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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Could the Solar System have Ten Planets?

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students react to statements about the solar system, then read a news article about a recently discovered object that could be another planet. For this space science and current events lesson, the teacher introduces the lesson with a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Space Science: Constellations and the Sun

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Learners review the zodiac signs and illustrate their movement using constellations on the wall and themselves to represent earth. Individually or in groups, they stand in the center of the room while a shadeless lamp is placed between...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Food for Spaceflight

For Teachers 3rd - 6th Standards
When astronauts get hungry in outer space, they can't just call and have a pizza delivered. In order to gain an appreciation for the challenges associated with space travel, young learners are given the task of selecting, testing, and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Designing a Crew Exploration Vehicle

For Teachers 3rd - 6th Standards
Take your class on an out-of-this-world adventure with this fun engineering design lesson. Working in small groups, young scientists design, build, and test crew exploration vehicles using some creativity, teamwork, and an assortment of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making Regolith

For Teachers 3rd - 6th Standards
You may not be able to take a field trip to the moon, but that doesn't mean your class can't study moon rocks. Using graham crackers as the moon's bedrock and powdered donuts as micrometeorites, young scientists simulate the creation of...
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Lesson Plan
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Science 4 Inquiry

Journey Through the Spheres of the Earth

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
Each of the Earth's spheres interacts with the other spheres in predictable ways. Young scientists explore these interactions through a hands-on activity, graphing, and watching a video. They summarize their knowledge in a video or...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Star Frames

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders study constellations. In this space science lesson, 4th graders discover what makes stars, how bright stars are, and why constellations were created. Students make their own constellation using Saran Wrap and a frame.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's "In" There: A Study of the Inner Planets - Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars

For Teachers 1st
First graders identify and explore the four inner planets. For this planet science lesson, 1st graders watch a PowerPoint about the planets. Students read the book Our Solar System and discuss the inner planets. Students create a book...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Aurora Borealis

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Learners read background information about the Aurora Borealis and complete a science experiment based on the lights. In this Aurora Borealis instructional activity, students read information about the formation and background of the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Middle Ages

For Teachers K - 5th
Students discuss the Middle Ages. In this social science lesson, students role-play that they are medieval lords, knights, and ladies who keep diaries. Students write what they would have put in their diaries and decorate their diaries.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Learning About the Stars

For Teachers 1st
First graders study stars. In this space science lesson, 1st graders determine that it is best to observe stars on a clear night and define various qualities of stars.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Celestial Sphere and Circumpolar Motion

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Students investigate the celestial sphere and circumpolar motion. In this science instructional activity, students view an applet, The Celestial Sphere and Circumpolar Motion. Students discuss the Earth's rotation and stellar movement.
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Lesson Plan
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Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics

Jupiter’s Relative Size

For Teachers 4th - 6th Standards
How do you properly illustrate the extreme size difference between two planets—Earth and Jupiter? With the help of jellybeans, of course! Create a scale model of Jupiter's mass compared to Earth using a fishbowl, 1,400 beans, and a dixie...
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Lesson Plan
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Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics

Charting the Progress of New Horizons

For Teachers 2nd - 6th Standards
In 2006, New Horizons began its mission to fly to Pluto. As it continues its journey, scholars track its progress with the help of an informative website, all the while reinforcing measurement concepts with the construction of a scaled...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Moon Mining

For Teachers 3rd - 6th Standards
Go on a moon mining expedition from the safety of your classroom with this space exploration simulation. Using simple models of the moon's surface prepared ahead of time by the teacher, young scientists are challenged with locating and...
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Lesson Plan
Journey Through the Universe

How Far is Far?

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
The earth only revolves around one thing — and it's not any of your pupils. The lesson includes two activities dealing with the distance to the sun and the moon. First, scholars create a pin hole camera and use the rules of similar...
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Lesson Plan
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Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics

Planetary Distances on the Playground

For Teachers 3rd - 6th Standards
There's no need to stay inside; get out of the classroom and create a scaled map of the solar system on your playground field! In collaborative groups, scholars identify the distance between the sun and other planets, place planet...
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Lesson Plan
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Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics

Where Are We Going?

For Teachers 2nd - 6th Standards
Come take a ride on the space bus! Scholars go on an imaginary trip to pick up their peers from the inner and outer planets while reinforcing math skills. First, learners round decimals to identify each planets' distance from Earth....
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Lesson Plan
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Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics

A Classroom Solar System

For Teachers 3rd - 6th Standards
Create a scaled model of our solar system in your classroom! Scholars work collaboratively to build paper mache planets and hang them in their proper position to showcase each planet's location in the solar system.   
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Lesson Plan
Messenger Education

Look But Don’t Touch—Exploration with Remote Sensing

For Students 5th - 8th Standards
Mars is home to the tallest mountain in our solar system, Olympus Mons. In this set of two activities, learners review geologic land formations through the analysis of aerial maps. They then apply this knowledge to aerial maps of objects...
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Lesson Plan
Messenger Education

Design Challenge: How to Keep Gelatin from Melting

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
The inside of the spacecraft Messenger, which explores Mercury, will experience temperatures from 32 to 91 degrees Fahrenheit. In the final installment of a series of four space-related activities, groups spend time discussing and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Space Science:Wherever You Go, There You Are

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explore navigation principles by observing, measuring, and interpreting data to determine locations. Using a compass, compass rose, and a transit, they plot courses and discover the workings of the Global Positioning System...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Space Jeopardy Game

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students explore space. In this space instructional activity, students analyze the sky and what causes its changes. Students describe the moon patterns and use a model to show changes in its shape. Students also describe the first trip...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pocket Solar System

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
The scale of the solar system is difficult to grasp without some sort of concrete visual; with some register tape and different-sized stickers, teach astronomers of any age just how spread out our solar system really is. Try to use...

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