Saturn: The Ringed Planet

Did you know that there is more to Saturn than just its rings? Did you know that Saturn is a ball of ongoing activity? Did you know that you could literally float Saturn in a bathtub (can you find one big enough to hold a planet!)?

These are only a few of the things that you will discover as you embark on an incredible journey of wonder to one of the largest, most majestic planets in our Solar System, Saturn. Not only will you learn about the iconic rings of Saturn, but you will discover the nature of its atmosphere, its seasons, the history of its exploration as well as some unique features, such as the Hexagon at its north pole and the Dragon Storm, which only comes out at night. You will even learn the ABCs of how Saturn's rings were named (it's not from the inside out or the outside in).

Students will begin with a warmup before embarking on an adventure to Saturn, its rings as well as some of its major moons, such as Titan, the only moon in our Solar System to have a significant atmosphere. After their tour of Saturn, students will have a chance to come up with some ideas for the next big adventure to Saturn and its moons. Before leaving Saturn, the class will share in some final thoughts, which include the future of exploration to the planetary system, most notably, a mission to Titan.

A slide show presentation will bring the journey to life with some images taken by the probes that NASA has sent to the sixth planet in our Solar System. Students will be encouraged to participate in the adventure by asking questions and comment about Saturn throughout the class. 

Students are encouraged to bring a love of space and astronomy as well as a desire to learn about Saturn.