Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Concept Application: One to One Correspondence of Objects

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students consider the comparative sizes of the planets in the solar system. In this scale lesson, students select balls of different sizes to represent the planets in the solar system.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

To Infinity and Beyond

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Pupils explore the planets in our solar system and create a brochure on each planet. They read the book, The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System and write notes about solar system facts and watch a video. After the video, they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Voyage to Titan

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students go to the linked web page "The Nine Planets" to find facts about Titan. They list elements of the solar system and the five planets of the outer solar system. Students find their weight on each planet. Titan is selected from the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Colonizing the Stars

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students compare and contrast the size, composition and surface features of the nine planets of our solar system with the possible sizes and compositions of extra -solar planets.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mars Colonization Assignment #1

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders recognize the some day humans may wish to colonize Mars. They participate in an Internet adventure where they compare and contrast Earth to the other nine planets in the solar system.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mercury, Venus, and Earth

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students learn information about the planets Mercury, Venus, and Earth by playing a trivia game.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

TE Activity: Space Shelter

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students simulate that they need to develop a new home on a different planet. They design a shelter that will ensure their survival after researching the characteristics of the other planet. They write an essay about their home design.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Distance in Space

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Young scholars discover the vocabulary used for distances in space and review measurement units and instruments before creating a scale model of the planets. They determine how to calculate the relative distances between the planets...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Earth Sun Relationships Incorporating P.E.

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders investigate space science by performing physical activities.  In this solar system instructional activity, 3rd graders perform a relay activitiy with their class in which they race between different "planets". ...
Worksheet
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Our universe

For Students 6th - 8th
In this quiz, students are asked 20 questions about the magnitude of planets and stars both in and out of our Solar System. An answer key is provided.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Do Atmospheres Affet Planetary Temperatures?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students perform a literature search and use reputable research resources in order to find the surface temperature of different planets in our solar system. They speculate about the observed and unobserved factors. Then brainstorming is...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Meteorites

For Teachers 1st - 11th
Students model how meteors fall to the surface of planets. In this space science lesson, students identify different types of meteorites using an interactive online website. They investigate the relationship between a meteorite's size...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stellar Discoveries That Are Out of This World

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students hear of the recent discovery of a group of planets orbiting the star Upsilon Andromedae. Each student create a page about an element of the universe,
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Path to Mars

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students compare Earth and Mars to find similarities between the two planets using given websites. They collect and download pictures of geological features of both planets from print and non-print sources. Descriptions of the...
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Spinning into Space

For Teachers 1st
Students, through hands-on activities, teacher demonstrations, pictures, and informational books, complete a unit on the Earth and its place in the Universe. They make mobiles of the Milky Way and watch demonstrations of lunar and solar...
Interactive
Curated OER

Exploring Jupiter: Galileo Curriculum Module Issue One

For Students 5th - 6th
In this exploring Jupiter:  Galileo Curriculum Module issue one worksheet, students complete a crossword puzzle that tests their knowledge of Jupiter; their are 11 links to other worksheets to explore the planet.
Lesson Plan
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Impact Craters: Holes in the Ground!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars simulate crater formation through a lab activity. In this space science instructional activity, students calculate how much energy is transferred during meteorite impact. They identify different factors affecting the size...
Lesson Plan
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Extraterrestrials

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners discuss the possibility of intelligent life in space. In this space science lesson plan, students decipher a radio message electronically transmitted in space. They create their own extraterrestrial welcome greeting.
Lesson Plan
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Lesson Plan on Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Learners construct a solar system model. For this space science lesson, students calculate the eccentricity of a planet's orbit. They calculate the period of a planet's revolution using Kepler's formula.
Lesson Plan
NASA

Earth, Earth’s Moon, Mars Balloons

For Teachers K - 8th Standards
Very specific diameters are given for blowing up three different balloons to represent, in scale, the moon, Earth, and Mars. In groups of three, amateur astronomers explore scale measurements and distance in space.
Lesson Plan
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The Earth, Sun Mood and Stars Unit (Planets too!)

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders prepare five activities to do then show their energy saving skills.  In this investigative lesson students create five projects then participate in an energy saving demonstration. 
Worksheet
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Jupiter - King of the Planets

For Students 5th - 6th
In this Jupiter activity, students read a passage about the environment and atmosphere of Jupiter. Students then answer several multiple choice questions about the passage.
Lesson Plan
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Earth's Orbit Lesson

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders devise a computational model to explore how the orbit of the Earth might change if its velocity were different. Using accurately recorded data, 10th graders defend a scientific argument.
Lesson Plan
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Comet Myths, Facts, and Legends

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Here is an interactive book lesson through which learners explore the facts and stories about comets. The plan is comprehensive, providing background information, standards met, vocabulary, assessment ideas, and more. Though the content...