Lesson Plan
Curated OER

People and Space

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Students explore space travel.  In this space science lesson, students define "dehydration" and explain why dehydrated foods are necessary for space survival.  Students prepare and eat a meal that includes a variety of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mission Impossible! Are We Alone in the Universe, or Are We Just One of Its Citizens?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine NASA strategy for scientifically studying any celestial body. They brainstorm about all previous space explorations and missions they can recall, and propose an expedition plan to become space explorers of the future.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spuds in Space

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Young scholars explore the effects of velocity on an object when it collides with another object. They design and outfit a potato astronaut in a spacesuit to withstand the hazards of high velocity impacts from space debris and meteoroids.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Self and General Space in Dance

For Teachers K - 5th
Students explore the different themes and strategies of dancing by performing in class.  In this physical education lesson, students practice moving specific joints and muscles as they train to perform a dance.  Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Make a Sundial

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore space science by conducting a sun experiment in class. In this time telling lesson, students discuss how the sun sits in our sky at exact times each day and how astronomy is based on our perspective of the solar system....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Pythagorean Theorem

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore the Pythagorean Theorem. They use Geometer's Sketchpad and explore features of various figures. Students use the software to build a figure using the given measurements.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Galileo's Dialogue

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Explore how Galileo's controversial theory raised objections in his time. In this physical science activity, learners research about current controversial issues. They role play both sides of the issue, and decide which one has a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Is Anyone Out There? Examining Astrobiology and the Value of SETI

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Blow their minds with a lesson on the search for life outside of our planet! A brief video proposes the question of how to define life. A couple of articles investigate the possibility of alien existence. Finally, the class is divided...
Website
American Museum of Natural History

Beyond Planet Earth

For Students 6th - 12th
Scholars take a journey through space with 16 eye-catching images. Along the way, learners read captions starting with the moon, then move onto asteroids, Mars, and Jupiter.
App
NASA

Space Images

For Students 3rd - 12th
As technology advances, so does our understanding of the universe around us. Thanks to the Hubble Telescope, Mars rovers, and other high-resolution cameras, there are amazing photographs of celestial bodies, planets, comets, and more...
Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

Model of a Black Hole

For Students 3rd - 7th
Even light cannot leave the force of a black hole! Learners use a model to explore the gravitational force of a black hole. An elastic bandage and heavy ball serve to create the hole, while marbles become the victims of its strong force.
Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

What is a Constellation

For Students 1st - 5th
Why do some stars in a constellation appear brighter than others? Using a get-up-and-move astronomy activity, scholars explore perspective and the appearance of constellations in the sky while developing an understanding of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Majestic Murals

For Teachers K - 5th
Albert Bierstadt is a highly celebrated artist who was able to capture the beauty of the American landscape. The class will first learn how Bierstadt explored America during the 1800s and painted the majestic countryside. Then, they will...
Handout
Curated OER

Born Gay

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Is a person's sexual orientation determined at birth? With the informative website, scholars prepare for a debate about the topic. They learn the top pro and con arguments and read through a historical timeline of homosexuality. They...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Hot and How Big?

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students explore star color and size. For this space science lesson, students conduct various inquiry activities to explore how the color of a star affects the amount of heat produced. They also investigate how the color of stars affects...
Lesson Plan
Messenger Education

Exploring Solar Systems Across the Universe

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Scientists have theorized that our solar system formed 4.6 billion years ago. In this pair of activities, learners first hypothesize how our solar system was formed. Using this information, groups then determine how scientists search for...
Unit Plan
NASA

Food For Thought

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
Science can be quite tasty. A delectable unit from NASA shows learners why it's important to consider food, nutrition, and health in space. Four lessons explore the idea in great depth, including testing cookie recipes. Along the way,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Space Science: Phases of the Moon

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Looking for a terrific activity on the phases of the moon that has lots of good worksheets? With two excellent websites are embedded in the plan, the activity is sure to spark some interest in your astronomy unit. Some common...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Community Explorations

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Students identify the strengths and weakness in their community. They take a community walk and take pictures of people interacting with the environment and the "green spaces" in their community. They then write a persuasive essay...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Explore! Fun with Science

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Learners explore the challenges of living in space by designing a facility that can provide everything required to support humans and can protect them from the harsh environment of space.
Lesson Plan
Digital Wish

2D Project: Deep Space

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Using a digital camera, Photoshop, and a desktop paint program, learners will explore perspective techniques. They apply perspective techniques to develop depth illusions within a scene. The lesson employs both traditional art and...
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

The New Space Race

For Teachers 4th - 8th
The race to explore space is on and students can learn about the latest developments with these activities and lessons.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to Parallel Lines in Euclidean Space and in Spherical Space

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders are introduced to the basic concepts of Geometry and their definitions in Euclidean space. They draw and define the following terms: point, line, and line segment. Students also define the terms colliner and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Distinguished Discoveries: Florida quarter reverse

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Florida's state quarter has an image of a space shuttle and a Spanish Galleon on its reverse side. Pupils will examine the state quarter and think about how the Spanish explorers and Space explorers are the same and different. The class...