Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Kinesthetic Astronomy: Longer Days, Shorter Nights

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
A lamp, four globes, and some signs taped around the room are all you need to set up a solar system simulation for teaching how Earth's tilted axis creates the seasons. (Sticky dots are also needed, but not mentioned in the materials...
Activity
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Lake Afton Public Observatory

Shadows, Angles, and the Seasons

For Teachers 3rd - 7th Standards
Shine some light on the topic of seasonal change with this collection of activities. Whether it's by measuring the change in the length of their shadows, or modeling the earth's orbit around the sun using a lamp and a globe, these...
Activity
1
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Star Date

Modeling the Night Sky

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Dramatize the stars and planets as they become a visual representation of the solar system in this activity. Young astronomers track and simulate various constellations as they orbit the Earth to learn the position and motion of...
Activity
International Technology Education Association

Team Up on the Weather

For Teachers 6th - 10th
There's a little bit about every aspect of weather in this trivia game. The lesson resource provides 36 questions and answers pertaining to four different topics related to weather: effects, science, technology, and statistics. Groups...
Activity
Resources for Educators

Fractions of Fun

For Students 3rd - 5th Standards
Reinforce concepts and encourage learner engagement with a collection of math games, science experiments, and cross curricular activities. In one fun resource, learners sort objects, keep a diary of everyday fractions, play a game using...
Activity
Cornell University

Sun or Water? or Both?

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Over the course of 10 days, young scientists observe their cups of seed and soil—one that gets sun and water and one that gets no sun and only water. Then they reflect on the results of the experiment to determine if their hypothesis was...
Lesson Plan
Chandler Unified School District

Art Masterpiece—Leonardo da Vinci Inventions

For Teachers 6th
After getting to know the inventor, Leonardo da Vinci and his many inventions, scholars think up their own invention. Following a written description and a hand-drawn picture, learners use a method of mirror writing and antiquing to give...
Activity
1
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University of Texas

Observing the Moon

For Teachers K - 8th Standards
Why does it look like there is a man on the moon? Why does the moon look different every night? These are the focus questions of a lesson that prompts class members to observe and record the nightly changes of Earth's natural...
Lesson Plan
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Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics

A Classroom Solar System

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Create a scaled model of our solar system in your classroom! Scholars work collaboratively to build paper mache planets and hang them in their proper position to showcase each planet's location in the solar system.   
Activity
School World

Moon Observation Project

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Mrs. Flynt has designed a 12-day moon observation activity that is best assigned when daylight hours are shorter. Middle school moon experts record several factors, including the altitude above the horizon, the azimuth, the phase, and...
Activity
Curated OER

Icy Sun Catcher

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Students fill the tray half full with water. In this art lesson, students lay the string in the tray and add little bits of little items. Students lay the tray outdoors on a cold winter night so that the water freezes. What is frozen...
Activity
Curated OER

Lollipop Tree

For Teachers Pre-K - K
Students plant a lollipop stick and bean seeds. In this plant lesson, students water the seeds everyday until they start to sprout, after which they tie lollipops to the tree.
Activity
Other

Center for Science Education: Eye on the Sky: What Makes Day and Night?

For Students Pre-K - 1st
This activity will allow you to model day and night cycles. A rotating student holding a map (provided) models the earth. A lamp is used to model the sun. Numerous worksheets (pdf) and additional website resources are also provided.
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Tick Tock, Does Your Mouse Know the Time on the Clock?

For Students 9th - 10th
For this science fair project, you will build a device that records your nocturnal pet's activity by monitoring movement of its exercise wheel to see how it varies during the day and night. You can also experiment with various ways of...
Activity
Songs for Teaching

Sciences Songs All Day Long: Nocturnal Animals

For Students Pre-K - 1st
By listening to this song your students will learn all of the animals that are awake during the night. They will equate the sounds they hear at night with the animals and their sounds in the song.