In December, third and fourth-grade students had an incredible visit with science educator Steve Tomecek, known as “The Dirtmeister.” He transformed the multi-purpose room in the Athletic Center into a mini universe by bringing an inflatable planetarium and alien invader (meteorite) to RCDS!

Students began the session by examining the meteorite up close, feeling its texture, and discussing its origins. From there, they crawled inside the dome for a guided journey through the night sky, discovering all the different objects in the sky like planets, moons, and stars, proceeding to look at asterisms (shapes in the sky) and finally constellations seen by Greek and Native American people. 

Throughout the session, students asked questions, made observations, and even tried spotting well-known constellations themselves. The experience sparked wonder, curiosity, and plenty of smiles, making it a fun and interactive day of learning!