Teacher and Student Resources are presented here to help better prepare students for their upcoming visit to Northern Stars Planetarium. Feel free to download any of the activities, guides, and materials you find useful.

Helping the Apprehensive Child

Occasionally a child may be nervous or frightened of the planetarium or the dark. The following two files may help. Planetarium Gallery is a photographic outline of what Northern Stars Planetarium is, how it works, and what to expect. Planetarium Magic is a fictional story, with artwork created by Maine school children, designed to help young children lose their fear of any planetarium.

•  Planetarium Gallery—What’s it all about? See photos of Northern Stars Planetarium setting up, the equipment used to make the stars and pictures, and what goes on inside the big gray bubble.

•  Planetarium Magic is a fictional story that follows a class that visits a traditional planetarium. One student is the son of the planetarium operator and has no fear, while another student is scared. In the end, knowing what to expect helps all to have a great experience.

Star Charts

• Spring Star Chart with labels 

  • Spring Star Chart without labels

• Summer Star Chart with labels 

  • Summer Star Chart without labels

•  Fall Star Chart with labels 

  • Fall Star Chart without labels

•  Winter Star Chart with labels 

  • Winter Star Chart without labels

Activity Sheets

• Coloring Pages

  • Day Sky Objects Coloring Page Grades PreK-1

  • Night Sky Objects Coloring Page Grades PreK-1

  • Solar System Coloring Page Grades PreK-2

  • Color the Parts of the Sun Grades 3-6

• Crossword Puzzles

  • Our Place in Space Crossword Puzzle Grades K-3 (Answer Key)

• Planets

  • Build a Model Solar System Grades 3-6

  • Mars, Is there a Face there? Grades 3-6

  • Solar System Facts and Figures with Study Questions Grades 3-8

  • Astronomy Discussion Questions and Answers Grades 4-8

  • Match Games

    • Planet Match Game for Grades K-2 (Answer Key)

    • Planet Match Game for Grades 3-5 (Answer Key)

    • Solar System Match Game for Grades 5-8 (Answer Key)

• The Moon

  • Distance Puzzle—Earth, Moon, and Sun Grades 3-6 (Answer Key)

  • Eclipses, Solar and Lunar—How they work Grades 3-8

    • Eclipses Study Questions Grades 4-8 (Answer Key)

  • Moon Map and Features Grades 4-8

• Comets

  • Parts of a Comet and worksheet Grades 4-7

  • Recipe for a Comet Grades 5-8

• Night Sky

  • Draw your own Constellation Grades 1-4

  • How Does a Telescope Work? Grades 4 to adult

  • Light Pollution Information Sheet Grades 4 to adult

  • Meteors and Meteor Showers Information Sheet Grades 3-8

    • Meteors and Meteor Showers Study Questions Grades 3-8 (Answer Key)

  • What is your Galactic Address? Grades 3-6

• Stars

  • Color the Parts of the Sun Grades 3-6

  • Life Cycles of the Stars Activity Grades 4-8

  • Star Size Demonstration Activity Grades 3-8

• Weather

  • Building Home-made Weather Instruments Grades 6-8

• Word Search Games

  • Solar System Word Search (Easy) Grades 1-3 (Answer Key)

  • Night Sky Word Search Grades 3-6 (Answer Key)

  • Stars and Constellation Word Search (Challenging) Grades 5-8 (Answer Key)

  • Weather Word Search Grades 5-8 (Answer Key)

• Off Site Resources

  • Community Learning for ME A clearinghouse of Maine educational resources for teachers, parents, and students.