Lesson Plan
Curated OER

CHARTING A COURSE

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students model how a gyroscope works with string, an old phonograph record and crayon.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stars and Slopes

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students use the slopes of various curves plotted on log-log graph paper to classify stellar objects as binary stars, supernovae, or active galaxies.The data used in this lesson were obtained from X-ray astronomy satellites.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Out There: An Astronomical Project

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders complete a WebQuest involving astronomy and copyright laws. They conduct Internet research, complete the WebQuest, and design and publish a planet travel brochure.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young scholars examine the relationship between temperature and brightness.  In this astronomy lesson students will correlate the evolution of stars to the HR diagram plotted. 
Worksheet
Curated OER

Types of Scientists

For Students 6th - 8th
In this science worksheet, students match each type of scientist listed in the left-had column to its correct description found in the right-hand column. There are 34 different scientists to match on the sheet.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Stars

For Students 5th - 12th
In this stars instructional activity, learners review characteristics of stars and different constellations. This instructional activity has 14 vocabulary words placed in a crossword puzzle.
Worksheet
Curated OER

The Solar System

For Students 9th - 12th
In this solar system learning exercise, students complete a word puzzle by determining the terms associated with the 10 statements about the planets.
Worksheet
Rice University

Characteristics of Inner Planets

For Students 4th - 8th Standards
Aspiring astronomers assess the inner planets using this handout. They read about the characteristics of each, noting that all four of them have rocky surfaces. Rotation and revolution are introduced, including Venus' retrograde...
Worksheet
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1
Rice University

Characteristics of the Sun

For Students 5th - 8th Standards
After reading about how the sun gets its energy, and about the layers and features of the sun's atmosphere, heliologists complete a comprehension worksheet. On it, they label features on a diagram of the sun and match terms from the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Please Ex-Planet

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders create a model of an earth centered solar system and a model of the sun centered solar system. As a class, they discuss why the earlier astronomers believed their model and why it changed when evidence arose that this...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

PROBLEMS/SOLUTIONS

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students choose an interesting problem related to space travel and then design a plan to solve the problem. They present their solution to the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

LIFE IN SPACE Human Body: An Un-Earthly Home

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students examine an effect of zero gravity on the human body using a baby food jar, balloons and a jar with a large mouth.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Study of Hydra Cluster Galaxies

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students analyze a designated galaxy with a partner or in a small group.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth in Space

For Teachers 8th - 9th
In this reason for the days and nights on earth worksheet, young scholars study the reasons the Earth has days and nights by answering 28 questions about earth's rotation, the equator, the relationship between the sun and moon, and the...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Stars in Your Eyes

For Students 6th - 9th
In this solar system activity, students answer 20 short answer questions about the stars, the planets, the sun and moon, meteorites and constellations.
Worksheet
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3
Curated OER

Characteristics of the Outer Planets

For Students 4th - 7th
A brief reading comprehension exercise, this worksheet covers the characteristics of the outer planets. It still considers Pluto a planet and Charon its moon. It is therefore a little out of date, but this fact can be discussed as part...
Interactive46:12
American Museum of Natural History

Field Trip Mars

For Students 6th - 12th
Fly around the Martian surface. Pupils view a presentation on the planet Mars featuring a flyover that shows different views of the surface where rovers have landed and explored on different missions. As individuals watch the images, the...
Website
American Museum of Natural History

If Rocks Could Talk

For Students 6th - 12th
Meet some interesting rocks. Learners discover information about the three types of rocks and different rocks that are within each group. They read imaginary interviews with six rocks as each rock tells the story of their formation and a...
Interactive
American Museum of Natural History

The Milky Way Galaxy

For Students 6th - 12th
Just how big is the galaxy? Learners read information about the size of the Milky Way galaxy to better comprehend its size. Pupils develop an understanding of the number of stars in the galaxy by finding just how big a billion is and...
Interactive
American Museum of Natural History

What Do You Know About the Universe?

For Students 6th - 12th
The universe is full of a mystic matter people cannot see. Pupils respond to 10 questions about the stuff in the universe. Most of the questions involve the big bang theory and dark matter. Learners find out how astronomers have found...
Interactive
American Museum of Natural History

What Do You Know About Stars?

For Students 6th - 12th
Illuminate the information about stars. Pupils respond to 10 multiple choice questions about stars. The questions cover topics such as the size of the Milky Way Galaxy, the Sun, and the life cycle of a star. The resource works as a...
Activity
American Museum of Natural History

Space Travel Guide

For Students 4th - 8th Standards
Scholars showcase their narrative writing skills with a science fiction writing assignment. Six pages present writers with a question to answer accompanied by a detailed picture to draw. All together, pages create a space-travel guide.
Activity
American Museum of Natural History

Cosmic Cookies

For Students 6th - 12th
Scholars read about each planet then bake a plate of cosmic cookies—no-bake cookies decorated to look like the planets; Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto.
Activity
American Museum of Natural History

A Kid's Guide to Stargazing

For Students 6th - 12th
Get kids interested in stargazing with a step-by-step guide. The guide begins with the do's and don'ts, what the defines a star, and introduces a journal. The page is linked to see stars if light pollution keeps stars away in your area.

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