NOAA
Satellite Communications
How do satellites communicate? What types of satellites orbit Earth? Discover and mimic the way satellites communicate between two points in a hands-on activity that has pupils using mirrors, flashlights, and marbles.
Curated OER
Communication Delay
Construct a maze in your classroom and have a blindfolded scientist act as a space rover, maneuvering unfamiliar terrain while another scientist plays commander. Classmates record the number of occurrences of the commander having to...
Discovery Education
Satellite Telemetry
Satellites require rockets to launch, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand them. Future engineers learn about how satellites send data to Earth and how to interpret satellite images. They see how radio waves play a role...
Illustrative Mathematics
Satellite
Learners practice relating rules of trigonometry and properties of circles. With a few simplifying assumptions such as a perfectly round earth, young mathematicians calculate the lengths of various paths between satellite and stations....
Curated OER
Where Am I - Navigation and Satellites
Students explore geography by completing a navigation activity in class. In this satellite positioning instructional activity, students define terms such as orbit, satellite, GPS and triangulation. Students view diagrams of the Earth's...
Curated OER
What Makes Up An Artificial Satellite?
Students discover the components of a satellite using analogies to humans in a class discussion and participate in an activity in which they construct a paper model of a satellites and experiment with different types of attitude control...
Curated OER
Keep In Touch: Communications and Satellites
Fourth graders explore communications by reading assigned space science text. In this satellite lesson, 4th graders identify the concept of orbiting and examine gravitational pull by viewing diagrams. Students are assessed based on...
Curated OER
Communication Satellites
In this communication satellites worksheet, learners complete a table showing the satellite, the lifespan of the satellite, the number of transponders on the satellite and the cost of the satellite. Students determine the retire year,...
Space Awareness
A View From Above
Analyzing and interpreting satellite data takes knowledge and patience. Through a detailed lab investigation, young scholars learn the process of analyzing this data. They use technology to create color images and maps from real...
Curated OER
Sea Ice and Satellites
Students study satellites and satellite images using Google Earth. In this satellite lesson, students discuss satellites and how they work. Students watch a demonstration of how satellites work and learn what they are used for. Students...
Curated OER
Satellite Mobiles
Students discuss satellites and their functions. They design and construct their own satellite out of readily available materials. Students are taught the definition of a satellite. They discuss the two main purposes of satellites:...
Curated OER
Keep in Touch: Communications and Satellites
Learners investigate how satellites help people communicate with others far away and in remote areas. They discuss a scenario of someone travelling to an area with no mode of communication, observe a teacher demonstration, and create a...
Curated OER
Comparing the Satellite and Broadcast Radio Landscapes
Learners research the development of satellite technology over the last 50 years students explain how the enactment of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 changed the rules for corporate ownership of multiple media outlets.
Curated OER
Eyes in the Sky
Learners examine the use of satellites. In this research lesson, students discuss the history of satellites and how we use the information today. They will conduct interviews with older adults who have lived in the changing times from...
Curated OER
The Use Of Satellites
Students use the Internet to do research. They organize information and make a presentation on a satellite to the class. They discuss the capability of the leading edge of technology for a given time.
Space Awareness
Valleys Deep and Mountains High
Sometimes the best view is from the farthest distance. Satellite imaging makes it possible to create altitude maps from far above the earth. A three-part activity has your young scientists play the role of the satellite and then use...
Curated OER
Where Am I: Navigation and Satellites
Students explore the concept of triangulation that is used in navigation satellites and global positioning systems designed by engineers. They determine ways these technologies can help people determine their position or the location of...
Curated OER
Transportation and Communication Timeline
Students discuss the growth of transportation and communication technology since 1500 C.E. Individually or in groups, they research lists of developments in the two areas. Finally, students create timelines indicating the development...
Curated OER
Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer Satellite Dataflow Demonstration
Young scholars participate in a hands-on demonstration of the communication between the EUVE satellite and a scientist on Earth.
Curated OER
Satellite Simulation
Students explore communication ovr long distances using satellites. The lesson uses a light beam to represent a radio signal being relayed from one place to another via a "mirror satellite."
Curated OER
Creativity in Science
High schoolers view a video segment and discuss the technology and preparation that go into a satellite launch. They identify data that satellites can provide and consider how many people are involved in a satellite launch.
Curated OER
Exploring Space: Scramble
Middle-school space science explorers review remote sensing and electromagnetic radiation vocabulary terms by unscrambling them. Consider having space scholars write out the definitions for each after unscrambling. If they take time to...
Space Awareness
Where on Earth Am I?
Almost every phone has GPS installed, but a large number of teens don't know how the technology works. An initial activity illustrates how GPS determines a location on Earth. Scholars then apply trilateration procedures to a...
Curated OER
Computers and Satellites No Longer Function
They describe the development over time of the relationship between the national economy and the global economy since World War II. They trace the historical forces of continuity and change in the development of the contemporary global...