Curated OER
Celestial Photography
Students practice photographic skills and gain an awareness of photography as a scientific tool.
Curated OER
Seeing The Sun In A New Light
Learners 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.
Curated OER
Science - Lesson 42 - Astronomy
Third graders demonstrate the position of the Earth, Moon, and Sun in a solar and lunar eclipse. They list uses for manmade satellites and write a description of how a satellite would be use.
Curated OER
Our Sky: Home of Stars and Planets
Students discover that astronomy is a branch of science that includes the study of planets, stars, and constellations.
Curated OER
Using Star Charts and Maps
Students study star charts and describe locations of objects. In this scientific models lesson plan students use coordinates and identify characteristics.
Curated OER
Earth and Beyond!
Students investigate one or more of the following topics and develop a plan for the future regarding it: global warming, lunar exploration, space travel, Mars exploration, or terraforming. They disucss the audio files and the video that...
Curated OER
Exploring the Planets
Sixth graders explore the planets through an interactive web site. In this astronomy based lesson, 6th graders compare planets, explore comets, and discover planet facts through a variety of activities provided by the Smithsonian Museum.
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The Farther Away You Are, The Faster Away You Move
Pupils explore linear relationships. The lesson uses science to develop an understanding of the expanding Universe. There are 3 Labs, only 2 of which are required. Lab C is an enrichment for higher level classes.
Curated OER
The Night Sky
Third graders develop questions they have about the solar system. After being read a book, they view and discuss different constellations in the sky. In groups, they are given a piece of butcher paper and glow in the dark crayons in...
Curated OER
Sun and Moon Poetry Baskets
Students write Sun and Moon poetry. In this poetry instructional activity, students research the sun and the moon. They write poetry and create two class baskets for descriptive words about each.
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Seeing Interference Fringes with a Telescope
Learners construct an interferometer using a simple telescope. In this physics lesson, students explain how light waves create the fringe patterns. They observe patterns made by different objects in the sky and compare them.
Curated OER
The Solar System and the Forces Behind It
Sixth graders discover why planets stay in orbit. In groups, they use everyday materials to examine the effect of gravity of objects and calculate how mass changes based on gravitational pull. To end the lesson, they discuss how...
Curated OER
Earth, Moon, Mars Balloons
Learners demonstrate size and orbits of Earth, Moon, and Mars. In this space science lesson plan, students will use balloons to show how the size and distance between the planets and satellite compare.
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Are There Other Neighborhoods Like Our Own?
Students investigate the possibility of life existing on other planets. They conduct research using a variety of resources. The lesson includes an overview that is used for classroom discussion practices. They tell the teacher how to...
Curated OER
A Model of the Sun's interior
Learners create a three-dimensional model of the sun. In this solar system lesson, students design a scale model of the sun using plasticine.
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Our Solar System to Scale
Students calculate the diameter of planets and their relative distances. In this space science lesson, students discover how small or big the planets are in comparison to each other. Students use cross multiplying fractions to find the...
Curated OER
Studying Shadows
Students measure shadows and explore the altitude of the sun. In this sun lesson students will graph the length of shadows and solar altitude against time.
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Constellation Projections
Students draw constellations. In this astronomy lesson, students create constellations from star groupings projected on a chalk board. Students connect the "stars" to create a pattern on the board. Student can create new groupings of...
Curated OER
Make it Yourself Constellation Finder
Pupils identify constellations with and without a constellation finder. In this creating constellations instructional activity students construct a constellation finder to help them to identify the constellations.
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Project SETI.
Tenth graders study how to search for life in outer space and make use of the 40-foot radio telescope at Greenbank, West Virginia. Request that the telescope be pointed at a particular location and time and receive data back from it...
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Coordinates
Students use cartesian coordinates (x,y,z) in 3-dimensional space. [Optional: appreciate there exist two ways of defining the z axis, and which of them is used.] They become familiar with the tools and terms used by surveyors.
Curated OER
Enslaved and Running
Students use runaway slave advertisements to discover how the language varies from the 18th to 21st century. Using primary source documents, they research the brutality of slavery and the desire of those in slavery to be free. They...
Curated OER
Stellar Navigation Curriculum
Students investigate the concept of star mapping and how it is used in space navigation. They conduct various activities to see the effect of mapping. Also the teacher uses models and demonstrations in order to communicate the main...
University of Colorado
Clay Planets
Why do scientists use models? In the first installment of 22, groups create scale models of our solar system. They then share and discuss their models.