NEW & NOW
Science Museum Oklahoma breaks ground on mind-blowing planetarium
Construction officially began on Science Museum Oklahoma’s new Love’s Planetarium in late 2022. The dream to provide a higher-tech, world-class planetarium at the museum has been in the works since before the pandemic; a recent $3.5 million donation from Love’s Travel Stops reinvigorated the campaign. The Love’s Planetarium will utilize cutting-edge technology available in only a handful of planetariums in the world and will feature both an optical and digital projector creating a realistic night sky of 9,500 bright stars, 56 nebulae and clusters of stars for binocular viewing. The new dome will present high- resolution images in striking detail and provide audiences with a night
sky free of light pollution – something many people never experience outside a planetarium. Audiences will have unobstructed views of the presentation from seats individually calibrated for optimum viewing. The Love’s Planetarium will also include space for featured presenters, early childhood programming, special events and more. The $8 million project, including supplemental astronomy exhibits, is slated for completion in fall 2024. The Kirkpatrick Planetarium will remain open until the new planetarium is completed.
DONORS AND SCIENCE MUSEUM OKLAHOMA REPRESENTATIVES CELEBRATE THE LOVE’S PLANETARIUM GROUNDBREAKING.
Smart Start offers free parenting classes
Local nonprofit organization Smart Start Central Oklahoma offers Early Birds classes for any Oklahoma caregiver with a child under the age of 5. The school readiness program provides caregivers with information and parenting resources, activity ideas and free educational toys and books to stimulate children’s development and learning at home. The 60 to 90 minute classes are led by trained professionals and cover topics like child development, everyday learning opportunities, activities that promote school readiness, parenting
is born. In addition to free toys and materials, participants also receive free access to the Early Birds eBook with additional resources, tips and support. Early Birds is a 16-class program beginning with a prenatal class. The classes are offered three times per year throughout the state, both virtually and in person. Caregivers can join the program at any time before a child turns 5. In addition to parents and caregivers, grandparents, relatives, foster families, childcare providers, teachers and others who spend time caring for children are welcome to attend. Learn more and register for a class near you by visiting smartstartcentraloklahoma.org/ early-birds.
FREE PARENTING CLASSES ARE AVAILABLE TO ANY OKLAHOMA CAREGIVER WITH A CHILD UNDER THE AGE OF 5.
techniques and health and safety. Caregivers learn purposeful play techniques to help develop school readiness skills from the moment their child
EARLY BIRDS CLASS PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE FREE TOYS AND BOOKS TO STIMULATE CHILDREN’S DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING AT HOME.
METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / MAR-APR 2023 11
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