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Paper Plate Education
"Serving the Universe on a Paper Plate"

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Description Image *Link
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Addition & Multiplication Tableware Design a plate for practicing addition and multiplication tables. Add-Multi Tableware five.jpg (250287 bytes) Pix
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African Masks Highlight the role of masks for celebrations.  mask3.jpg (13836 bytes) Pix
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Alien Platecraft Decorate and fly a saucer-like Platecraft.  Platecraft_zinger.jpg (28240 bytes) Ref.
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Analemma Plot the figure-8 of an analemma on a globe through one year.  This year-long project is a variation of the Sub-Solar Cup activity.  analemma_solstice_globe.jpg (40509 bytes) Ref.
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All-Sky Projectors for Portable Planetariums Project all-sky images onto the inside of a Starlab dome for pennies apiece using clear plastic cups. All_Sky_stonehenge_zoom.jpg (8955 bytes) Ref.
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Altitude Co-Altitude Illustrate altitude and its complement co-altitude (or zenith distance) of a sighted star or the sun in celestial navigation. C-Nav_Altitude_done_zoom.jpg (14672 bytes) Pix
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Altitude Measurer Make an astrolabe-like instrument to measure the altitude of celestial objects.  Alt_Measurer_foam_profile.jpg (11881 bytes) Ref.
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Altitude of the Noon Sun Observe, collect data, and discover the pathway of the sun. Ref.
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Altitude of the Noon Sun II Demonstrate the relationships between the date, the altitude of the Sun at transit, the observer’s latitude, and the altitude of Polaris. Ref.
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Altitude of the Noon Sun III Construct an Altitude/Latitude Finder (ALF) to understand, explain, and demonstrate how the sky changes when one changes latitude. Ref.
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As the World Turns  For young participants, make a rotating window that segues from day to night drawings.  As World Turns- night zoom.jpg (336409 bytes) Ref.
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Bad Moons Rising Children's books often depict the moon inaccurately.  See if you can determine the errors in these children's books. Ref.
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Capo Dial Construct dial to determine on which fret to place a capo to transpose musical notes. Capo dial.jpg (277058 bytes) Pix
Clock Face Learn time by making a moveable clock face.   Pix
Communicating With ISS Demonstrate the basic principle behind communication systems between the International Space Station and ground control.  Communicating_with_ISS_Italy.JPG (19469 bytes) Pix
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Constellation Projector Make an overhead projector for portable planetariums to project constellation outlines onto the dome. Drinking Gourd, clear plate 2.jpg (465071 bytes) Pix
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Core of the Matter Illustrate sun, moon, or planet interiors by coloring and intersecting three plates.  Core_Matter_pixR.jpg (15920 bytes) Ref.
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Cosmic Hats Decorate and wear  Cosmic Hats.  Cosmic_hat_pixR.jpg (17809 bytes) Ref.
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Cosmic Hat II A reprise for the Cosmic Hats activity, decorate and wear a plate with a ribbon.  Succinct and handwritten.  cosmichat005.jpg (1475670 bytes) Pix
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Deep Field View Create a telescopic view of a starfield using a tempera paint that reacts with a foam plate and compare a with Hubble Space Telescope image.  Deep_Field_pixR.jpg (19989 bytes) Ref.
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Defining the Zodiac Make a model to demonstrate how the zodiac is defined by the stars seen in the plane of the sun. Norcia_plate_zoomR.jpg (20698 bytes) Ref.
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Directions-Earth & Sky Correlate cardinal directions both from the Earth-bound perspective and when looking upward. Compass_directionsR.jpg (11173 bytes) Ref.
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Directions- Terrestrial and Celestial Correlate cardinal directions both from the Earth-bound perspective and when looking upward. Compass_directionsR.jpg (11173 bytes) Ref.
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Directions at Sea Demonstrate the  system of directions relative to the vessel used by sailors. Ship bearings zoom.jpg (325837 bytes) Pix
Drinking Gourd Use a Platisphere to depict the seasonal variations of the Big Dipper's aspect as seen by slaves traveling north on the Underground Railroad. Ref.
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Drinking Gourd II Show the changing position of the drinking gourd relative to Polaris through the seasons. Drinking gourd simple 1.jpg (24247 bytes) Pix
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Drum Heads Design your own drum head to accompany personal history, local lore, or universal storytelling. Pix
Dynamic Solar System  Create a solar system model, with students pacing off distances to scale.    (Also in Belorussian translation.) Jupiter_pixR.jpg (10746 bytes) Ref.
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Feynman Diagrams Illustrate the outcome of a particle colliding with an anti-particle.  Feynmann_decay.jpg (12069 bytes) Pix
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Flash Plates Improve math skills with round flash cards, a format better suited for young learners as suggested by intriguing research.  Pix
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Full Circle Consider the wholeness of the circle and design exquisite artwork from simple paper plates.  Currently available only as a Microsoft Word document.  (Images courtesy of Bradford Hansen-Smith.) Ref.
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Galaxy Models Make models of galaxies. Ref.
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Gemini’s Signature  Model and predict the "signature photos" of the Gemini Observatories, both in Hawaii and in Chile. Gemini_zoom.jpg (19642 bytes) Ref.
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Geocentric vs. Heliocentric Make a moveable model that compares features of two systems. Ptolemaic trays.jpg (325918 bytes) Pix
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Globe at Night Determine your limiting magnitude on a plate and compare with the magnitude charts from the Globe at Night observing campaign.   globe09245.JPG (17662 bytes) Pix
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Globular Clusters  Plot globular clusters or brightest stars and analyze the patterns to determine their galactic locations.  Ref.
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GLPA Logo Given either a date or an hour, determine what time or season is suggested by the star pattern of the GLPA logo. Ref.
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Gno Problem Mon Track the path of a shadow cast by a gnomon through the day.  Ref.
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Good(night) Moons Rising The classic children's book is illustrated with a keen eye toward astronomical integrity. Ref.
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Hemisphere Maps Place two plates side by side—akin to old charts—and make map of world as individual perceives it. Hemispheres- completed.jpg (235199 bytes) Pix
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How Far The Planets?  Measure the varying distances of the planets in orbit to reveal their proximity to earth. How_Far_planet_orbits.jpg (14748 bytes) Ref.
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Impact Game Play an asteroid impact game by flipping a rock on a string into planets orbiting the sun. Text
Latitude by Polaris Demonstrate how a navigator correlates the observed altitude of Polaris with her latitude.  Ref.
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Light Pollution Demonstrate of simple shielding over an exposed bulb significantly diminishes light pollution while increasing the efficiency of the lighting fixture. mag-plate04388.jpg (20361 bytes) Pix
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Lunar Eclipse Make a model to show how two shadows--the umbra and the  penumbra--can fall on the moon during a lunar eclipse. eclipse umbral penumbral.jpg (11068 bytes) Pix
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Lunar Surface Make a clay model depicting features of the moon's surface. Lunar rover on clay.jpg (450248 bytes) Pix
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Meteor Shower Plot the paths of meteors on a starfield plate to illustrate the radiant of a meteor shower. Meteor_chart_Perseus_labeled_zoom_1.jpg (15589 bytes)  Pix
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Milky Way Galaxy Ref.
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Mirror Diameter  Demonstrate the correlation between mirror diameter and its light gathering ability. Text
Mission Patch Design a circular NASA mission patch. Text
Moon Finder Make a model  to explain moon phases and create a moon dial akin to old volvelles to determine when and in which direction one can see any given phase.  Moon_Finder_2R.jpg (12281 bytes) Ref.
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Moon Masks Decorate and wear  Moon Masks, Sun Masks and Cosmic Hats. 

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Moon Meets the Football Field  Illustrate the concave tendency of the moon's orbit around the sun using a football field for scale.  Ref.
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Moonthly Eclipse Demonstrate why eclipses do not occur every month both at new moon and at full moon. Moon_eclipse_with_beads.jpg (11734 bytes) Pix
Music Shaker  Tape two plates together with beans between them to make a musical shaker. Sarah_design.jpg (14763 bytes) Pix
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Orbit Basics Draw a simple model of the solar system with planets in orbit around the central sun. Orbit Basics- Eric design.jpg (367044 bytes) Pix
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Orbit Basics II Demonstrate elliptical orbits. Ref.
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Orbit Basics III Demonstrate the planets in orbit around the sun by using multiple stacked plates that adjust to the current sky. Pix
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Orbit by Elongation Derive orbits of Mercury and Venus from elongation tables, with Earth’s orbit on perimeter of plate.   Elongation_pix.jpg (11946 bytes) Ref.
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Oreo® Moon Phases Halve and scrape Oreo® cookies to illustrate moon phases. Oreo-complete plate.jpg (321987 bytes) Pix
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P6 Construct hand-held projectors to indicate the current planet and moon positions inside a portable planetarium for any given time.  p6_planets_angle2.jpg (13182 bytes) Ref.
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Paper Moons I Cut out portion of plates to depict moon phases. Paper_Moons_pixR.jpg (10227 bytes) Ref.
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Paper Moons II Cut out portion of plates to depict moon phases.  Ref.
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Paper Moons III Cut out portion of plates to depict moon phases.  Ref.
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Photographic Plate Model and predict photographic star trails of the circumpolar stars for a given exposure time.  Star_trails_plate_South.jpg (48076 bytes) Ref
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Physical Fitness Develop physical fitness skills in the gym with colored plates.  Text
Planet Pointer  Make a model of the solar system showing the position of the planets and where to find them in the sky.  Ref.
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Planet Pointer II  Make a planet pointer akin to old volvelles to indicate the position of the planets in the sky for any given time.  Ref.
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Planetarium Planet Plotting Track the motion of visible planets and correlate the plate view with both the planetarium sky and the real night sky.  Ref.
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Plate-a-tarium Build the ultimate plate model that depicts features of celestial sphere, indicates real time position of planets and zodiac, and illustrates rising and setting position of sun for any date. Ultimo_plate_2.jpg (22802 bytes) Pix
Plateful of Planets  Demonstrate the scale of the planets with nuts and seeds relative to a plate-sized sun.  Ref.
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Plate Teachtonics Teach plate tectonics by cutting paper plates into tectonic plates. Pix
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Platisphere  Make an instrument akin to a planisphere that shows the position of the circumpolar stars for any given date and time.  Platisphere-Simple.jpg (263347 bytes) Ref.
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Platisphere for Children Construct a device to locate the Big and Little  Dippers and Cassiopeia after sunset through the seasons. Platisphere-Kids_Winter.jpg (17128 bytes) Ref.
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Platisphere Tactile Make a tactile model of circumpolar stars for visually impaired persons by drilling holes for stars on a stack of plates.  Platis_13.jpg (13182 bytes) Ref.
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Portable Sundial  Create a simple, portable sundial.  Ref.
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Portable Sundial II Create a functional, portable sundial.  Pix
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Portable Sundial III Design a portable sundial. Sundial concentrics design.jpg (287831 bytes)
Portable Sundial IV Design a portable dial using interlocking plates for a gnomon. Sundial IV dual plates conjoined.jpg (352941 bytes) Ref
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Ptolemaic Polemic Make Ptolemaic model with equants, epicycles, and deferents to explain retrograde motion.  Ref.
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Rainbow Finder Construct a rainbow finder to locate a potential rainbow and to predict its apparent size.  Rainbow_Finder_pix.jpg (13719 bytes) Ref.
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Rainbow Finder II Fold a plate in half to find a rainbow. pvu_bowfinders.jpg (45374 bytes) Pix
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Rainbow Turntable Make a freestanding rainbow using a phonographic record player. Rainbow_turntable-_standing.jpg (21370 bytes) Pix
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Reflector Flex Demonstrate how modern reflector telescopes use rapid actuators to compensate for gravity-induced distortions of the primary mirror. Reflector_flex.jpg (37298 bytes) Pix
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Retrograde Motion Show how planets appear to loop westward against background stars. Ref.
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Revolving Star Chart Make a simple plate to depict the circumpolar stars.  Ref.
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Ricehenge Model the Stonehenge site out of rice cereal treats--then eat it.  Ref.
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Roman Shields Recreate the scutum, a military device used by the Roman Army. roman04925.JPG (1917345 bytes) Pix
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Salad Spinner Zoetrope Make a zoetrope from a salad spinner to illustrate moon phases and persistence of vision.  Zoetrope_E_viewing_2.jpg (24032 bytes) Ref.
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Satellite Tracking Bowl Draw a local horizon and plot the paths and times of satellite passes inside a bowl  prior to an observing session.  Satellite_bowl_upR.jpg (12587 bytes) Ref.
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Saturn's Rings Make a model of Saturn  to suggest why its  rings "disappear" periodically. Ref
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Seasons Make a model to explain the cause of the seasons. Ref.
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Sine Waves Construct a sine curve from two plate halves. Sine_Wave_1_pixR.jpg (13683 bytes) Pix
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Slide tray index Make a useful index for slide trays that doubles as a dust shield.  Slide_tray.jpg (16514 bytes) Ref.
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Solar System Mobile Create planet mobile with appropriate features. Dynamic uranus.jpg (372283 bytes) Ref.
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Stargazing Plates Build collection of observing notes, diagrams, images, or other information and suspend from telescope during observing sessions. Stargazing Three Plates.jpg (322741 bytes) Ref.
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Star Life Models Model the timeline of a star's existence. Ref.
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Stellar Bar Code Show similarities between a bar code and spectroscopic lines. Economy_Plates.gif (78387 bytes) Pix
Sub-Solar Cup  Track the sub-solar path of the sun across a globe in real time to highlight the boundaries of the tropics and to illustrate an analemma.  Sub-solar_cup_pixR.jpg (13453 bytes) Ref.
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Sunrise Sunset Track the position of the sun at sunrise and sunset through the seasons.  Track the moon and some stars as well. Sunrise_sunset_overhead.jpg (23513 bytes) Ref.
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Telescope View Draw celestial objects as seen through a telescope, with the plate simulating the field of view. Telescope_view_SB_cateye.jpg (20157 bytes) Text
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Transit Frequency Illustrate why a transit of Venus has such an irregular period, with transits occurring in pairs--eight years apart--separated by over a century.   Text
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Transit of Venus Plot the path of Venus as the planet's disk moves across the surface of the sun on June 8, 2004.  Text
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Tracking Sunspots Project,  trace, and track sunspots directly on a plate which defines the outline of the sun. Sun_trace_Clyde_zoomR.jpg (51217 bytes) Ref.
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Turtle Hatch Record on a paper plate the fate of sea turtles hatching in the presence of light pollution.  This is a dynamic activity that works best with a large group (say, 50-100) of students. Turtle hatch plotted
Vanishing Spacecraft Demonstrate visual blind spots that sometimes causes satellites to disappear from view.  Ref.
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Voyager's Golden Record Design a personal cover plate for the Voyager spacecraft’s mounted record and prioritize  your own list of items for inclusion in the record. Pix
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Wayfinding Polynesian navigators recognized patterns in nature to perfect their skills and protect their craft.  We solicit educational material inspired by the practice of wayfinding. Pix
Wind Rose Design a wind rose on a paper plate. Pix

*Note: As we build this site we will be uploading much information that has already been published.  The far right column indicates what you will find if you click the links that are highlighted under the Title column.  "Ref" indicates that the material was previously published in the respective Proceedings of the Annual Great Lakes Planetarium Association Conference and the reference is cited.  As a membership benefit, GLPA members may order back issues from GLPA while supplies last.  "Pix" indicates that a picture or image(s) can be found at the Title's linked page.  "Text" indicates that you can find text or a write-up on the activity at the linked page,  though some instructions are admittedly sparse for now. "Video" indicates the activity is included in the Paper Plate Astronomy videotape.

Several more activities (below) have yet to be completed and uploaded to this website.  We invite you to complete the development of some of these proposed activities yourself and then offer your handiwork to the Paper Plate Education effort.  Thank you for your support.

Title

Description
Altitude Measurer II Incomplete
Apparent Magnitude Incomplete
Atoms Build atoms from plates representing protons, electrons, and neutrons.
Binary Stars Create a model of an eclipsing binary star system or of any two objects in orbit around a common point.
Blood Platelets
Calabash Cup Make a model of the alleged Polynesian calabash, a water-bearing gourd perhaps used to confirm latitude.
Celestial Atlas Recreate historical celestial atlas features.
Circle of Fifths Demonstrate the principle behind music's Circle of Fifths.
Color Wheel Color multiple plates with varied combinations and rotate them rapidly on a paint brush spinner.
Compass Rose Design a compass rose showing the cardinal and inter-cardinal directions and label the traditional points in what is known as "boxing a compass."
Congruence Correlate declination/right ascension with latitude/longitude using intersecting plates.  
Connect-the-Dot Constellations Connect dots (on pre-drilled stack) to make own constellations, with no particular side being “up.”  Write story on back. 
Dig This! Simulate an archeological dig with a stack of plates and recreate a timeline as you peel away plates that each represent a given number of years.  To scale intersperse pictures of "artifacts."
Dip Illustrate dip and the need to correct for it during C-Nav sight reduction.
Double Helix Make DNA "ladder" by spiraling and intertwining two plates.
Drum Heads Design patterns for drum heads akin to Mongol, Tartar, and Pacific Northwest cultures.  Awaiting copyright permission
Eclipse Plate With Earth’s shadow cast onto plate, view back side of plate from multiple holes (at different paper plate latitudes) to observe partial eclipse, total eclipse, and near- eclipse. 
Egyptian Calendar Recreate an Egyptian calendar or build your own stylistic version
Expanding Universe Mimic the expanding universe by making galaxy models that accelerate away from each other.
GHA, SHA, LHA Correlate Greenwich hour angle, sidereal hour angle, and local hour angle.
Gravity and the Planets Demonstrate the varying pull of gravity between the planets as they orbit; John Beach activity. Incomplete

H/R Wall

Construct a large H-R diagram on a wall with colored plates of varying sizes. 
Inverse Square Rule Demonstrate inverse square relationships. Incomplete
Land & C-Nav Demonstrate the relationships between the date, the altitude of the primary navigation stars at transit, the observer’s latitude, and the altitude of Polaris.
Latitude Formula Illustrate why latitude equals the great circle distance from an observer's zenith to the celestial equator (Latitude =90-Ho +/- same/contrary declination).
Nickel Plated Create your own design for a new state coin.  Select features that are inherent to your interests.
Nocturnal Make and use a nocturnal, an antique instrument that determined time from the position of the northern Guardian Stars.
North at Noon Find true north with two timed observations before and after noon.
North and Scout Use a scouting technique to determine cardinal (N, S, E, & W) directions.
Orbital Shells Demonstrate the principle of orbital shells with stacked plates and cake trays of successive sizes.
Polynesian Practices Demonstrate techniques used by Polynesian wayfinders to determine their position, such as sighting on zenithal stars and interpreting wave patterns. Awaiting copyright permission
Polynesian Star Pairs Demonstrate how Polynesian wayfinders use star pairs to determine latitude and directions. Awaiting copyright permission
Potato Moon Model lunar features with potato salad and measure mountain heights from contrived shadow lengths.  
Rainbow Wall Build a rainbow model from suspended clear and  colored plates representing water drops.
Radar Plating Simulate radar plotting and tracking  multiple targets.  Determine other vessels’ courses, speeds, and closest points of approach.
Syene Well Reproduce Eratosthenes’ determination of the circumference of the earth with a Syene well simulation.  See video for sample.
Tree Rings Simulate the cross- sectional cut of a tree to yield information on a tree's history.
Variable Star Field Compare a plate depicting a telescopic field of view containing variable stars with an AAVSO finder chart and estimate stellar magnitudes. Incomplete
Vernier Scale Construct a working model of a vernier scale.
Viking Directions Make a solar stone, or bearing dial, to simulate the direction-finding technique of Norsemen.      .
 

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Copyright ©2012 Chuck Bueter.  All rights reserved.