All field trips are fully customizable to meet your students’ needs, with many more options available beyond those listed here. Contact us to design a tailored field trip experience unique to your classroom.

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Grade 3 Programs

• Cardboard Rocket
  Full-Dome Omnimax Film: Students embark on an imaginative journey through the Solar System in a “cardboard rocket.” The Omnimax film immerses them in 360-degree visuals of planets, moons, and asteroids on the Planetarium’s dome, with narration teaching basic astronomy concepts. 
   

• Earth’s Motions
  Students participate in a hands-on lab to track the Sun and Moon’s paths across two seasons, predicting which Earth motions (rotation, revolution) cause the Sun’s apparent daytime movement. The live star instructor uses the Planetarium dome to simulate daily and seasonal changes, guiding discussions and answering questions to clarify concepts.
   

• Star Mythology
  Live Star Instructor: Students explore myths about seasonal constellations from one chosen culture (Native American, African, Ancient Greek/Roman, or Ancient Egyptian). The live star instructor projects constellations on the dome, sharing cultural stories and engaging students in discussions. Ideal for science, language arts, and history classes.
   

• Force & Motion
  LEGO Lab: Students build a “brick-flipper” to explore effort, load, and fulcra. They experiment by adjusting the effort arm’s length, observing outcomes, and recording data. The instructor guides hands-on activities, connecting results to force and motion concepts.
   

• City Build LEGO Lab
  LEGO Lab: Students design and construct a model city using LEGO bricks, exploring concepts of engineering, urban planning, and teamwork. Guided by an instructor, they collaborate to build structures like buildings, bridges, or roads, discussing design choices and problem-solving. 
   

Grade 4 Programs

• Our Star, the Sun
  Full-Dome Omnimax Film: This immersive film explains how the Sun shines, its energy output, and solar weather (e.g., solar wind) affecting Earth. Students compare the Sun to other stars (e.g., red giants) via vivid dome visuals. 
   

• Our Night Sky
  Live Star Instructor: Students explore Native American star stories, learning how various tribes interpreted the night sky. The live star instructor projects constellations on the dome, sharing cultural narratives and engaging students with questions, connecting astronomy to cultural history.
   

• Maps, Maps, Maps!
  Students use topographic, aerial, and Landsat maps to identify geologic formations and their formation processes. They record data graphically to log findings, guided by an instructor. No Planetarium dome or live star instructor is used, focusing on hands-on Earth science.
   

• Two Small Pieces of Glass
  Live Star Instructor: Students “look through” a virtual telescope with the live star instructor, exploring Galilean Moons, Saturn’s rings, and galaxy structures. The instructor uses the dome to simulate these views, discussing discoveries by Galileo, Huygens, Newton, and Hubble, with interactive Q&A.
   

Grade 5 Programs

• Cycles & Patterns in the Solar System
  Live Star Instructor: This program covers Solar System composition, distances, orbital paths, and objects (planets, moons, asteroids). The live star instructor uses the dome to simulate orbits and discuss technologies (e.g., telescopes) that enhance our understanding, engaging students with visuals and questions.
   

• Our Star: The Sun
  Full-Dome Omnimax Film: This film details the Sun’s size, composition, age, and temperature, comparing it to a red dwarf and blue giant. Students record characteristics, noting differences via immersive dome visuals. 
   

• Motions of the Earth & Sun
  Live Star Instructor: Students explore Earth’s rotation, revolution, and axis tilt, learning how these cause daylight and seasonal changes. The live star instructor simulates the Sun’s direct rays across seasons on the dome, guiding students to track patterns and discuss findings.
   

• Nine Planets & Counting
  Live Star Instructor: Students tour the Solar System, examining planets, gas giants, and rocky worlds, while debating “what is a planet?” The live star instructor uses the dome to showcase each object, encouraging discussion about the Solar System’s complexity and recent discoveries.
   

• Force & Motion
  LEGO Lab: Students build a catapult model, experimenting with projectile mass to explore how forces affect motion. They record data and graph class results to identify trends, guided by an instructor. 
   

Grade 6 Programs

• Cell World
  Students explore cells and organelles through hands-on, inquiry-based activities, learning differences between animal and plant cells. The Omnimax film takes them “inside” a cell with immersive dome visuals, complemented by instructor-led lab discussions.
   

• Create-A-Myth
  Live Star Instructor: Students learn about myths from Ancient Greece/Rome, Native American, Ancient Egyptian, or African cultures, then create their own myth inspired by constellations. The live star instructor projects constellations on the dome, guiding storytelling and connecting to language arts and history.
   

• Nine Planets & Counting
  Live Star Instructor: Students tour the Solar System, examining planets, gas giants, and rocky worlds, while debating “what is a planet?” The live star instructor uses the dome to showcase each object, encouraging discussion about the Solar System’s complexity and recent discoveries.
  
  ADDITIONAL DETAILS:

• Location: Drake Planetarium and Science Center, 2020 Sherman Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45212, inside Norwood High School. For security and the safety of Norwood High School students, Drake Planetarium staff will escort your group into the building.
   

• Overview: Programs for grades 3–6 at Drake Planetarium engage students in astronomy, science, and interdisciplinary learning through immersive full-dome experiences with Omnimax films, live star instructor-led sessions, and hands-on labs. Each session lasts one hour and align with Ohio Common Core standards. Below, each program is detailed, explaining activities, the role of the live star instructor, and Omnimax technology.
   

• Reservation Process: Reservations are required. Submit the online reservation form with trip details, and Drake’s team will contact you to finalize. Call 513-396-5578 (Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm) for inquiries, but the online form is fastest. A nonrefundable deposit, deducted from your balance, is required.
   

• Pricing: Groups ≤25: $250 minimum for 1 hour. Groups >25: $10 per person per hour. All attendees (students, adults, educators, parents, bus drivers) need a ticket, with one free adult ticket per 25 people. Unreserved adults are not guaranteed seating.
   

• Third Parties: Third parties (e.g., charter operators) are financially responsible, with payment due two weeks in advance.