Curated OER
"Space" Investigations
Sixth graders understand the patterns of change observable on Earth as a result of the movement of the different bodies in the solar system. They identify the physical characteristics of the different components of the solar system.
Other
University of Leicester: Comets, Asteroids & Meteorites
Provides a general overview of comets, asteroids, and meteorites. Content includes ways to identify them in the night sky, as well as detailed information on each type of small body.
NASA
Nasa Space Place: Asteroid or Meteor: What's the Difference?
Learn the difference between asteroids and comets, meteoroids and meteorites, and more!
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Meteor Showers
This video segment adapted from NASA uses animation to illustrate the properties of meteor showers and comets. Included is are visualizations of a comet's tail and of Earth passing through a debris stream left behind by meteoroids.
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Asteroids, Comets and Meteors
A brief vocabulary overview describing the difference between asteroids, comets, and meteors.
NASA
Nasa: Asteroids: Overview: Ancient Space Rubble
Comprehensive look at asteroids, with many useful facts, photos, and related links. Provides a detailed account of how asteroids get their names and a timeline of significant dates.
NASA
Nasa: Our Solar System Lithograph Set
View a lithograph set that includes pictures and brief descriptions of planets, sun, asteroids, comets, meteors, and meteorites. While viewing the lithograph learn important dates and interesting facts about our solar system.
Other
Space weather.com
Want to know what the current weather conditions are in space? Find everything here you may want to know about the latest solar flares, sunspots, asteroids and more. Site also includes essential web links to quench any user's thirst for...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Earth Impact
This activity poses the question: What would happen if a meteor or comet impacted Earth? Students simulate an impact in a container of sand using various-sized rocks, all while measuring, recording and graphing results and conclusions....
E-learning for Kids
E Learning for Kids: Science: Antarctica/ What Are the Different Parts of the Universe?
In this lesson, students learn about objects in the universe, including constellations, planets, meteors, asteroids, and comets.
Nine Planets
The Nine Planets: Small Bodies
This site explores the smaller bodies in the solar system, namely the various asteroids and comets. Links are also provided for additional information on related subjects.
Nine Planets
The Nine Planets: An Overview of the Solar System
A detailed overview of the history, mythology, and current scientific knowledge of each of the planets and moons in the solar system.
NASA
Nasa Star Child: Star Child
StarChild from NASA defines and describes the Solar System in a simple and easy-to-understand manner. The website is broken down into two versions for the student, grade school and junior high.
NASA
Nasa: Solar System Exploration
Enter our solar system to interact with the planets, moons, asteroids, meteors, and more. Investigate with NASA scientists and explore missions related to space exploration. Read facts, compare statistics, look through resources, and...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Our Solar System Lithograph Set
View these amazing high-quality images of our solar system from NASA with this lithograph set. Each lithograph contains images, facts, dates, and general information on a particular subject. Background information and teaching tips are...
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Berkeley Lab: The Fruitful & Inventive Mind of Scientist Luis Alvarez
This article, reprinted from the fall 1979 LBL News Magazine, was written about Dr. Luis Alvarez and his part in the study of geological sediments and the great extinctions.
NASA
Nasa: Our Solar System Overview
This site has links to all the planets, providing an overview of the solar system. It also contains information about asteroids, meteors, comets and other features of our solar system.
Other
The Apollo Society: The Solar System
Contains a small set of images of solar system objects and a series of links to information about all solar system objects. Solar System Tours link to excellent image collections.
Other
Who Dunnit to the Dinosaurs?
"One of the great mysteries in science is the extinction of the dinosaurs at the end of the Mesozoic Era some 65 million years ago. Who (or more likely what) caused it is unknown and a subject of great debate." Many theories are touched...
Other
Dinosaur Extinction: One More Hypothesis
"The survivals and extinctions at the close of the Cretaceous are such as might be expected to result from intensely hot winds such as would be generated by extra large meteoritic impacts." This article suggests that this theory should...
Other
The Telson Spur: The Solar System
This is a list of links to online resources related to the study of the planets. It has a literary theme associated with the Lewis Carrol poem "The Hunting of the Snark" with many quotes from literature and science. Navigation tools...
NASA
Nasa: The Space Place
This site from NASA's Space Place is geared towards early elementary learners. It offers detailed instructions for crafts and activities related to space, games and a teacher resource area. Students can also ask an expert at this site.
Extreme Science
Extreme Science: Space Science: Our Solar System
Read about our solar system and its formation over 4.6 billion years ago. Find out about the planets, asteroids, meteors, satellites, and comets. More in-depth planet background can be accessed through links.