Secondary school programme includes Full Dome Theatre films and a full planetarium show. All computerized using Stellarium software giving an interactive tour of the solar system and the universe. We regularly attend secondary schools, normally Y7 to Year 9 science week, but can complete sixth form and GCSE level. We have been recommended by a number of Science Teachers Association Schools, please follow list of school on front page. As a guide, the maximum number of students in one sitting is normally 45 at year 7, or 40 at year 8 and 9 onwards, in a 50 to 60 minute show.
We are excited to be able to add to our programme four full-surround films using our new 360-degree projection system from the USA. These films wrap around and over the viewer on the whole surface of the dome, and are the type of films presented in fixed planetariums in science centres, but we will bring them to your school!
Students will find these films an enjoyable and memorable experience and aid to learning. A teacher’s guide is provided when booking for classroom follow-up.
This series of films is distributed by Spitz Inc and White Tower productions (www.spitzinc.com/fulldome_shows/index.html), and our current titles cover all school ages:
'Black Holes-The Other Side of Infinity'. Suitable for year 5 to adult.
The formation of the early universe, star birth and death, collision of giant galaxies and black holes.
Video stream and sample
Please click http://www.spitzinc.com/fulldome_shows/show_blackholes/index.html
‘Oasis in Space’ - transports the audience on a startling and beautiful voyage through our universe, galaxy and solar system in search of liquid water - a key ingredient for life on Earth. Suitable for year 5 to adult age range.
Video stream and sample
Please click ‘Oasis in Space’
Astronomyths-- From White Tower Productions
“Astronomyths is an educational and highly entertaining full dome show that travels the constellations of the autumn sky and the ancient Greek myths after which they were named. You will witness galactic events that outlast the lifetime of the solar system. You will bend the Laws of Nature and meet ancient mythological beings in person and will fight terrible monsters, trying to become heroes yourself. You will find answers to some of the universe's most elusive mysteries and you will marvel at the cosmos''.
The effect of one of these professionally-made films in our giant 6-metre dome is hard to describe without seeing for yourself. We have a Demonstration service where we can visit your school for a few hours with the dome to show teachers, before any booking (Within 40 miles of Poole). Phone 01202 395905.
New Secondary School Shows beginning Spring 2010
Our shows are rooted in National Curriculum for Key Stages 3 and 4 (Science, History) and the Edexcel GCSE in Astronomy. We view science as a spark that ignites pupils’ curiosity about observable phenomena in everyday life. This curiosity will provide a lifelong sense of awe and wonder.
We encourage the safe exploration of science and encourage students to make positive contributions to their communities - perhaps by pursuing a career in science.
Our fully digital planetarium allows us to include scientific computer models (such as stellar formation, galaxy structure, planetary motion) that are not possible in a traditional “pin-hole” planetarium. Although our shows contain the latest immersive visual effects, they are live, interactive and encourage questions from participants.
History of Science and Culture of Astronomy
Beginning with Ancient times we will explore how cultures throughout the world used stellar mythology to explain their observations of phenomena in the Universe and we will explore the scientific explanations behind these observations.
* Polynesian myth of “the anchor that pulls the sky” (observation of daily motion)
* Mayan myth of the “Jaguar god who takes souls to and from the underworld” (stellar navigation)
* Appearance and disappearance of Inkokua (Pleiades formation) help the Maasai predict the rain (using the stars as a seasonal calendar)
We will explore contributions that cultures have made to the scientific understanding of astronomy including the Egyptians, Arabs, Chinese, and Western culture including Kepler, Copernicus, Galileo, and Herschel.
Finally, we will explore the future of space exploration as a world-wide collaboration. Students will understand that they are living in the most exciting time in the history of human understanding of the Universe and that they can play an important role in the understanding of the Universe for future generations.
ASTRO BIOLOGY- Life as we understand it, and as we don’t
Living things are interdependent with each other and their environments. Environments on Earth are products of chemical and geological processes greatly influenced by our place in space. Could life exist some place other than Earth? Based on our understanding of life, what conditions would it need in order to survive?
We will compare various bodies within our solar system including Mars; Saturn’s hydro-carbon rich moon Titan; worlds with possible liquid oceans such as Enceladus; and Europa. Students will begin to understand the scale of our solar system as we talk about how little we actually understand about our closest neighbours in space. We will then explore the possibility of worlds around other stars, in our galaxy and in the Universe. As part of our exploration, we will screen the immersive, full-dome Spitz film “Oasis in Space”.
Although we will discuss the possibility of other types of life in the universe, students will gain an understanding of the fragile and special nature of our little world and recognize the importance of sustainability in scientific and technological developments.
GRAVITY to the Max
The old concept of gravity is, “What goes up, must come down.” However, in space, there is no “up.” And, if an object gains enough velocity (on Earth’s surface this is 7 miles per second), it can escape the gravity of another object. It doesn’t “come down”.
We explore gravity’s role in the formation of stars and solar systems. Further, we explore how the crush of gravity within stars forms heavier elements out of lighter ones including Carbon, Iron and Oxygen - the actual atoms in our bodies - during supernova explosions.
Then, we explore gravity to the max. What happens when the mass and density of an object is so great that its escape velocity is more than the speed of light? By viewing the immersive, full-dome Spitz film “Black Holes - The Other Side of Infinity” we will explore models of extreme gravity and how scientists are currently investigating this phenomena.
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Video stream and sample
Please click ‘Oasis in Space’
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