Fifth-grade Online School Program
A live, online experience that engages students in the wonder of observation and astronomy.
A Unique Fifth-grade Experience
The Griffith Observatory Online School Program is a series of modules (described below) each composed of live, recorded, and animated elements as well as live Q&A opportunities. We developed the modules in consultation with educators to meet fifth-grade Next Generation Science Standards and are presented live by engaging Observatory Museum Guides and Telescope Demonstrators.
Our Online School Program enables students to have a meaningful, virtual Observatory experience without transportation and geographic barriers to participation. Since debuting, the program has provided over 200,000 student interactions with the majority of participating schools being Title 1 eligible. Fifth-grade classes with limited access to science outreach initiatives are especially encouraged to participate.
The Observatory’s fifth-grade Online School Program is presented for free thanks to Griffith Observatory Foundation.
We expect reservations for the 2024-2025 school program to be available by mid-September. To receive email updates about the school programs, including updated reservation information, please signup here.
When reservations open, specific instructions will be posted here.
Online School Program Modules
Module 1: Everyone Is an Observer
Everyone Is an Observer plants the notion that we are all observers all the time and immerses students in the long tradition of observing with the help of Griffith Observatory’s instruments.
More program information, classroom materials, and other educational materials may be found in teacher and student guides below.
Module 2: Clues from Comets
Clues from Comets illustrates the importance of observing carefully and demonstrates modern methods of solving a mystery as cryptic as the nature of comets.
More program information, classroom materials, and other educational materials may be found in teacher and student guides below.
Module 3: The Search for Water
The Search for Water joins observing with exploring in a mission to determine what life needs and whether those conditions exist elsewhere in the solar system. More program information, classroom materials, and other educational materials may be found in teacher and student guides below.
Module 4: Exoplanets Are Everywhere
Exoplanets Are Everywhere reaches beyond our understanding of our solar system and into the realm of exoplanets: How we know these outer-worlds are there, why some may be habitable, and what these strange places may look like.
More program information, classroom materials, and other educational materials may be found in teacher and student guides below.
Online School Program Dates and Times
The Online School Program is generally offered on Tuesdays at three different times each day (all times PDT or PST): 8:05 a.m., 9:20 a.m., and 10:55 a.m. Each program is 65 minutes long, which includes the content of the program and a Q&A session.
Each Module will be offered multiple times during the 2024-2025 school year. Dates for specific modules will be posted here when reservations open.
Online School Program Registration Calendar
Use the calendar below to make a reservation for the 2023-24 program.
Hover your cursor over a date and time on the calendar below to check the availability for that session. Once you find a date and time that has enough availability for all the teachers and students you wish to register, click on that time listing to register for that session.
For questions about the online school program, please email online.sp@griffithmedia.org.