Experience of a planetarium for children with special needs

As many as 100 people, from a two-and-a-half-year-old to a 20-year-old, spent about 20 minutes in a school learning more about planets, life in space and space travel.

Not many of them knew about planets, stars and space. However, it was an opportunity for them to get a feel of going close to the stars, volcanoes, and even dinosaurs.

The Kaumaram Prashanthi Academy at Chinnavedampatti has about 100 children with special needs, and it teaches them artwork, cooking, vocational skills and regular subjects.

Concept

The Chennai-based start-up Space Trek had set up a dome theatre at the academy that provided three dimensional experiences for the children.

“The concept replicates a planetarium experience and provides children a platform to explore science beyond books,” according to the academy.

The planetarium works like a simulated space ship and has persons to guide the students throughout the show.

It covers topics such as stars, constellations, life and death of stars, and rocket science.

Founder of the academy Deepa Mohanraj says they plan to have the mobile planetarium at the school every year.