The WVHS Planetarium welcomes other groups to participate in field trips during the school year. Other groups can include, but are not limited to, other school groups, pre-school groups, homeschooling groups, youth groups, church groups, and college groups. Field trips are considered programs that occur during the school day. The planetarium follows the IPSD 204 school year calendar.
The WVHS Planetarium offers educational field trip programs to student groups of all ages (pre-K through college). Programs are best described as live, multi-media lessons linked to Illinois State Learning Standards. All programs last approximately 60 minutes except for the holiday program. Five minutes at the end of the program is allotted for questions.
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Programs
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Grade
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Description
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General
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Any
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The most requested program is the ‘General Program’. This program covers what we see in the sky (sun, moon, planets, stars, and constellations) and how the sky works (Earth rotates & revolves). It also includes how to use the sky to figure out direction and any current sky events, NASA mission news, or astronomy news. The program is tailored each grade level. Special topics can be requested including Moon Phases, the Solar System, Seasons, the Life Cycle of Stars, etc.
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The Friendly Stars
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Pre - 1
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Meet the Sun, talk to the stars, sing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star," and find constellations in the night sky. This animated program creates a uniquely interactive program especially for young audiences.
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Sky Maps
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4 - HS
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Learn how to navigate through the night sky using a Sky Map, practice using it in the planetarium's night sky, and then take it home to use in your own backyard.
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Journey Through the Solar System
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1 - 2
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Play the solar system game, discover the planets in the night sky, and leave Earth to explore the solar system.
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*Holiday*
George & Oatmeal Save Santa
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Pre - 3
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Santa Claus is missing, and it’s up to George the wizard and Oatmeal the snowman to find him – and show him how to use the North Star to find his way back to the North Pole. This program is only 30 minutes.
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All programs are linked to Illinois State Learning Standard Goal 12, which is to understand the fundamental concepts, principles, and interconnections of the life, physical and earth/space sciences. Part F of Goal 12 is to know and apply concepts that explain the composition and structure of the universe and the Earth's place in it.
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 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 - $2 per student (teachers/adults are free) A minimum fee of $40 is required per program.
Payment -
- Please pay at your visit before the program starts. Do not ask to be billed.
- Check and cash (no coins) are accepted.
- Make checks out to Waubonsie Valley High School. Please write only one check if possible. Do not pay with $2 checks for each student.
- Receipts supplied upon request.
Cancellations - Cancellations without 24 hours notice will be charged $40.
Buses - Buses are to unload students at the planetarium entrance. Buses will need to wait at the back of the parking lot during a program. Do NOT unload students at the high school's administration/main entrance. You WILL not be allowed to walk through the building.
Car Parking - DO NOT park at the administration/main entrance for the high school. Yow will NOT be allowed to walk through the building. Cars must park in the lot next to the planetarium. You will need a temporary parking pass, which can be supplied via email upon request.
Planetarium Entrance - All high school doors are locked for security purposes including the planetarium’s entrance. Please knock and someone will assist you. In bad weather, please send a teacher/adult to verify that I am 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. 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...
- Respect the planetarium and school facilities.
- Refrain from placing shoes on the seats.
- Refrain from bringing beverages, food, candy, or chewing gum into the planetarium (unless for medical reasons).
- 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.
Closures - If for any reason Indian Prairie School District 204 closes, your field trip will be rescheduled as soon as the schedule allows.
WVHS Drills - Fire, tornado, or lock down drills typically takes place before planetarium programs. This has been true for years past. In the event of a drill the planetarium audience will participate with the rest of the building.