Morehead Planetarium and Science Center
Located on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Morehead Planetarium and Science Center is a fascinating place to visit to learn more about astronomy.
Preview your trip on the web: Morehead Planetarium
Learn more
- Lesson plan: Tour of the solar system Students, in groups, will research, design, and create a PowerPoint presentation on the planets. The class will then take a “tour of the solar system.”
- Lesson plan: The expanding universe This activity is designed to help students gain a deeper understanding of cosmology. Students develop authentic models and gather evidence supporting the Big Bang theory. This lesson uses observation, interactive media, and scientific models.
- Lesson plan: Exploring the solar system The purpose of this lesson is to introduce students to earth's moon and the eight other planets in our solar system. Students will learn about the geology, composition and orbits of other planets by planning a trip to another planet.
- Cosmic Evolution: From Big Bang to Humankind Uses movies, animations, and activities to explore the cosmic evolution, which is the study of the many varied changes in the assembly and composition of energy, matter and life in the thinning and cooling universe.
Related pages
- Horizons Unlimited: This wonderful education center and museum provides hands-on programs for students in the areas of history and the physical and biological sciences.
- Chestnut Ridge Camp and Retreat Center: Offers a selection of informative, interactive and experientially-based programs in outdoor and environmental education.
- Robeson Planetarium/Science and Technology Center: A part of the public schools of Robeson County, this planetarium and science center specializes in programs geared to 3rd through 8th grade science.
Related topics
- Learn more about North Carolina, Orange County, astronomy, biology, chemistry, environmental science, meteorology, physics, planetariums, planets, science, solar system, space, space exploration, stars, and weather.
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"Located in the heart of Chapel Hill, Morehead Planetarium and Science Center transports visitors to distant galaxies and takes them deep into the cells of every living organism."
This is a great place to take students on a field trip. Not only does it have wonderful programs at the planetarium, it’s newest addition is the Digital Video Theater which shows original science programming. The exhibit area provides explanations of astronomical phenomena.
For teachers there are lesson plans, an educator’s newsletter, and more.
Professional development offerings
The goal of the Planetarium’s workshops is improved science content, knowledge and improved confidence in planning and implementing science education activities. We use surveys, interviews, observations to measure outcomes.
- Workshops typically serve between 21-40 educators per session.
- Content is mostly aligned with North Carolina standards for professional development and is tailored to the needs of the requesting school system. Offerings are based on theory, classroom strategies, and subject matter content combined with classroom assignments about how to use the professional development in practice.
- Sessions offered are a combination of lecture and processing activities with time to process the learning with other participants.
- Follow-up activities include a required evaluation of the professional development session, electronic follow-up, and an in-person follow-up session.
- Materials may be included in the cost of the workshops while some sessions charge a materials fee.
