In March 2009, NASA launched the Kepler Space Telescope to look for exoplanets. Almost immediately, it identified planets and has continued to work for many years. An informative video introduces this telescope, how it works, and shares...

According to the video, astronomy is like a jigsaw puzzle with an infinite number of pieces. The video explains the history and invention of telescopes, how they work, refraction versus reflection, and the changing technology. It...

Radio waves are good for more than just your favorite music! The third in an interactive series of 13 lessons explains the function of a radio telescope. The instruction explains what they do, how they work, and how they compare to other...

How does a telescope magnify images? Learners first watch a tutorial explaining the basic construction of a telescope. Then they interact with a simulation that allows for changes in the location and diameter of the reflecting mirrors....

See the sun shine as you've never seen it before! Captivate your class with an activity from NOVA's Sun Lab unit. Viewers learn about the advanced satellite-mounted telescopes NASA uses to monitor the sun at every wavelength of light,...

Did you know that Galileo wasn't the inventor of the telescope? Explore the amazing history of one of the world's most incredible inventions. Learn about Galileo, the telescope, and the discoveries it has allowed man to make. A...

In this telescope worksheet, students identify the parts of the telescope and use a telescope to observe an object in the room and outside of the room. They measure the length of the inner tube and identify the relationship between the...

Students experiment with water and mirrors to better understand how telescopes work. In this telescopes lesson plan, students use water and mirrors to see how mirrors reflect light and create a magnified image.

The Hubble Telescope is approximately the size of a school bus, but the new Webb Telescope will be approximately the size of a tennis court. The history of the telescope, from its invention to to what it takes to make one, is the focus...

What have we learned since the invention of the telescope? Travel back to the year 1610 and find out what Galileo discovered, his theories, and what it has meant to space science. This clip gives learners a complete history of the...

Whether you watch this clip or assign it as homework, the results will be the same: a homemade telescope. Model-based inquiry and hands-on activities are great ways to boost interest and concept understanding. Materials, explanation, and...

Students explore the characteristics of stars. In this space science activity, students use the Microsoft WorldWide Telescope program to identify the properties of stars and identify the stars in the galaxy.

Students build a telescope and give quantification of its magnification and field of view while making observations regarding images. In this telescope lesson, students use a simple lens to project a scene and examine various telescope...

New ReviewThe Kepler Space Telescope ran out of fuel in October 2018. Learn what the telescope communicated to scientists before its demise! A video lesson from the SciShow Space series highlights the important data the Kepler Space Telescope gave...

Designed to be used with any poem assigned, this worksheet encourages learners to "become a telescope." As they read, they record words or lines that appeal to them and the thoughts they have when they read them. Then, after they've read...

How does a telescope work? Find out how refraction and reflection gather enough light for us to see objects that are 200,000,000 light years away. This clip establishes the foundation for understanding how telescopes work but doesn't...

There are so many galaxies in the universe that the vast majority of them are too distant for the human eye to perceive. An astronomy video discusses the Hubble Telescope's Deep Field image from 1995 and the eXtreme Deep Field image...

Prepare to be amazed! Look deep into the darkest part of the night sky, courtesy of a video from a vast physics playlist. Young astronomers see hundreds of galaxies through the eye of the Hubble Telescope. 

Students study modern astronomy and technology.  In this telescope instructional activity students design and build a refracting telescope then redesign for better performance.

Most of the twenty slides in this presentation include photographs or diagrams, making it an eye-catching way to teach about infrared telescopes. The pros and cons of using infrared light to study outer regions of space are explained....

Learn about Galileo Galilei's contribution to modern science with a reading passage that focuses on reading comprehension. After kids read several paragraphs about his life, they answer five questions about the information they have just...

Students create a KWL chart on stars and telescopes. In groups, they make estimates on the distances between the Earth and different stars. To end the lesson, they make their own paper stargazer and use it to complete other activities.

Preparing for an assessment? Here's an activity that will ensure that all class members have the background knowledge they need to demonstrate their skills on a performance task related to the solar system and the tools astronomers use...

Students examine constellations and planets through completing various activities. Students work individually and in groups to create drawings based on stars, compare and contrast the night sky with and without a telescope and learn...