The sky above

Elk Grove Village's Salt Creek Elementary School recently toured outer space inside a traveling blow-up planetarium.

Through Mobile Ed Productions of Redford, Mich., kids took a 45-minute journey through the universe inside a portable, inflatable planetarium that was set up in the school's gym.

"It looked like you were driving around in space," said Steve Austin, 10, of Elk Grove Village.

The planetarium was used not just for entertainment for the kids, but also as a teaching tool, said Margo Pinns, a Salt Creek teacher.

Instead of listening to a teacher's lecture, the traveling planetarium captures kids' imaginations, so they are more attentive. It also brings a planetarium to them.

"Not every kid is able to visit a planetarium," Pinns said.

Students entered a 30-foot by 15-foot dome and were introduced to a sky full of stars.

The captain, Denise Navetta, with the use of a laser pointer, guided students through the stars and planets of the solar system.

Navetta talked about what it was like on other plants.

"On Venus, the atmosphere is made up of sulfuric acid, so if it rained on you, you'd melt," Navetta said.

She also took the kids on a tour of the stars.

"She showed us all the constellations and told us the stories of all the planets," said Tommy Dowd, 10, of Elk Grove Village.

Kids also went to the more dangerous parts of space where black holes reside.

"The black hole felt like you were being sucked in," said Jackie Peters, 10, of Elk Grove Village. "I liked the black hole effect the best."