University of Colorado
Using Spectral Data to Explore Saturn and Titan
Saturn's rings are made of dust, ice, and solid chunks of material. Individuals use spectrographs in this final installment of 22 lessons to determine the atmospheric elements. They analyze spectrums from Titan's atmosphere and Saturn's...
University of Colorado
Astro-Chronology
Class members play a version of the game Chronology to determine when certain scientific events occurred in history. Teams play until someone has 5-10 events in the correct order.
Messenger Education
Sensing the Invisible: The Herschel Experiment
The electromagnetic spectrum includes everything from very powerful gamma rays (which are used to treat cancer) to much weaker radio waves (which include microwaves). Through a hands-on activity, scholars explore the temperature...
Cornell University
Predicting Chemical Reactions
Prove the Law of Conservation of Mass through a lab investigation. A well-designed lesson asks groups to combine materials and monitor indicators for chemical reactions. Measuring the mass of the reactants and products allows individuals...
DiscoverE
Rubber Band Rovers
Get your learners interested in space exploration. Groups design space rovers using design software and then build prototypes of their designs. The farther the rovers can travel, the better. The catch? The rovers must be powered by...
Curated OER
Aruba Cloud Cover Measured by Satellite
Students analyze cloud cover over Aruba. They compose and submit written conclusions which include data, analysis, errors in data collection, and references.
Curated OER
Rotating Rings of Ice
Young scholars work together to develop a model of Saturn and its rings. They identify what types of materials make up the rings and how they revolve around Saturn. They write a short paragraph describing the rings.
Curated OER
Celebrating Saturn and Cassini
Young scholars use their notes from previous lessons to write a paper on Saturn or Cassini. They share their writings with the class. They discover how everyone has a different learning style.
Curated OER
Gas Properities Definitions
Students, after reading the Web page Gas Properties Definitions, complete the activity to demonstrate an understanding of the properties of gases.
Curated OER
Experiment: Faster Air = Lower Air Pressure 2
Students experiment to observe air current and pressure.
Curated OER
Where Does My Energy Come From?
Young scholars gain an understanding that the Sun is the source of all energy. With a partner, they examine various web sites to explore food chains and food webs, later sharing their findings with the class.
Curated OER
Dancing Paper: Static Charge, Science
Middle schoolers use glass, plastic, paper and various other materials to investigate the properties of static charge and develop scientific inquiry skills.
Curated OER
Reading the Shapes of Volcanoes on Earth and Mars
Students compare and contrast the volcanoes of Earth and Mars, and examine specific volcanoes on Mars. They model the processes that create cone and shield volcanoes, and measure the slope angles of cone and shield volcanoes.
Curated OER
Mars Mission Logbooks
Students design and create a logbook into which a variety of data is kept to document and assess their involvement in the Live From Mars module. Academic progress is tracked as materials are added to he portfolio.
Curated OER
Mars: Off the Charts--Until You Put It There
Students explore the night sky and make illustrations which are shared in class the next day. Distinctions are made between the stars and the planets and views of the constellations for the season are made available. The work of early...
Curated OER
What Do I See When I Picture Saturn?
Students create their own Saturn Discovery logs. They draw pictures of the planet and its founder. They share their drawings and writings with partners.
Curated OER
Noblesville Fall
Students explore their interest in meteorites. They review the story of the Noblesville meteorite in 1991 and brainstorm how they would feel, what they want to know and what they would do next if they were the boys who discovered the...
Curated OER
Weightlessness
Students predict the behavior of coffee in a cup while it is dropped during a demonstration. They relate their observations to the weightless conditions that astronauts experience in space and discuss the concept of free-fall.
Curated OER
Solar Storms
Students investigate the cycles of solar activity. They plot the solar activity and use the graph to answer a number of questions and explain the relationship between the solar storms and sunspots and the impact on earth and space travel.
Curated OER
Wish You Were Here - Research Conditions on Mars
Learners research conditions on Mars, then create a travel brochure or presentation to attract tourists. They work in cooperative groups. Each member is assigned a different role and contribute specific information to the group's brochure.
Curated OER
Rocket Design: Aerodynamics, Trajectories
High schoolers use science inquiry skills to build and launch a simple rocket, from several wooden launch pads of various angles, to determine what trajectory angle carry a rocket the greatest distance.
Curated OER
Volcanic Wrath
Students observe volcanic action using an internet Web site of satellite photographs. Stuents create a portfolio of observable features.
Curated OER
Circle the Earth - Explore Surface Types on a Journey around Earth
Students use CERES percent coverage surface data with a world map in locating landmasses and bodies of water at Earth's Equator.
Curated OER
Robots from Junk
High schoolers create balloon and rubber band models of robotic rovers to investigate the concepts of mass, torque, and friction. Through research and planning, students construct a rover test-bed that simulates the Martian environment.