Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Beyond the Milky Way

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
When we look at the night sky, we see stars and the nearby planets of our own solar system. Many of those stars are actually distant galaxies and glowing clouds of dust and gases called nebulae. The universe is an immense space with...
Interactive
California Institute of Technology

Cal Tech: Stories From Space: What's in Space?

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Through this story you will be introduced to outer space: stars, the Milky Way, planets, the Solar System, the Sun, clouds of dust and gas, galaxies.
Handout
NASA

Nasa: Space Place: Where Does Interstellar Space Begin?

For Students 4th - 8th
Find out about interstellar space, and what characterizes this part of space outside of the heliosphere.
Website
Space Telescope Science Institute

Nasa: Hubble Space Telescope: Universe

For Students 9th - 10th
At this site from HubbleSite you can discover the universe by taking a look back toward the beginning of time. Site contains links to information on planets, stars, galaxies, and much more.
Website
European Space Agency

European Space Agency: Esa Kids: Our Universe: Supernovas

For Students 3rd - 8th
A basic overview of supernovas. Links to more information about starts, planets and other objects in our solar system and galaxy are included.
Website
Ducksters

Ducksters: Space Science: Astronomy for Kids

For Students 1st - 9th
Kids learn about astronomy, the study of outer space including the stars, planets, comets, black holes, and the Solar System. History and astronomers in this astronomy for teachers and kids section.
Website
National Earth Science Teachers Association

Windows to the Universe: History & People

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographies of people throughout history who looked at the sky and wondered what was there. Links to a detailed description of the planets and interactive activities.
Website
Other

Celestia

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a free space simulation that lets you explore the universe in three dimensions. There is a forum for teachers and lesson plans that help enhance student use of the simulation. A program must be downloaded in order to...
Activity
NASA

Nasa: Students K 4

For Students Pre-K - 1st
NASA-sponsored coverage and research on a range of topics related to space exploration -- flying weather stations, comets, first steps on the Moon, and other space-related topics -- are presented in age-appropriate activities, lesson...
Unit Plan
Other

Kid Power: Astronomy for Kids

For Students 3rd - 5th
Young children can find facts about the Solar System, the Sun, meteorites, stars, galaxies, planets, our moon, comets, asteroids, and space exploration. Pages offer clear photos and bullet-point information, which is easy to read and...
Unit Plan
E-learning for Kids

E Learning for Kids: Science: Antarctica/ What Are the Different Parts of the Universe?

For Students 4th - 6th
In this lesson, students learn about objects in the universe, including constellations, planets, meteors, asteroids, and comets.
Website
NASA

Nasa: Nasa's Carl Sagan Fellows to Study Extraterrestrial Worlds

For Students 9th - 10th
NASA announces the new Carl Sagan Postdoctoral Fellowships in Exoplanet Exploration, created to inspire the next generation of explorers seeking to learn more about planets, and possibly life, around other stars.
Website
Other

Canal Kids: Ciencias (Science for Portuguese Speakers)

For Students 3rd - 8th
Colorful, engagingly written information about astronomy and biology for Portuguese-speaking English language learners. Both subjects are broken down into a broad array of related subtopics. The biology section is particularly helpful...
Online Course
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: Earth and Space Science: Order Out of Chaos: Solar System

For Students 9th - 10th
Material to begin an exploration of the Solar System: the characteristics of the planets, theories about planet formation, and more. An hour-long video is accompanied by learning goals, an outline and overview, details on star formation,...
Website
Other

Paper Plate Education: Serving the Universe on a Paper Plate

For Students 3rd - 8th
Excellent resource for "paper-plate" activities that help simplify various astronomy topics. Learn how to build a "Moon Finder" and "Planet Pointer," and create a paper-plate model that explains the Transit of Venus.
Website
Enchanted Learning

Enchanted Learning: Zoom Astronomy

For Students 3rd - 5th
Where is our Solar System? How far away is the sun? What makes up the sun? Find out all you want to know about our solar system. This is a comprehensive on-line site about space and astronomy. Check out all of the excitement!
Website
NASA

Nasa Star Child: Earth the Water Planet

For Students 3rd - 5th
Use this site to read about planet Earth. See a photo of the Earth from space, and learn quick facts about the earth's atmosphere, axis, and surface.
Interactive
Other

University of Cambridge: Astro Adventure

For Students 3rd - 5th
Imagine a time when you can travel through space, planet to planet, cheaply and in comfort, when you can take a trip to the stars as your next holiday. Well, imagine no more. Learn more about the solar system as you take this trip of a...
Activity
Read Works

Read Works: A Final Journey

For Teachers 3rd
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about improvements made to the Hubble telescope. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Online Course
Cosmo Learning

Cosmo Learning: Introduction to Astrophysics

For Students 9th - 10th
A collection of audio lectures from an introduction to astrophysics course taught at the University of California, Berkeley. The course discusses the solar system, stars, quantum mechanics, gravitation, and cosmology focusing on how...