School Day Tours & OSHC Tours

Maximum Group Size

School Day Tour Size

The maximum number of students we can cater to for school tours or home school visits is 60. If you have between 50 and 60 students, we require five activities to be chosen which will ensure the group’s size is effective, The minimum number is 15 except in special circumstances approved by the School Day Tours Subcommittee

Out Of School Holiday Care Tour Size

For Out Of School Holiday Care tour visits, the maximum number of students we can cater to is 40. The minimum number is 20 except in special circumstances approved by the School Day Tours Subcommittee

Please contact us if you are interested in a student tour outside the year levels listed or have more than 60 students (school tours) or 40 students (OSHC tours) so we can discuss ways to accommodate you.

If you have a larger group that you would like to attend and are able to split the attendees into two groups, we are happy to do two tours in one day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon with only three activities per group or run tours over two days.

Length of Visit

School Day Tour Activities

Year 2 Day Tour Activities

Year 2 teachers can choose between 2 options:

• Option 1: A Telescope Adventure with Artemis and 3 other activities.
• Option 2: A Telescope Adventure with Artemis and 4 other activities.

A Telescope Tour with Artemis

Students will discover the telescopes at the observatory with the help of a storybook written by Janet Baldwin. Artemis the fairy takes them on an adventure to find the different telescopes and learn a bit about each of them along the way.

ES1. Cosmic Dance

Students take part in a fun, active role play to explore how the Sun, Earth, and Moon move and interact, learning about orbit and rotation through movement and play.

ES2. It’s Just a Phase

Students explore the Moon’s phases and its effects on Earth through interactive learning. They’ll model their knowledge of the phases using biscuits and take home a Moon diary to continue their observations.

ES3. What Planet is that?

Students explore the solar system, learning the order of the planets and a mnemonic to remember them. They’ll discover fun facts about each planet and create their own scale model of the solar system.

ES4. Shadow, Shadow on the Wall

Weather permitting – students look at shadows and how they change as the sun appears to move across the sky. They examine the observatory sundial and then make a sundial of their own, which they can use and compare to the time on the Observatory sundial and then take back to school.

ES5. First Nations Astronomy

Coming soon

Year 3/4 Day Tour Activities

Year 3/4 teachers can choose between 2 options:

• Option 1: 4 activities
• Option 2: 5 activities

M1. Meteorites and the Moon

The students see the (very large) piece of a meteorite in the Observatory Museum, with a discussion covering the history of the meteorite and the most common origins of meteorites. The students then engage in activities demonstrating the moon phases and why we see them.

M2. Our Solar System

Students will look at the order of the planets in the solar system along a scaled route. This will be followed by an extension activity related to the Solar System.

M3. Sun, Earth and Moon

This activity compares the sizes of the Sun, Earth and Moon and then engages the students in role play to show how the Sun, Moon and Earth interact. An introductory look at the planets is also included, with a mnemonic to help remember the order of the planets.

M4. Lowell Telescope 1

This was the main research telescope at the observatory. Students will learn about some aspects of astronomical research and how the telescope works. They will then engage in an activity linking to helicopters on Mars.

M7. Shadows and Sundials

Weather permitting – students look at shadows and how they change as the sun appears to move across the sky. They examine the observatory sundial and then make a sundial of their own, which they can use and compare to the time on the Observatory sundial and then take back to school.

M8. Sunshine and Rainbows

Students look for visible rainbows and then use special lenses to see rainbows everywhere. The reason for rainbows is discussed, and their link to astronomy. The students then have a look at objects through coloured filters to see what happens to the rainbows.

M10. Telescope Tour 1

This gives the students an opportunity to look at two or three of the Observatory’s old and more modern telescopes and learn a little bit about their history and what they were used for.

M12. Worl Wangkiny – Noongar Sky Stories

An introduction to the Noongar use of the night sky and some Noongar stories.

Year 5/6 Day Tour Activities

Year 5/6 teachers can choose between 2 options:

• Option 1: 4 activities
• Option 2: 5 activities

U1. Meteorites and More

The students see the (very large) piece of a meteorite in the Observatory Museum, with a discussion covering the history of the meteorite and the most common origins of meteorites. They then do activities that demonstrate moon phases, eclipses and why we only see one side of the moon. A model is then used to demonstrate why we have seasons.

U2. Solar Walk

This walk demonstrates the distances between the planets using a scale model, with facts about the planets presented as they walk. They then try to fit carded information to the right planet, discussing specific aspects of some planets, including the length of their days.

U3. Solar Rings

The students use teamwork to initially sort the planets into order on our solar rings diagram and then work out which orbital times belong to which planet. Students try to work out how old they would be on some of the planets based on the length of the planets’ orbits, and then have an opportunity to see how old they would be on each of the planets. They then engage in an activity that looks at the sizes of the planets and are given a mnemonic to remember the size order.

U4. Lowell Telescope 2

This was the main research telescope at the observatory. Students will learn about some aspects of astronomical research and how the telescope works. They will be involved in an investigation relating to gravity and craters.

U6. Solar Quest

Weather permitting, students get the opportunity to look at the sun in real time safely in two different ways. The first is using Sunspotters. These allow an image of the sun to be shown on a screen below eye level. At no stage does the student look at the sun. The second is using an Observatory telescope with a safe solar filter on it, and students look through the telescope at the sun. At all times, there is an emphasis on safely looking at the Sun, and students are instructed to never look at the Sun through any other telescope. They then engage in a discussion explaining some of the sun’s activities.

U8. Survival on the Moon

Learn a bit more about the moon and do a NASA-designed activity to see if you and your friends would survive a crash on the moon.

U10. Telescope Tour 2

This gives the students an opportunity to look at two or three of the Observatory’s old and more modern telescopes and learn a little bit about their history and what they were used for.

U12. Worl Wangkiny – Noongar Sky Stories

An introduction to the Noongar use of the night sky and some Noongar stories.

Please note: If the weather does not allow for outside activities, activities presenting similar concepts will take place inside the main building. However, if at all possible, some activities will take place in the domes so that students. can see the telescopes. Perth Observatory reserves the right to change or adjust these activities as necessary.

OSHC Tours Activities

The children will be split into groups by age. Each group has a separate set of activities suited to that age group.

Please note: School tour activities are not available during the school holidays

Tour Activities For Kids 4-6 Years Old

A variety of activities around the themes of ‘The Colours of the Sun’, ‘Our Place in Space’ and ‘Domes and Fairy Doors’ will be chosen by the presenters to suit the groups.

Tour Activities For Kids 7-9 Years Old

7-9HC1. Deep Impact

The children are engaged in discussing and examining the Observatory meteorite and learning about craters. They watch a demonstration of how craters are made and then enjoy using objects to make craters.

7-9HC2. Make a Sundial

Students learn about the Observatory sundial and make their own paper sundial to take home.

7-9HC3. Constellation Capers 1

The children look at constellations either on a poster or on a screen and then make a ‘constellation tube’ showing one of the constellations they have looked at.

7-9HC4. Who are our Neighbours

The children are introduced to the planets of our Solar System. They then reinforce their understanding of the order of the planets by making a planet wheel.

Tour Activities For Kids 10-12 Years Old

10-12HC1. Meteorites and More

The children will visit our museum and see and learn about our meteorite, which is usually very popular. Time permitting, other exhibits may be discussed and may extend into a demonstration and discussion of a simple orrery.

10-12HC2. Lowell Dome & Helicopters on Mars

Children climb the 69 steps to the top of the Lowell Dome, learn about the telescope and about Mars exploration. Then make and test a paper helicopter to take home.

10-12HC3. Constellation Capers 2

The children look at constellations either on a poster or on a screen and then make a ‘constellation wheel’ showing some of the constellations they have looked at.

10-12HC4. Telescope Tour

Children tour the Observatory’s old and new telescopes

Please note: If the weather does not allow for outside activities, activities presenting similar concepts will take place inside the main building. However, if at all possible, some activities will take place in the domes so that students can see the telescopes. Perth Observatory reserves the right to change or adjust these activities as necessary.

School Required Documents

To help you plan and submit the paperwork for your school excursion, we have provided the necessary documents below:

• Certificate of Insurance
• COVID Safety Plan
• Excursion Management Information
• Fire and Medical Emergency Procedures
• School Day Tour Terms & Conditions