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Education

For Educators

Clark Planetarium offers resources and lesson plans for teachers to use in their classroom. We also offer several professional development workshops for teachers.

Teachers attend Clark Planetarium's professional development workshop.

Professional Development Opportunities

Clark Planetarium offers several professional development workshops for teachers. Workshops are typically scheduled through district science specialists and can be taught on site for a single district or several together. Some workshops can only be scheduled if funding is available and may offer resource kits for teachers to take back to their schools. Email clarkeducation@slco.org with questions.

Seasons and Moon Phases – Curriculum for Utah 6th grade SEEd 6.1.1

Now updated for 6th grade SEEd standards, this workshop includes training on using the “Seasons and Moon Phases” teacher resource kits distributed several years ago. Teachers will learn how to use the kits to demonstrate the phenomena of seasons and moon phases, then guide their students in investigations of the causes.

To find out who your district contact is for the “Seasons and Moon Phases” teacher resource kits that are accessible to you, contact clarkeducation@slco.org.

Teachers practice scientific demonstrations at a teacher workshop.

Kinesthetic Astronomy – Curriculum for Utah 6th grade SEEd 6.1.1

Learn how to act out the motions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun system in this active and engaging workshop. Teachers will act as students in modeling the correct motions and appearances of the Moon and Sun in the sky. Students use their bodies to represent the Earth, with different features of the room representing the Sun and stars.

Electricity and Magnetism – Curriculum for Utah 5th grade Science standards 3 and 4

Experience several hands-on activities that allow students to explore static electric, current electric, and magnetic phenomena. Aligned to 3D science teaching, these activities give students tools to explore and model electric and magnetic fields.

Density – Curriculum for 6th grade SEEd 6.1, 6.2, and 6.3

This curriculum helps students develop an understanding of density – a core concept of standard 6.2. These lessons scaffold upward, starting with planets and moons (6.1.3), moving on to molecules and phase changes (6.2), and ending with the water cycle (6.3.1).

Universe Sandbox

Universe Sandbox is an interactive physics-based space simulation. This “video game” program allows teachers and students to explore gravity and the movement of objects in space. In this workshop, Clark educators will introduce educators to the program, guide them in using the software for both demonstration and provide student-led lesson plans. Attending educators will each receive a license to install the software at their school.

Curriculum and Lessons

Clark Planetarium is offering digital versions below of the resources we distribute at our teacher professional development sessions. For questions about these materials, or to inquire about professional development opportunities, please contact us at 385-468-1248 or clarkeducation@slco.org.

6th grade Seasons and Moon Phase Activity Kits – updated for SEEd standards!  

Updated Instructions for Kinesthetic Astronomy Kit Activities  

Resources for SEEd Density Activities
Some of the PowerPoint slides have notes with additional information. 

Standard 6.1.3 – Structure of the Solar System

Standard 6.2.1 – Atoms and Molecules 

Standard 6.2.2 – Heat Energy and Phase Changes  

Standard 6.3.1 – The Water Cycle  

Standard 6.3.3 – Heat and Atmospheric/Oceanic Circulation

5th grade Electricity and Magnetism Activity Kits  

Universe Sandbox Lesson Plans

Teacher Resources

Scavenger Hunts

Prepare your class for a field trip with an exploration guide and scavenger hunts for our exhibits. Each guide is targeted towards particular grade levels or a general audience.

Astronomy Resources

Education Resources