Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Strange New Planet

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students simulate different spacecraft missions using materials provided. In this space science lesson, students observe and record a planetary model's features from a distance. They relate this activity to scientists' space exploration...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Clip the Face

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discover the moon's phases and the rarity of eclipses. In this lunar lesson, students view a video titled Spin Around the Solar System: A Moon Dance, which demonstrates the key differences between a lunar and solar eclipse....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar System Fun Facts

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students read facts about the Solar System. In this solar system lesson plan, students read facts on the dimensions, planets, and workings of the solar system. There is a big emphasis on Saturn.
Lesson Plan
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Puzzling Planets

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students 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
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The Big Bang

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Students explore our universe. In this solar system lesson, students gain knowledge about the solar system, galaxy, the universe and the Big Bang Theory. Students watch videos and view a slideshow.
Lesson Plan
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Planetary Weather

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students study the weather on other planets in our solar system.  In this planetary weather lesson students create a display of the different weather conditions on the other planets. 
Lesson Plan
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Planets or Not, Here We Come!

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students, working in groups, research planets in terms of the size, temperature, number of moons, and potential for life. They use packets and worksheets as guides for their research. Students may role-play as aliens visiting their...
Lesson Plan
Journey Through the Universe

Where to Look For Life?

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
Every year we discover new planets including more than 1,000 in 2016 alone. Will we ever find life on another planet? The instructional activity includes two activities to help scholars understand this concept. First, they analyze the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Galaxy Adventure

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Working in groups, learners create a mnemonic device, give an oral presentation, and create a pictorial representation of the correct sequence of the planets and asteroid belt from the sun. An assessment rubric is included in the...
Worksheet
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The Ellipse

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
This is a practical sheet with the instructions to draw a set of ellipses. After following the diagrams, there are ten questions to complete, with calculations expected for alternate orbits and comparisons related to actual planets in...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Determining distance between planets and the Sun

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students use a model to determine the distance between the sun and plants in our solar system. They determine a scale to use that represents the distance between the Earth and sun. Students calculate the scale distance that each planet...
Lesson Plan
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The Best of the Solar System - Planetary Research

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students increase their ability to recognize the planets and their surface features. In this exploratory activity students focus on details by studying uncaptioned images.
Lesson Plan
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KNOW YOUR PLACE IN SPACE

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students examine the positions of the nine planets in respect to our solar system and explain the unique characteristics of each planet.
Worksheet
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Scavenger Hunt: Who am I?

For Students 7th - 9th
In this solar system worksheet, students use an on line source to find the names of the people who discovered the planets, comets, asteroids, black holes and the idea of the big bang theory.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Solar System Scramble

For Students 2nd - 4th
In this recognizing the names of the planets and finding the hidden phrase learning exercise, students unscramble the letters to solve the word scramble. Students write 10 answers.
Lesson Plan
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What's "In" There: A Study of the Inner Planets - Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars

For Teachers 1st
First graders identify and explore the four inner planets. In this planet science lesson, 1st graders watch a PowerPoint about the planets. Students read the book Our Solar System and discuss the inner planets. Students create a book...
Lesson Plan
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Planets for Sale

For Teachers 3rd
Student develop their technology skills. In this solar system instructional activity, 3rd graders create a movie featuring planets that they research. Students use flip video cameras to film commercials to market their planets.
Worksheet
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Solar System

For Students 3rd - 6th
In this Solar System worksheet, students are quizzed. Students answer questions about the solar system and the planets and other celestial bodies that comprise it.
Lesson Plan
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Solar System

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Learners analyze theories on how the solar system was formed.  For this solar system lesson students explain the rotation and revolution of motion. 
Lesson Plan
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Solar System

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders identify the basic concepts of celestial bodies. They discover the difference between perihelion and aphelion and demonstrate how the universe is expanding. They also discover how gravity and centrifugal force are...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Comprehension: Compare and Contrast Topics in Two Texts

For Teachers 3rd
A scripted instructional activity can be a big help for new teachers. This fully scripted three-day learning activity provides teachers with the means to demonstrate how to compare and contrast two topics in two texts. Learners will work...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Intriguing Star, the Sun!

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Explore the sun in a lesson plan about space. The lesson plan spans ten weeks, with students performing activities to answer weekly questions about the Sun and Earth.
Worksheet
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Out of this World! 1

For Students 4th - 5th
In this space science instructional activity, students use reference books or Internet searches to find the answers to 15 questions about the solar system.
Lesson Plan
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The Sun

For Teachers 8th - 10th
In this space science worksheet, learners identify and name which gases make up the sun and the name of the part of the sun that we can see from Earth. Then they describe a solar eclipse and draw a diagram illustrating what happens...