In this time zones worksheet, students are given a map of the Earth indicating the time zones, the prime meridian and the international date line. Students answer 5 questions about solar occurrences and determine when each would be seen...

For this stellar magnitude scale worksheet, students use a scale showing the magnitude of objects in the sky to answer 5 questions about the brightness of the moon, the planets and stars.

In this cost o research worksheet, students calculate the costs to pay professors to do research, they determine the costs for equipment needed for research and they calculate the amount of money needed to support research through...

In this power functions learning exercise, students read about determining the brightness of stars using a magnitude scale. Students solve 4 problems including finding the magnitude differences of stars and determining equivalent...

Students focus on the tremendous public interest in the potential of extraterrestrial life. They read and discuss an article about the search for alien life. They divide into small groups and discuss the issues and implications of this...

Learners investigate the sun's energy. They explore various websites, demonstrate proper solar protection, conduct experiments using special UV beads, and complete worksheets.

In this geometric calculations of solar storms learning exercise, students use a diagram indicating the location of 2 STEREO satellites, the earth and the sun to calculate the distance between a Coronal Mass Ejection and the Earth. They...

In this sequences and probability activity, students solve 3 problems by writing out all the possibilities for the solution and they use probability to find their answers. They determine the probability of solar flares happening on a...

In this planet models learning exercise, students use the radius of a given planet and its mass to answer questions using a model of a planet with a given radius. They determine the volume of the planet's inner core, the volume of its...

In this solar storms instructional activity, students use a diagram given the location of two STEREO spacecraft satellites, a coronal mass ejection, the sun and the Earth to solve 2 problems about the coronal mass ejection. Students use...

In this planetary conjunctions worksheet, students read about planetary alignments and they solve 2 problems. They determine the location of 3 planets given their orbit time after 1, 2 , 3 and 4 years and they determine when three given...

In this brightness of stars worksheet, high schoolers use a given formula using the temperature in Kelvins of a star to find its brightness. Students solve 4 problems using this equation.

In this transit of Mercury worksheet, students read about Earth and Mercury lining up so that Mercury passes across the disk of the sun from the Earth's view. Students solve 3 problems and they determine the diameter of the solar disk...

Students research the life cycle of a star. In this astronomy lesson plan, students work in groups to research on stage in stellar evolution and report back to the class their findings. They will discuss as a class the order of the...

Middle schoolers create a drawing from a written description and examine and discuss how European artists from the past created images of China that combined imagination with written descriptions and limited visual imagery.

Students study emitted and absorbed light, and label each type of spectrum. They identify elements by their spectral signatures and use a spectroscope.

Students explore astronomy through the Starry Night Constellation Adventure software. They print star charts and identify constellations. They sketch the Big Dipper and describe the Milky Way. They list the five most visible planets and...

Students examine the distance from Earth to stars. They create a model to show the arrangement of constellations. They also identify the importance of the parallax effect.

Students work with a real optical spectrum of a gamma ray burst afterglow taken at the Keck Observatory. They measure the shifts of spectral lines, deduce the velocity of the astronomical object, and then use Hubble's Law to get its...

Students are introduced to the branch of science known as astronomy. They discuss stars and constellations and then view the night sky using a portable digital planetarium projector. They identify a variety of constellations and...

In this computer activity worksheet, students visit a website and take a Virtual Tour of the Sun. While navigating through the site, they complete 16 fill in the blank questions.

In this planets learning exercise, students read a detailed 3 page text about the planets in our solar system. Students then complete 21 true/false and multiple choice questions about planets.

In this distances in space learning exercise, students learn about astronomical units and light years as measurements for great distances. Students use both of these units of measurements to solve five problems.

In this gravity worksheet, students read about the solar system and the effects of the gravity of the sun, the planets and the moon on the orbits of the planets. They answer three critical thinking questions about gravity.