Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Learning Lab: The Universe, an Introduction

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Start with the questions all students ask: How big is the universe, how far away are the planets and stars, how did they form and when, how do they move and why? Build on their natural curiosity. The Smithsonian, in cooperation with...
eBook
Unite for Literacy

Unite for Literacy: Earth and Sky: The Night Sky

For Students 1st - 2nd
Read about the sights you can see in a clear night sky. Book includes audio narration in 16 additional languages with text in English.
Website
Other

Sea and Sky: A Tour of the Solar System

For Students 9th - 10th
Take a virtual tour of the solar system starting with detailed information about the sun.
Online Course
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Open Course Ware: Hands on Astronomy: Observing Stars and Planets

For Students 9th - 10th
A university-level course in basic observational procedures in astronomy. Covers how to use a telescope, and includes lecture notes.
Article
University of Texas at Austin

The University of Texas Mc Donald Observatory: Venus

For Students 9th - 10th
Discover interesting facts about Venus, the hottest planet and the second planet from the Sun.
Handout
Cosmos 4 kids

Cosmos4 Kids: Everything Gathers

For Students 3rd - 8th
Understand that smaller parts make up the larger parts of our solar system. See that gas and dust come together to form a star, small rocks and asteroids come together to form planets, and so on. This page is a reference page that...
Interactive
American Museum of Natural History

American Museum of Natural History: O Logy: Stuff to Do: Stargazing

For Students 3rd - 8th
Get started on the road to becoming an expert stargazer by following these recommendations for identifying stars, planets, and constellations. Includes an example of a journal that can be used as a record of your investigations.
Website
NASA

Nasa: The Space Place

For Students Pre-K - 1st
This site is geared towards elementary learners, but most lessons can be modified for older learners. Space-related classroom activities, printable images of Earth and space, thought-provoking Space Place Musing podcasts and math-related...
Handout
Nine Planets

The Nine Planets: Meteors, Meteorites and Impacts

For Students 9th - 10th
Very informative and in-depth site about meteors, meteorites and their impacts. This site provides lots of text to inform about meteors, lots of pictures of the different types of meteorites, tables and statistics about meteors and...
Website
Enchanted Learning

Enchanted Learning: Zoom Astronomy: All About Space

For Students 3rd - 8th
A fantastic collection of information about the solar system. Includes information on all of the planets, the moon, the sun, asteroids, comets, meteoroids, and stars. Also find puzzles, a dictionary, quizzes, classroom activities, and...
Online Course
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: Earth and Space Science: Order Out of Chaos: Solar System

For Students 9th - 10th
Material to begin an exploration of the Solar System: the characteristics of the planets, theories about planet formation, and more. An hour-long video is accompanied by learning goals, an outline and overview, details on star formation,...
Website
NASA

Nasa Star Child: Mars, the Red Planet (Level 2)

For Students 3rd - 8th
A general introduction to Mars. Includes a glossary of terms and two images of Mars. Many interspersed links to more graphics and more detailed information about the planet Mars. Also includes a printable version and links to other...
Website
NASA

Nasa Star Child: Saturn, the Ringed Planet (Level 2)

For Students 3rd - 8th
An introductory site with information about planet Saturn, with a good glossary, a brief quiz, and links for more information. Printable version also available.
Activity
Other

Energy Star: Un Mundo Bellow Comienza Contigo [Pdf]

For Students 3rd - 8th
The Government sponsored resource helps individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. The activities teach students about the environment and what they can do to save the planet.
Activity
Other

Energy Star: A Beautiful World Starts With You [Pdf]

For Students 3rd - 8th
The Government sponsored resource helps individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. The activities teach students about the environment and what they can do to save the planet.
Handout
University of Virginia

University of Virginia: How the Greeks Used Geometry to Understand the Stars

For Students 9th - 10th
An article explaining how the Greeks were able to use their science and mathematics to predict where astronomical objects such as the Planets could be found in the nighttime sky even though their underlying premise was that the earth did...
Website
National Earth Science Teachers Association

Windows to the Universe: History & People

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographies of people throughout history who looked at the sky and wondered what was there. Links to a detailed description of the planets and interactive activities.
Website
NASA

Nasa Star Child: Mercury

For Students 3rd - 8th
Provides good information about Mercury and is a good starting point for information about the planet along with pictures and audio. Links to a simple fact table, puzzle, glossary, and more detailed information.
Lesson Plan
Utah Education Network

Uen: Where Did the Matter in the Universe Come From?

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Learners use various articles about how atoms are made and spread throughout the universe starting with the Big Bang. They will study the articles as groups and will then present their information to the class.
Website
NASA

Nasa Star Child: Probes to the Outer Planets (Level 2)

For Students 9th - 10th
This site has a description of the many probes sent to the outer planets, including pictures and vocabulary words linked to a glossary of terms. Other links on interesting facts and more detailed information are also included.
Website
Other

Sea and Sky: Celestial Objects

For Students 9th - 10th
Empty space in outer space is not truly empty. Celestial objects fill the space not occupied by planets, stars, and such. This resource identifies these objects and further explains their existence.
Website
European Space Agency

European Space Agency: Esa Kids: Our Universe: Supernovas

For Students 3rd - 8th
A basic overview of supernovas. Links to more information about starts, planets and other objects in our solar system and galaxy are included.
Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: Space Solar System

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
[Free Registration/Login Required] In this lesson students will compare and contrast the attributes of star, star patterns and planets. Students will also have the opportunity to review facts about each planet and then complete various...
Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: Calendar

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
[Free Registration/Login Required] The history of our calendar is presented through the passage of time with complete cycles of seasons in ancient history providing a starting place. Complete cycles of seasons are discussed and the...

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