My experience with showing kids the sky is that they are really happy seeing at least 3 objects.
After that it starts to become a bit 'ordinary' to them.
I actually have more success and more fun (for me and them) with kids in the day time in their classroom!
Most of them get fascinated just looking at the gear.
You don't need to wait until its pitch black. By the time you have wow'ed them by showing them your great gear and a short talk (and pointing out) about what is up there it starts getting dark enough to show a bright object (Jewelbox, or 47tuc etc).
By the time they have ALL looked, its will be even darker. Go to another object.
Again, by the time they have ALL had a look, it should be pretty dark. Then go for the fainter of your selected targets.
It may be hard with other kids that you don't know, but you need to make it fun. Don't befuddle them with statistics like, "that is a main sequence star and is 36,000 light years away at an apparent magnitude of 0.46".
Put it in simple terms, but only if they ask. If they don't ask, don't tell them. Simple.
*Important - Don't try answer all 37 questions at the same time each minute.
Get the teacher to control all their questions and let him ask the main ones for them. But tell your answer to them, not him.
Have fun, and make it fun, coz it
is fun
