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Destination Red Planet
Students explore reasons why people are interested in exploring other planets. After reading an article, they identify developments in the mission to Mars. Using the internet, they research the history of exploring Mars and create a...
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Etymology
Students tie together planet names with Greek mythology. Students browse thru a dictionary to see where exactly these names came from and what significance they have. Students explore the origins of some English words.
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Planets or Not, Here We Come!
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...
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The Contest Between the Sun and the Wind
Students investigate the relationship between the sun and wind. In this reading comprehension lesson, students read the book The Contest Between the Sun and the Wind, and observe the effect of the Sun and wind on our planet....
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Solar System
Students research the nine planets on the internet using the provided links. They also search for pictures of each of the nine planets and use these pictures to create a PowerPoint slideshow. Finally, they prsent their slideshow report...
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Forces of Nature: Ring of Fire
Third graders will research the Ring of Fire and be able to share their findings with their partner. They will also demonstrate volcanic eruptions using a baking soda and vinegar volcano model. Then they will discover how continental...
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Introduce Vocabulary: I Am Planet Earth
Learners discover the meaning of tier two vocabulary words. In this vocabulary lesson, students read I Am Planet Earth, listening for 3 pre-select tier two vocabulary words. Words are defined by the teacher and learners practice...
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Space the Next Frontier
Students examine the use of space as the frontier of the future. Using the colonist's experience coming to the New World, they identify challenges they would face if they were to settle in space. As a class, they share what they already...
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Follow the Drinking Gourd: Creative Writing
Learners conduct Internet research to identify the conflicts and positions of slaves, slaveholders, and members of the Underground Railroad network in the time preceding the Civil War. Students write an essay about their findings written...
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Planets in Proportion
Learners apply estimation strategies and proportional reasoning to determine a scale comparing the planetary bodies to Earth. They convert measurements of time and distance using scientific notation. Both the metric and customary units...
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See the Stars
Students explore the nighttime sky. In this space science instructional activity, students read the book Maria's Comet and and investigate the sky using their naked eyes. Students compare the view of their naked eyes to the view of a...
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Investigating Planetary Soils
Learners study soil characteristics and identify properties of soils from different parts of the solar system. In this soil lesson students divide into groups, read soil descriptions, test and record soil samples.
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The Lorax Explorations
Students read and debate the purpose of Dr. Seuss' The Lorax, analyze its story elements, and write their own The Lorax II.
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History of Saturn Discoveries
Learners interpret how scientists have explored Saturn. In this NASA based astronomy instructional activity, students create a timeline depicting the study of Saturn from 1610 until 2010. Each student will write a letter to Galileo...
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Planetary Diversity
Students explore the infrared radiation and the part of the spectrum that is not always visible. In this electromagnetic lesson plan students complete a lab activity on the different wavelengths.
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Flight of the Future/Space Flight
Students explore space science by viewing videos on YouTube. In this moon landing lesson, students view clips of Neil Armstrong taking his first step on the moon and discuss the space race between the U.S. and Russia. Students utilize...
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The Sun
Students draw diagram of sun and its layers, including photosphere, chromosphere, corona, convection and radiative zones, and core. Students then describe each layer in their own words, define sun spot cycle, and describe solar flares.
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Children's Literature Across the Curriculum Ideas-Challenger: America's Space Tragedy
Students read Challenger: America's Space Tragedy by MichaelD. Cole. They complete a variety of cross-curricular activities surrounding the study of the Challenger space shuttle tragedy. Included are reading, art, math, science, writing,...
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Think Green
THINKGREEN has a computer printer cartridge collection program. After reading the story of how Assumption Secondary School in Burlington, Ontario started participating in the THINKGREEN recycling program, pupils work in groups of...
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Planet Research
Students recognize that the other eight known planets, which revolve around the Sun, have characteristics and surface conditions that are different from Earth; and identify examples of those differences.
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All About Titan and the Huygens Probe
Students examine the characterisitics of Saturn's largest moon, Titan. They discuss what they think is on Titan and what the Huygens probe can tell them about the moon. They write a summary about the information they gathered during...
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Phases of the Moon
Students research and identify the phases of the moon. They consider the moon's rotation, as well as that of the earth and sun. They write a description of their research and present it to the class.
Channel Islands Film
Island Rotation: Lesson Plan 1
How do scientists provide evidence to support the theories they put forth? What clues do they put together to create these theories? After watching West of the West's documentary Island Rotation class members engage in a series of...
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When I Heard the Learned Astronomer
Students recognize different purposes and methods of writing and to identify a writer's tone and point of view.