Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Creatures from Planet X: Spiders

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students are given a description of some fascinating animals from "Planet X". They follow the descriptions given to illustrate one of these animals paying careful attention to introduced vocabulary such as 'appendages', 'receptors', and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Facts, Feats and Folklore: Spiders

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students review and discuss a variety of sayings, folklore and superstitions about spiders. They discuss this information and choose either an interesting fact or appealing foklore tradition to illustrate.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Letters from the Japanese American Internment

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students make deductions about life in an internment camp by reading and comparing letters written to Clara Breed. Along the way, they consider the advantages of looking at a historical event from the multiple points of view of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Machines: Useful But Dangerous

For Teachers 1st
First graders study, observe, and use a simple machine. They study necessary safety and review posted safety rules related to using a machine and identify strategies for reporting any accidents or injuries.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Simple Machines

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders study how simple machines can help us alter forces and discuss the term mechanical advantage. They then identify dysfunctional simple machines and discuss in groups how the dysfunctions will decrease the effectiveness of each.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Transforming Energy

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders study about alternate energy sources and discuss with their neighbor how alternative energy sources affect environmental conditions so that an entire species could be affected.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Baga Drum

For Teachers K - 6th
Students examine a Baga Drum in order to explore the history of the Baga people of West Africa. In this art history lesson plan, students recognize figures used in Baga Drum design that represent aspects of Baga culture. They also design...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Measurement: When Degrees Matter

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders record the temperature change of the beakers. For this general science lesson, 8th graders create their own data table for recording observations. They discuss experimental results and cite real life applications.
Handout
Smithsonian Institution

National Air and Space Museum: Exploring the Planets: Tools of Exploration

For Students 9th - 10th
Part of the National Air and Space Museum's online exhibition about Exploring Planets, this describes and gives visuals of telescopes, probes and fly-by aircrafts, orbiters, and landers as current methods for earth and airborne...
Activity
NASA

Nasa: Space Place

For Students 3rd - 5th
In this site you can explore, do and play games related to space, solar system, our planet and people and technology.
Website
NASA

Nasa: Space Place

For Students 3rd - 8th
NASA offers games, animations, and projects to help kids explore earth, space, and technology.
Handout
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Satellites, Shuttles, and Space Stations Study Guide

For Students 6th - 8th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] This study guide provides a brief overview of satellites, shuttles, rockets, and space stations. Includes a few questions to check for understanding.
Handout
NASA

Nasa: The Space Place: Sorting Out Trees in the Forest

For Students 3rd - 8th
This site from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration provides fun information on the subject. "people can do their jobs even better if they have very accurate images of the ground. Oddly enough, the best way to see lots of...
Website
Other

Inpe: National Institute for Space Research

For Students 9th - 10th
This site is the homepage of Brazil's National Institute for Space Research with links to specific programs in more defined categories like space and atmospheric sciences, meteorology, space engineering and technology, and more.
Lesson Plan
Other

Digital Library for Earth System Education (Dlese)

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This resource provides materials for teachers on a huge array of topics. Search site by topic, grade level, and desired output (such as lesson plan, case study, assessment or tutorial). Site is focused on earth science, geography, and...
Handout
NASA

Nasa Earth Observatory: Remote Sensing

For Students 9th - 10th
Discover the history of remote sensing from early cameras to the first space shuttles. Learn about the different remote sensing methods and accomplishments made by NASA.
Interactive
Math Science Nucleus

I. Science Ma Te: Integrating Science, Math and Technology

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
This site offers a wealth of online textbook-related materials that encourage the discovery of science in the world around us. Enter the site to access material on specific topics. Each section contains reading material (complete with...
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Objects in Space

For Teachers 2nd
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about some of the objects circling the Earth. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Will Human Life on Earth Come to an End?

For Teachers 7th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about science fiction authors and their predictions about space travel. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Website
NPR: National Public Radio

Npr: New Observatory Brings Stars Closer to Earth

For Students 9th - 10th
A radio story describing the development of the newest technology in telescopes based on an old idea. Images of the 80-acre interferometer are shown on the site.
Article
Space.com

Space.com: "Nasa Spin Offs: Bringing Space Down to Earth"

For Students 9th - 10th
This article from January 26, 2005, offers a video and a list of many common items used daily that exist because of NASA innovations. These include Cat Scans and MRIs, more precise and safer breast imaging, artificial limbs using...
Activity
NASA

Nasa: Testing a New Spacecraft Material

For Students 3rd - 5th
This is a site from NASA that provides an activity where "You have invented a new material to use for the fuel tanks on the spacecraft. But before you send your new material into the harsh environment of space, you must test it on Earth...
Website
Kidport

Kidport: The Space Shuttle

For Students 3rd - 5th
Students can see actual photos of a space shuttle launching from earth as well as the people who now could go because of technology. Learn about some of the equipment and vehicles used to make it happen.
Article
Other

Space Applications Centre: Geographical Information System Concepts

For Students 9th - 10th
The introduction of this article explains why GIS data is so critical to a government being able to plan for natural resources development and management. The article goes on to explain key geographic concepts, what GIS is and why it...