Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What are Stars?

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Young scholars research the solar system and it's characteristics.  In this solar system activity, students are broken into 4 groups, each assigned a specific part of the solar system.  Young scholars use the Internet to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth is Round?

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders discuss how Aristotle concluded that the Earth was round. As a class, they review theories about the Earth's shape and describe how life on Earth would be different if it were flat. Individually, they make a moon book in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Your Galactic Address

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discover their place in the universe.  In this astronomy lesson, students identify their location on various maps that have increasingly larger scales.  In the end, the students write their address in terms of their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

See the Stars

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students explore the nighttime sky. For this space science lesson, students read the book Maria's Comet and and investigate the sky using their naked eyes. Students compare the view of their naked eyes to the view of a telescope.
Lesson Plan
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SETI WebQuest and the Drake Equation

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students complete a WebQuest where they research the Internet for extraterrestrial intelligence. In this extraterrestrial lesson plan, students also explore how the Drake Equation can predict the occurrence of life elsewhere.
Lesson Plan
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The Amazing and Beautiful Aurora

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars create an oil pastel painting. In this pastel painting lesson, students examine images of the aurora borealis. Young scholars produce an original pastel painting of the aurora.
Lesson Plan
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The Milky Way and Beyond

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Learners consider the scale of the Milky Way Galaxy. In this Milky Way lesson, students hypothesize the length of time necessary to cross the Milky Way.
Lesson Plan
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Cosmic Rays

For Teachers 6th - Higher Ed
Students study cosmic rays and the energy behind them.  In this atmospheric lesson students complete a cosmic ray telescope project. 
Lesson Plan
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Stellar Magnitudes

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners analyze the stellar magnitude scale. In this stellar magnitude lesson, students examine the stellar magnitude scale. Learners predict the Sun's magnitude from various planets.
Lesson Plan
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Your Weight on Other Planets

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students explore their weight on other planets. In this science activity, students view a presentation about the other planets and complete a worksheet in which they make predictions about their weight on the moon and other planets.
Lesson Plan
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The Celestial Sphere and Circumpolar Motion

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Students investigate the celestial sphere and circumpolar motion. For this science lesson, students view an applet, The Celestial Sphere and Circumpolar Motion. Students discuss the Earth's rotation and stellar movement.
Lesson Plan
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The amazing and Beautiful Aurora

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students research the aurora. In this aurora activity, students participate in a webquest about the aurora. Webquest worksheet is included.
Lesson Plan
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The Phases of the Moon

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students sketch the different phases of the moon after exploring them on an internet program. For this moon phases lesson plan, students discuss how the Sun, Earth, and Moon are related.
Lesson Plan
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Solar and Lunar Eclipses

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Learners examine eclipses. In this eclipse lesson, students investigate solar and lunar eclipses. Learners complete a WebQuest and write a descriptive summary of eclipses. Lesson references a WebQuest, but does not include a link.
Lesson Plan
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Tides

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Young scholars discover how the position of the Sun, Moon and Earth affect tides. In this science activity, students view a presentation about the tides. Young scholars discuss the different types of tides.
Lesson Plan
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Planet Interiors

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students compare and contrast the Earth's interior with 2 other planets by looking at images on the computer. In this planet interiors lesson plan, students write a paper about their findings.
Lesson Plan
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Scale Model of the Solar System

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Pupils explore the size of the planets. In this science lesson plan, students create a scale model of the solar system. Pupils determine a scaling factor and calculate the size of their planets. Students create a scale drawing of the...
Lesson Plan
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Heavens Above

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students study the stars and their positions.  In this astronomy lesson students see how scientists can predict the positions of the stars and can tell how they would have appeared in the past. 
Lesson Plan
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Sky Pictures

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students investigate constellations. In this space science lesson, students view transparencies of constellations and identify the zodiac constellations. Students research the legends connected with the constellations.
Lesson Plan
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Sundials

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students investigate the different types of sundials and their history.  In this shadows and time of day lesson students build their own sundials. 
Lesson Plan
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Scoping Out Space

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars research existing and proposed telescope projects and synthesize their knowledge by creating presentations on each telescope and speculating about which project is worthy of additional funding.
Lesson Plan
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Unveiling the Secrets of Saturn

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students read and study an article then answer questions on Saturn.  In this investigative lesson students identify ways space exploration has helped humanity and then they search the Internet for space pictures and sketch a drawing...
Lesson Plan
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Celestial Photography

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers practice photographic skills and gain an awareness of photography as a scientific tool.
Lesson Plan
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Seeing The Sun In A New Light

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the observation of "coronal holes," by x-rays, also about related fast streams and moderate magnetic storms that recur at 27 day intervals. They study NASA'S great observatories.