Science Communication Fellow
2017- 2019
University of Michigan
Museum of Natural History

I have a hands-on activity geared towards elementary aged students that lets them "observe" exoplanets. They learn how we figure out how big planets are and what they're atmospheres are made of using flashlights and shadows. 

For the first part of the activity there are different sized styrofoam planets which shows them how larger planets block out more light from their stars. For the second part of the activity they use styrofoam planets with different materials around them to mimic different atmospheres and see how they all create different shadows. For the older students I have print outs that they can use to identify what material "atmosphere" or combination of "atmospheres" made the shadow. I also bring coloring pages for the younger kids.