Lesson Plan
Children's Museum

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis: Beyond Spaceship Earth

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
This unit of study explores the International Space Station through STEM experiences in space science education. Students become a spacecraft crew and launch from Earth to discover how microgravity affects the orbit of the International...
Website
NASA

Nasa Star Child: The Space Shuttle (Level 1)

For Students 3rd - 5th
This site provides a short description of the space shuttle and what it is used for, with diagrams and one quiz question.
Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: Will Future Spacecraft Fit in Our Pockets?

For Students 9th - 10th
When you picture a rocket, you might imagine a giant ship carrying lots of fuel, people and supplies. But what if the next wave of spacecraft were small enough to fit into our pockets? Dhonam Pemba details the future of microspacecraft,...
Handout
Wonderville Media

Wonderville: The Space Shuttle

For Students 2nd - 8th
Before the Space Shuttle was invented, NASA, which stands for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, used rockets to get people to space. The problem with rockets is that they can only be used one time. They wanted a better...
eBook
Unite for Literacy

Unite for Literacy: Earth and Sky: Would You Step Out Into Space?

For Students 1st - 2nd
Imagines what it is like to travel to space and what you can see through the window of a spacecraft. Book includes audio narration in 14 additional languages with text in English.
eBook
Unite for Literacy

Unite for Literacy: Earth and Sky: Soho Explores the Sun

For Students 2nd
Read about the work of the spacecraft SOHO and the things we have learned about the Sun from the pictures and information that it sends back to Earth. Book includes audio narration in 6 additional languages with text in English.
Handout
Other

Visual Satellite Observer: Mir Space Station's 15 Years in Space Ends

For Students 9th - 10th
Details of Mir's re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere after 15 years in space. Includes information on Mir's mission, configuration, and history.
Website
Other

The Space Race

For Students 9th - 10th
Although the space race was originally a competition between two Cold War foes,it ultimately resulted in many benefits for the people of the Earth. Find information on the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo, and Soviet space programs,...
Website
Kidport

Kidport: The Space Shuttle

For Students 3rd - 5th
Students can see actual photos of a space shuttle launching from earth as well as the people who now could go because of technology. Learn about some of the equipment and vehicles used to make it happen.
Activity
NASA

Nasa: Testing a New Spacecraft Material

For Students 3rd - 5th
This is a site from NASA that provides an activity where "You have invented a new material to use for the fuel tanks on the spacecraft. But before you send your new material into the harsh environment of space, you must test it on Earth...
Website
NASA

Nasa Space Science Data Archive: Photo Gallery: Galileo

For Students 9th - 10th
A well-indexed collection of NASA images taken by the Galileo spacecraft. Images include the spacecraft itself prior to launch and all of the solar system objects this incredible mission has visited.
Website
Other

Spacetech's Orrery: Earth Our Home Planet

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a very interesting overview of our home planet, Earth. Content includes a focus on the atmosphere, the pull of gravity, and the active surface.
Handout
NASA

Nasa Space Science Data Archive: Galileo Project Information

For Students 9th - 10th
This is the homepage of all of the archived information about and from the Galileo Mission. Included is data from the flybys of Venus, Earth, Moon, and Asteroids Gaspra and Ida, as well as the current data from Jupiter and its moons. See...
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Life in Space: The International Space Station

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students are introduced to the International Space Station (ISS) with information about its structure, operation and key experiments. The ISS itself is an experiment in international cooperation to explore the potential for humans to...
Graphic
NASA

Nasa: Radar Images

For Students 9th - 10th
See amazing radar images of Earth taken from the space shuttle orbiting high above the surface. Categories include archeology, geology, volcanoes, and more! Visit the NASA/JPL Imaging Radar Program link for more images and information.
Handout
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Satellites, Shuttles, and Space Stations Study Guide

For Students 6th - 8th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] This study guide provides a brief overview of satellites, shuttles, rockets, and space stations. Includes a few questions to check for understanding.
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Satellites, Shuttles, and Space Stations

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Astronauts and space study.
Website
Space.com

Space.com: Stardust Heads for Comet

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides an article on the Stardust space probe and how it snags burning particles from comets and returns them to earth. Mainly discusses the "Gravity boost," planet earth gave the probe as it began searching for a comet.
Article
Society for Science and the Public

Science News for Students: Planetary Paparazzo

For Students 9th - 10th
Discusses the information from the NASA spacecraft Messenger as it orbits Mercury and transmits photographs of the planet's surface to Earth.
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Not So Lost in Space

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students learn how engineers navigate satellites in orbit around the Earth and on their way to other planets in the solar system. In accompanying activities, they explore how ground-based tracking and onboard measurements are performed....
Interactive
NASA

Nasa Space Place: Amazing Facts

For Students 3rd - 8th
This site from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration asks the question, how can you hit a soccer goal on the Moon from Earth? Find an answer to this question as well as many more answered by Dr. Marc.
Primary
US National Archives

Our Documents: Transcript of John Glenn's Official Communication

For Students 9th - 10th
The official transcription of John Glenn's in-flight communication with Mission Control during his orbit around the earth in 1962.
Handout
NASA

Nasa Earth Observatory: Remote Sensing

For Students 9th - 10th
Discover the history of remote sensing from early cameras to the first space shuttles. Learn about the different remote sensing methods and accomplishments made by NASA.
Unit Plan
NASA

Nasa: The Space Place

For Students 3rd - 5th
This site from NASA's Space Place is geared towards early elementary learners. It offers detailed instructions for crafts and activities related to space, games and a teacher resource area. Students can also ask an expert at this site.