Lesson Plan
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Taking a Voyage away from Home

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students experience and participate in a journey through a "Voyage" exhibition of the Solar System and the frontier it covers. They build a dynamic model of the Earth and Sun. Descriptions are given on the relative sizes of the Sun and...
Lesson Plan
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Can an Astronaut on Mars Distinguish Earth from its Moon?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners explore the possibility of being on Mars and being able to identify the Earth.  In this space lesson students complete a set of calculations to see if this is possible. 
Worksheet
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IBEX Uses Fast-Moving Atoms to Map the Sky!

For Students 9th - 11th
In this energetic neutral atoms learning exercise, students solve 3 problems including determining the formula for particle speed, writing the equation to show the relationship between mass, energy and speed and determining the speed of...
Worksheet
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Working with Rates

For Students 9th - 12th
In this working with rates worksheet, students solve 9 problems where they find the rates, they solve 5 problems where they find the rates for compound units and they solve 5 problems where they find the rates using scientific notation.
Worksheet
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Astronomy as a Career

For Students 7th - 9th
In this astronomy as a career worksheet, students use 2 graphs to answer 4 questions about the number of PhDs awarded, the number of PhD's awarded compared to Bachelor's degrees in astronomy and factors that might be involved in the...
Lesson Plan
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Physical Science: Gravity

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate the properties of force and gravity and their effects on everyday life. In groups, they test various balls by bouncing them on different surfaces and observe the properties. In another activity, they test marbles and...
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The Winter Solstice

For Students 5th - 6th
In this winter solstice worksheet, students read a detailed text about the winter solstice and the historical and religious significance of this day. Students then complete a 15 question fill-in-the-blank and true/false worksheet.
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Gravity - The Glue of the Universe

For Teachers 2nd - 7th
Students explore physics by conducting a class experiment. In this gravitational force lesson, students define several scientific terms associated with force. Students utilize a styrofoam cup and marbles to simulate a satellite crashing...
Lesson Plan
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Observing Mars in the Night Sky

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students compare and contrast the orbits of Earth and Mars, locate the planet Mars, and diagram its retrograde motion.
Worksheet
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Cassini gets Ready to run Rings Around Saturn

For Students 4th
Fourth graders study an article about Saturn.  In this investigative lesson students discuss the article and complete an activity that asks them what question they would pose about Saturn. 
Lesson Plan
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Exploring Pendulums

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students observe the movement of pendulums, they begin to understand the relationship between gravitational forces and the mass of objects, the changes in speed and direction of objects, and the distance between objects. They understand...
Lesson Plan
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Searching For Protoplanetary Disks

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners download NASA Hubble Space Telescope views of star-forming regions in nebulae and look for evidence of planetary systems forming beyond our own solar system. They hypothesize about mysterious objects in NASA HST images.
Lesson Plan
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Up in the Sky

For Teachers 1st
First graders associate events and objects with day or night. They create a word bank and use is as a reference to create sentences about the sun. They conduct sun-themed experiments and art projects.
Lesson Plan
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Phase In, Phase Out, the Magnificent Moon

For Teachers 1st
First graders discuss why the moon appears to change shape. They use flashlights and balls to simulate the sun's light shining on the moon during its different phases. They read books, paint pictures and write sentences about the moon.
Lesson Plan
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Solar System: Let's Take a Trip

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders consider outer space. In this introductory solar system lesson, 3rd graders complete a KWL chart and listen to the story The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System, by Joanna Cole & Bruce Degen. They will contribute...
Worksheet
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Solar System

For Students 5th
In this Solar System worksheet, 5th graders demonstrate knowledge of parts of the Solar System. Students unscramble letters to list these parts.
Lesson Plan
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Our Solar System

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders describe the composition of our solar system. They recognize the names of the planets in our solar system and compare and contrast the nine planets that orbit the sun.
Lesson Plan
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Theme

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Young scholars examine a reading selection. In this descriptive writing lesson, students read an excerpt from "Hello! Anybody Out There?". Young scholars discuss the idea of aliens living on other planets, describe what they think an...
Lesson Plan
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My Alien

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Pupils listen to text read from "Hello! Anybody Out There?" and then brainstorm what aliens from outer space look like and do they exist at all. They then will describe the physical features and a special ability or quality of an alien.
Lesson Plan
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Asteroids

For Teachers K - 12th
Students examine the different types of asteroids and how they enter the atmosphere.  In this space lesson students use mashed potatoes to create an asteroid they can eat.
Lesson Plan
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Seeing Interference Fringes with a Telescope

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers construct an interferometer using a simple telescope. In this physics lesson, students explain how light waves create the fringe patterns. They observe patterns made by different objects in the sky and compare them.
Lesson Plan
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Earth

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders have a spatial awareness of the plants by orally discussing what they saw after they stepped out the model of the solar system. They recognize the similarities and differences between Earth and the other planets by being...
Worksheet
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Plasma

For Students 6th - 8th
For this matter worksheet, students review the states of matter, including plasma. Students read about where plasma is found and then complete 3 short answer questions.
Interactive
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What is a black hole anyway?

For Students 4th - 6th
In this black holes worksheet, students answer multiple choice questions about black holes in space. Students complete 4 multiple choice questions.