PBS
The Sun and Planets
Do other planets experience night, day, and the seasons like humans do here on Earth? Examine planetary motion using real images of the planets through a simulation from PBS's Space lesson series. After observing the motion of each...
PBS
Phases of a Total Solar Eclipse
Prepare to be amazed! An activity from PBS's Space series introduces interested astronomers to the wonders of a total solar eclipse. After viewing recorded reactions to the eclipse in 2017, individuals explore what happens during each...
PBS
The Moon's Shadow During the 2017 Eclipse
Talk about an amazing view! A fascinating resource from a larger series exploring space boasts not one, but four different views of the total solar eclipse of 2017. Pupils read a short passage that describes each of the views, then...
PBS
Eclipse Over America — Relative Sizes and Distances of the Sun and Moon
Here's a lesson that is sure to overshadow others! Introduce young astronomers to the unique size and distance relationship between the sun and moon with an activity from a larger series exploring space. A short video illustrates the...
PBS
Eclipse Over America — Predicting Eclipses
It's easy to find out in today's world when the next eclipse will be, but what about thousands of years ago? Junior astronomers discover how the Babylonians used lunar observations to accurately predict future eclipses through an...
PBS
Eclipses Explained
Are scholars in the dark about eclipses? Shed some light on the subject! Learners explore the sun-moon-Earth system with an interactive lesson from PBS's Space series. Teaching materials include a printable passage, discussion questions,...
PBS
To Scale: The Solar System
To scale, or not to scale ... that is the question! Show scholars the solar system in correct proportion with a lesson from PBS's Space series for middle school. Two versions of the model-building exercise illustrate the planning process...
PBS
Eclipse Over America | Coronal Mass Ejections from the Sun
The sun's corona, rarely seen from Earth, takes up massive amounts of space many times the size of our planet. Viewers discuss and view how scientists study the corona of the sun. They observe the impact of coronal mass ejections on...
PBS
Eclipse Over America | The Coronal Heating ProblemData Plots of Exoplanet Orbital Properties
The sun's corona is hundreds of times hotter than the surface, but how? Scholars discuss the data and debate possible explanations for solar flares. Then, they view a video offering the current scientific theory behind this phenomenon.
Crash Course
The New Astronomy: Crash Course History of Science #13
Sword duels, religious unrest, war—who says science is boring? Aspiring astronomers discover fascinating facts about the famous scientists that dared challenge the accepted model of the solar system in the 13th video of a 16-part History...
Crash Course
The Americas and Time Keeping: Crash Course History of Science #5
Time, time, time ... see how it shaped an entire culture! Science scholars discover the mysteries of the Mayan and Incan cultures during the fifth video in a History of Science series. The narrator shows how these time keepers developed...
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,...
PBS
Solar Power
One day's worth of sunlight can supply everyone on Earth with electricity for a year! Why, then, do we find ourselves in an energy crisis? Shine a light on solar energy with a short lesson and video. As part of a larger energy unit from...
PBS
A Never-Ending Supply
If renewable energy means a never-ending supply of power, why aren't we already using it? A brief video clip, part of a large Energy unit from NOVA, discusses the limitless energy humans obtain from solar, geothermal, and tidal sources....
PBS
Solar Space Telescopes
See the sun shine as you've never seen it before! Captivate your class with an activity from NOVA's Sun Lab unit. Viewers learn about the advanced satellite-mounted telescopes NASA uses to monitor the sun at every wavelength of light,...
PBS
The Electromagnetic Spectrum
What can the electromagnetic spectrum tell us about the sun? As it turns out, quite a bit! See the sun in a whole new light with a video from NOVA's Sun Lab unit. The narrator describes the electromagnetic spectrum in terms of visible...
PBS
The Threat to Earth
Is Earth prepared for a massive solar storm? Examine the possibilities with an interesting activity, part of NOVA's Sun Lab interactive unit. Viewers learn about historical solar storms, the tools we have for protecting ourselves and...
PBS
Earth's Magnetic Shield
Our atmosphere is pretty amazing! How does it minimize the effects of solar weather? Scholars discover Earth's first line of defense against the sun—the magnetosphere. The activity, one of several in a sun unit from NOVA, explains how...
PBS
Solar Wind and Storms
Does the very thing that is responsible for life on Earth also have a dark side? Space scientists differentiate between sunspots, solar flares, and CMEs in an enlightening activity. The lesson, one of several in a unit presented by NOVA,...
PBS
The Dynamic Sun
Sunspots, solar flares, coronal mass ejections ... why is the sun so stirred up? Scholars watch animations of the interaction between moving plasma and magnetic fields and discuss the sun's behavior. The activity, part of NOVA's sun...
PBS
The Sun's Energy
How does the sun produce so much energy without blowing up? Viewers discover the delicate balance of inward and outward forces within the sun through a short video. The lesson includes discussion questions and is part of a larger sun...
PBS
The Anatomy of the Sun
Welcome to Sun 101! What better way to gain an understanding of our star than to learn about its anatomy? Physical science scholars peer inside to discover the inner workings of the sun through a video and discussion questions. The...
SciShow
The Sun's Center Is 39,000 Years Younger Than Its Surface
Explore the theory of relativity in relation to spacetime! An intriguing lesson explains the concept of spacetime and how time does not change at the same rate for everyone. As a lesson in a larger solar system playlist, the video...
SciShow
The Biggest Stars in the Galaxy
Study the giants of our universe with a video lesson. A descriptive lesson from a solar system playlist compares hypergiant stars to other bodies in our galaxy. The lesson instructor explains the origin and the composition of these...