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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Celestial Sphere and Circumpolar Motion

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Students investigate the celestial sphere and circumpolar motion. In this science lesson plan, students view an applet, The Celestial Sphere and Circumpolar Motion. Students discuss the Earth's rotation and stellar movement.
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Lesson Plan
National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science

Mask of the Black God

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Finally, an astronomy activity for the high schooler! Explorers are able to read star maps for finding objects in the night sky by determining celestial coordinates. In particular, they locate the Pleiades and read about a Navajo legend...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Azimuth and Altitude Quiz 1

For Students 8th - 10th
In this azimuth and altitude worksheet, students answer questions about celestial bodies and how they are measured. They label drawings of clinometers, celestial spheres, and a compass.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Celestial Sphere

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers are introduced to the celestial sphere, describing its apparent rotation and the special role of the pole star.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tracking the Sun with a Solar Dome

For Teachers 7th - 11th
Students study the sun and how it moves throughout the day.  In this tracking the sun lesson students create a model of the celestial sphere. 
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Modeling Celestial Motion

For Students 7th - 12th
In this modeling celestial motion instructional activity, students fill in the blank about the motion of celestial bodies: planets and stars. Students complete the blanks with information about the scientists and philosophers responsible...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

How Fast Does the Sun Spin?

For Students 8th - 10th
In this rotation of celestial bodies worksheet, learners determine the speed of the sun's rotation and they determine the number of days it takes the sun to rotate once at the equator. They identify the geometric factor that causes...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Path of the Sun: The Ecliptic

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the celestial sphere and the paths it takes in the solar system.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Scavenger Hunt

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students study a research telescope to obtain quantitative information about these objects. They use the SkyServer Navigation Tool to identify objects and record celestial coordinates. In addition, they associate star brightness and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Three D Constellations

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Students are introduced to both celestial coordinates and to the first rung on the distance determination ladder. They convert spherical coordinates to Cartesian coordinates to construct a three dimensional model of a constellation...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

An Introduction to the Night Sky and Movement Astronomy

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Basically, this is an interactive exploration of educational astronomy software and an app. Young astronomers discover how the apparent motion of the sky relates to Earth's movements and the position of the observer. It is out of this...
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Worksheet
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Curated OER

Apparent Motion of the Sun

For Students 10th
Demonstrate the path of the sun across the sky at different times of the year with an engaging science lesson.  Learners use a series of questions and diagrams to examine the movement of the sun and appearance of the sky around their...
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Interactive
Weber State University

The Sun and the Seasons

For Students 9th - 12th
Why is there more daylight in June than in December if you live above the equator? How does the angle of sunlight shift throughout the year? Answer these questions and more with an interactive article about the sun, its path through the...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Astronomy Class

For Students 6th - 8th
In this space science worksheet, middle schoolers find the words associated with the basic terms of Astronomy. The answers are located at the bottom of the page.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Path of the Sun, the Ecliptic

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers are introduced to the ecliptic, the zodiac and the apparent motions of the Sun, Moon and planets across the sky.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fantasy Allegory of Air

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Students analyze the painting Jan Brueghel and design their own book. In this art and book lesson, students discuss the elements of fantasy from the painting and create their own book. Students illustrate the book and create a painting...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lesson Plans for Fantasy: Allegory of Air

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students use combinations of real and imaginary objects to create illustrations for a book.  In this Fantasy in art lesson, students discuss the elements of fantasy in Allegory of Air.  Students study the work of Salvador Dali and Mir to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Eratosthenes

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine what Eratosthenes is and the history behind him.  In this earth instructional activity students complete a hands on activity to repeat Eratosthenes' experiment.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Retrograde Motion

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students study the motions of the heavenly bodies.  In this space lesson students use models to show a variety of schemes explaining the motions. 
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Activity
Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments: Celestial Sphere Study Cards

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Multiple choice study cards for reviewing the Celestial Sphere.
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Handout
American Association of Physics Teachers

Com Padre Digital Library: Open Source Physics: Celestial Globe Model

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Users have the opportunity to adjust several variables in this simulation demonstrating the Ancient Greek's Two Sphere Universe theory.
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Graphic
Curated OER

The Four Corners of the World Supporting the Celestial Sphere

For Students 11th - 12th
An image of "The Four Corners of the World Supporting the Celestial Sphere", created by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux in 1872 (Original plaster model, height 280 cm).
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Unit Plan
Georgia Department of Education

Ga Virtual Learning: Astronomy: The Earth

For Students 9th - 10th
In this interactive tutorial students will learn what causes the seasons, diurnal cycles and how the constellations move through the sky. Learn we are able to see other planets and how astronomical events affected life on the Earth.
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Article
Other

Weber State University: The Sun and the Seasons

For Students Pre-K - 1st
To those of us who live on earth, the most important astronomical object by far is the sun. This article explains how the motion of the sun through our sky cause day and night, the passage of the seasons, and earth's varied climates.