Students perform many inquiry activities related to Earth's orbit. Included are recording daily temperatures, observing the sun's path over several weeks, tracking sunrise and sunset times, and angle of sunlight. Diagrams make lessons...

[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Discusses the motion of the Earth with its day and night cycle, the seasons, the Earth's orbit around the Sun, and its year-long cycle.

A discussion and statement of an equation for orbital speed. An interactive JavaScript form allows the user to investigate the relationship between orbital height and orbital speed. A very good opportunity to practice and receive...

The official transcription of John Glenn's in-flight communication with Mission Control during his orbit around the earth in 1962.

This interactive activity from the Adler Planetarium explains the "reasons for the seasons." Featured is a game in which Earth must be properly placed in its orbit in order to send Max, the host, to different parts of the world during...

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...

Site provides extensive information in the study of comets. Includes excellent graphics that depict what comets look like as they travel through the solar system. Also includes information on how comets may have effected the Earth's...

Students explore orbit transfers and, specifically, Hohmann transfers. They investigate the orbits of Earth and Mars by using cardboard and string. Students learn about the planets' orbits around the sun, and about a transfer orbit from...

A slideshow exploring Earth's rotation and revolution around the sun. Learn that because of Earth's axis tilt we experience the seasons!

[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Looks at the size and shape of planet orbits.

[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Examines the eight planets of our solar system and their orbits and rotation.

[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Examines the eight planets of our solar system, their orbits, and rotation.

[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.

[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Learn about the distinctive features of the planet Venus.

Experience a science simulation illustrating the Copernican theory of Earth's orbit around the sun.

Third graders use their bodies to act out the motions of earth.

The story of America's first astronaut to orbit the earth during the Mercury Space program. After launching the program click on continue or on the numbers to learn about the story of the Mercury program and the first American to orbit...

In this animated video segment adapted from NASA, astronomer Doris Daou explains how the forces of speed and gravity keep the moon in a constant orbit around Earth. [1:36]

Teach the concept of scale models and the size of the solar system through this extensive lesson plan. Students will learn about scale models, estimate which objects to use to create a scale model of Earth and Sun, and figure out how far...

See amazing radar images of Earth taken from the space shuttle orbiting high above the surface. Categories include archeology, geology, volcanoes, and more! Visit the NASA/JPL Imaging Radar Program link for more images and information.

This video segment adapted from NASA uses animation to illustrate the properties of meteor showers and comets. Included is are visualizations of a comet's tail and of Earth passing through a debris stream left behind by meteoroids.

This site from NASA provides a detailed description of the final Mercury mission where Gordon Cooper orbited the earth 22 times alone for the last "Solo" American space mission.

Construct a model that helps to show how satellites stay in orbit around the Earth. Then see how a flashlight can help explain how a satellite can send messages to different locations.

Do you know how gravity affects you? This module defines gravity and explains how gravity affects the motion of objects.