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Model Moon phases and build a space exhibit in this three-week astronomy course for elementary school students on Bryn Mawr College’s campus.
Instructor:
Course Description
Why does the Moon seem to change shape, and how can a shadow reveal Earth’s movement? Students begin as sky detectives, recording wonder questions in a space journal and using spheres, flashlights, star maps, and simple observations to explore patterns they can see.
Next, the class moves outward. Students create a walkable solar-system model, compare rocky planets and giant worlds, test how impacts form craters, and design a rover or lander for the conditions on a chosen planet or moon. A light-and-orbit demonstration introduces how astronomers discover planets beyond our solar system.
The final week brings stars, galaxies, and the scale of the universe into view through image sorting, sequencing, art, and nesting models. Teams create a Space Discovery Museum exhibit with a model or interactive visual, labeled explanation, surprising fact, and short presentation.
This three-week course is part of Summer Discovery’s Institute for the Gifted program on Bryn Mawr College’s campus in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. The program is available to commuter students. Beyond class, students take part in campus activities, make new friends, and build confidence trying something new.
Why Astronomy Skills Matter
Astronomy gives young learners a reason to look closely, notice patterns, and ask better questions. When students model Moon phases or compare planets, they learn that a scientific explanation must match what can be observed. Testing and revising a rover model makes the same idea physical.
The scale of space also builds flexible thinking. Students move between familiar objects, pictures, maps, and models to understand something far larger than they can see at once. Explaining a discovery to classmates strengthens vocabulary, sequencing, and the ability to make a complex idea clear.
What Will You Do?
• Record sky questions, observations, and drawings in a space journal
• Model day, night, shadows, and Moon phases with light and spheres
• Build a walkable model of the solar system
• Test crater formation and redesign a planetary rover or lander
• Compare star colors, stellar life cycles, and galaxy shapes
• Create and present a Space Discovery Museum exhibit
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students will be able to:
• Explain selected sky patterns using observations and simple models
• Compare planets, stars, and galaxies using age-appropriate evidence
• Construct and present a model that communicates an astronomy idea
Students will leave with a space journal, hands-on models, and a museum exhibit, along with new astronomy skills and curiosity to keep exploring.
Why Bryn Mawr?
Bryn Mawr gives elementary students a welcoming place to spend the day learning, creating, and meeting new friends. Its historic, tree-lined setting near Philadelphia makes a summer class feel special and collegiate while remaining close enough for students to return home each afternoon.
The commuter-day format combines hands-on academics with a clear daily routine, shared activities, and Summer Discovery support throughout the program day. Students can try something new, build confidence through participation, and enjoy the fun of learning on a college campus without an overnight stay. For families, Bryn Mawr offers a thoughtful balance of creativity, academic challenge, friendship, and age-appropriate independence in a structured day-program environment.
Who Should Attend?
This course is for elementary school students who have completed 1st, 2nd, or 3rd grade and ask big questions about the Moon, planets, stars, or space travel. It is a good fit for children who enjoy drawing, building, observing, pretending, or sharing surprising facts.
Students should be ready to work with classmates, use simple tools and materials, record ideas with words or pictures, and explain a model during a supportive final presentation.
View the eligibility requirements for the Institute for the Gifted on our FAQ page. A completed program application is required.
After successfully finishing this course, you will be awarded a certification completion for your accomplishment.
*This is a preview, not what you will receive