Schools and community groups across the South West now have the chance to take their students and pupils on a trip across the solar system thanks to Immersive Theatres, a mobile digital planetarium service for all ages specialising in astronomy, cross-curricular learning, new media art, entertainment and exploration of the 360˚ digital medium.
Immersive Theatres has a range of portable domes which seat from 20 up to 70 small children, and offer a catalogue of over 200 presenter-led astronomy shows delivered by engaging and experienced science communicators.
Mario Di Maggio, Director of Immersive Theatres, explained, “Planetariums have always been semi-magical places – gateways to the night sky and the spellbinding Universe beyond. With modern 360° digital technology, the marvels of space are brought to life as never before for school students and teachers alike. Afterward, curriculum content is vividly remembered, motivating classroom learning.”
Offering shows from just a few minutes long to up to an hour, the presentations cover subjects as diverse an introduction for the night sky for early years classes, to how scientists are researching the changing climate, life under the arctic sky and the big bang.
“Our teaching of astronomy is tailored to the various developmental stages of children’s thinking,” added Mario, who has 22 years experience with digital domes and planetariums, both fixed and mobile, including launching and managing the Glasgow Planetarium, then the UK`s most expensive planetarium.
Among the recent feedback from schools across the South West, Stonar Prep School commented, “We loved the 360° and feeling like we were travelling around the world! We really enjoyed that there were lots of different perspectives being taken inside buildings and around the outside. The students enjoyed the commentary and that you asked them where they were before telling them”
Dinglewell Junior School in Gloucestershire, added, “An amazing experience – Year 5 were enthralled throughout the presentation and full of questions, as well as wanting to share their own knowledge. Lots of ‘wow’ and ‘cool’ exclamations!”
For more information, go to immersive-theatres.com