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Students Travel to Infinity & Beyond During Astronomy Week

The universe came to life as Ranney celebrated NASA’s Year of the Solar System by hosting an Astronomy Week from March 28 until March 31. The week included cross-divisional activities such as a school wide “How far are you from the Sun?” demonstration, portable planetarium experience for fourth to sixth grade students in the Ranney School Auxiliary Gym, and first grade field trip to the Ocean County College (OCC) Novins Planetarium in Toms River.

Ranney’s Upper, Middle, and Lower Schools gathered around the Karagianakis Field to create a solar system on Tuesday, March 28. With each grade dressed in vibrant different colors to represent particular planets, the Kindergarten class wore orange for Mercury, second graders dressed in blue to depict the Earth, and red t-shirts worn by members of the third grade signified the planet Mars. All nine planets made up of groups of students positioned themselves in the proper order and distance from the Sun as Upper School students, dressed in gray to signify an asteroid belt, also took their place between Mars and Jupiter. Representing the Sun was Head of the School Dr. Lawrence S. Sykoff, who not only presented the school with interesting facts about the Sun and solar system, but also gave a description of other fun events the week had in store for students!

Fourth through sixth graders traveled to infinity and beyond in the Auxiliary Gym on Wednesday, March 30 and Thursday, March 31. During this time, Lower and Middle School students attended portable planetarium sessions presented by Star Tellers. Within a dome able to hold up to two classes and two chaperones at a time, students discovered “The Starry Sky,” met the Moon, learned “Secrets of the Sun” and fell into Black Holes. While third and fourth grade students learned of the importance of the Sun and its evident motion in the sky, and took a tour of bright stars, constellations and planets in the night, fifth graders discovered why the Moon appears to change its shape, how it lights up, and the effects its gravitational pull has on Earth. In addition, members of the sixth grade took a closer look at the role of the Sun in the solar system and how it affects life on Earth.

Members from the Class of 2022 ventured off campus for their planetarium fun on Thursday, March 31. During their visit to the 3-Dimensional dome known as the OCC Novins Planetarium, first grade children gazed at the night sky, learned about the four phases of the Moon, and viewed a live segment discussing the planets, Moon and constellations.

Additional space-related themes in the classroom throughout the week also included hydroponics, life in space, and chemistry of the solar system and its planets. Although a real-life night observatory set for Thursday evening at Ranney was canceled due to inclement weather, the virtual experiences received on and off campus during Astronomy Week truly aided in broadening students’ general knowledge of the universe around them.

According to Patricia Marshall, Lower Head of School, the Ranney School Science Department is constantly looking for ways to implement science into programs outside of the classroom. “It works all year round in launching signature programs unique to Ranney School,” said Mrs. Marshall. “These include programs in areas such as astronomy, robotics and marine science.”

To view upcoming science fairs and events, please click here.
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Ranney School

235 Hope Road
Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Tel. 732.542.4777
Our mission is to know and value every child, nurturing intellectual curiosity and confidence, and inspiring students to lead honorably, think creatively, and contribute meaningfully to society. 

We envision Ranney School as a nurturing learning community, in which families, faculty, alumni, and all of Ranney’s constituents collaborate to know and value every child, foster individual talents, sustain powerful connections between children and adults, and graduate resilient, globally-minded citizens.