Normally, Play-Doh is simply a ball of brightly colored clay. But in the hands of volunteers and children at the Keystone Science School (KSS), it becomes much more a link to the greater mysteries of the universe, and a science lesson on top of that.

Now entering into its fourth year, the astronomy program reaches into the classroom of fourth-graders throughout Summit County, offering them one hour of classroom learning, with the opportunity to follow up with an evening of more hands-on science activities, plus a glimpse of the heavens through the science schools telescope. They can also invite their parents.

COMBINING SCIENCE AND FUN

While many of the children who participate in the KSS programs and summer camps come from the Front Range and other schools, programs like astronomy for fourth-graders and ecology for third-graders reach out specifically to Summit County students.

The topics chosen for each grade level correspond with state standards. Fourth grade studies astronomy, which lends itself to unique opportunities with the science school.

First, instructors from KSS go into fourth-grade classrooms to teach a one-hour lesson having to do with the science behind daytime and nighttime, and the changing of the seasons.

It really depends on how the school has put together their curriculum as to whether its a review, whether its a new thing, whether were adding on to what theyve already learned, said Daniel Van Horn, staff and curriculum manager for school programs at KSS.

The follow-up component to the classroom lesson is a non-mandatory option of attending astronomy family night at the science school. On six different nights over the next two months, staff and volunteers will gather at KSS to present hands-on activities and experiences for the students and their families. Each night is dedicated to students from a different elementary school. There is no cost.

Getting there is easy, too. Vans from the science school gather at the elementary school parking lot to drive the students and their families to the Keystone facility, and then back again when the night is over.

The night consists of a variety of hands-on experiences for the students on astronomy-related topics, from size of the different planets (thats where the Play-Doh comes in) to star constellations, moon phases and, of course, the chance to look at the real thing through the schools 14-inch reflecting telescope.

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Keystone Science School astronomy program offers children, adults a chance to learn