Stellar Journey-Reaching for the Stars and Exploring the Wonders of Space

National Public School, NORTH organised an educational field trip to the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium in Bengaluru for students of Grade 3 and Grade 4, aiming to foster scientific curiosity in astronomy and space sciences. During the two-and-a-half-hour visit, students actively engaged with interactive exhibits, dynamic models, and immersive visual presentations. The structured itinerary enabled students to systematically explore the Sky Theatre Show, the Science Park, the Exhibition Hall, and interactive digital kiosks, providing a multidimensional introduction to key physical and astronomical concepts.

In the Sky Theatre, students observed dome projections illustrating planetary motion, constellations, and the life cycle of stars. The outdoor Science Park supported interactive models, including sundials, whispering dishes, and resonant pendulums, while the Exhibition Hall displayed high-resolution photographs, scale spacecraft, and infographics on planetary exploration. Additionally, interactive digital kiosks allowed students to compute gravitational variations by calculating their weight on different planets, bridging mathematical application with planetary science.

This experiential learning opportunity went beyond standard textbook diagrams, giving students a clear understanding of celestial bodies, seasonal changes, lunar phases, and night sky navigation using Polaris. Furthermore, students developed a strong appreciation for India’s space exploration milestones, ISRO’s Chandrayaan and Aditya-L1 missions. The excursion concluded, having effectively stimulated scientific inquiry and expanded the students’ appreciation for the cosmos.