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The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
In this astronomy worksheet, students use a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram to examine the relationship between the average temperatures of stars and their absolute magnitude. After viewing the diagram, they complete 10 short answer questions.
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Plan a Mission to Recently Discovered Planet
Students plan a mission to a recently discovered planet. In this science lesson, students research spacecraft design, distances in space, long-term missions in space, and life-sustaining planets. Students work in groups to research an...
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Hot Air
High schoolers conduct an experiment to determine how hot air affect the path of laser. In this physics lesson plan, students explain why stars appear to twinkle at night. They discuss how light travels from space to Earth.
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Properties of Dust
Pupils examine the dust in their classroom and relate it to the dust in space. In this investigative lesson students collect dust and graph their findings.
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Tracking and Tracing Sunspots
Students examine sunspots. In this sunspot lesson, students use applets to investigate the movement of sunspots. Students research sunspots and evaluate the rotation of the sun. Lesson references outside resources not available in this...
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The Solar Cycle
Learners research the solar cycle. In this Science lesson plan, students use the internet to investigate the solar cycle. Learners produce a spreadsheet and graph from the information collected.
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Galaxies
Students use the provided website to classify galaxies after exploring information about elliptical, spiral, lenticular, and irregular galaxies and using the Hubble Tuning Fork.
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Modeling the Big Bang and the Formation of the Universe
Sixth graders conduct an experiment to understand the Big Bang Theory. For this Big Bang Theory lesson, 6th graders will observe a balloon with confetti popping to emulate and analyze information related tot he Big Bang theory. Students...
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Bubble-ology
Students observe the visible spectrum while observing light hitting the surface of bubbles. They blow large bubbles and observe how the colors change.
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Studying Shadows
Students measure shadows and explore the altitude of the sun. In this sun lesson students will graph the length of shadows and solar altitude against time.
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Constellations
Young scholars explore constellations. They read trade books about constellations and write notes including their locations, origins, and names. They research and report on one constellation in the Northern Hemisphere and share their...
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Are We Alone
Seventh graders collect/analyze data and draw conclusions; support reasoning by using a variety of evidence; construct logical arguments; access information at remote sites using telecommunications; apply the concept of percent;...
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Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
Learners examine the relationship between temperature and brightness. In this astronomy lesson students will correlate the evolution of stars to the HR diagram plotted.
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The Difference Between Comets, Meteors And Asteroids
Students use Venn diagrams to highlight the similarities and differences between comets, meteors, and asteroids.
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SETI WebQuest and the Drake Equation
Students complete a WebQuest where they research the Internet for extraterrestrial intelligence. In this extraterrestrial lesson plan, students also explore how the Drake Equation can predict the occurrence of life elsewhere.
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Hubble Space Telescope Webquest
Middle schoolers research the Hubble Space Telescope. In this Hubble Space Telescope lesson, students complete a webquest about the Hubble Space Telescope.
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Using Parallax to Determine Distances
Students study parallax and what it is used for. In this distance activity students complete an activity that allows students to get experience using a parallax.
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The Universe
Students describe what scientists mean by an "expanding universe" in their own words. They explain how scientists comprehend the universie is expanding. Students comprehend the vast scale of the universe. They comprehend how theory...
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Mirror, Mirror
High schoolers investigate the Law of Reflection and how light travels. In this reflection lesson students produce data from their experiment then create a pencil tracing.
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Stellar Observations
Ninth graders study the uses of spectroscopy and the operation of the Hubble space telescope. In this astronomy lesson students complete a lab activity that includes graphing star color and temperature.
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Heating Up: Direct and Indirect Sunlight
Young scholars, by conducting simulations, explore the effects of direct and indirect sunlight on heating of the Earth.
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Stars and Slopes
Students use the slopes of various curves plotted on log-log graph paper to classify stellar objects as binary stars, supernovae, or active galaxies.The data used in this lesson were obtained from X-ray astronomy satellites.
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Project SETI.
Tenth graders study how to search for life in outer space and make use of the 40-foot radio telescope at Greenbank, West Virginia. Request that the telescope be pointed at a particular location and time and receive data back from it...
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Particulate Sampler
Students estimate the extent of particulate air pollution present in their neighborhoods.