Programs for Schools and Groups
All shows are approximately 45 minutes long (unless noted otherwise). Preschool shows are 20 minutes in length. Live presentations are recommended for preschool through 3rd grade. Live or taped presentations are available for older groups.
1. Stars of the Seasons (General Show) (Live Show) All Ages.
This show looks at the current night sky. The principal constellations, bright stars, and planets are identified. It introduces the motion of the stars and the planets as they are viewed from the earth.
2. Reasons for the Seasons (Live Show) Upper elementary and up.
What causes the seasons? How are the seasons in the northern and southern hemispheres different? Students will observe and tabulate data about the Sun that will help them discover why the seasons occur.
3. The Sun's Family (Live Show) All Ages.
Learn about the planets and how they move. Lower elementary groups will learn the names of the planets in order and learn some basic facts about them. Older groups will have a more detailed look at the planets and will recieve an explanation of their apparent motion.
4. The Moon: The Light that Rules the Night (Live Show) Lower Elementary and up.
This program examines our closest neighbor—the Moon. How does it appear in our skies? Why does it change in phases? In what ways does it affect our lives? What did the Apollo astronauts learn about the Moon?
5. Monthly Skywatch (Live Show) Upper Elementary and up.
Learn how to use a simple star map. Maps are provided, so participants can take them home to use on their own. Similar to the "Stars of the Season" show in other respects.
6. Space Bus (Taped Show) Elementary.
"Space Bus" tells the exciting and humor-filled story of a group of kids who take a field trip through the solar system. A mishap occurs and sends their space bus on a non-stop flight to the stars. Find out how the students from Asimov Elementary and their adult companions find their way home. "Space Bus" is a family show for kids of all ages. It was written for children 5-10 years old, and extensively uses the planetarium's video projector.
7. Moorhead Second Grade Program (Live) Elementary
A special show just for the Moorhead 2nd grade curriculum that covers directions, methods of finding directions outside and a look a some seasonal constellations.
8. The People (Taped Show) Upper Elementary and up.
"The People" explores American Indian concepts of the sky as seen through their remarkable myths and poetry. "The People" begins with a beautiful Indian myth about the creation of the world and proceeds to tell in successive legends the creation of the Sun, the stars, the blemishes on the Moon, the rainbow, and the seasons. Some of the legends are profound; some are humorous. All are deeply touching in the view they give us of the first Americans living in harmony with all of nature -- living as brothers and sisters with all living things.
9. Larry Cat In Space (Taped Show) Preschool and Elementary
This is a 30 minute show, that is a playful and imaginative presentation about an inquisitive cat who takes a trip to the Moon. Through Larry's eyes, we meet his human family—a group of enthusiastic sky-watchers. One of his family members, Diana, goes to work on the Moon as a lunar geologist. Larry misses Diana, so he figures out a way to get to the Moon and live with her. He smuggles himself on board the space station Freedom. From there, he is taken aboard the Lunar Shuttle, eventually ending up on the Moon, and surprising Diana! Meeting the rest of the Moon base inhabitants and learns about life in the Moon's environment.
10. The Voyager Encounter NO LONGER AVAILABLE
11. The Star of Bethlehem (Taped Show) Upper Elementary and above.
This program offers a look at the mystery surrounding one of the most famous celestial events in history. Was it a comet, a supernova, or a miracle? This program also examines the stars and constellations of the brilliant winter sky. .A live version of this show can be presented for third and fourth graders. Available only during December
12. Bear Tales (Taped Show) Elementary and above.
Join us on a family camping trip under the stars and listen as the family is regaled by Grandpa Ben's lively tall tales about the night sky. Hear stories ranging from ancient Greece and Egypt to modern tales about Blackbeard the pirate. Grandpa takes us on a tour of the spring constellations, and explains how and why they are there. He draws freely from mythology and his imagination to explain the stars' positions in the night sky. The result is a fun and educational show that can be enjoyed by audiences of all ages.
13. Follow the Drinking Gourd (Taped Show) Elementary and above.
The Big Dipper is a prominent group of stars that has caught the attention of many cultures over the millenia. It has been called a bear, a wagon and a chariot. Slaves in the old South called it the Drinking Gourd and it led thousands of them north to freedom in Canada. In this children's program we will learn the Drinking Gourd Song and learn how this group of stars can be used to find our directions. The program is a production of the New Jersey State Museum Planetarium and the Raritan Valley Community College Planetarium.
14. Galaxies (Taped Show) Upper elementary and above.
This program by Timothy Ferris takes us into space, on a cosmic journey through the stars of the Milky Way and the galaxies beyond. Conveying science within the framework of nature, Galaxies is presented as a nature walk on the grand galactic scale. Looking at Earth's night sky, we see a major spiral galaxy--the Milky Way--from within, then travel out to Alpha Centauri, the Pleiades star cluster and the globular star cluster M3. The voyage of discovery continues through intergalactic space past the Andromeda Galaxy, the glittering star fields at the center of the Virgo Supercluster, and the lonely dwarf galaxies that sail the dark waters of intergalactic space.
15. Northern Lights (Taped Show – and some interactive elements) Upper Elementary and Above
These eerie lights often dance across Red River skies. Explore the mystery and the beauty of the mysterious aurora borealis in an interactive setting. You will find that there is more to the northern lights than meets the eye. The program features video taken at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
16. Ring World (Taped Show) Upper elementary and above
On July 1st, 2004 the Cassini spacecraft completed its 7 year, 2 billion mile odyssey to the undisputed "Lord of the Rings"—Saturn. The Pioneer and the Voyager spacecraft were but brief visitors in the night as they sped past Saturn, never to return again. But now we will come to stay and study the domain of this Ring World in unprecedented detail.
17. Space Bus (Taped Show) Lower elementary
Join the children of Asimov Elementary School as they journey through the solar system. Someday in the future children might take field trips to visit the planets. This show, for children of all ages, is set in the year 2077. Even though the trip is imaginary, the information given about the planets and other members of our solar system is accurate for the late 20th century. The program is about 40 minutes in length.
18. Navigating with Lewis and Clark (Taped Show) Upper elementary and above
Almost 200 years ago the Lewis and Clark expedition passed North Dakota on its way to the Pacific Ocean. How did they find their way across this uncharted land? We will trace their journey using maps, photographs and the night sky.
19. More Than Meets the Eye (Taped and Live Show) Upper elementary and above
Most planetarium programs and astronomy books show excellent images of planets and galaxies, taken from spacecraft or big observatories. Then, when people look at the real thing through a telescope or binoculars, they're understandably dismayed that what they see "isn't like in the planetarium". This show is designed to show what one can reasonably expect to see through a small telescope. It also looks at what's up in the current sky.
20. The Stargazer (Taped Show) Upper elementary and above
"The lessons from the stars are as personal as each and every human being on planet Earth. The universe, with its beauty and mystery, has the power to inspire, and transform us." These are words that Dr. James Kaler, "The Stargazer", would certainly agree with. Join Dr. Kaler and narrator Nichelle Nichols in an exciting voyage to discover the life of a star.
21. Xtra Terrestrial Files (Taped Show) Upper elementary and above
People have many questions about aliens. Join us for a loose take-off from the hit television series, The X Files. Our two Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence agents investigate everything from abductions to interstellar travel to estimating the possible number of ETs.