Curated OER
Discovery, Ship to Shuttle
Pupils define the meaning of discovery, and view and discuss the images on the Florida Quarter. They read about Ponce de Leon and the space shuttle, and complete a chronological order activity.
Curated OER
Voyage to Outer Space
Students design and construct a spacecraft. In this space voyage lesson, students read Regards to the Man in the Moon by Ezra Jack Keats and gather materials before constructing their own spacecraft.
Curated OER
Spaced Out
Learners are introduced to the space environment. This instructional activity covers the major differences between the environment on Earth and that of outer space and the engineering challenges that arise because of these discrepancies....
Curated OER
Remembering the Challenger Tragedy
Use our nation's response to the Challenger disaster in order to teach character, as well as science and literary standards.
Curated OER
Space Shuttle Launch Trajectory-I
In this space shuttle launch learning exercise, students are given 2 equations used to determine the space shuttle's trajectory in the first 5 minutes of a launch. Students use these equations to solve 3 problems including finding the...
NASA
Next Generation Spacecraft - Orion
Emergine space engineers discover the area of complex geometric shapes. They find that, just as a spacecraft is composed of many smaller parts, so can polygons be broken into smaller shapes.
Curated OER
Aircraft vs. Spacecraft
Students investigate differences between aircraft and spacecraft, and the differences in propulsion systems. They build pinwheel airplanes and balloon rockets. An interactive activity quizzes students on thrust.
Curated OER
Space Travel
Students study the International Space Station and space exploration. In this space travel lesson students describe the different types of engineers that contribute to space travel.
Curated OER
My Spacecraft Model
Students work together to develop their own model of a spacecraft. They complete illustrations and writings to document their work. They present their information to the class.
Curated OER
The Space Shuttle and the Future
In this space shuttle worksheet, students review the different facts associated with the space shuttle and the space station. This worksheet has 23 true or false questions.
Messenger Education
Cooling with Sunshades
Messenger's sun shade measures 8 ft x 6 ft and will have temperatures reaching 700 degree Fahrenheit on the outside while maintaining a cool 70 degrees underneath. In the third activity of four, groups discuss the basic properties of...
Curated OER
Plasma Clouds in Space and Density
Use this plasma clouds worksheet to have learners find the density of 10 different plasma clouds using a given formula which uses the reflection frequency to determine the density.
Messenger Education
Give Me a Boost—How Gravity Assists Aid Space Exploration
The propellant needed for space explorations runs in the thousands, while paying to get the craft into orbit costs millions! In the second installment of three, two activities explore laws of conservation of energy and momentum. Using...
Curated OER
Elements of Physics: Motion, Force and Gravity
Students research about different human space explorations conducted by NASA. For this physical science lesson, students discuss why space exploration is important. They write a paper about their thoughts on continuing NASA's space...
Curated OER
Space Exploration
Students explore the significance of the four space programs: Sputnik, Apollo, Viking, and Voyager. In this space exploration lesson, students view a space exploration slideshow and complete an included chart of space exploration.
Curated OER
Reading: Living in Space
In this living in space reading worksheet, students read a passage about life on the International Space Station written by a former astronaut. Students then answer 6 multiple choice questions.
Curated OER
Space Ship Coloring Page
In this space science worksheet, 1st graders color the picture of the spaceship while creating their own designs. They could cut out the ship as an extension activity.
PHET
Measuring the Interplanetary Magnetic Field
Scientists need to figure out how to measure interplanetary magnetic fields, but the magnetic field of the spacecraft is interfering with their readings. Scholars attempt to solve the problem that has perplexed NASA scientists for years.
Curated OER
Return to the Moon
Students react to statements about space exploration, then read a news article about plans to resume manned flights to the moon. In this space science and current events lesson, the teacher introduces the article with a discussion and...
Curated OER
Discovering Saturn, The Real "Lord of the Rings"
Reading, writing, and rings! A instructional activity from NASA combines space science with authentic reading and writing tasks. Included in this instructional activity are pre-reading activities, four mini informational...
Curated OER
Breaking News English: Space Station
In this space station worksheet, students read the article, answer true and false questions, complete synonym matching, complete phrase matching, complete a gap fill, answer short answer questions, answer discussion questions, write, and...
Curated OER
Flight Paths of Orbiting Satellites
Students examine the path a satellite follows as it orbits the earth. In this space science lesson, students use a globe as they illustrate a satellite in its orbital plane, then plot points on the satellite's path on the globe to see...
NASA
NASA Engineering Design Challenges - Spacecraft Structures
What kind of design challenges are there in building structures to support rocket engines? The unit takes design teams through the process of building the lightest possible thrust support structure that can withstand the necessary forces...
University of Colorado
Strange New Planet
The first remote sensors were people in hot air balloons taking photographs of Earth to make maps. Expose middle school learners to space exploration with the use of remote sensing. Groups explore and make observations of a new...