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How Did the First Asteroid Come to be Discovered?
Students examine asteroids including how and when they were discovered. In this asteroid lesson students view a PowerPoint presentation on asteroids.
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What on Earth is Greater Than?
Students compare things that are greater than, less than, or equal to, compare the Earth to other planets, and list planets from greatest size to smallest size.
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Best of the Solar System
Young scholars visit a site which provides images to be analyzed. Notes are taken and planets are named based on observed features and observations. Using peer review, they try to determine the identity of the planets. They are free to...
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Kepler's Second Law
High schoolers explore orbital velocities and how they vary along each orbit, according to Kepler's Second Law.
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Voyage: A Journey Through Our Solar System
Thoroughly written, this plan walks you through every detail of having your high school astronomers design scale models of the solar system. Complete instructions on building to scale, lesson procedures, and associated worksheets are all...
Space Awareness
A View From Above
Analyzing and interpreting satellite data takes knowledge and patience. Through a detailed lab investigation, young scholars learn the process of analyzing this data. They use technology to create color images and maps from real...
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Sky Stories Curriculum
Students investigate the stories told by ancient cultures about the constellations. They listen to stories told by the Greeks and Romans. The classroom should have posters of constellations for the lesson and the teacher performs...
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The Planets Terra Firma
Students explore the theories of the creation of the universe and examine the properties of celestial bodies. They analyze the relationship between the sun, Earth and the other planets.
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An Interview with Mr. Sol
Young scholars explore the sun, the galaxy, and planets. As an introduction to a class discussion of the sun, students perform a skit. They discuss the elements that make up the sun, stars and planets.
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The Celestial Sphere
Students are introduced to the celestial sphere, describing its apparent rotation and the special role of the pole star.
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The Solar System
Students research the characteristics of planets in our solar system. In this space science lesson, students create a solar system model with each planet arranged according to their distance from the sun. They solve problems using the...
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Are There Other Neighborhoods Like Our Own?
Students investigate the possibility of life existing on other planets. They conduct research using a variety of resources. The instructional activity includes an overview that is used for classroom discussion practices. They tell the...
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Remember the Egg!
Students investigate how to see, describe and draw faint or subtle features on an object which is thought of by most people as having a smooth, featureless surface. The exercise is important to reinforce skills in making observations...
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Out There: An Astronomical Project
Fourth graders complete a WebQuest involving astronomy and copyright laws. They conduct Internet research, complete the WebQuest, and design and publish a planet travel brochure.
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Mineralogy, Astronomy, & Ancient Wisdom
Learners complete a variety of activities surrounding minerals, crystals, and mineralogy. They locate common minerals on a world map, complete a lab in which they identify the chemical and physical properties of various minerals, etc.
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Finding Jupiter's Moons
Students explore Jupiter's Moons. They calculate and predict the location of Jupiter's 4 large moons. In addition, they draw Jupiter with its moons correctly shown for the time of the observation.
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Measuring Elevation
Students practice measuring elevation, one of the key coordinates used by astronomers. They describe how the elevation of an object is measured.
and combine compass directions and elevation to find celestial objects.
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Three D Constellations
Students are introduced to both celestial coordinates and to the first rung on the distance determination ladder. They convert spherical coordinates to Cartesian coordinates to construct a three dimensional model of a constellation...
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The Chinese Zodiac And The Western Zodiac
High schoolers create individual horoscopes that contrast and compare Western and
Chinese views of their futures using poster boards and magic markers. In-class discussion is used to evaluate the use of the Zodiac in different cultures.
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Star Gazing
Third graders investigate what an astronomer is and what he studies in the solar system.
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Sky Pictures
Students investigate constellations. In this space science lesson, students view transparencies of constellations and identify the zodiac constellations. Students research the legends connected with the constellations.
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Lotto or Life: What Are the Chances?
Though the website does not seem to have the mentioned video, a reding and lottery style games simulate the chances of finding intelligent life somewhere other than Earth. Without the video, this lesson is short, but it can be a useful...
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Taking Risks: Drug and Alcohol Abuse
Students discuss a video about drug and alcohol abuse and their connection to risk-taking. They answer questions on a risk factor sheet about the use of tobacco, drugs, and alcohol. They discuss long and short term goals and how not...
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Enslaved and Running
Learners use runaway slave advertisements to discover how the language varies from the 18th to 21st century. Using primary source documents, they research the brutality of slavery and the desire of those in slavery to be free. They...