What to Expect from Your PLANETS Visit

The visit contact/lead classroom teacher must:

• E-mail the completed "Visit Request Form" to planets@unc.edu and communicate with the Morehead educator via e-mail to schedule the program times for the planetarium visit.
• Ensure that a quiet, indoor space with two grounded 120-volt electrical outlets will be available to set up the PLANETS dome. Ceiling height must be at least 13 feet with room dimensions no smaller than 30-by-30 feet.
• Make copies of the PLANETS Release Form and Photograph Consent Form. (You will receive these forms after your visit by PLANETS has been scheduled.)
• Distribute the PLANETS Photo Release and Consent forms to each student for the parent/guardian to sign. Children are required to have parental permission to participate in the PLANETS program; the photo release is optional.
• Collect signed Photo Release and Consent forms from students. Check that the forms are complete and, if necessary, sign the forms as the "Witness." Also, check forms and make note of which children may not be photographed or videotaped.
• Make sure that all teachers bringing students into the planetarium will not exceed the dome's capacity for number of students per show.
• Notify site or school administrators about the PLANETS visit. Feel free to contact local media outlets about the visit, too.

• The PLANETS educator and portable dome arrive at the school 90 minutes before the first scheduled show. Please assign one or two people to help unload the dome and equipment cases from the PLANETS van. The cases are heavy.
• The classroom teacher (or other adult) MUST accompany the children inside the dome for the duration of the presentation. This adult is also expected to assist the Morehead educator in bringing the children into the dome (three at a time).
• The Morehead educator will answer questions after the show.

• Classroom teachers may choose to conduct the cross-curriculum class activities provided in the program's accompanying curriculum packet. (This may also be done before the visit.)
• You will be sent an invoice for the cost of the PLANETS visit. Please be sure that payment is submitted promptly.