Education Division
School Tours & Programs
Museum of Texas Tech University

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Moody Planetarium

Texas Tech University

School Tours & Programs

Planetarium | Traveling Trunks | Tours & Programs | Gallery 5 | Conduct

Museum Communications

Tour Scheduling: 806.742.2456
Education Office: 806.742.2432
Fax: 806.742.1136
Email: museum.education@ttu.edu
Website: www.museum.ttu.edu
Reservation Form (.pdf) (click here to download)

Museum Bus Parking

Buses may enter Museum parking lot from 4th Street and drop off students at the north main entrance.  Buses must park on the north side of the north parking lot.

Moody Planetarium

The Moody Planetarium is available for school groups. Both Laser and planetarium shows are available. (see below for grade-specific shows)

Seating capacity is 71 persons

Our Tour Scheduling line is 806.742.2456
(Some dates will not be available due to special programming.)

Group Show Fees

Planetarium fees for school groups PK to 12th grades are $1 per person (students and adults)

MOODY PLANETARIUM PROGRAMS

Planetarium School Shows

Grades PK-3..........“In My Backyard”
Grades 2-4...............“Amazing Stargazing”
Grades 2-4...........“Mystery of Missing Seasons”
Grades 4-6...............“WSKY: Radio Station of the Stars”
Grades 5-12............“Spirits from the Sky: Thunder on the Land”
Grades 6-8...............“A Cowboy Astronomer”
Grades 6-12............“The Endless Horizon”
Grades 6-12............“Ancient Horizons”
Grades 8-12............“Clouds of Fire”
Grades 9-12............“Explorers of Mauna Kea”
All grades (December only)..........“Winter Wonders” or “’Tis the Season”

Laser School Shows

Grades K-4...............“Orion” (educational show)
Grades K-4...............“Perseus and Andromeda” (educational show)
Grades 5-12.............“Laser Beatles”
Grades 9-12.............“Laser Spirit”
All grades..................“Laser Holidays” (December only)

Scheduling Information:  Astronomy Programs

• Reservations are required for all school planetarium and laser shows, and should be scheduled at least two (2) weeks in advance by calling 806.742.2456.
• Payment is due the day of the show.
• If your group is running late or has to cancel, please notify us as soon as possible since a volunteer often runs the school shows.
• Planetarium school programs are scheduled Tuesday-Friday at 9:30, 10:30, or 11:30am. Plan to arrive a minimum of 15 minutes before the scheduled show time.
• Moody Planetarium capacity is 71 seats plus two wheelchair slots.  If you have more than 60 students, two shows will be necessary.
• During World Space Week (annually October 4-10), a 45-minute workshop is available for Grades K-12 upon request when scheduling your World Space Week show.
• Workshop begins 45 minutes BEFORE your planetarium show.  A charge of $2 per person includes the workshop and the planetarium show.  Class size is limited to 25 students.

TRAVELING TRUNKS

Bring the Museum into YOUR classroom!!!
Traveling Trunks make artifacts, reproductions, interpretive information, hard-to-find resources, and suggested lessons available to teachers who cannot take a field trip. Trunks may be checked out for one to two weeks at a time. There is a rental fee of $10. Call 806.742.2456 to reserve a Traveling Trunk. Below are available Teacher Manuals. Underlined titles are available as .pdf downloads. Those in black are available from the Education Division office:

• Grades K & 5...............“Red, White and Blue”
• Grade 1............................“Incredible Insects”
• Grade 2............................“Discovering Dinosaurs”
• Grade 3............................“Our Dynamic Earth: Discovering Rocks & Minerals”
• Grade 3............................“Our Living Earth: The Cycle of Life”
• Grades 3-5.....................“History of Lubbock”
• Grades 4-6.....................“Amazing Astronomy" (Introduction and Activities)
• Grades 4-7.....................“Cowboys of the Americas: Argentine Gauchos and North American Southern Plains Cowboys” (in Spanish and English)
• Grade 6............................“Exploring Energy"

Multilevel:

• “African-American Pioneers of Texas: From the Old West to the New Frontiers”
• “Comanches on the Southern High Plains”
• “Life on the Plains”
• “African Oral Storytelling”
• “Our Hispanic Heritage”
• “Buffalo Soldiers”

TOURS & PROGRAMS

Dates

Tuesday–Friday, Morning or Afternoon

Reservations are required for all museum tours and should be scheduled at least two (2) weeks in advance by calling 806.742.2456. (Guided Programs are NOT available the week of Thanksgiving.)

GUIDED Tours/Programs

• One adult MUST accompany every 10 students.
• There is a charge of $1 per student to cover the cost of materials. Teachers and adult chaperones are admitted free. 
• Plan to arrive 15 minutes before your program; a late arrival may result in a shortened or cancelled program.
• Only astronomy workshops will be offered during World Space Week, October 4-10.
• Guided programs are led by Museum-trained volunteers and feature hands-on experiences. Limit: 25 students.

Available Tours:

• Grades PK-2.....................“Teddy Bear” (available December only)
  Grades 2-4..........................“Discovering Dinosaurs”

SELF-GUIDED Tours/Programs

• Self-guided visits may be scheduled Tuesday through Friday anytime during regular Museum hours (10am-5pm).  The Museum is open from 10am to 8:30pm on Thursdays.
• When scheduling a visit, please indicate the exhibit(s) you wish to see.
• Clipboards and pencils may be requested for use during your visit. 
• There is no fee for a self-guided visit.
• Programs are led by the classroom teacher using materials provided by the Museum.
• All packets include pre- and post-visit activities, and assignments to complete while visiting the Museum.
• All activities done in the classroom or at the Museum meet TEKS or Core Curriculum requirements.
• Programs are available year-round unless otherwise indicated.

Available Tours/Programs:

• Grades 1-3.....................“Elements of Art”
• Grades 1-2.....................“Dino Babies”
• Grades 3-6.....................“All About Feet”
• Grades 4 & 6.................“Art of Africa" (4th Grade / 6th Grade)
• Grade 5.............................“Art of the Southwest”
• Grades 4-6......................“Art 101”
• Grades 9-12...................“Pre-Columbian Art”

GALLERY 5

Availability: year-round
Duration: 4 to 6 weeks
Grades: All

Does your class have artwork (i.e., oil paintings, watercolors; small sculpture, jewelry) to share with Lubbock?
Call to reserve space to display your students’ masterpieces in Gallery 5.  Paintings must be matted but not framed so they can be attached to the wall with Velcro. The Museum will provide refreshments for a Sunday exhibit opening. Artwork must be at the Museum two (2) weeks prior to the exhibit opening to guarantee time for set-up.

EDUCATION TOURS & PROGRAMS
PARTICIPANT CONDUCT POLICY

Staff or trained docents will conduct guided programs, but while at the Museum, adult sponsors accompanying student groups are responsible for student behavior.  A program or tour may be terminated if participant behavior is deemed unmanageable by Museum staff. To assure a safe, comfortable learning experience, adult sponsors must closely monitor and control student behavior.