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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Around 60 students and staff members sat inside the planetarium for the "Secert of the Cardboard Rocketship" show.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.An inflatable planetarium was set up in the gymnasium at Poland Union Elementary School on Oct. 25 by the Dome Theatre Company.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Students gathered in the Poland Union Elementary School gymnasium on Oct. 25 for the school's planetarium event.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Students exited the Dome Theatre Planetarium after the 30 minute show at Poland Union Elementary School.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Poland Union Elementary School students exit the dome planetarium that was set up in the schools gymnasium on Oct. 25.
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Neighbors | Jessica Harker.Groups of staff and students took turns watching the 30 minute show inside an inflatable planetarium on Oct. 25 at Poland Union Elementary School.
By JESSICA HARKER
Students at Poland Union Elementary School got to learn about the solar system with a special blow up planetarium on Oct. 25.
Mike Masucci, principal at Poland Union, said that the program allows children to learn without even being aware of it.
“I think the most important reason is that it is something that when kids are excited they are excited about learning just as much as everything else,” Masucci said. “They were hooked the second they got into the gym.”
The large, inflatable dome was set up in the gym throughout the school day, with classes taking turns watching the program that lasted about 30 minutes.
Every grade level, including the schools preschool students, were able to watch the program that day.
“Students come in and they think this is going to be the best day at school ever,” Masucci said.
The planetarium is owned by the Dome Theatre Company, a subset of Kramer Entertainment in Grand Rapids, Mich.
The company has a variety of shows available to watch, including “The Secret of the Cardboard Rocket,” where two young adventurers travel the solar system which students at Poland Union watched.
“Basically when they crawl inside its like a small IMAX theatre,” Masucci said.
The school has hosted the planetarium previously, but according to Masucci it has been a few years since they came.
“They go in wanting to explore and wanting to learn more,” Masucci said.