StarLab

Carter County Museum Director Sabre Moore had a busy week bringing a portable planetarium, StarLab, to Ekalaka students. On Tuesday, Moore set the StarLab up for CCHS students. High school math, science and FCS students spent time learning about magnitude, math in space and measuring distances. On Wednesday, Moore spent time with grade school students in the StarLab. They learned about constellations, the phases of the moon, what planets are made of and astronomy and Native American mythology.

As a sister to the Museum of the Rockies, Carter County Museum was sent the planetarium to use until the end of July. The mobile unit consists of a tent-like structure, a projector and an Apple computer loaded with a wide array of Next Generation Science Standards lessons.

This is the first time that the StarLab has ever been used in Montana. Moore said that the museum plans on trying to use the planetarium again at Ekalaka schools before she travels with it to other locations around eastern Montana. The museum is also planning on scheduling a few events with StarLab within the community after the school year. The lessons used in the summer will be different than the lessons the high school students had on Tuesday.