Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Classification of Pasta, Rice and the Nine Planets

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders create a classification system of the planets and give a written rational for their choice of categories.  For this investigative lesson students participate in an activity that helps them to explore classification.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Nine Planets

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders examine and investigate the solar system. They participate in a Webquest, and create a Powerpoint presentation that is meant to be a research guide to help alien visitors find a suitable habitat in the solar system.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Planet Fractions and Scales

For Students 7th - 9th
In this planets and fractions worksheet, students solve nine problems about the sizes and scales of planets compared to each other using fractions.
Worksheet
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Math Skiils: Comparing Integers on a Number Line

For Students 5th - 7th Standards
Here is an attractive assignment that instructs learners how to compare more than one integer on a number line. After the lesson, three practice problems follow. They require learners to place integers on a number line and then order...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Please Ex-Planet!

For Teachers 5th - 8th
What is most useful about this lesson plan is the "Student Explanet Worksheet," a set of instructions for collaborative groups to use to collect information about an assigned planet. After students have researched and organized their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planetary Place Value

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Third graders explore place value to the ten thousands place. This incredibly thorough, 24-page lesson has learners construct, order, and compare numbers to 9,999. This three-day lesson includes reteaching and extension activities...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planets

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders discover facts about the planets. For this planets lesson, 3rd graders form groups, choose a plant, gather facts about that planet and create a poster with the information. Students learn "tricks" on how to remember...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ceres and Pluto: Dwarf Planets as a New Way of Thinking about an Old Solar System

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students examine the new categories of planets and how planets were reclassified.  In this solar system lesson students complete activities using Venn diagrams and images of planets. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planets in Our Solar System

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders are introduced to the various planets, stars and moons in our solar system. Using photographs, they place the planets into the correct order from the sun. In groups, they research one planet, create a fact sheet and make...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nine in the Sky

For Teachers 1st
First graders explore the day and night sky and complete a page for the number 9 for their counting book.
Lesson Plan
1
1
University of Colorado

Planetary Distances on the Playground

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
Earth is 149,600,000 km, or 92,957,130.4 miles, from the sun. Young astronauts create an interactive model to learn the distances between planets. Nine groups, each representing a different planet, are spread around at class-calculated...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

WebQuest Solar System Colonization Project 2000

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders investigate the livability of different planets in the universe by researching and organizing information from a number of sources in this unit project. They decide on a location for a space station which they support in an...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Space, The Funky Frontier Internet Research Worksheet

For Students 4th - 5th
In this solar system activity, students explore a web site called The Nine Planets, to refresh their knowledge of the solar system, and to research new facts about Uranus. They answer three questions about Uranus, write an essay about...
Worksheet
Curated OER

A Matter of Timing

For Students 7th - 9th
In this orbital period worksheet, students solve 2 problems about satellites and their orbits. They determine how many days it takes for two satellites to be in "opposition", they find the least common factor between their orbit periods...
Worksheet
Curated OER

The Universe Has Room for Change

For Students 7th - 9th
In this universe and change worksheet, students read about the demotion of Pluto as one of the 9 planets as well as other changes in science. Students summarize their reading and identify unfamiliar words in the article....
Lesson Plan
University of Colorado

The Moons of Jupiter

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Can you name the three planets with rings in our solar system? Everyone knows Saturn, many know Uranus, but most people are surprised to learn that Jupiter also has a ring. The third in a series of six teaches pupils what is around...
Writing
1
1
Curriculum Corner

Earth Day Book

For Students 1st - 3rd Standards
This Earth Day, celebrate our beautiful planet with an activity book that challenges scholars to show off their map skills, complete a crossword puzzle, write acrostic poems, alphabetize, and reflect on their personal Earth-friendly habits.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Space Exploration to Find Habitable Planets

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Students explore space science by reviewing scientific vocabulary terms. In this planet identification lesson, students identify the nine planets in our solar system and discuss which ones could potentially harbor life at some point....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Puzzling Planets

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Learners examine the concept of a solar system. In this research based lesson, students compare a star and a planet. They explain the requirements for life in a biosphere.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar System Search

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Pupils learn the names of the nine planets. They are then given a worksheet which they use to identify the planets based on actively listening to the teacher's oral description. This is a great listening activity.
Lesson Plan
1
1
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics

Planetary Distances on the Playground

For Teachers 3rd - 6th Standards
There's no need to stay inside; get out of the classroom and create a scaled map of the solar system on your playground field! In collaborative groups, scholars identify the distance between the sun and other planets, place planet...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Organic Molecules Detected on Distant Planet!

For Students 7th - 9th
Here is a planet instructional activity in which learners read about organic molecules detected through spectral lines of the planet Osiris. They calculate the mass, the volume and the densities of common ingredients for planets...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planet Impact!

For Teachers 5th - 9th
An amazing information-packed lesson plan allows your space scientists to crash a virtual comet into Jupiter and learn how the angle, distance, speed, and mass influence the outcome. Click on "Back to the Lesson" to access the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Changing Planet: The Case of the Leaky Gyre

For Teachers 7th - 10th
The fascinating video "Changing Planet: Fresh Water in the Arctic," introduces your oceanographers to the world's gyres. They learn that melting sea ice is making the gyres larger, and that the changes could, in turn, contribute even...