 2003 Howard Elementary grades 5-6 30 Chris Palma and others planetarium show
rooftop observatory tour
5-6 August 2003 Galaxy Explorers grades 3-5 60 Chris Palma
Michele Stark
Megan DeCesar
Kim Herrmann
rooftop observatory tour
12 August 2003 Benner 4--H Club grades 4-12 15 Michele Stark
Kim Herrmann
George Trammell
Jerry Friedman
rooftop observing
13 August 2003 Growing in Faith Daycare ages 7 and up 25 Chris Palma
Joe Masiero
planetarium show
constellation activity
13 August 2003 Sprouting Tree Daycare ages 7 and up 12 Chris Palma
George Trammell
planetarium show
constellation activity
18 August 2003 Kinderstation ages 7 and up 16 Chris Palma planetarium show
constellation activity
15/22 October 2003 Panorama Elementary grades 3-4 71 Michele Stark
Kim Herrmann
Karen Lewis
George Trammell
planetarium show
astrolabe activity
15 October 2003 State College Friends School grades K-3 30 Chris Palma
Karen Lewis
planetarium show
rooftop observatory tour
5 November 2003 Galeton High School grades 8-12 44 Chris Palma
Michele Stark
planetarium show
rooftop observatory tour
7/14 November 2003 State College High School grade 9 20 Chris Palma
Astro Club
planetarium show
rooftop observatory tour
19 November 2003 Mt. Nittany After School Program grades 6-8 10 Uli Sperhake
Michele Stark
planetarium show
rooftop observatory tour
21 November 2003 Boy Scout Troop #300 Tyrone, PA
10 Chris Palma planetarium show
rooftop observatory tour
3 December 2003 State College Friends School grades K/1 22 Chris Palma
Megan DeCesar
planetarium show
rooftop observatory tour
18/19 December 2003 Corl Street Elementary grade 4 100 Chris Palma
Uli Sperhake
Jon Trump
planetarium show
astrolabe activity
TOTAL 47 shows -- 1623 -- --

Last updated January 22, 2004 by Chris Palma

Web page by Chris Palma ( cpalma@astro.psu.edu )
Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics
Penn State University