Lesson Plan
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Good Vibrations Remote Sensing data Collection: Thermal Emission Spectrometer

For Teachers 4th - 8th
The Mars Global Surveyor spent two years creating a mineral map of the planet Mars using thermal emission spectrometry. To help young astronomers understand this remote sensing instrument, have them simulate how data is collected and...
Lesson Planet Article
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Exploring the Far Side of the Moon

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Help your classes better understand how our nearest celestial neighbor affects our world.
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Earth System Science: Hydrosphere

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students identify the major Earth systems, and describe at least ten major uses of water on planet earth. They research major sources of earth's water, and describe general aspects of the hydrosphere.
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Building a Scale Model

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders create a model of the solar system. In this solar system lesson, 3rd graders create a scale model of the solar system. Working in pairs students solve mathematical problems to correctly measure the distance each planet is...
Worksheet
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Planets

For Students 7th - 10th
In this planets learning exercise, students read information about Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn and then complete 21 multiple choice, 1 true or false, and 2 fill in the blank questions.
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Solar Eclipse

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students demonstrate the revolution of the moon around the earth and the effect of its direct alignment in between the earth and the sun.
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The 'Solar' System Past and Present

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students identify cardinal and intermediate directions, recognize that models changes due to new or improved observations and technology, identify the major characteristics of the planets including their positions in the solar system,...
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Timing the Tides

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students collect data and describe how and why the high and low tides change from day to day.  In exploring tides lesson students study tides by taking notes, recording data and analyzing their findings. 
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The Magic School Bus Lost in Space

For Teachers K - 2nd
Young scholars identify the planets by making two models of the Solar System. They create a model that shows the order of the planets and a model that shows the planets sizes as compared to one another. They may write about the planet...
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Energy and the Environment: What Can We Do?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students consider the impacts of global warming and brainstorm ways to help decrease their contribution to the problem.  In this climate change lesson, students are exposed to facts concerning global warming and think of ways to...
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The Mathematical Fingerprint of Our Solar System

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students study the beautiful mathematical model unique to our solar system.
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The Greenhouse Effect

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate the greenhouse effect and why it happens.
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Making Models To Understand Our Home

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students investigate the concept of a model and how it is used to represent something that is real. They recognize how the model can be applied to other types of concepts like the solar system. Students create a scale drawing of a house...
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Where Are All the Fish?

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students identify the problems that marine life is facing today. In this marine science lesson plan, students explain how Marine Protected Areas can help the ocean and the fish. They brainstorm ways to help in the conservation effort.
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Location

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners explore the tools used by Columbus to chart his latitude. They study the change of a location over time.
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Making a Crater

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students examine the characteristics of craters. In this crater lesson, students discover how meteors form craters on planets and moons as they make their own craters and respond to observational questions regarding the...
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A Look At Sunspots

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers research how the development of new technology has increased our knowledge of how the sun works. This instructional activity is part of a three-part series aimed at showing students how our knowledge of the universe must...
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The Water Cycle - Family Page

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Learners discuss the steps of the water cycle. They create their own model of the water cycle. They complete the Family Page at the end of the lesson.
Lesson Plan
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Micro-Climate

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Atmosphere aces investigate the microclimates that exist within a larger area. They use a thermometer to record the varying temperatures and identify the microclimates on a map that they have drawn. This exercise helps them to understand...
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Earth's Orbit Lesson

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders devise a computational model to explore how the orbit of the Earth might change if its velocity were different. Using accurately recorded data, 10th graders defend a scientific argument.
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Your Own Greenhouse

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students discuss the similarities between the Earth's atmosphere and a greenhouse. In this science lesson, students make their own greenhouses out of plastic bottles and thermometers. Students record the temperature different times of...
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Geography: World Dynamics

For Teachers K - 12th
Students discuss and examine how the world is changing. After reading an article, they discover the immediate changes that have taken place and how they have effected living things. They complete a worksheet identifying the changes as...
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The Great Hubble

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners explain how Hubble telescope captures images from space. In this space science instructional activity, students use the internet to view space photos. They debate on an issue raised by the teacher.
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State of the Planet's Wildlife

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students view and discuss a video about the challenges facing wildlife on the planet Earth. They define key terms, watch the video, and answer discussion questions about the film.