In My Backyard
Grades Pre-K-1
Join children’s entertainer Fred Penner from TV’s Nickelodeon as he explores things large and small, from the colors of the rainbow, to the reasons for the seasons. Through the use of entertaining songs and immersive environments, children are encouraged to participate while learning about the planets, constellations, meteors, the moon, and more.
45 minutes
Magic Globe - A Story of the Seasons
Grades 1-3
Follow the adventures of Cy, Annie, and their dog Armstrong as they embark on an unexpected journey into space! Explore the Earth, Sun and Moon system with a wise-cracking starship computer. Bounce along with them on the surface of the Moon. Get up close and personal with a solar storm, and gain a new appreciation of our home planet.
50 minutes
GLCE: E.ES.01.11, P.FM.03.22
NGSS: 1-ESS1-1
Patterns in the Sky
Grades 1-3
Students will learn about and predict recurring patterns in the night sky, including the day/night cycle, moon phases, and seasonal changes of the Sun.
50 minutes
GLCE: E.ES.01.11, P.FM.03.22
NGSS: 1-ESS1-1
The Accidental Astronauts
Grades 1-3
Follow the adventures of Cy, Annie, and their dog Armstrong as they embark on an unexpected journey into space! Explore the Earth, Sun and Moon system with a wise-cracking starship computer. Bounce along with them on the surface of the Moon. Get up close and personal with a solar storm, and gain a new appreciation of our home planet.
50 minutes
GLCE: E.ES.01.11, P.FM.03.22
NGSS: 1-ESS1-1
Planets: Rocky Worlds
Grades 1-3
Students will visit the inner planets while comparing and contracting their geological characteristics. Students will travel to mountains, volcanoes, canyons, and craters on the planets and investigate the origin of these features.
45 minutes
NGSS: 2-ESS1-1, 2-ESS2-1, 2-ESS2-3
Serengeti
Grades 3 & up
Life happened in the Serengeti on an unprecedented scale. It’s home to most of Africa’s iconic animals, and hosts one of the world’s greatest natural events — the annual wildebeest migration. Nature has orchestrated a perfect symphony in which every species has a very distinct role to play in a larger story — the balance of an entire ecosystem.
45 minutes
NGSS: 3-LS1-2, 3-LS3-2, 3-LS4-3
Motion of the Skies
Grades 3 & up
This program investigates the motion of the Sun, Moon, Planets, and stars in the sky. Students investigate the causes of motion including Earth's rotation, the orbits of the Earth, Moon, and Planets. Students will use this knowledge to predict future motions and occurences in the sky.
GLCE: NGSS: 3-PS2-2
Earth's Ecosystem
Grades 3 & up
Students will explore the diversity of Earth's ecosystems by digitally taking a trip around the globe. Students will learn about different types of climates and use real world data to make observations about their properties.
NGSS:3-ESS2-1, 3-ESS2-2
Skies Over Michigan
Grades 4 & up
Longway Planetarium’s astronomy experts take you on a tour of the night sky over Michigan in this live planetarium lecture. Topics include the rotation of Earth for day and night; finding the North Star and finding your way around the night sky; what a constellation is and which are visible in the current night sky. Moon phases, the daily and monthly motion of the Moon through the sky, and visible planets and their movement among the stars will also be discussed.
60 minutes
GLCE: E.ST.04.11, E.ST.04.12, E.ST.04.21, E.ST.04.22, E.ST.04.23, E.ST.04.24, E.ST.04.25, E.ST.05.62, E.ST.05.21, E.ST.05.22, E.ST.05.23
Stars
Grades 4 & up
Stars focuses on the lives of the stars, how they are born, how they die, and how human understanding of the stars has changed over time. From Native Americans to Newton, from the electromagnetic spectrum to Einstein, audiences will explore nebulae, star clusters, pulsars, black holes, and more.
50 minutes
GLCE: E.ST.04.25, E.ST.05.23, E.SE.06.61
NGSS: 5-ESS1-1, MS-ESS1-2
Two Small Pieces of Glass
Grades 4 & up
Telescopes come in many different shapes and sizes. Students will learn about the different types of telescopes - including reflectors and retractors - the components that make them work - and the types of objects that can be seen with a telescope.
GLCE: NGSS: 4-PS3-2, 4-PS4-2
An Ever-Changing World
Grades 4 & up
Students will examine how the Earth has changed over time using satellite imagery from agencies such as NOAA and NASA. Processes that drive changes on Earth will be discussed including erosion, draught, deforestation, and climate change.
50 minutes
NGSS: 4-ESS1-1, 4-ESS1-2, 4-ESS3-2
Plan Your Field Trip!
For reservations, call 810-237-3409
Use the 2022-2023 Education Guide to plan your field trip or outreach program.
View the PDF.
View the current programs:
History & Social Studies at Sloan Museum
Hands-on Science at Longway Planetarium
Planetarium Theater Shows
Portable Dome Theater