Spandex Gravity Demonstration

5th Grade Program Description: This lesson uses a large piece of black spandex and several balls of different size and mass to demonstrate Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, which is gravity. Students will understand how space bends to makes things fall down towards massive objects. We can offer this program virtually by droping the supplies off with you and instructing the lesson over Zoom.

5th Grade Cross Disciplinary Concepts: Similarities and differences in patterns can be used to sort, classify, communicate, and analyze simple rates of change for natural phenomena.

5th Grade Vocabulary: magnitude, distance, gravitation, gravity, star, sun

Science Standards This Program Meets

About Wyoming Stargazing

Wyoming Stargazing is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based in Jackson Wyoming that excels at making the often difficult to understand concepts of astronomy accessible to everyone. Our mission is to inspire and educate through Wyoming’s extraordinary skies. We offer public and private stargazing programs, solar astronomy programs, planetarium programs, as well as other indoor astronomy presentations. Our vision is to build an observatory and planetarium in Jackson Hole.

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Who	We work with all age groups from Preschool - Adults.
What	We offer engaging indoor and outdoor lessons that cover Earth and Space Science, Motion and Stability, Energy, and Technology standards.
When	Our classroom-based and planetarium programs can take place any time of year. Stargazing Programs are best suited for the beginning or end of the school year.
Where	We can bring our lessons to your classroom and our planetarium to your school gym, cafeteria, or multipurpose room. Stargazing can take place on any playing field near your school.
Why	Astronomy is a “gateway science”. It’s a hook that can get students excited about science who otherwise might never think about science as a career path. We excel at making difficult to grasp concepts about the Universe understandable for everyone and our portable space theater brings the Universe right to your students’ fingertips.