EDUCATION + COMMUNITY
OUTREACH PROGRAMS

Wonder. That state when awe and curiosity combine to create a
palpable desire to understand more. Neil Armstrong said it best—

“Mystery creates wonder and wonder is the basis of man’s desire to understand.”

The Cosmosphere honors those whose quest to understand led them to overcome insurmountable odds and to, quite literally, reach new heights. It provides challenging questions and scenarios that demand the real world application of what students might otherwise think of as abstract classroom theory. It’s where live demonstrations bring science to life in exciting and entertaining ways.

Plan your Outreach Program today! Contact Education at 620.665.9360 or email schools@cosmo.org.

OUTREACH PROGRAMS

The Cosmosphere Outreach Programs include a presentation to the school, grade level, or classes involved and a hands-on activity. These Outreach opportunities are designed to meet the needs of teachers and their students while fulfilling Next Generation Science Standards. Cosmosphere Educators can travel to the school and present to several grade levels, or programming can be delivered via virtual presentations. Each activity includes a 45-minute presentation and a hands-on culminating activity. Both the presentation and the hands-on activity last approximately 45 minutes each.

Cost: $599 within 60 miles, additional $200 for every 50 miles. (See map.) Up to six hours on site. 

MOONS (K-12)

• Presentation: We see it almost every night, but what exactly does the Moon do? Learn about the phases of Earth’s Moon and its effect on our planet. What other planets have moons, and how are they different?
• Activity: K-8 students will model moon phases, and 9-12 students will investigate orbital gravity using a gravity well.

LIVING IN SPACE (K-12)

• Presentation: Sleeping, eating, and going to the bathroom are a bit different in space. Learn what it’s like to live in space! Discover the science of orbit, types of space food and how to become an astronaut.
• Activity: Students will learn how food for the space station is made and create their own space food.

THE SOLAR SYSTEM (K-12)

• Presentation: Discover what (and how) we have learned about our solar system. Dive deep into each planet and find out what makes each an exciting place to explore.
• Activity: Students will create a model of the solar system as a bracelet.

ROCKETS (K-12)

• Presentation: Students take a trip back in time to the 1930s lab of Dr. Robert Goddard, the father of modern rocketry. This interactive show uses live demonstrations on a journey through the history of rockets.
• Activity: Students in grades K-2 will build and launch straw rockets, testing different methods to achieve the farthest flight. Grades 3-12 will build and test air rockets.

ROBOTS! (K-12)

• Presentation: Why do humans build robots? How do you program a robot to perform a task? Learn about robots and their uses in our world, and those beyond.
• Activity: Try an introduction to programming with our Sphero BOLT robots. Older students can learn detailed programming and the engineering design process as they instruct their robots to navigate a maze.

SPACE FARMING (K-12)

• Presentation: Students learn about growing food in space and beyond. What types of science are we using to improve Earth-based crop growth?
• Activity: K-5 students will create a maze for a plant to navigate — And learn how that’s possible. 6-12 students will test plant growth of microgreens under different conditions.

ASTRONOMY (K-12)

• Presentation: Learn how understanding the stars and constellations has been a critical part of human travel, whether in uncharted seas or in space.
• Activity: Students will race to find different constellations and learn why constellations look different depending on where the observer is located.

BEYOND OUR SOLAR SYSTEM (3-12)

• Presentation: What exists beyond our solar system, and how do we learn about deep space?
• Activity: Students will learn about and perform the test that scientists do to detect possible exoplanets.

FLIGHT (3-12)

• Presentation: A bird. A kite. A plane. Study how humans overcome gravity and ride the winds, an engineering feat that changed the world! Understand flight through demonstrations of Newton’s 3rd Law and Bernoulli’s principle.
• Activity: Students will build two gliders out of foam plates and cups to demonstrate the Magnus Effect and see whose can fly the farthest and stay in the air the longest.

ENERGY (3-12)

• Presentation: Harnessing new forms of energy is critical to our future, both on our planet as well as on other planets where humans will create habitats. Study energy forms and then learn how the wind is harnessed to create electricity.
• Activity: Students will design and build an electricity-producing windmill.

HAZARDS OF SPACE (K-12)

• Presentation: Students will study the pressure of space, radiation and other conditions that require humans to have extra protection.
• Activity: Students learn about radiation during a competition where they use an “invisibility cloak” to mask their radiation signatures.

LUNAR LANDERS (3-12)

• Presentation: How do engineers contribute to our study of space? Students will be introduced to engineering principles and career paths as they study the application of engineering design theory.
• Activity: Students will design and build their own lunar landers to deliver people safely to the Moon.

LB7: A PROJECT MERCURY STORY (3-12)

• Presentation: Learn about the history and conservation of Liberty Bell 7, the Mercury capsule flown by Gus Grissom.
• Activity: Students will build circuits to make an explosive hatch just like the one on the Mercury capsule.

SCHEDULING: To schedule a program or to learn more about specific programs and which NGSS criteria are met by each topic, please call the Cosmosphere Education Department at 620.665.9360 or email schools@cosmo.org.

Below is the Cosmosphere Suggested Topic Schedule for 2021-2022:
September - Engineering Design Challenge
October - Solar System and Beyond/Solar System Bracelets
November - Flight
December - It’s Not Rocket Science/ Air Rockets
January - Beyond Our Solar
February - Astronomy
March - Energy
April - Moon Oreo Activity
May - Robots/Robotics Lego 

Questions? Contact us

• 

  CALL US
  800.397.0330 EXT 360

  Tel: 620.665.9360

• 

  EMAIL US

  schools@cosmo.org

• 

  MAIL US

  Cosmosphere
  Attn: Outreach
  1100 N Plum St Hutchinson, KS 67501