Astrophysics Teacher Resources
Find Astrophysics lesson plans and worksheets
Showing 108 resources
Lesson Planet Curated
Crash Course: Physics
Dr. Shini Somara narrates a 46-video Crash Course Physics course based on the 2016 AP Physics I and II curriculum. Topics covered include linear, circular, rotational, simple harmonic, 2D motion, derivatives, integrals, vectors, Newton’s...
American Institute of Physics
African Americans in Astronomy and Astrophysics
A two-part lesson focuses on the contributions to the fields of astronomy and astrophysics of two African Americans: Benjamin Banneker and Dr. George Carruthers. In part one, scholars learn about Benjamin Banneker by examining his...
Crash Course
Astrophysics and Cosmology: Crash Course Physics #46
Physics can help explain mysteries of the universe. Spark your classes' interest with the final lesson in the Crash Course physics series. The instructor explains the basics of astrophysics and cosmology with topics such as Hubble's Law...
Curated OER
Space Math Differentiation-"Ch..Ch..Ch..Changes"
In this differentiation in space math instructional activity, students use 6 different equations to solve 6 problems that involve differentiation related to astrophysics.
MinutePhysics
Minute Physics: What Is Dark Matter?
It's hard to explain stuff you can't see! But, this animated stick-figure drawing describes dark matter and how we know it exists. It likens the galaxy to a merry-go-round, holding the stars on their circular path. The one-minute...
Physics Classroom
Kelper's Three Laws
A flipped classroom lesson introduces astrophysics fanatics to Kepler's three laws of planetary motion. After reading about the laws of ellipses, equal areas, and harmonies, and also learning how Newton's gravitation concepts come into...
Curated OER
Birth of the Solar System
Where did our sun come from? This clip shows the explosive birth of our sun, solar system, and universe. This is only an introduction to a longer video so it is short and shallow in explanation; however, it does provide a basic...
Curated OER
Upgrading Hubble
Students investigate the Hubble telescope's role in astrophysics research. They complete a Webquest, watch a video, view Hubble photographs, play online games, answer discussion questions, and evaluate newspaper articles about optics.
Curated OER
Astrophysics Science Project Integrating Research and Education
Students determine if the particles are coming from above, below, or from one side or the other by using a circular array of scintillators
Curated OER
The Guest Investigator Puzzle
Students conduct a brief astrophysics lab matching the EUVE spectra of various kinds of "mystery" stars with the spectra of known stars taken at Extreme Ultraviolet and optical wavelengths to determine their type.
Curated OER
How Big Is That Star?
Aspiring astronomers study stars. They compare stars and explain the relationship between radius, mass, and diameter. By creating a star simulation, they discover how a binary star system's orbit can cause changes in the observed...
Curated OER
Supernova Chemistry
Using spectroscopes, high school astronomy, physics, or chemistry learners observe emission spectra from several different sources. This stellar NASA-produced lesson plan provides terrific teacher's notes and a student handout. Make sure...
Be Smart
The Cosmic Origins of Earth's Water
Was Earth born as a Blue Planet? Discover where water came from with a video from an intriguing science playlist. The resource covers the three most likely origins of water, how scientists differentiate between comet and asteroid water,...
Curated OER
Get the Picture!
Astronomers practice downloading data from a high-energy satellite and translate the data into colored or shaded pixels. As a hands-on activity, they use pennies to simulate high-energy satellite data and they convert their penny...
Curated OER
Time That Period
Physical science starters play with a pendulum in order to experience periodicity. Detailed procedures and a worksheet are included for day one. For day two, learners will use a graphing calculator to help them plot orbit data from a...
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
Planetary Distances on the Playground
There's no need to stay inside; get out of the classroom and create a scaled map of the solar system on your playground field! In collaborative groups, scholars identify the distance between the sun and other planets, place planet...
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics
A Classroom Solar System
Create a scaled model of our solar system in your classroom! Scholars work collaboratively to build paper mache planets and hang them in their proper position to showcase each planet's location in the solar system.
University of Colorado
Planetary Distances on the Playground
Earth is 149,600,000 km, or 92,957,130.4 miles, from the sun. Young astronauts create an interactive model to learn the distances between planets. Nine groups, each representing a different planet, are spread around at class-calculated...
University of Colorado
The Jovian Basketball Hoop
A radio receives radio signals, converts them to an electrical signal, then converts this signal to a sound signal, and amplifies the sound so people can hear it. Class members use this information to create a short-wave radio antenna...
University of Colorado
The Jovian Basketball Hoop
Can you listen to Jupiter on a simple radio? Turns out the answer is yes! The resource instructs scholars to build a simple radio to pick up the radio waves created when the charged particles from the sun hit Jupiter's magnetic...
Curated OER
Canada's Role in Astronomy and Space Science
Ninth graders, in groups, research a Canadian astronaut, developing a profile of their astronaut for presentation in a learning center. They visit the other groups' centers to explore more astronauts.
University of Colorado
Rings and Things
Galileo first observed Saturn's rings in 1610. Through the use of a flashlight and baby powder, classes see how they can observe the rings of the outer planets from far away. Another demonstration shows how these rings, made of ice and...
NASA
Supernova Chemistry
By measuring the wavelength, frequency, and intensity of electromagnetic radiation, scientists determine the temperature, density, and composition of far away items. Scholars rotate through ten lab stations using a spectroscope at each...
Domain of Science
The Map of Physics
Aristotle said, "The more you know, the more you know you don't know." Physics includes everything from the laws of motion to quantum gravity. An interesting video attempts to cover the main concepts of every branch of physics in only a...
