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FINDING A RESOLUTION
Students examine detailed Moon and Earth views provided by the NASA-sponsored "World Wind" computer program. They work in groups to create maps of different scales using landmarks of their choice, and challenge their classmates to...
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Foucault's Pendulum
High schoolers investigate how the motion of the Foucault pendulum proves that the Earth is rotating.  They research the Internet about pendulums and conduct an experiment online.  They view a multimedia presentation about pendulums and...
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Sky Watchers: Ancient Astronomers
Students close their eyes and picture the sky.  They are asked to brainstorm things they may see in the course of a night and day, such as the movement of the sun, moon, and stars.  Students work in groups to coduct their research.  They...
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Lunar Real Estate
Students investigate the aspect of colonizing the moon by comparing techniques that are used on Earth. The colonization takes place with the planning of a hypothetical model. The model is used as a point of discussion and target...
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Solar System Quiz
For this space science worksheet, students complete an eight question quiz about the solar system. The quiz has multiple choice, short answer and true or false questions.
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Sky Watching
Students complete night-sky observations to understand how our knowledge of the sky has been enhanced by telescopes. Students complete a timeline worksheet giving the history of telescopes. Students then then make their own observations...
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Solar System Vocabulary
In this solar system vocabulary skills worksheet, students match the 13 solar system-related names and terms in the word bank to the appropriate definitions.
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Solar System Crossword
In this solar system crossword puzzle worksheet, students use the 13 clues and the terms in the word bank to help them correctly complete the word puzzle.
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Constellations
Students explore the major constellations.  After reviewing the Earth's basic motions and their significance, students discuss the moon's orbit and revolutions.  Using a Digitarium Alpha portable planetarium projector, they observe at...
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Following in Galileo's Footsteps
Students explore the findings of Galileo and research the moons of Jupiter. They construct simple telescopes, and examine the moons for themselves at a star party. They record their findings in a journal.
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Comets
Students explore the nature and composition of a comet. They research comet facts, legends, and myths. They identify different types of comets and describe what happens to a comet as it travels closer to the Sun.
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Limpet Shell Exercise
Students review the terms and concepts: evolution, selection, biotic, and abiotic factors.  They come up with hypotheses about limpet shell types based on what we discuss about intertidal environments.  Students use ratios to compare...
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Star Child Astronomy
Students gain understanding of the relationship of Earth within the Solar System. They increase knowlegde of the planets, sun, moon, meteoroids, asteroids and comets.
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Bouncing Sunlight
Third graders use flashlights and balls to demonstrate how the light bounces off of the sun and reflects onto the moon. They record their observations in a journal.
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Learning Lesson: Moonlight Serenade
Students complete experiments as they act as the earth. They observe how different angles affect the phases of the moon seen by us. They discuss the differences in light and dark.
Indian Land Tenure Foundation
Tribal Origin Stories
The teacher reads and retells Californian tribal origin or creation stories that come from the traditions of a variety of California Indian tribes. Then, pupils get together in groups and retell the stories they just heard; just as...
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Email From Another Planet
In this article about emails and plants worksheet, students read short descriptions about 8 planets in the solar system and then imagine they are visiting one of the planets and send an email to a family member describing their...
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Why Do We Have Night?
Learners engage in a fun, creative way to discover how the Earth moves. This lesson helps students explain why there is day and night. It can also create curiosity to further study the solar system and eclipses!
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Sampling Rocks
Students investigate rocks. In this earth science lesson plan, students collect rocks from the schoolyard and describe each of the rocks. Students measure and weigh each rock and record the results. Students create a rock guide for the...
National First Ladies' Library
One Small Step
Students explore the steps taken to fulfill President Kennedy's promise to land a man on the moon.They examine the costs and difficulties of fulfilling that promise and the historical events that motivated the nation to do so.
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Where Now Man Has Gone Before
Students examine the Apollo lunar landings and past theories about the creation and structure of the Earth's Moon as a springboard for investigating missions and milestones in space exploration since the creation of NASA in 1958.
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Solar Eclipse
In this solar eclipse worksheet, students solve seven problems about solar eclipses after making a model following five steps. They determine the different orbits for satellites, they determine the lengths of Earth's shadow and they...
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How Do Things Fall?
Learners study forces by examining the force of gravitational attraction. They observe how objects fall and measure the force of gravitational attraction upon objects. Students discover that, since gravitational constants are different...
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Water Words
Students define words relating to water and its use in Nebraska. They listen to the story, Snail Girl Brings Water, list the water words from the story, and create a class dictionary.