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Journey To The Solar System

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders engage in a lesson to find different facts and connect them to the concept of the solar system. They conduct research using the technology integration of the internet. Using the information the students create a classroom...
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Puzzling Planets

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students examine the concept of a solar system. In this research based lesson, students compare a star and a planet. They explain the requirements for life in a biosphere.
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Stellar Observations

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders study the uses of spectroscopy and the operation of the Hubble space telescope.  In this astronomy lesson students complete a lab activity that includes graphing star color and temperature.
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The Milky Way and Beyond

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students consider the scale of the Milky Way Galaxy. In this Milky Way lesson, students hypothesize the length of time necessary to cross the Milky Way.
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The Amazing and Beautiful Aurora

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students create an oil pastel painting. In this pastel painting lesson, students examine images of the aurora borealis. Students produce an original pastel painting of the aurora.
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The amazing and Beautiful Aurora

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Young scholars research the aurora. In this aurora lesson, students participate in a webquest about the aurora. Webquest worksheet is included.
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Stellar Discoveries That Are Out of This World

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Learners hear of the recent discovery of a group of planets orbiting the star Upsilon Andromedae. Each student create a page about an element of the universe,
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How Do We Explore Strange Environments?

For Teachers K - 4th
Students identify and label the different parts of a robot, rover, or a spacecraft. They discuss and record all of the features their robot will need to accomplish its mission and be able to explain why they chose these features to...
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Habitable Zones

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students focus on stellar luminosities to estimate size of habitable zones, map out habitable zone around hot light bulbs that serve as models of stars, investigate how size of model "habitable zone" around light bulbs depends on...
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My Hometown

For Teachers K - 4th
Students identify the basic requirements needed for survival and identify the resouces needed for survival that are found within their own community. They use craft materials to create a model of it and then. create a color key to...
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What are Stars?

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students research the solar system and it's characteristics.  In this solar system lesson, students are broken into 4 groups, each assigned a specific part of the solar system.  Students use the Internet to research their part...
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CHARTING A COURSE

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students model how a gyroscope works with string, an old phonograph record and crayon.
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BOUNCING INFORMATION AROUND

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students examine how satellite signals are sent and duplicate it with a mirror, flashlight and black paper.
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Sun and Moon Poetry Baskets

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students write Sun and Moon poetry. In this poetry lesson, students research the sun and the moon.  They write poetry and create two class baskets for descriptive words about each.
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The Vocabulary of Space

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students build their knowledge and understanding of vocabulary related to space.  In this space lesson, students discuss four categories of words and phrases related to space. 
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#24 Rotating Frames of Reference in Space and on Earth

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore rotating frames of reference, focusing on the weightless environment in space and the Coriolis force.
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Science - Lesson 42 - Astronomy

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders demonstrate the position of the Earth, Moon, and Sun in a solar and lunar eclipse. They list uses for manmade satellites and write a description of how a satellite would be use.
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(S-1) Sunlight and the Earth

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers discuss the solar heating of the Earth and atmosphere, its heat loss proceses, and the way these relate to weather and climate.
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Wavelength and Energy

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students using a rope and other materials explore wavelengths and frequency. If time permits, more experiments can be tried.
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Lenses and Mirrors

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students investigate lenses and mirrors showing how they bend and reflect light waves.
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A Moon with a View

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders explore the rotation of Earth and the moon. In this solar system instructional activity, 3rd graders participate in an Earth and moon simulation in which part of the class "becomes" the sun, while other children represent...
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Follow the Sun

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Learners use a simple model of the Earth and Sun as seen from space to explore the sun's apparent movement across the sky over the course of a day and year. They consider the apparent direction of movement and changes in the sun's angle.
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Sweet Candy Comets

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders use candy to make a comet. In this instructional activity, 4th graders examine the role comets have played throughout history, students watch NASA videos about comets and complete the instructional activity by making an...
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Your Galactic Address

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discover their place in the universe.  In this astronomy lesson, students identify their location on various maps that have increasingly larger scales.  In the end, the students write their address in terms of their...