Creating a Classroom Planetarium

Patricia Heyl, Teacher
Mesa Public Schools
Jefferson Elementary School
120 S. Jefferson
Mesa, AZ  85208-1099
(602) 396-1740

Students of all ages seem genuinely fascinated with the study of astronomy, yet it is a difficult discipline to teach since there is no night sky to observe during instructional hours and urban lights or weather variations may interfere with visibility for student homework. Creating a "night sky" model in the classroom is possible for teachers using an easily-constructed, inexpensive plastic bubble, duct tape, and a window box fan.

The single bubble design, large enough to hold an entire classroom of students, is made out of clear landscape plastic sheeting and duct tape. A window box fan is built into the side and keeps the bubble inflated. The opening consists of two hula hoops, one taped into a side and the other a free-rolling "atrium" door which rolls open to allow entrances and exits and adjusts to permit an appropriate amount of expelled air for proper inflation.**

Seasonal night sky star maps may be transferred to large circular sheets of black landscaping plastic using an overhead projector or polar grids. This black circle needs to be large enough to drape the top hemisphere of the clear bubble. Holes can be punched in the black plastic at the locations of the stars in each constellation to allow classroom overhead lighting to penetrate the night sky as "stars." The relative position of planets visible in each season's night sky can be pointed out from inside the planetarium bubble using a small-beam flashlight. It will be of particular interest during this school year to track the location of Mars as data from the Observer is broadcast.

For a seasonal sky chart reference, see Discover Arizona's Night Sky, by Raymond Shubinski and Frank Zullo, Arizona Highways, 1991.

** We suggest that the design be modified to accomadate a second doorway as an escape hatch.

Materials:

Landscaping plastic, clear, 6 mil.
Landscaping plastic, black, 3 mil.
Duct Tape, 1 roll
Window box fan Plastic hula hoops, 2

Directions:

Select the bubble design you wish to use. Shapes can be cylindrical, rectangular prism or "pillowcase." A floor width of 10 ft. will accommodate a classroom of students.
Cut the bubble shapes from 6 mil. clear plastic.
Tape edges together sturdily with duct tape.
Attach a box fan to an opening in the side of the bubble with duct tape, being certain the fan base rests on the floor and plastic is not covering the fan openings.
Attach 1 hula hoop with tape to a circular opening in the side of the bubble at a second location. Wrap and tape the second hula hoop with clear plastic. Place the second hula hoop inside the bubble to cover the entrance.
Turn the fan on "high." When the bubble is inflated, students may either enter it and the door may be adjusted and closed until the bubble is properly inflated. The fan may the be adjusted down to medium or low settings. As a safety precaution, have one student stand holding the ceiling up while students are entering or exiting the bubble. The bubble begins to deflate when the door is open completely.

Cylinder:       2 - 10' circles
                1 - 4' x 32' rectangle

Pillowcase:     1 - 10' x 24' rectangle

Rectangular Prism:      2 - 10' x 12' rectangles
                        1 - 4' x 44' rectangle

Return to Second Workshop: August 1993.

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TES 1994-1995 Curriculum Guide / Arizona Mars K-12 Education Program