Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar System Hall Model

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Not novel, but fun, this lesson gets your space science learners to model the size of the planets and the solar system along your school's hallway. Scaled measurements as well as actual distances are provided for both planet diameters...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Solar System Lab

For Students 8th
In this solar system activity, 8th graders make a scale model of the solar system, answer 5 questions and write a conclusion.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pen Light Lab

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study what makes Earth warm and explore how different locations on the planetreceive different amounts of solar energy based on the intensity of the sun's rays. They calculate light intensities and compare the amounts of light...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

You Are Here

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students determine the relative size and distance of the planets in the solar system. They use ratios in their mathematical calculations to make models of the planets after discussing the relative sizes of the planets. They keep a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

I Can See and Feel the Change in the Seasons

For Teachers K
Students use their senses to investigate the changes in the seasons. They discuss how the Earth moves around the sun and its tilt. They practice using new vocabulary and examining the different seasons.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Mars Motion in 1971

For Students 9th - 10th
For this science worksheet, students read about the summer of 1971 when the Earth passed closer to Mars than it had since 1924. Students also learn about the retrograde motion of Mars as seen from Earth.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fueling Extreme Weather

For Teachers 1st
First graders identify the different stages in the hydrologic cycle. To study earth science, they investigate how sunlight affects the earth's temperature. They also discuss how the sun's energy is transformed.
Lesson Plan
Science Matters

Solar Energy

For Teachers 6th Standards
The solar energy industry in the United States added more jobs in 2015 than the oil and gas extraction and pipeline industries combined. With the field growing so rapidly, it's essential to understand what solar energy is and how it...
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...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Bellwork Week 20-Space Science

For Students 7th - 9th
In this space instructional activity, learners answer questions about the size comparison of the moon, Earth, Solar System, Virgo Cluster, Milky Way Galaxy, and Universe, they answer questions about the Milky Way Galaxy and they sketch...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Heliocentric and Geocentric Models

For Teachers 5th - 6th
In this worksheet, students read an informational article and view drawings of the two models. In this comprehension worksheet, students answer twelve questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Energy Experiment

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students observe solar energy at work. In this science lesson plan, students watch two bottles, painted black and white, sit in the heat with balloons on the mouth of the bottles. They observe and discuss why the balloon of the black...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Space Science

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders study the objects in our solar system.  For this space lesson students identify and describe planets, then classify them as terrestrial or gaseous.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What are Stars?

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Young scholars research the solar system and it's characteristics.  In this solar system lesson, students are broken into 4 groups, each assigned a specific part of the solar system.  Young scholars use the Internet to research...
Organizer
Curated OER

The Inner Planets

For Students 3rd - 5th
In this inner planets worksheet, students will list the four inner planets on a chart. Then students will write in information for each of these planets including size and composition, atmosphere, temperatures, surface features, moons,...
Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

Solar System Model

For Teachers 9th - 12th
How many planets can you name? Did you get all 13 in our solar system, including the dwarf planets, or were you surprised when you read there are 13 planets? The lesson helps scholars understand the scale of the universe including the...
Worksheet
K5 Learning

Why Does the Ocean have Waves?

For Students 4th Standards
Six short answer questions challenge scholars to show what they know after reading an informational text that examines waves—what they are, what causes them, and how different Earth factors affect their size and strength.   
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Astronomy and Me: Moons Over New Haven

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders study the features of different moons orbiting the planets. In this astronomy instructional activity, 3rd graders explore the different phases of the moon using an interactive online website. They compare and contrast the...
Worksheet
Curated OER

SDO Reveals Details on the Surface of the Sun

For Students 9th - 12th
In this images of the sun worksheet, high schoolers read about the images released by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory and they solve 3 problems using the given photograph of the sun. Students find the scale of the image, they compare...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Light and shadow

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students experiment with light and shadow. In this light lesson plan, students look at the relationship between shadows and light. They experiment with light source, shadow size, transparent objects and reflective objects. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Capturing the Sun's Warmth

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the variety of ways to use solar energy. They investigate the thermal energy storage capacities of different test materials to determine which to use in passive solar building design. They explain how passive solar...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Where in the World? Biomes of the Earth

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students research a biome.  In this biomes of the Earth lesson, students discuss what they already know about ecology and view pictures of different biomes.  Students work in groups to research a different biome.  Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Me And My Shadow

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students investigate the concept of a shadow. They design a tool to create shadows for an experiment. They make observations and record the size and shape of shadows. The lesson contains background information for the teacher to deliver...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Pulsars and Simple Equations

For Students 8th - 10th
In this pulsars worksheet, students read about the spin rate of pulsars and they are given two equations that predict the spin rate in the future of these two pulsars. Students solve 6 problems related to the given equations and...