Stardome presentations teach, illustrate and reinforce the following Florida standards:
Benchmark SC.3.E.5.1: Explain that stars widely vary in size, brilliance and distance from earth; some are smaller, some are larger, some appear brighter than others, and while they are all different distances from earth, all except the Sun are so far away that they look like points of light.
Benchmark SC.3.E.5.2: Identify the Sun as a star that emits energy, some of it in the form of light.
Benchmark SC.3.E.5.3: Recognize that the Sun appears large and bright because it is the closest star to the earth: 93M miles or 8 light minutes.
Benchmark SC.4.E.5.1: Observe that the patterns of stars in the sky stay in the same formation, although they appear to move across the sky nightly, and different stars can be seen in different seasons. (Identify constellations and specific stars in the sky tonight and demonstrate constellations rising and setting at different times of the year)
Benchmark SC.4.E.5.3: Recognize that the earth revolves around the Sun in a year and rotates on its axis in a 24 hour day. (Therefore, we see different stars at different times of the year)
Benchmark SC.4.E.5.4: Relate that the rotation of the earth (day and night) and apparent movements of the Sun, Moon and stars are connected.
While the standards above address third and fourth grade, Stardome programs contain a wealth of information for students of all ages! The wonders of the universe range far beyond standards!