The Berkshire STEM Pipeline is happy to announce we now own an inflatable STARLAB Planetarium with a FiberArc projector. This planetarium will be available to teachers in Berkshire County through the STEM Fellow program and two day teacher training workshops that will start in Jan. 2009.

STARLAB description:

Consisting of an inflatable silver fabric dome, a fiber arc projector, a fan, a variety of projection cylinders, and supported with training and ample curriculum, STARLAB creates a unique learning environment for virtually every level of education. Being known best as a portable planetarium, STARLAB can be used for far more than just astronomy. Best of all, STARLAB can be handled by one person and set up right in the classroom, or gym, or auditorium, or cafeteria etc.

STARLAB Schedule 2008 (for current STEM Fellows only)

• Dome Diameter: 16 ft
• Dome with Tunnels: 18 ft x 21 ft
• Dome Height: 10.5 ft with a ceiling requirement of 14 ft
• Minimum Room Size: 21 ft x 21 ft
• Seating Capacity: 27 people

Projector:

STARLAB FiberArc includes adjustable quartz halogen gooseneck side lamps for reading and drawing ease inside the dome plus azimuth and meridian reference projectors for teaching more advanced concepts.

Cylinders available:

• Starfield
• Moon
• Weather
• Plate Tectonics
• Greek Mythology
• Native American Mythology

Curriculum Available:

Astronomy and More is a collection of tried and true curriculum ideas from top STARLAB Portable Planetarium users who have created exciting and interactive activities for kindergarten through grade 12, as well as specific curricula for each STARLAB projection cylinder.

This curriculum is held in two binders and includes a comprehensive table of contents and tab-divided sections to help you locate the information quickly and easily. Four main sections include STARLAB Planetarium Set-up, Operation and Maintenance; K-6 Activities and Lessons; Grades 7-12 Activities and Lessons; Cylinder Guides. The pages are three-hole punched so that your lessons and worksheets are easily accessible.

Useful Links

Starlab Portable Planetarium Community

Paper Plate Astronomy

Syllabus

STEM Fellows 2008:

Lauren Finnegan-Lee, MA
Stephen Capeless-Pittsfield, MA
Randy Knoyles-Gt. Barrington, MA
Melissa Farrell, Gt. Barrington, MA
Marie McCarron-North Adams, MA
Linda Wagner-North Adams, MA

Jr. STEM Fellows 2008:

Robin Clapper, undergrad MCLA
Rachel Appell, undergrad MCLA
Christopher Hairston, undergrad MCLA

STEM Fellows 2007:

Lori Austin-Florida, MA
Jeanne Nailos-Pittsfield, MA
Matt Collins-Pittsfield, MA
Jane Lewandowski-Pittsfield, MA

STEM Fellow Mentors:

Jr. STEM Fellows:
TBA

Training dates:
TBA 2009

How to become a STEM Fellow 2009:
Contact STEM Coordinator Lisa Provencher