Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Postcards From Mars

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders research and explore what life would be like for human colonists on Mars. They explore various websites, read and discuss newspaper articles, develop a chart of the hardships and conditions that would be faced by colonists...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

TAKING APART OWL PELLETS

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students dissect and owl pellet and then reconstruct small rodents on a presentation board using a textbook picture as a guide.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Remote Sensing - What Can We See When We Can't Touch?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners discover how remote sensing is used to identify the signatures of life even when the particular life form is not directly observable. They investigate how a satellite "sees" objects on the surface of Earth.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Continents and Oceans on the Move

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students create an awareness of the vast percentage of water covering the earth. They relate similarities/differences between topographical maps and other maps of various time periods. Students examine how to use a topographical map.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dangers Of Radiation Exposure

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the effects of radiation exposure and how it can effect objects on earth and space. They conduct research using a variety of resources and use the information to create a project that is reflective of good research...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A DISAPPEARING ACT Astronomy: Do Stars Always Shine?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students observe why stars are not visible during the day with a classroom demonstration using an index card punched with holes.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Teachers' Notes: Switch Gets Ready!

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students practice multiplication facts, answer simple math questions from two, five, and ten times-tables, explore concept of halves and quarters, complete worksheet containing range of shapes to make shape picture, and sort data and...
Handout
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Planets in Our Solar System Study Guide

For Students 9th - 10th
A quick overview of the eight planets in our solar system.
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: How Big Are the Planets in Our Solar System?

For Students 3rd - 5th
This activity explores the relative size of the eight planets that circle around the Sun.
Website
NASA

Nasa: Solar System Exploration

For Students 9th - 10th
This stunning site on the solar system gives a great overview of the planets and our sun. Learn about each object's size, vital statistics, and moons. Then go on for a more in depth look at these objects in the column on the left.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Explore Our Solar System

For Teachers 2nd - 4th Standards
[Free Registration/Login Required] This informational text passage shares facts about planets in the solar system. This passage is a stand-alone curricular piece that reinforces essential reading skills and strategies and establishes...
Website
National Earth Science Teachers Association

Windows to the Universe: Our Solar System

For Students 9th - 10th
Our solar system is filled with a wide assortment of celestial bodies - the Sun itself, our eight planets, dwarf planets, and asteroids - and on Earth, life itself! The inner solar system is occasionally visited by comets that loop in...
Website
Enchanted Learning

Enchanted Learning: The Planets

For Students 3rd - 5th
This survey of the planets includes all the basics, size, mass, atmosphere, length of day, and the like. It features interactive activities and learning exercises and compares all of the planets in colorful tables.
Unit Plan
E-learning for Kids

E Learning for Kids: Science: Seychelles: What Is the Solar System?

For Students 2nd - 4th
In this lesson, students learn about the planets, their moons, asteroids, comets, and dwarf planets in our solar system.
Handout
Cool Math

Coolmath: Science Monster: Introduction to Our Solar System

For Students 3rd - 8th
Find out about all the planets and other solar system characteristics in this colorful, illustrated tutorial on our neighborhood in space.
Interactive
Soft Schools

Soft Schools: Space: Solar System Interactives

For Students 3rd - 8th
Identify the planets in our solar system and discover how much you weigh on another planet with these space interactives.
Graphic
Other

All (Known) Bodies in Our Solar System Larger Than 200 Miles in Diameter

For Students 9th - 10th
How big is the Earth compared to the Sun? Is Mars bigger than the Moon? Seeing all bodies in the solar system larger than 200 miles in diameter side by side provides an excellent comparison and an interesting perspective.
Activity
National Geographic

National Geographic: Educator Resources: Extreme Weather on Other Planets

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Find lesson plans, worksheets, photo galleries, and related links for teaching about the weather systems of planets in our solar system.
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: In Our Galaxy, Far, Far, Away

For Teachers 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about earth-like planets in other solar systems. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Unit Plan
NASA

Nasa: Solar System Exploration

For Students 9th - 10th
Enter our solar system to interact with the planets, moons, asteroids, meteors, and more. Investigate with NASA scientists and explore missions related to space exploration. Read facts, compare statistics, look through resources, and...
Unit Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Solar System!

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
An introduction to our solar system: the planets, our Sun and our Moon. Students begin by learning the history and engineering of space travel. They make simple rockets to acquire a basic understanding Newton's third law of motion. They...
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Solar System Scale Model

For Teachers 6th - 8th
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...
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Know Your Neighbors: Researching the Planets

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students will study planets and moons in our solar system by working online and other resources. This lesson plan has students working together to generate a spreadsheet of data found. Students will use this information to describe why...
Handout
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Formation of the Sun and Planets Study Guide

For Students 9th - 10th
Understand the formation of the sun and planets in our solar system.