Bring the Astronomy Department to your classroom or group! We offer a variety of activities that include talks on topics that range from the latest astronomy news to in-depth discussions on areas of our expertise, demonstrations and activites for all ages, and complete classroom lessons that are designed around state curriculum standards. And did we mention we have telescopes? Please look through the information below and use use this request form to arrange for a faculty member or student outreach specialist to visit.
Guided activities
These tabletop or hands-on demos can be requested with a talk, and are appropriate for classrooms, groups, and outreach events.
- Properties of Light - Discover refraction, absorption, scattering, and simple optics with lasers and flashlights
- Large-scale Structure - Explore the universe at the very largest scales and make your own cosmic web
- Vacuum of Space - Learn about the properties of the vacuum and the surprising behaviors of materials
- Finding Exoplanets - Make your own exoplanet and learn how astronomers detect them
- Meteorites - Explore the history of the solar system and get hands-on with these samples of many kinds of meteorites, from pallasites to chrondrites
- H-alpha Telescope - See the face of the sun with this special telescope
Complete classroom lessons
These fully self-contained inquiry-based lessons in a box will be delivered upon request (and availability) complete with a content expert from OSU to deliver the lesson and to be available for other topic-related questions. Preview materials and lesson plans here.
- Cosmic Cratering - Kinesthetic learning and physical activity combining astronomy and physics. Both measurement and inquiry are re-enforced.
- Solar System Scales - Conceptual understanding of sizes, distances, and masses in the Solar System.
- Starlight Steering Scarabs - Interdisciplinary, kinesthetic learning combining astronomy/physics with biology and ecology.
Telescope Lending Library
Check out telescopes for your group up to 2 6-inch telescopes and binoculars and star wheels / planispheres. These telescopes are for educational groups only.