Registration | Log In

Search Grants | Fulfilled Grants | Foundations | More About Find It, Fund It, Florida

Share

Please share this page to help in fulfilling this grant.

Goal

This project seeks to elevate student achievement in science by providing an immersive, three-dimensional learning experience through an inflatable planetarium. Approximately 500 third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade students will participate in interactive lessons exploring the moon, moon phases, the Solar System, and space. Elementary students often struggle to gunderstand and internalize abstract astronomical concepts such as moon phases, planetary motion, and the vast scale of the solar system. The planetarium directly addresses this need by transforming abstract ideas into concrete, observable phenomena. This engaging environment will increase student proficiency in science standards, spark curiosity, and promote critical thinking and inquiry-based learning. 

What will be done with my students

Third through fifth grade classes will rotate through both guided interactive presentations aligned with grade-level science standards and independent practice with core concepts. Lessons will highlight topics such as Earth's rotation and revolution, moon’s phases, planets and their orbits, constellations, and the universe. Students will observe dynamic visualizations of celestial events, participate in guided discussions, and engage in questioning that deepens their understanding. Pre- and post-activities in the classroom will connect the planetarium experience to ongoing science units, reinforcing and extending key concepts. 

Benefits to my students

The planetarium provides a unique and powerful experience to students as well as a way to teach space science by combining visual immersion with hands-on learning. Its three-dimensional environment accelerates comprehension of celestial phenomena, offers multiple viewpoints for complex concepts like moon phases, and fosters scientific inquiry through interactive, dynamic visualizations. This approach ignites curiosity and connects classroom instruction to hands-on, real-world experiences. Success will be measured through pre- and post-assessments, student reflections, and both formal and informal observations, allowing teachers to track learning gains, engagement, and improvements in science proficiency. 

Budget Narrative

Funding is requested to cover the purchase of the inflatable planetarium, which can be used with students year after year. This investment will provide a cost-effective way to deliver cutting-edge STEM instruction to approximately 500 students. By bringing the planetarium directly to campus, the project will offer all third- through fifth-grade students an unforgettable, interactive science experience that strengthens scientific literacy and fosters a deeper understanding of the moon, solar system, and the universe. 

Items