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For
Teachers:
For Public:
"There is very little doubt in the minds of
anyone who steps into the STARLAB dome, that it has a unique
ability to draw everyone into a wonderful and magical world of
astronomy — from novices to experts, from kindergarteners to
grandparents, from students to teachers. The sky we see each
night reveals many mysteries of our existence. By looking and
listening to those distant worlds, we know so much more today
about the origins of the universe, the nature of our galaxy, the
composition of our Solar System, and the condition of our home —
Earth.
STARLAB is a portable planetarium. It is an inflatable
dome capable of accommodating about 25 students. Inside the
dome, a cylinder projector is not only able to show us the night
sky devoid of any light pollution; it can take us on a journey
from the South Pole to the Equator and on to the North Pole. We
can see the sky as it looks right now in New Jersey as well as
at the far end of the Australian outback. We can observe our
whole galaxy and study the Solar System. We can look deep
beneath the Earth's crust to see the tectonic plates and study
causes and effects of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
STARLAB can also serve as a great vehicle for exploring
different cultures. We can see the sky through the eyes of
ancient Egyptians and Greeks, learn the legends of ancient China
and Africa, and study the tales of Native Americans.
All this and more can be done within the confines of the
16' x 11' dome. Set-up time for the STARLAB is a mere ten
minutes, and the entire system fits into three small cases and a
duffle bag. It is easily operated by a single classroom teacher
and can be used by classes of every level, from primary school
art to Advanced Placement science.
Astronomy is a unique and complex science that encompasses
within itself history and literature, mathematics and physics,
biology and chemistry, languages and art. It is an important
part of our education and an integral part of our lives. Having
the STARLAB as a crosscurricular learning tool may open the door
for our students to explore well beyond our realm of
imagination."
Alexandra Lasevich, Upper School Math Teacher
Kent Place School, Summit, New Jersey
The above text and pictures were taken from the Learning Technologies,
Inc. website. For more information, visit their site at
http://www.starlab.com/
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