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.
Activity
American Museum of Natural History

Cosmic Cookies

For Students 6th - 12th
Scholars read about each planet then bake a plate of cosmic cookies—no-bake cookies decorated to look like the planets; Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto.
Activity
5
5
Super Teacher Worksheets

Our Solar System Scavenger Hunt Activity

For Teachers 3rd - 6th Standards
Send students on a search for facts about the solar system with this scavenger hunt activity. Whether they are finding out how far the sun is from the earth, or the names of all four gas giants, this resource will engage young...
Interactive
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics

Orbit Simulator

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Researchers think they have evidence of a new planet deep in our solar system that is the size of Neptune and orbits the sun far beyond Pluto. The orbit simulator shows the orbits of our well-known planets, as well as Pluto and the comet...
Activity
Colorado State University

How Far Away Is Space?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Outer space may be a lot closer than you think! Science scholars model the layers of the atmosphere using transparencies to gain insight into the scale of space. The resource includes ideas to tailor the activity to the skill level of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth in Space

For Teachers 8th - 9th
For this reason for the days and nights on earth worksheet, students study the reasons the Earth has days and nights by answering 28 questions about earth's rotation, the equator, the relationship between the sun and moon, and the...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Types of Tides

For Students 7th - 9th
In this tides worksheet, students are given different diagrams of the sun, moon and earth in relation to each other. Students determine the type of tides created in each diagram and identify the phase of the moon.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Moon Phases

For Students 5th - 8th
In this moon worksheet, students fill in the different phases on the moon on a diagram and label each phase. Students compare a solar and lunar eclipse. This worksheet has 2 fill in the blank and 3 short answer questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

3rd Rock from the Sun's Baby Rock

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders have a chance to actively see each phase of the moon and make connections to what they see in the sky when you show how the moon goes through each of the phases.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wax On, Wane Off! the Different Views of the Moon

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students create a three-dimensional model of the Earth and Moon to show the different phases of the moon as they appear on Earth. In small groups, they draw a diagram for a phase, set up the model in the drawn positions then test it with...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Once In a Blue Moon

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Pupils review the characteristics of the planets and their moons. Using the internet, they research the relationship between the Earth and its moons. They take a template of the moon and draw craters of different colors to present to the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Moon Journal

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students review the planets and major moons in the Solar System. In groups, they research and describe the various phases of the moon. They record their observations of the moon phases over a specific period of time and use the...
Interactive3:06
Scholastic

Study Jams! Tides

For Students 5th - 9th Standards
The tide will turn in your earth science or oceanography unit when viewers see this clip. They learn that tides are caused by the gravitational pull of our moon, and are even impacted by the gravity of the sun. High, low, neap, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Does the Distance Between the Earth and Sun Cause the seasons?

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Young scholars reflect upon the concepts of seasons. The concepts are taught using a variety of different teaching approaches. A activities lead to a reflection that will help students to make a cognitive transfer of information form...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth and Beyond!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers 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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Phases of the Moon

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students view an applet to study the phases of the Moon in relation to the orientation of the sun, moon, and Earth.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Distant Is The Moon?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students discover how Aristarchus, a Greek astronomer around 230 BC, used a simple observation of the eclipse of the Moon, plus clever reasoning, to deduce the distance of the Moon. They practice the same calculation technique.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Phases of the Moon

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders observe the changes in the moon's appearance over a two week period of time from their homes. They record and illustrate their observations and also complete daytime moon viewings as a class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sun too close? We'll just change Earth's orbit

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students study an article and discuss what would happen if the Earth's orbit changed.  In this Earth's orbit lesson students answer a list of questions and complete an activity.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Moon WebQuest

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders research basic information about the moon and identify the phases and order of the phases of the moon. They conduct Internet research, complete a moon WebQuest, and write a magazine article about the moon using their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Moons

For Teachers K
Students practice rote counting to 20. After a lecture about the planets and the moons that surround them, they identify the number of moons surrounding various planets. Students compare and contrast the quantity of moons surrounding...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Moon Watch

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders read books about the moon and discuss its perceived changes as it moves across the sky. They observe the moon over the course of a month and chart their observations. They discuss their observations and conduct further...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Measuring the Sun's Diameter

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students project and measure the suns image using a refracting telescope.  In this sun's diameter instructional activity students calculate the magnification of the telescope and determine the diameter if the Sun. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth/Globe (poles & equator)

For Teachers 1st
First graders create his/her own paper mache earth and label the poles and equator. The land masses can be added and labeling of specific bodies of water. The paper mache earth can then be used to discuss the sun, moon, and the earth and...

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