Programs by Gallery

Let’s Rock and Roll - Third, Sixth and Ninth – Twelfth Grades
Isn’t a rock a rock? Students discuss, study, and sort specimens into the three major rock types. Focal points of the Weinman Mineral Gallery include the Rock Cycle Wall and our extensive mineral collections.

Georgia Performance Standards: S3CS1b, S3CS7a-b, S3CS8a-d, S3E1a-b, S3E1d, S6CS6c, S6E1f, S6E5a-e, SES1a, SES1e, SES2d, SES3a-b, SES6c, SG2a-d, SG4a, SG5a-b

Program will run for two hours.

30 minutes – gallery time
Anatomy of the Planet
Rock Cycle Wall
Magic Planet
McNitt Mining Area

30 minutes – lab
Define classification and why it is important in our lives
Classify rocks into three major categories – igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic
Depending on the grade level, further classify rocks, identify and name
Discuss various parts of the rock cycle using hand specimens

30 minutes – Gem Panning and Careers in Geology information

30 minutes – Store, Foucault pendulum & Apatosaurus
Take home items – Keep the gemstones that you find at the Gem Panning

Messy Minerals - Third and Sixth Grades
Learn about minerals mined in Georgia, types of mines, and the many uses of minerals. The Mining in Georgia, McNitt Mining Area, and the Kitchen Cutaway Corner will be features in the Weinman Mineral Gallery.

Georgia Performance Standards: S3CS1b, S3CS7a-b, S3CS8a-d, S3E1a-b, S3E1d, S6E5a-e

Program will run for two hours.

30 minutes – gallery time
Rock Cycle Wall
Mining in Georgia
McNitt Mining Area
Mineral properties

30 minutes – lab
Define a mineral
Show and manipulate various minerals and their uses
Demonstrate, discuss, and experience uses of various minerals

30 minutes – Gem Panning and Careers in Geology information

30 minutes – Store, Foucault pendulum & Apatosaurus
Take home items – Keep the gemstones that you find at the Gem Panning

Rocks From Space - Fifth and Sixth Grades
The sky is falling, the sky is falling! Visit our extensive meteorite display in the Weinman Mineral Gallery including the story of the Cartersville Meteorite. Learn what a tektite is and how they form. Fifth and sixth graders will investigate the properties and characteristics of meteoroids, meteors, meteorites, meteor-wrongs, and tektites.

Georgia Performance Standards: S5CS7a-b, S5P1a, S5CS8a-d, S6CS1a-b, S6CS3a-d, S6CS4c, S6E1f, S6E3c, S6E5a-f, S6E6

Program will run for two hours.

30 minutes - gallery time
Learn the story about the Cartersville Meteorite
Discuss and view the various classifications of meteorites
Define tektite and learn about the various tektite forms

30 minutes – lab
Define a rock vs. mineral as well as a meteorite
Participate in hands-on investigations of various types of meteorite, meteor-wrong and tektite specimens
Demonstrate, discuss, and experience uses of various minerals included in meteorites

30 minutes – Gem Panning and Careers in Geology information

30 minutes – Store, Foucault pendulum & Apatosaurus
Take home items – Keep the gemstones that you find at the Gem Panning

Mineral Testing - Third, Sixth and Ninth – Twelfth Grades
The Weinman Mineral Gallery has a dedicated area to the physical properties of minerals, including a unique fluorescent mineral display. Learn how to classify minerals based on Moh’s Hardness Scale as well as other physical properties of minerals, using the five senses.

Georgia Performance Standards: S3CS7, S3CS8, S3E1a-b, S3E1d, S6E5a-b, S6E5d, S8P1f, SCSh2a-b, SCSh3, SCSh4a-b, SG2a-d, SC1b, SG5a-c, SES1a-b, SES1e, SES2d

Program will run for two hours.

30 minutes – gallery time
Rock Cycle Wall
Mineral Properties
Mining in Georgia
Minerals in our Lives area

30 minutes – lab
Define minerals and their varying properties
Introduce how a mineral is classified
Discuss Mohs Hardness Scale and its purpose
Allow students to lay out Mohs Hardness Scale in order by scratch testing
Take students through the steps of testing one unknown
Allow students to test as many unknowns as time allows

30 minutes – Gem Panning and Careers in Geology information

30 minutes – Store, Foucault pendulum & Apatosaurus
Take home items – Keep the gemstones that you find at the Gem Panning
 

Plate Tectonics: Where the Action Is - Fifth, Sixth and Ninth - Twelfth Grades
The Earth’s crust is continually shifting, crashing, and spreading, creating various geologic happenings. Explore our restless earth through the many displays in the Weinman Mineral Gallery, including our Magic Planet and our large floor model of the cross section of Earth.

Georgia Performance Standards: S5CS1, S5CS4c, S5CS7, S5E1a-c, S6E5a, S6E5c-g, SES1a-e, SES2a-e, SES3a-e, SESa-e, SG1a, SG1d, SG2a-d, SG3a-d, SG3f, SG4a-d, SG5a-b, SO1a-c, SZ2a

Program will run for two hours.

30 minutes – gallery time
Anatomy of the Planet
Earthquake and volcano displays
Iris display showing current seismic activity worldwide
The Magic Planet
Rock Cycle Wall

30 minutes – lab
Study plate movement from Pangaea to 50 million years into the future
Discuss how planet Earth’s crust is divided into numerous plates that move
Students will understand through various manipulatives: plate movement, subduction zones, rift valleys, convergent, divergent, transform boundaries
and hot spots

30 minutes – Gem Panning and Careers in Geology information

30 minutes – Store, Foucault pendulum & Apatosaurus
Take home items – Keep the gemstones that you find at the Gem Panning

Periodic Table - Eighth & Ninth -Twelfth Grades
What is an element? Have you ever wondered why elements in the same group number on the periodic table have similar chemical reactivity? Who thought up the idea of a periodic table? How did it get its name? How does it affect our everyday lives? Come answer these questions and more as we learn about the basics and the makeup of the periodic table by visiting a life-sized version in Tellus’ Weinman Mineral Gallery and then experience some hands-on manipulatives in the lab as an introduction to the Periodic Table and basic atomic structure.

Georgia Performance Standards: S8CS5a-b, S8CS8a-c, S8CS9a-g, S8P1a- f, SCSh7a-c, SCSh8a-f, SPS1a, SPS4a-b, SC1b-c, SC3a-e, SC4b, SB4b, SES1a-d

Program will run for two hours.

30 minutes – gallery time
Anatomy of the Planet – discuss elemental components of the various layers
The Magic Planet – discuss elemental differences in continental vs. oceanic plates
Rock Cycle Wall
The life size Periodic Table – discuss its organization and what information the table gives us
Participate in gallery wide scavenger hunt

30 minutes – lab
Discuss Earth’s crust contains 92 natural elements found on the table
Students will understand through various manipulatives:
periods, groups or families, metals, non metals, transition metals, halogens, noble gases, valence electrons, basic atomic structure, etc.

30 minutes – Gem Panning and Careers in Geology information

30 minutes – - Store, Foucault pendulum & Apatosaurus

Take home items – Keep the gemstones that you find at the Gem Panning

Meet Stan the T. rex - Kindergarten and First Grades
Ask a child which dinosaur is their favorite and they are likely to say, “The T. rex.” Stan the T. rex is the star of this program at Tellus. Students will tour the Fossil Gallery and meet Stan along with his prehistoric friends. They will explore, through an original story, where Stan lived, what his world was like, compare Stan to other dinosaurs, and how he may have behaved and even measure a T. rex tooth.

Georgia Performance Standards: SKCS4a-c, SKCS5a-b, SKCS6a, SKL1b, SKL2a, S1CS1, S1CS2a, S1CS2c, S1CS2d, S1CS3a, S1CS4c, S1CS5b, S1CS6, S1L1d

Program will run for two hours.

30 minutes – gallery time
Short story about Stan the T. rex
Other large iconic dinosaurs

30 minutes – lab
Each student will make their own T. rex mask
Measure and graph T. rex teeth

30 minutes - Fossil Dig and Careers in Paleontology information

30 minutes – Store, Foucault pendulum & Apatosaurus
Take home items – Three genuine Fossils from the Fossil Dig, T. rex mask

 
Fossiliferous - Second, Third, Fourth, Sixth and Seventh Grades
What is a fossil? How is it made? These questions are answered in our Fossil Gallery walk through. Students learn how a fossil forms and discuss factors that affect the survival or extinction of organisms. Manipulatives will include make it/take it fossil rubbings, a mold, and three real fossils to keep!

Georgia Performance Standards: S2CS1a, S2CS6, S2E3a, S3CS1b, S3CS4c, S3CS7, S3CS8, S3E2a-b, S3L1d, S4L1a, S4L1c, S4L1d, S4L2a-b, S4CS8a-d, S4L1c, S4L2b, S6E5g, S7L4d, S7L5c

Program will run for two hours.

30 minutes – gallery time
Define a fossil
Learn how fossils form and are dated
Learn about the different types of fossils

30 minutes – lab
Explain what a fossil is and how fossils form
Students will make fossil mold and discuss molds and casts
Fossil rubbings

30 minutes - Fossil Dig and Careers in Paleontology information

30 minutes - Store, Foucault pendulum & Apatosaurus
Take home items – Three genuine fossils from the Fossil Dig, Mold of real fossil

The Key to Fossils - Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Ninth – Twelfth Grades
After studying a huge variety of early life in the Fossil Gallery, students learn how to use a dichotomous key to classify and identify actual fossil specimens. They then get to experience a fossil dig keeping their three favorite specimens.

Georgia Performance Standards: S5L1, S5L4a-b, S5E1a-b, S6CS6c, S6E5g, S7L1a-b, SES6d, S7L5c, S7CS6c, S8CS6a-c, SCSh4a, SCSh7c, SCSh8a-f, SEC1a-d, SB3c, SB4c, SB4e, SB4f, SB5a-e, SAST6c-d,
SZ2a, SZ2c, SZ3a-b, SZ4a-b, SG1c, SEV3c, SES4c- e, SES6d-e

Program will run for two hours.

30 minutes – gallery time
Definition of a fossil
Explain how fossils form and are dated
Explain the different types of fossils
Discuss adaptations and extinctions

30 minutes – lab
Define classification
Define a dichotomous key and how it is used
Students will then utilize a dichotomous key to classify several actual fossils

30 minutes - Fossil Dig and Careers in Paleontology information

30 minutes - Store, Foucault pendulum & Apatosaurus

Geologic Time Scale - Sixth, Seventh and Ninth – Twelfth Grades
Students travel through geologic time in the Fossil Gallery beginning with the formation of planet earth then moving through the various eras of prehistoric life to the present, observing the evolutionary changes in species of fossilized life. The concept of the relatively short amount of time that living things have been present on planet earth are driven home as the students physically model the time line in the gallery and then play a unique geologic time game in the lab.

Georgia Performance Standards: S6E3a-c, S6E5e-g, S7CS6c, S7L5c, SCSh4a-b, SCSh7c, SCSh8a-f, SES1c-d, SES3d-e, SES4a-e, SES6d-e, SG1a-d, SZ2a, SZ2c, SZ3a-c, SAST6c-d, SB4c, SB4e, SB4f, SB5a-e, SEV3c, SEC1a-d

Program will run for two hours.

30 minutes – gallery time
Travel through geologic time
Discuss geologic time periods and the creatures that lived during that time
Major events that scientist believed occurred to cause mass extinctions
Geologic time rope activity to emphasize the brief period of time of life

30 minutes – lab
Define and identify the various divisions on a geologic time scale, eon, era, etc. using original “Go Dig” cards.
Game of “Geo-pardy”

30 minutes - Fossil Dig and Careers in Paleontology information

30 minutes - Store, Foucault pendulum & Apatosaurus
Take home items – Three genuine fossils from the Fossil Dig, Geologic Time Bookmark

Day & Night - Kindergarten, and Pre-K
Pre-K program available January through May only. Have your four- and five-year-old Pre-K students join Big Bird and Elmo with their friend Hu Hu Zhu from China as they explore the sky in One World, One Sky planetarium show. They learn about the Big Dipper and the North Star and take an imaginary trip to the Moon.

Georgia Performance Standards: SKP3, SKE1, SKCS6

Program will run for two hours.

30 minutes - Planetarium Show: One World One Sky, ALL STUDENTS

30 minutes - lab
Students will explore the concepts of Day & Night and explore the effects of gravity

30 minutes – gallery time
Students will go on a scavenger hunt looking for cars, trains and spacecraft
Students will discuss different careers in transportation

30 minutes – store & lobby for Foucault pendulum Take home items – gliders
 
Galactic Weather - First and Third & Fourth Grades
The PBS award winning Zula Patrol’s zany characters discover Dark Truder's plan to steal the Kaboobie Ruby and go after him - discovering all about weather in the process, both on Earth and on other planets in our solar system. Students will enjoy an introduction to the night sky, find the Big Dipper and a few seasonal constellations.

Georgia Performance Standards: S1E1a, S1CS4a, S1E2a, b; S3P1d; S4E3e, S4E4a,b,c

Program will run for two hours.

30 minutes - Planetarium Show: Under the Weather, ALL STUDENTS

30 minutes - lab
First Grade - explore weather using weather stations
Third & Fourth Grade - explore temperature with thermometers and other temperature sensitive materials

30 minutes – gallery time
First Grade – explore Science in Motion gallery by discovering how weather affects transportation
Third & Fourth Grade – exploring and contrasting clouds on other planets and the Earth. Students will use Science in Motion gallery to discover ways to study clouds.

30 minutes – store & lobby for cloud/weather activity
Take home items –
First Grade, Weather Log
Third & Fourth Grade, Cloud viewer

Stars & Constellations - Second and Fourth Grades
Are all stars alike? What is the difference between stars and planets? Do they really move through the sky each night? How do you find the constellations and why are they in different places throughout the year? How do astronomers know what stars and planets are really like? We will look at these questions and more in this two-hour program.

Georgia Performance Standards: S2CS4, S2CS6, S2E1, S2E2, S2E3, S4CS4, S4E1, S4P1, S4P3

30 minutes – Planetarium Live Presentation and viewing of “Two Pieces
of Glass” covering the invention of the telescope and how it is used in
Astronomy

30 minutes – lab
Second Grade - use models to investigate the size, brightness and patterns formed by stars; observe major constellations through Constellation Viewers; create your own constellation exercise
Fourth Grade - use models to investigate physical attributes of stars and compare them to planets and moons; observe apparent movement of stars and draw conclusions about their use; build a simple telescope and experiment with different lenses

30 minutes – gallery time (use reflector and refractor telescopes; investigate
inventions that led to the development of space travel and exploration

30 minutes - store/Foucault pendulum/coin vortex, Observe how Earth’s rotation/revolution cause stars to appear to move in the sky; explore effects of gravity on coins and discuss gravitational attraction
of planets to our Sun
Take home items -
Second Grade: Constellation Finder for the current month and Tellus
 
Exploring Moons & Solar System - Fourth & Sixth Grade
Are you an explorer, a geographer, an astronomer or a doctor? With these careers in mind identify which inventions in the Science in Motion gallery will be most useful to you! Take a tour of the solar system in the planetarium show “Oasis in Space”. This show explores the planets, moons and some of the smaller objects in the solar system. The lab will examine an Earth-Moon model and reinforce why the Moon has phases and where to locate the Moon in the night sky.

Georgia Performance Standards: S4E1, S4E2; S6E1b,S6E1c,S6E2a,S6E2b

Program will run for two hours.

30 minutes - Planetarium show: Oasis in Space, ALL STUDENTS

30 minutes - lab
Moon Phase activity using models and power point

30 minutes – gallery time
Assigned profession and use a scavenger hunt to locate vehicles, aircraft, and spacecraft that might assist you

30 minutes – store & Foucault pendulum
Take home items – souvenir compass, magnifying glass, telescope, or globe key chain based on occupations assigned

Farming for Fuel: Biofuels and Alternative Energy - Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Grades
This program explores the energy we use to power cars, aircraft, and rockets and in the planetarium show, “Stars” we learn about the ultimate energy source, the Sun. Alternative energy sources, with an emphasis on Biofuels made from non-food plants, are appropriate for transportation and do not put as much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere as fossil fuels. Students will investigate how plants can be converted into fuels for combustion engines. In the Science in Motion gallery students will investigate how combustion engines work and how other engines propel on the ground, into the air, and out to the planets.

Georgia Performance Standards: S5P2, S5L3, S5L4, S6E6, S7L2, SEC5

Program will run for two hours and ten minutes.

40 minutes - Planetarium show: “Stars”, carbon cycle demonstration, and Solar D-House introduction, ALL STUDENTS

30 minutes – lab
Making ethanol, measuring sugar levels, manipulating hydrogen car, Solar & wind cars, and demonstration of an internal combustion engine

30 minutes – gallery time
Observe other types of engines in the Science in Motion gallery
Investigating plant cells with a microscope

30 minutes - store & Foucault pendulum
Take home items – grass terrariums
This program is partially funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and the BioEnergy Science Center.

Exploring the Sun and Solar Energy -
Eighth and Ninth - Twelfth Grades and College
This program explores the Sun as a star and how we can harness its energy to use here on Earth. In the planetarium we learn about our closest star, the Sun, in our program “Stars: Powerhouses of the Universe." In the Science in Motion gallery we investigate alternative energies that are used to power vehicles and rockets. We will also tour the Georgia Tech Solar Decathlon House to allow
students to see an environment totally run by energy from the Sun. In addition, students will investigate the large solar panels that help power the Tellus Science Museum.

Georgia Performance Standards: S8P1, S8P2, SAST5, SEV1, SEV2, SEV4, SEV5, SM4, SM5

*Program will run for two hours and ten minutes.

40 minutes - Planetarium show: "Stars: Powerhouses of the Universe" and solar cell introduction
ALL STUDENTS

30 minutes - Solar Decathlon House exploration

30 minutes – gallery time
Investigate fuels for rockets and alternative energies that are used to power other vehicles

30 minutes - store & solar viewing (Inclement weather birth & death of stars)

Take home items - Solar bead backpack pulls or bracelets

It’s ALIVE! Pre-K and Kindergarten
Pre-K program available January through May only.

Introduce your four and five-year-old Pre-K students to insects in this entertaining and interactive program. These young learners will learn the parts of an insect and make their own butterfly to take home. In the Collins Family My Big Backyard gallery, students will be able to match animals to their habitats and to what they eat in the food cycle, as well as match adult to child in the life cycle of various animals.

*Program will run 1 ½ hours.

30 minutes – lab
Compare butterflies and moths
Make antenna headbands
Make morpho butterfly rings

30 minutes – gallery time
Point out life science on the tree exterior
Give time to explore the gallery

30 minutes – store & tree activity
Discuss living versus non-living
Introduce insects

Take home items - morpho butterfly rings and antenna headbands

Kindergartners will discover that bugs are living things, compare bugs to other animals, and use their classification skills to compare insects and arachnids. In the Collins Family My Big Backyard gallery, students will have the opportunity to match the life cycle of various insects and explore other interactive exhibits of the gallery.

Georgia Performance Standards: SKCS1a; SKCS4a; SKCS5a; SKCS6c; SKL1a, b; SKL2a, c, d

Program will run for two hours.

30 minutes – lab
Introduce insects
Introduce arachnids
Make spiders

30 minutes – gallery time
Point out life science on the tree exterior
Give time to explore the gallery

30 minutes – theater
Bees are insects
Play and dance insect songs

30 minutes – store & tree activity
Compare butterflies and moths
Take home items – pom spider pin

What’s the Matter? - Second Grade
Second graders will examine the states of matter. “Chilling” demonstrations using liquid nitrogen allow students to experience condensation and evaporation. Students find out how molecules behave when matter changes from state to state and take part in a tasty experiment while changing a liquid to a solid. Time will be given for exploration of the Collins Family My Big Backyard gallery.

Georgia Performance Standards: S2CS1a; S2CS4b, c; S2CS6a, b; S2P1a, b

Program will run for two hours.

30 minutes – intro in theater, ALL STUDENTS
Introduce the three states of matter
Introduce concepts of condensation, evaporation, melting, freezing
Demonstration on condensation and evaporation using balloons and liquid nitrogen

30 minutes – lab
Experience matter changing from liquid to solid/freezing experiment

30 minutes – gallery time
Introduce the Collins Family My Big Backyard
Encourage students to look for items that are solid, liquid, or gas
Give time to explore the gallery

30 minutes – store & tree activity
Kinesthetic demonstration of solid, liquid, and gas molecules
The freezing song

Take home items - bubbles

Magnet Mania - First and Third Grades

First graders will explore magnetic attraction and repulsion through prediction and experimentation. Hands-on exploration of magnets encourages students to discover what objects are magnetic and whether magnets attract through other materials. Investigation of magnets will include exhibits in the workshop area of the Collins Family My Big Backyard gallery.

Georgia Performance Standards: S1CS1a; S1CS5a, b; S1CS6a, b; S1P2a, b, c

Program will run for two hours.

30 minutes – intro in theater, ALL STUDENTS
Introduce basic concepts of magnetism

30 minutes – lab
Introduce magnetic field
Students explore whether magnets attract through objects

30 minutes – gallery time
Introduce the Collins Family My Big Backyard pointing out magnet activities
Give time to explore the gallery

30 minutes – store & tree activity
Mr. Red Magnet and Mr. Yellow Magnet: poles attract and repel
Play “Attract and Repel” game

Take home items - bookworm magnets

Third graders will build on their magnetic knowledge as they are encouraged to find out what a magnetic field will do and how to create a magnet using electricity. Students will further their knowledge while experimenting with magnets, electromagnets, and electricity in the workshop exhibit in the Collins Family My Big Backyard gallery.

Georgia Performance Standards: S3CS4a; S3P2a, b

Program will run for two hours.

30 minutes – intro in theater, ALL STUDENTS
Review basic concepts of magnetism
Demonstration of an electromagnet

30 minutes – lab
Investigate 3 electromagnet activities and identify variables that affect the strength of an electromagnet

30 minutes – gallery time
Introduce the Collins Family My Big Backyard pointing out magnet activities
Demonstrate electromagnetic exhibits
Give time to explore the gallery

30 minutes – store & tree activity
Game review “What attracts to a magnet and what doesn’t?”

Take home items - magnets

Energy Quest! - Fourth Grade and Fifth Grades
Enhance your fourth graders’ energy unit with this “enlightening” program. This presentation introduces light as a form of energy, examines the properties of light, offers hands-on opportunities to discover what types of images are formed by different types of mirrors, as well as giving students a first-hand opportunity to experience light exhibits in the greenhouse of the Collins Family My Big Backyard gallery.

Georgia Performance Standards: S4P1a, b, c; S4CS1b, c, d; S4CS8a, b

Program will run for two hours.

30 minutes – intro in theater, ALL STUDENTS
Introduce characteristics of light
Demonstration of properties of light using a laser

30 minutes – lab
Students compare how reflections change with the various types of mirrors (plane/flat, concave, and convex)

30 minutes – gallery time
Introduce the Collins Family My Big Backyard pointing out greenhouse and light activities
Students compare the changes in images to the shape of the mirror
Review translucent, transparent, opaque
Give time to explore the gallery

30 minutes – store & tree activity
Practical applications of plane (flat) mirrors
Mirrors reverse images

Take home items – rainbow glasses

Highlight your fifth grade study of electrical energy with this electrifying program. This program introduces students to the “hair-raising” topic of static electricity, gives them the basics for designing their own circuit boards and allows them to explore electricity and magnetism in the garage exhibit in the Collins Family My Big Backyard gallery.

Georgia Performance Standards: S5P3a, b, c; S5CS1b, c, d; S5CS3a, d; S5CS4a

Program will run for two hours.

30 minutes – intro in theater, ALL STUDENTS
Introduce static and current electricity
Demo using electrostatic generator (static)
Demo using energy balls (current)

30 minutes – lab
Explore current electricity using the circuit boards

30 minutes – gallery time
Introduce the Collins Family My Big Backyard pointing out electricity activities
Give time to explore the gallery

30 minutes – store & tree activity
Do electricity review using circuit quiz boards

Take home items - static bags