Stellar Literacy: A Planetarium-Based Intervention for Enhancing Elementary Students' Literacy Skills through Targeted Needs Assessment and Engaging Programming

Presentation theme: educational advancements in planetariums

This research focuses on improving literacy skills in elementary students, grades 3-4, through a targeted needs assessment and the implementation of planetarium programming as a multifaceted tool for comprehension, application, and motivation. The study aims to identify specific pre-literacy skill gaps within the elementary-aged population, emphasizing areas such as phonemic awareness, vocabulary development, comprehension, and early reading behaviors. 

Following the needs assessment, a carefully designed planetarium-based intervention will be implemented to address identified skill deficiencies. The planetarium serves as a unique tool for comprehension by providing immersive visual and auditory stimuli, reinforcing language acquisition and contextual understanding. Moreover, interactive elements within the planetarium sessions will be strategically incorporated to encourage the application of literacy skills in a dynamic learning environment. 

Motivation will be fostered through engaging and captivating content, designed to stimulate interest in literacy-related activities. The study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative assessments of pre-literacy skills with qualitative analyses of students' engagement and motivation during and after exposure to planetarium interventions. 

This research aims to contribute valuable insights into the potential of planetarium programming as an effective and motivating tool for improving literacy skills in elementary students, offering a comprehensive approach to literacy development in the early stages of education.