To Space and Beyond

Book in for our facilitated school program To Space and Beyond where students will explore the solar system and the planets in a student lead exploration, placing students in the position of Astronomers.

Program overview

Since the ancients first looked to the heavens, humans have been fascinated by the wanderings stars that are the planets. As telescope and photographic technology has improved, Astronomers have developed more robust theories about the structures, compositions, and appearances of our celestial neighbours. Now, thanks to mobile technology, we have the capacity to visit other worlds at the push of a button.

In this facilitated school program, students will explore the solar system and the planets in a student lead exploration, placing students in the position of Astronomers. They will use their inquiry and observational skills make visual observations of various worlds and, using their communication skills, communicate their findings to their group. They will compare visual features, develop their understanding of what these features mean, and what they can tell scientists.

Students will also be challenged to build their own stomp rocket in an engaging Maker Space program. Using their design and engineering skills, they will design and build a small air powered rocket, testing and devising improvements to their design. They will the compete to discover whose rocket can travel the greatest distance.  

Learning outcomes

• Knowledge and understanding: Building an understanding of the solar system, the planets that constitute it and that each planet is different.
• Skills: Observing, inquiring about, and interpreting simple visual datasets. Communicating thoughts and ideas to others. Developing questioning skills. Develop skills in design thinking and following the design process of thinking, making, testing, and improving.
• Behavior and progression: Understanding that working cooperatively can lead to new discoveries. Understanding how to use the design process to create solutions to design challenge.
• Enjoyment, Inspiration and creativity: Using creativity to develop unique solutions to a challenge.
• Attitudes and values: Recognising the importance of making an observation and communicating that discovery in a way that can be acted upon. Increasing confidence in own ideas and creations, taking creative risks and testing out ideas.

Students will:

• engage in guided discussion about the solar system and the planets
• compare features and other observations they make to build an understanding of the diversity of the solar system
• recognise that all observations are valid and can help build our understanding of the world around us
• understand that asking questions can lead us to answers, and more questions to explore
• participate in an open end design challenge. 

School visit information

See our Visit as a school for information on visiting the museum and booking a group into a program.Groups may be allocated time for self-guided museum exploration during school program rotation.

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Learning Resources

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