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

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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Watershed Management

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the concept of a watershed. They conduct research into the concept using a variety of resources. Students take a field trip to a local watershed to make observations. The outcome is a report concerning the outside...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A DISAPPEARING ACT Astronomy: Do Stars Always Shine?

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

The Water Cycle

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Students create an "animated" water cycle wheel that illustrates where water comes from and where it goes.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Robots from Junk

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers create balloon and rubber band models of robotic rovers to investigate the concepts of mass, torque, and friction. Through research and planning, students construct a rover test-bed that simulates the Martian environment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Satellite Mobiles

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students discuss satellites and their functions. They design and construct their own satellite out of readily available materials. Students are taught the definition of a satellite. They discuss the two main purposes of satellites:...
Lesson Plan
ArtsNow

Arts Now Learning: Explore the Solar System With Theater [Pdf]

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this instructional activity, students build upon prior knowledge of the planets in the solar system by becoming aliens living on the planets. As aliens, they learn about their planets and create advertisements to persuade someone to...
Lesson Plan
The Wonder of Science

The Wonder of Science: Ms Ess1 3: Scale Properties in the Solar System

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Work samples, phenomena, assessment templates, and videos that directly address standard MS-ESS1-3: scale properties in the solar system.
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
Utah Education Network

Uen: Composition of the Solar System

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students will use a reading selection to compare the solar system to a neighborhood and do some writing, drawing and make comparisons to reinforce their knowledge about the rocky planets, gas giants and amount of matter in the solar system.
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Not So Lost in Space

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students learn how engineers navigate satellites in orbit around the Earth and on their way to other planets in the solar system. In accompanying activities, they explore how ground-based tracking and onboard measurements are performed....
Lesson Plan
Other

Simple Science: Planetary Gallery

For Teachers 5th - 8th
The innovative resource examines images of the Sun, Moon, Pluto, and all eight planets in the Solar System. Learners calculate the diameter of each object and rank the objects in order of size. The activity has an interactive online...
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Inner and Outer Planets of the Solar System

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this science lesson learners will work collaboratively to learn and introduce the eight planets, sizes, characteristics, and their order. They will use size comparisons, research a planet, design a poster and create a PowerPoint...
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 instructional activity has students working together to generate a spreadsheet of data found. Students will use this information to...
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Lost in Space a Solar System Study

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
During this technology based lesson, students navigate the Internet to learn interesting information about the solar system. They use the information to complete a worksheet and to create a puzzle or challenge for their classmates.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Investigating Ordering Planets: Math Connections & Number Sense in Science

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
In this Solar System Investigate, students will determine ways to order the planets. Teacher directed inquiry will suggest that they first order the planets according to their distance from the sun. Students will then work on their own...
Lesson Plan
Utah Education Network

Uen: My Solar System

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students will use a simulation to build their own solar system discovering the relationship between gravity and motion that keeps a planet in orbit.
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: If Earth No Longer Existed. . .

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students will work in cooperative groups to research characteristics of each of the planets in our solar system. Students will design a travel brochure outlining the characteristics of each planet. Each group will make an oral...
Lesson Plan
University of Texas at Austin

The University of Texas Mc Donald Observatory: Rock Cycle

For Teachers 6th - 8th
This activity combines the concept of Earth's rock cycle with the characteristics of other planets in the solar system.
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Math Space Odyssey: How Much Do You Weigh in Outer Space?

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Demonstrate the ability to apply the use of decimals, fractions, ratios and proportions to situations based upon given information about planets in the solar system.
Lesson Plan
Other

Montana State University: How Much Would You Weigh on Distant Planets?

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
This resource contains a lesson plan in which students study the effects of gravity on the planets of the Solar System. They will view movies from the lunar Apollo missions, calculate their own weight on other planets, and propose what...
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Creating the Solar System

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This two-part lesson begins with a lecture which describes the complex process of creation from molecular cloud to planetesimals to planets to organized solar system. The lecture is followed up with a draw/write activity in which the...
Lesson Plan
Other

Making a Scale Model of the Solar System

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this lesson plan site, middle schoolers are asked to construct a scale model of the planets to help visualize the relative size of planets and their relative distance from the Sun. Links are provided to the Sun and the planets which...