Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

The Engine of Life

For Teachers 5th - 11th Standards
There is a specific zone, or distance from a star, that a planet must be in order to have water in a liquid form. The activity demonstrates how flux density depends on its distance from the source. A photovoltaic cell gets power to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Land Around Us - Lesson 3

For Teachers 1st - 5th
While the content of this instructional activity is more specific to the first grade, the directions given to work on a PowerPoint are well written. These directions could be used by anyone, with any content. Younger learners may need...
Lesson Plan
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University of Colorado

The Moons of Jupiter

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
Middle schoolers analyze given data on density and diameter of objects in space by graphing the data and then discussing their findings. This ninth installment of a 22-part series emphasizes the Galilean moons as compared to other...
Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

Know Your Planets

For Teachers K - 4th Standards
Does your class know their planets? Implement an activity that has them describing the solar system, identifying properties of the planets, and placing them in order from their distance from the sun.
PPT
Curated OER

The Building Blocks

For Teachers 7th - 12th
This PowerPoint is a comprehensive review of all the facts related to an atom's basic structure and function. What makes this unique is that it is geared toward an audience of junior geologists. After introducing the periodic table of...
Lesson Plan
US Department of Energy

Building the Basic PVC Wind Turbine

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Here is a comprehensive and well-written lesson plan that results in learners building a standard wind turbine. Once built, teens can design a variety of experiments to test different factors. This activity is a noble undertaking that...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making Models of the Solar System

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students make several models of the solar system to learn the positions of the planets in the solar system as well as relative distances and sizes. Creation of these models will help them identify the planets by size, shape, color,...
Lesson Plan
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NASA

Christa's Lost Lesson: Effervescence

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
How are chemical reactions affected by gravity? Learners explore the phenomenon of effervescence as part of the Christa's Lost Lessons series. They compare findings in an experiment on effervescence to a video of a similar experiment in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

NASA Robots

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Young scholars investigate how robots are used in space. In this space science lesson, students participate in an experiment using a blindfold and complete assigned tasks. The young scholars demonstrate how robots are "thinking" machines.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar System Hall Model

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Not novel, but fun, this lesson gets your space science learners to model the size of the planets and the solar system along your school's hallway. Scaled measurements as well as actual distances are provided for both planet diameters...
Handout
International Technology Education Association

Telescope as Time Machine

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This resource provides an explanation of NASA's GALEX mission and how the space-based telescope can view distant galaxies as they were billions of years ago. The resource also discusses the other aspects of galaxies that GALEX...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN SOCIETY

For Teachers 12th - Higher Ed
Students research scientific discoveries and technological innovations. They organize discoveries and innovations in life, environmental, physical, earth and space science categories. They analyze impact of selected discoveries and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Flight Paths of Orbiting Satellites

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Students examine the path a satellite follows as it orbits the earth. For this space science lesson, students use a globe as they illustrate a satellite in its orbital plane, then plot points on the satellite's path on the globe to see...
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Geography Lesson Plans Using Google Earth

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Geography lesson plans using Google Earth, or other interactive websites can make this topic current and interesting for students.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Black Holes Revealed

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students explore the concept of black holes through an interactive program. They explore how they form and what materials form them. They can also visit websites in which they can research radio transmission between the Earth and space.
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Earth Day Activities

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Earth Day is April 22nd - you can celebrate by incorporating some environmental activities into your curriculum Code: F7G4U8JHCDTD.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth Science Astronomy Unit: Seasons on Earth

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders describe how the Earth's position causes seasonal changes. In this astronomy lesson, 8th graders explain how solar radiation varies depending on the season. They create a collage or poster on each of the Earth's four seasons.
Lab Resource
Colorado State University

How Does the Earth Cool Itself Off?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Where does all the heat go when the sun goes down? An interesting lesson has learners explore this question by monitoring the infrared radiation emitted over time. They learn that hot spots cool more quickly that cooler spots.
Lesson Plan
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Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics

Charting the Progress of New Horizons

For Teachers 2nd - 6th Standards
In 2006, New Horizons began its mission to fly to Pluto. As it continues its journey, scholars track its progress with the help of an informative website, all the while reinforcing measurement concepts with the construction of a scaled...
Unit Plan
Columbus City Schools

Moon Phase Mania

For Teachers 7th Standards
Now you see it, now you don't. Our moon seems to pull a disappearing act from time to time—but why? Take your seventh grade scientists above and beyond to discover the truth about the moon and the role it plays in Earth's little...
Lesson Plan
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Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics

Where Are We Going?

For Teachers 2nd - 6th Standards
Come take a ride on the space bus! Scholars go on an imaginary trip to pick up their peers from the inner and outer planets while reinforcing math skills. First, learners round decimals to identify each planets' distance from Earth....
Lesson Plan
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Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics

A Classroom Solar System

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Create a scaled model of our solar system in your classroom! Scholars work collaboratively to build paper mache planets and hang them in their proper position to showcase each planet's location in the solar system.   
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

NIGHT AND DAY: DAILY CYCLES IN SOLAR RADIATION

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine how Earth's rotation causes daily cycles in solar energy using a microset of satellite data to investigate the Earth's daily radiation budget and locating map locations using latitude and longitude coordinates.
Activity
Macmillan Education

A Wrinkle in Time Discussion and Activity Guide

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
As you work through Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time, try out some or all of the 20 questions and activities included here. Useful for discussion questions, group assignments, or individual projects, this resource covers plot as...