Curated OER
The Heliopause...a question of balance!
In this heliopause learning exercise, students read about the balance between the solar wind pressure and the interstellar medium pressure and the relationship between these two pressures. They are given an inquiry problem and enter the...
Curated OER
Auroras
In this auroras worksheet, students read 2 descriptions written about a massive solar storm that occurred in 1859. Students read each description and compare the specific points in each. They create a time line of the events that...
NASA
Benford's Law
In this Benford's Law learning exercise, high schoolers read about the first digit frequency of numbers. Students solve 3 problems about sunspot numbers, solar wind magnetism and the depth of the latest earthquakes by using on line sites...
NASA
The Drake Equation
In this Drake Equation worksheet, learners read about how scientists can estimate the number of intelligent civilizations that may exist in our galaxy. Students answer 7 questions about the Drake Equation and they use the internet to...
Curated OER
Spitzer Sees a New Ring Around Saturn
In this Saturn's rings worksheet, students read about the Spitzer telescope that detected a new ring around Saturn. Students solve 6 problems including determining the formula for the area of a circle, finding the volume of the new ring...
Curated OER
Astronomical Song Lyrics
For this astronomy and song lyrics worksheet, students are given 10 lyric fragments from different artists. Students select 3 of the fragments and write short essays about each to explain their thoughts from a human and astronomical...
Curated OER
A Mathematical Model of the Sun
In this mathematical model of the sun worksheet, students read about the way scientists use the sun's radius and mass to determine a mathematical model of the sun using the volume of a sphere, and the relationship between density, volume...
Curated OER
Pulsars and Simple Equations
In this pulsars activity, students read about the spin rate of pulsars and they are given two equations that predict the spin rate in the future of these two pulsars. Students solve 6 problems related to the given equations and determine...
Curated OER
The Moon's Density-What's Inside?
In this moon's density worksheet, learners solve 4 problems about the Moon and a model planet. They find the Moon's density and they find its volume. They make a model of a planet's interior and use its mass and radius to find the...
Curated OER
Compound Interest
In this compound interest worksheet, students solve 3 problems after reading about compound interest. They determine the cost of the Apollo missions, they calculate inflation and the cost it would be to send man to the moon today and...
Curated OER
How Many Quasars Are There?
In this quasars worksheet, students read about how astronomers can detect quasars by their luminosity. Students use a given equation to solve 4 problems including finding quasar magnitude, determining the number of quasars with given...
NASA
The Effects of Sunspots on Climate
In this sunspots and climate change learning exercise, learners use a diagram of a tree stump and its rings to determine the age of the tree. They use sunspot data from the internet and they construct an Excel spreadsheet to compare the...
Curated OER
Solar Flare Reconstruction
In this solar flare reconstruction worksheet, students read about the 'saturation' point of satellite detectors when solar flares are at their most intense phase of brightness. Students are given x-ray flare data and they re-plot the...
Curated OER
The Webb Space Telescope: Detecting Dwarf Planets
In this detecting dwarf planets instructional activity, students read about the Webb Space Telescope that will be launched in 2014 to detect dwarf planets using an infrared telescope. Students solve 3 problems and create a graph for each...
Curated OER
From Asteroids to Planets
In this asteroids and planets worksheet, students read about the formation of planets from asteroids. Students solve 6 mathematical problems including finding the rate of growth of a planet, determining the mass of a planet at a given...
Curated OER
The Milky Way: A Mere Cloud in the Cosmos
In this galaxy worksheet, students calculate the volume of the Milky Way Galaxy, they determine the total mass, the density and the volume of the Milky Way Galaxy. They also solve 2 problems about the volume and size of the universe in...
Curated OER
Is There Liquid Water on Mars?
Students assess whether there is liquid water on Mars by analyzing images and data. In this planetary instructional activity students analyze temperature and pressure graphs and hypothesize about how water could have flowed on Mars.
Curated OER
Edible Rocks
Young scholars create meteorite models using candy bars. In this earth science lesson, students describe the physical features of a meteorite. They sketch it and write a short description about it.
NASA
Tools to Study Tornadoes and Galaxies
Take your class on an intergalactic journey as they explore the galaxy and various meteorological events taking place in our atmosphere each day. Learners investigate electromagnetic waves and the Doppler Effect before gathering radar...
NASA
Geographical Influences
"If global warming is real, why is it so cold?" Distinguishing the difference between weather and climate is important when it comes to understanding our planet. In these activities, young scientists look at the climate patterns in a...
NASA
Packing for a L-o-o-o-ng Trip to Mars
Pack just enough to fit. Crews determine what personal items to take with them on a trip to Mars. Each team must decide what to take with them on a two-and-a-half year trip to Mars and whether their items will fit within the allotted...
NASA
Project X-51
In a nose-cone to nose-cone competition, which rocket will prevail? Teams form rocket companies to design and build a rocket while competing against other teams in an economic challenge. The team that comes up with the best benefit/cost...
Chicago Botanic Garden
Recent Weather Patterns
Decide whether weather is changing! A two-part activity first challenges classes to review the differences between weather and climate. Once finished, individuals then analyze historical data to determine if climate change is happening...
Curated OER
Teaching Atomic Structure Using Cooperative Learning
Individuals in a group of four each take on a different role: atomic number expert, mass number expert, isotope expert, and nuclear atom expert. They teach each other about their area of expertise. As an assessment, a short quiz is...