PROJECT STAR GAZE

Designed primarily for kindergarten through 5th graders, Project Star Gaze at College of San Mateo (CSM) offers children and their teachers experience with “real” science during free field trips to the planetarium. There, CSM’s astronomy faculty tailor the workshops to each age group. Currently the only operating planetarium on the Peninsula, CSM’s planetarium has served thousands of students and visitors since 1963. Our new facility is equipped with an Evans & Sutherland Diistar 3 SP2 HD projector and comfortably seats about a hundred.

It provides an exciting venue for young students to be introduced to scientific methodology and its application to everyday life. Each session includes a planetarium star show and demonstrations of solar system basics and spectroscopy.

Recent studies recommend that elementary school children be exposed to dynamic, hands-on experiences with science. Early in their education, they need an understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of science and the scientific method.

This program also exposes elementary school children to a college environment, helping to encourage lifelong learning and to kindle an early interest in pursuing higher education.

Project Star Gaze also represents CSM's commitment to its community. Partners providing a variety of critical project resources include: The San Mateo County Community College Foundation, and the San Mateo County Astronomical Society, which meets monthly in the planetarium.

To schedule a free field trip, contact Mohsen Janatpour at janatpour@smccd.edu or/ (650) 574-6272.