The WVHS Planetarium is the science and technology center for Indian Prairie School District 204. In the 2008-2009 school year, over 12,000 district students attended a field trip program. These programs are connected directly to district curriculum and linked to state learning standards. Accordingly, the planetarium is an extension of the classroom.
All IPSD 204 students (K-12) are welcome to participate at NO CHARGE. The only cost is busing (which not covered by the planetarium or the district). While 90% of programming is at the elementary level, there is no limit or mandate for the number of groups or grade levels participating per school. For more field trip information please click on the tabs above.
To make a field trip reservation, DISTRICT 204 TEACHERS need to fill out the online request form (link below).
204 Planetarium Reservation Request Form
All programs are connected to district curriculum according to grade level. Below is a description of each program. Please note that every program includes a night sky portion in which students observe apparent motion and identify constellations, stars, planets, the moon, etc.
Pre-School - The in-house pre-school at WVHS visits the planetarium twice during the school year. During the first visit, students are introduced to the sky. Students then explore the planets during their second visit.
Kindergarten - Kindergarten students meet Sol, the Sun, in the 'Friendly Stars'. This animated program creates a uniquely interactive lesson especially for introducing young audiences to the sky.
First Grade - First graders discover the planets in 'Journey Through the Solar System'. Students identify, define, and compare the planets, rings, moons, and more as they fly around the solar system.
Second Grade - 'What's Up' explores what we see in the sky. The program focuses on the objects we see and the changes in the sky. Rotate, revolve, day, night, year, orbit, distance, and size are the key concepts.
Third Grade - On the field trip called 'To the Moon' third graders begin by looking at the moon as we see it from Earth. Students examine the phases of the moon by identifying the phase, discussing rotate and revolve, and comparing the Sun, Earth, and Moon. Third graders then look at the moon as only the Apollo astronauts have. Students investigate space travel, rockets, gravity, and atmosphere.
Fourth Grade - The fourth grade program is 'All About Planets'. For thousands of years people have seen planets in the sky with their eyes. Today, NASA's space probes have enabled us to explore the planets like never before. Fourth graders will examine the planets in both ways.
Fifth Grade - Sky Maps are road maps to the 'Stars and Constellations' in night sky. Fifth grade students learn how to use a sky map and practice identifying objects in the current night sky. The program also introduces students to the life cycle of a star.
Eighth Grade - Four hundred years ago Galileo used a telescope to explore the night sky. Today we explore the universe with NASA's Great Observatories including the Hubble Space Telescope. Eighth grade students take a tour of the night sky and the life cycle of a star including temperature, color, size, location, galaxies, nebulae, red giants, nuclear fusion, white dwarfs, neutron stars, black holes, etc.
High School (WVHS) - Astronomy and Cosmic Journey are two courses taught at WVHS in which students regularly use the planetarium as an astronomy lab. The planetarium has developed interdisciplinary field trips for Physics, Earth Science, AP Environmental, French 3, Spanish 3, and Mythology.
Special Education - The planetarium will create a custom program to meet the needs and levels of any group so that every student has a memorable and positive experience. Please contact the director.
Programs are not limited to the list above. If there is a curricular connection, the planetarium will create a program. Contact the planetarium director.
All IPSD 204 students are welcome to attend programs.
Schedule - The schedule can be viewed on the planetarium’s calendar. Only reserved programs appear on the calendar.
Program Times – Program times are different than years past due to the director’s high school teaching schedule. This schedule limits the number of programs per day (only 2) and when the programs start. All programs are 60 minutes in length.
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First semester (Sept-Dec) programs are available at 10:10, 11:10, or 12:10.
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Second semester (Jan-May) programs are available at 9:45, 10:45, or 11:45.
Seating - The planetarium has 60 permanent seats. With folding chairs the capacity is 75.
Admission - Programs are free to IPSD 204 students.
Transportation - The planetarium is not responsible for scheduling or funding busing. Make sure your bus driver knows what to do. Several times in the past year bus drivers did not run a shuttle between a school and the planetarium. This resulted in canceling programs.
Drop Off - Buses are to unload students at the planetarium entrance. All high school doors are locked for security purposes. Please knock and someone will assist you. In the case of bad weather, please send a teacher/adult to verify that someone is waiting at the door for your group before unloading students.
In the Hallway - Line up your students in the hallway. Make a line for each class facing the planetarium’s green door. PLEASE remind students of appropriate hallway behavior while in a school building. Programs begin with an introduction in the hallway.
In Use Light - If the In Use Light is on, please do not open the door. Opening the door floods the planetarium with light pollution and creates a disruption to programming.
Planetarium Expectations - All audience members are expected to...
1. Respect the planetarium and school facilities.
2. Refrain from placing shoes on the seats.
3. Refrain from bringing beverages, food, candy, or chewing gum into the planetarium (unless for medical reasons).
4. Refrain from creating noise or light pollution (turn off phones and other electronic devices).
Nurse - The nurse at WVHS can be reached at 630-375-3350.
Restrooms - Please take care of all restroom needs before coming to the planetarium. This cuts down on the exiting and entering during a program. There is one small restroom in the planetarium hallway.
Handicap Accessibility - The planetarium is handicap accessible and can accommodate up to 4 wheelchairs.