Astronomers and Their Tools

Did you know every state in the U.S. has at least one observatory? During the lesson, scholars research the cost of building and maintaining an observatory. They must present their information in a proposal to build a new observatory,...

The Milky Way gets great reviews on Trip Advisor — 100 million stars. The activity allows scholars to rethink their assumptions and prior knowledge. Pupils observe a set of two lights at equal distance and brightness, but they believe...

Students discover how scientists learn so much about stars by the amount and color of light they emit.  In this astronomy lesson plan, students create a spectroscope and a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram to learn more about the properties of...

In this Hubble's law worksheet, students use data for galaxies which include their distance and speed. Students make a graph to show the distance to each galaxy and the speed of each galaxy. They use their graph to answer 4 questions...

Students identify and explain how various inventions and astronomers have improved our appreciation of the universe. Students identify at least two constellations in the sky and discuss how they were used in ancient times to tell time...

Worlds within worlds! Journey to galaxies near and far with a thought-provoking video. Young astronomers learn how scientists detected very distant galaxies using their electromagnetic signatures far outside the visible range. Other...

Students select an astronomer or scientist from the past, research the role that they played in the development of the heliocentric revolution, and make presentations on their achievements.

High schoolers study the different telescopes and instruments used in the Observatory.  In this engineering and research lesson students explore telescopes using a website and build data tables about them.

Students research future astronomy endeavors and how the exploration with contribute to astronomy and humanity. In this astronomy lesson plan, students research, present, and debate the topics as a class.

From quantum foam to the universe itself, plus everything in between, what is the scale of the world around us? Inquisitive physicists grapple with the proportions of all things great and small using a fascinating interactive. Scholars...