This Saturday marks the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere—and this week’s distance learning theme is seasons. Join one of our museum educators as she learns what causes these periodic changes in Earth’s conditions by reading The Reason for the Seasons, written and illustrated by Ellie Peterson!

We’re spending the week looking at the planets, and this week’s Saturday STEM challenge is about just that: looking at the planets!

For as long as people have been on Earth, they have been observing the night sky. This week, we’re challenging you to make like ancient civilizations and watch the sky. Using the given information and tools, try to track the planets. Since the sky never looks the same two nights in a row, you can try this challenge for as long as you want, trying to see as many different planets as you can.

This week’s distance learning theme is planets. Join one of our museum educators as she reads about the planets in our solar system—and so much more—in The Story of Space by Catherine Barr and Steve Williams, illustrated by Amy Husband!

You may think of outer space as a vast, empty void—but space is full of objects! Both within and beyond the bounds of our solar system, there are countless stars, nebulae, asteroids, comets—and, of course, planets. But what IS a planet, anyway? Why was Pluto “demoted” from a true planet to a dwarf planet, and what makes a planet different from other objects in space?

In this module, we’ll look at the official definition of what makes a planet, and put the current criteria into historical context by reviewing some of the ways that astronomical understanding has evolved throughout history. This content is most appropriate for middle- and high-schoolers, based on reading level.

We’re spending this week looking at planets, so let’s get to the heart of the matter: planet cores. Although there are common elements in all of the planet cores in our solar system (we think...), there is a lot of variety out there, too. And a planet’s internal structure has a big impact on what happens around the planet, too.

Weather: it’s more than just a conversation-starter.

What causes weather, how do we study it, and what is the weather like on other planets? Learn all about it in today’s lesson, geared toward middle-school learners! Part 2 of 2.

Weather: it’s more than just a conversation-starter.

What causes weather, how do we study it, and what is the weather like on other planets? Learn all about it in today’s lesson, geared toward middle-school learners!

Join one our our museum educators as she reads the children’s book “Going Around the Sun: Some Planetary Fun” by Marianne Berkes!

Learn about orbits in our solar system by creating a simple, all-ages model.