Curated OER
I'm Being Followed By a Moonshadow
Students explore solar and lunar eclipses and how the sun, Earth, and moon cause them.
Curated OER
Tides
Students discover how the position of the Sun, Moon and Earth affect tides. In this science lesson, students view a presentation about the tides. Students discuss the different types of tides.
Curated OER
Earth's Revolution and Rotation
Eighth graders investigate the regular motions of the sun, Earth and the moon and explain how these are related to days, years, seasons, eclipses, tides and moon cycles. They participate in an exercise where they explore the...
Curated OER
Constellations
Students explore the major constellations. After reviewing the Earth's basic motions and their significance, students discuss the moon's orbit and revolutions. Using a Digitarium Alpha portable planetarium projector, they observe at...
Curated OER
The Nine Planets
A solid lesson on teaching the nine planets in our solar system is here for you. In it, young scientists learn the correct order of the planets, and they choose one of the planets to do a research report on. They must come up with five...
Curated OER
Season's Greetings
Students explore Earth's seasons using an interactive website. In this earth science lesson plan, students watch video segments and explain Earth's seasonal milestones. They discuss the factors that causes seasonal changes.
Curated OER
Let the North Star Tell You Where You Are
Students participate in activities in which they find the Big Dipper and locate the North Star in the night sky, examine the relationship between the angle to Polaris and latitude, and determine latitude by using an astrolabe.
Curated OER
Dark Matter In The Universe
Middle schoolers investigate the concept of dark matter and how it occurs in the universe. They conduct research using a variety of resources. Students use the information by reading at least two articles about dark matter. They also...
Mr. E. Science
Our Solar System
The presentation starts with the scientists who made discoveries about our solar system: Ptolemy, Copernicus, Galileo, Brahe, Kepler, and Newton. It also covers the planets, inner, outer, and Pluto, satellites, and an in-depth discussion...
Curated OER
Charting Seasonal Changes
Students research the Earth's patterns of rotation and revolution, create a chart and graph of these patterns and use them to explain the causes of night and day and summer and winter.
Curated OER
Space, the Final Frontier...
Students study a common theory on how the solar system was formed and examine the relative scale of the size and distances among the bodies of the Solar System.
Curated OER
Let the North Star Tell You Where You Are
Students create an astrolabe and locate the North Star in the night sky. They determine the latitude of the North Star, and calculate an average latitude based on class results.
Curated OER
The Moon is made of Cheese
Eighth graders explore the reasons why they believe scientific ideas are true. They think critically rather than accept everything they are told without question.
Curated OER
The Vocabulary of Space
Students build their knowledge and understanding of vocabulary related to space. In this space lesson, students discuss four categories of words and phrases related to space.
Curated OER
Extensions - Astronomy Review Unit
Students participate in a review unit in Astronomy using the Layered Curriculum. This allows them to take charge of the type of assessment that is given. The method also allows better differentiation of instruction to occur.
Curated OER
Retrograde Motion
Learners study the motions of the heavenly bodies. In this space lesson students use models to show a variety of schemes explaining the motions.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Exploration of Shadows: Earth, Moon, Sun System: Moon Phases Eclipses
A guided inquiry where learners participate in the simulation of moon phases and eclipses.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Phases of the Moon
When we look up at the night sky, why do we see the Moon's appearance changing over time from a full sphere to a crescent to nothing at all? Find the answers in this interactive resource adapted from the National Air and Space Museum.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Study Jams! Science: Our Solar System: The Moon
A slideshow and a short multiple-choice quiz on the moon. It discusses the moon's phases, its rotation, and characteristics of the moon.
Space.com
Moon Facts: Fun Information About the Earth's Moon
How did the moon form? Learn the answer to this and numerous other fun facts in this article from Space.com.
Michigan Reach Out
Reach Out michigan.org: Phases of the Moon
This site explains the phases of the moon and an easy way to remember waxing and waning. Students have to explain a given phase to their classmates with a model.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Fifth Grade Science: Earth Science: The Sun Earth Moon System
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Discusses solar and lunar eclipses, the phases of the Moon, and why the phases occur.
The Wonder of Science
The Wonder of Science: Ms Ess1 1: Earth Sun Moon System
Develop and use a model of the earth-sun-moon system to describe the cyclic patterns of lunar phases, eclipses of the sun and moon, and seasons.
Other
Introduction to Astronomy: The Motion of the Moon
This site provides a moving diagram of a Lunar eclipse, showing Earth's umbra and penumbra and the appearance of the Moon as it passes through these shadow regions.