1. Baltimore County Public Schools Office of Science, PreK-121 Experiencing the Starlab A Portable Planetarium Baltimore County Public Schools Office of Science, PreK-12

2. Baltimore County Public Schools Office of Science, PreK-122 Starlab is a valuable educational tool that is being used to deliver astronomy instruction to every elementary school child in Baltimore County Public Schools. Starlab Portable Planetarium

3. Baltimore County Public Schools Office of Science, PreK-123 Starlab Portable Planetarium 1. What is Starlab? Starlab is a 25 ft. portable inflatable planetarium dome.

4. Baltimore County Public Schools Office of Science, PreK-124 Starlab Portable Planetarium 2. How do the students get inside the Starlab? Students crawl through a tunnel to get inside the Starlab.

5. Baltimore County Public Schools Office of Science, PreK-125 Students sit on the floor. The images are portrayed on the walls and ceiling of the dome. Starlab Portable Planetarium

6. Baltimore County Public Schools Office of Science, PreK-126 Starlab Portable Planetarium 25-30 students can fit inside the Starlab.

7. Baltimore County Public Schools Office of Science, PreK-127 Students with physical handicaps can attend the programs in the Starlab. Starlab Portable Planetarium

8. Baltimore County Public Schools Office of Science, PreK-128 Starlab Portable Planetarium 3. Is the Starlab safe? Yes! The bottom of the dome is entirely open. It is made of flame retardant material. It is Latex free.

9. Baltimore County Public Schools Office of Science, PreK-129 Starlab Portable Planetarium 4. How is the Starlab set up? First, a fan is attached to the dome.

10. Baltimore County Public Schools Office of Science, PreK-1210 Starlab Portable Planetarium The dome inflates within 10 minutes.

11. Baltimore County Public Schools Office of Science, PreK-1211 Starlab Portable Planetarium Next, the projector is put inside the dome.

12. Baltimore County Public Schools Office of Science, PreK-1212 Starlab Portable Planetarium 5.What topics are taught in the Starlab? Primary programs introduce facts about the: sun Milky Way galaxy planets phases of the moon stars exploration of the moon.

13. Baltimore County Public Schools Office of Science, PreK-1213 Starlab Portable Planetarium Intermediate programs introduce facts about: star properties the planets circumpolar stars seasonal stars space travel and the galaxies.

14. Baltimore County Public Schools Office of Science, PreK-1214 Starlab Portable Planetarium 6. Does Starlab just teach science? Starlab is an interdisciplinary tool that teaches: Earth Science Language Arts Math Art Social Studies Reading

15. Baltimore County Public Schools Office of Science, PreK-1215 Starlab Portable Planetarium 7. Do teachers have training prior to their class coming to the Starlab? An in-service on the Starlab is provided and teachers are given packets containing: pre/post visit activities extension/optional activities teacher background information.

16. Baltimore County Public Schools Office of Science, PreK-1216 Starlab Portable Planetarium Each unit has pre-assessment and post assessment to collect data. 8. Are students assessed on the information that they learn inside the Starlab?

17. Baltimore County Public Schools Office of Science, PreK-1217 A young man was overheard saying as he crawled out of the Starlab tunnel, “I liked Starlab. It was fun and interesting. I learned a lot about space and the stars.” Starlab Portable Planetarium

18. Baltimore County Public Schools Office of Science, PreK-1218 Starlab Portable Planetarium “It was like sitting in the backyard, but it was better because you are closer to the stars.”