January we studied Australia and Astronomy. So naturally the planetarium was the perfect choice for our monthly field trip…except the weather decided to give us a snow day the day we were scheduled to go. Then the next few weekends were swamped. Finally today we made it happen and no one will complain about two great field trips in one month. February’s will come in two weeks.

UNC is one of the major universities in North Carolina and the main campus is about an hour north of us. UNC also happens to have the first planetarium ever built on a college campus, pretty spiffy. We drove up there, explored the grounds and the museum exhibits, watched the movie, did a super cool STEM project, and picked up pizza on the way home. Twas a good day. Indeed.
The movie we watched was a show about what Astronauts go through and do, followed by a live program on our night sky. Funny thing, Corra has been in love with astronomy lately. She started a “Star Club” for me and Layna, so that live presentation was absolutely perfect. The big kids enjoyed it, and I think next year I’ll definitely include outings that they can come on too…dang being at actual school and cramping my schedule style.
There was a maker space where they had all the stuff to make light-up Valentine’s Day cards. Garyn basically made Layna’s and she decorated it, Corra and Neil made one, and Naomi did her own (with Neil helping with some minor troubleshooting). Which all just about sums up the way we science around here lately. While the girls finished up, Garyn went and played with a move-a-ball-with-your-mind-exhibit. Everyone had a great time at the planetarium.