Videoconference Programs

Videoconference programs are science learning experiences that take you and your students on a virtual field trip to the Davis Mountains of west Texas. There are multiple ways to experience these programs:

PARTICIPATE IN AN UPCOMING PROGRAM

Students and teachers are invited to visit McDonald Observatory remotely from home or school for incredible educational experiences. Thanks to support from Friends of the McDonald Observatory and the Meyer-Levy Charitable Foundation, these programs are available at no cost to participants.

ExciteSpace!
(for multiple schools)

ExciteSpace! Observe the Sun

K-12 students observe our Sun in real-time with a telescope, make their own drawings, and make STEM connections in astronomy.

Download Drawing Sheet and TEKS

Choose a program date and register online with Connect2Texas (Use the filter to find McDonald Observatory, University of Texas). Registration closes 2 days prior to any program.

Please Register for an April program here (use the filter to find McDonald Observatory, University of Texas)

Grades PreK-4:

April 13, 2021
10:00 am CDT

April 21, 2021
11:00 am CDT

Grades 3-12:

April 13, 2021
1:00 pm CDT

April 21, 2021
2:30 pm CDT

ExciteSpace! Meet Mr. McDonald

Come visit McDonald Observatory without leaving your home or classroom! Learn about Mr. McDonald, who loved nature and science. Learn about what happens here and how the astronomers use telescopes to study all kinds of things in the universe. Students will be guided on a virtual tour of the 2.1-meter Otto Struve Telescope, and we will discuss together the things that make McDonald Observatory a great place to do Astronomy.

Download TEKS

Choose a program date and register online with Connect2Texas (Use the filter to find McDonald Observatory, University of Texas). Registration closes 2 days prior to any program.

Please register for an April program here (Use the filter to find McDonald Observatory, University of Texas)

Grades PreK-5:

April 20, 2021
11:00 am and 1:30 pm CDT

April 28, 2021
11:00 am CDT

Grades 5-12:

April 20, 2021
10:00 am CDT

April 28, 2021
2:30 pm CDT

Special Dark Sky Week Program for grades 3-12:
ExciteSpace! Meet Mr. McDonald and Discover Our Dark Sky
April 9, 2021
11:00 am CDT

ExciteSpace! Super Big Telescope Tour

Explore the Hobby-Eberly Telescope, a 10 meter telescope that uses 91 mirrors to research the universe! Follow the light path from the sky through creative engineering and into the instruments. Students will take a virtual tour of the HET, including images and videos, guided by a live educator.

Download TEKS

Choose a program date and register online with Connect2Texas (Use the filter to find McDonald Observatory, University of Texas). Registration closes 2 days prior to any program.

Please register for an April program here (Use the filter to find McDonald Observatory, University of Texas)

Grades 2-6:

April 7, 2021
1:00 pm CDT

April 16, 2021
1:00 pm CDT

April 27, 2021
2:00 pm CDT

Grades 5-12:

April 7, 2021
2:00 pm CDT

April 16, 2021
2:00 pm CDT

April 28, 2021
1:30 pm CDT

WATCH A RECORDED SESSION ANYTIME

Programs average 50 minutes in length and include activities and handouts that students can use to follow along at home

Books and Telescopes and the Sun...Oh My! (Grades PreK-2)

Explore the Sun and sunspots with special telescopes at McDonald Observatory, enjoy a reading of “The Big Dipper” – a Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science 1 book, and take a virtual tour of McDonald Observatory. Viewers may choose to make their own drawing of the Sun and it’s features. Required materials are a sheet of paper and a pencil!

Our Solar System and Beyond! (Grades 3-12)

Explore McDonald Observatory and see giant research telescopes used by astronomers, observe planet Venus with telescopes equipped with special video cameras, complete a size and scale ranking task activity individually or in small groups (grade 3-5 handout & grade 6-12 handout, and learn how Galileo discovered that planets orbit the Sun.

SCHEDULE A CUSTOM VIDEOCONFERENCE

To schedule a Custom Videoconference program, please send an inquiry to teachers@mcdonaldobservatory.org

Students participate in a video conference learning session with Observatory staff.

Support Science Education!

Join or Renew Give a Gift

McDonald Observatory K12 education programs are made possible thanks to support from the National Science Foundation, Education & Outreach Endowments, the AAbell-Hanger Foundation, Harry W. Bass Jr. Foundation, Fash Foundation, Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation, the Semmes Foundation, the Stillwatr Foundtion, and Friends of the McDonald Observatory & Orion Society.

Join or give a gift membership today. Email friends@mcdonaldobservatory.org.

Questions about Student Programs?

Contact the McDonald Observatory Education Team