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Unit Plan
Curated OER

Our Solar System

For Teachers 1st
Students study the Earth and Solar System through a variety of activities. They compile a coloring book show the characteristics of the Sun and nine planets.
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Unit Plan
Curated OER

Astronomy

For Teachers 3rd
Students complete a unit of lessons on our solar system, its stars, and astronomers. They record information in a space journal, design constellations, define key vocabulary, observe the phases of the moon, and create a group planet...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating the Earth-Moon-Sun System

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders research Native American legends involving the sun, moon, and stars and compare them to the origin of present day knowledge. They create a written report and make an oral presentation of their findings to the class.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Adding the Moon: Using a Classroom Model to Explore the Movement of the Sun, Earth, and Moon

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Students observe and discuss motions of the Earth and the Moon as they spin and orbit the Sun.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth Science: The Sun-Earth Relationship

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Students examine the sun's impact on the Earth. They read online articles, explore various websites, and answer questions using information found on the Internet.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Shadows

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students measure shadows at different times of the day to determine when a shadow casts its longest and shortest shadows.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sunrise, Sunset: Apparent Motion of the Sun

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students discuss the meaning of a day and what happens to the sun as it turns to night. Then they go outside and draw the view in front of them, paying close attention to the location of the sun. Every hour they return and chart the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Out of This World (Science)

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Pupils participate in various hands-on activities to visually demonstrate the positions of the planets from the sun. Then they draw a pictorial representation of the order of planets from the sun.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

My! What a Sky!

For Teachers 1st
First graders read "Goodnight Moon" or "Day And Night" and discuss what they see in day and night skies. They read and sing lyrics to the "Day and Night" song. They identify objects in the sky as day or night objects. They illustrate day...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

As the Earth Turns

For Teachers 1st
First graders explore why the sun and moon seems to disappear and reappear creating day and night.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Up in the Sky

For Teachers 1st
First graders associate events and objects with day or night. They create a word bank and use is as a reference to create sentences about the sun. They conduct sun-themed experiments and art projects.
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Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

The Strength of the Sun

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students explore the sun and take a "trip" to outer space.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sun's Impact On Earth's Temperature

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students view NASA images and movies of Venus, Earth, and Mars to deduce weather patterns and manipulate computer models to test competing hypotheses. They manipulate computer models to investigate the influence of solar distance and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Day and Night

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders view a classroom simulation that demonstrates how the Earth's rotation creates day and night.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Warmth of the Sun

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students broaden their understanding of the sun, particularly its critical role in warming the land, air and water around us.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ancient Sun Models of the World

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars explain that many different cultures across the world developed their own reasoning for the weather around them. They explore the different cultural beliefs of the sun's cycle and to create their own story of the sun's...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tides of Change

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students use the Internet to gather information on tides and then use this information to determine the period of revolution of the moon around the earth (part 1) and the relative pull of the sun and the moon on the tides (part 2).
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Shadow Trackers: From Photography to Writing

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students explore the rotation of the earth. In this science lesson plan, students view photos of various places around the world. Students conduct an experiment in which they can see how the earth's rotation creates shadows on the earth.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sun Smarts

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students discuss the harmful effects of UV radiation. In this health science lesson, students examine the . They suggest ways to protect themselves against UV.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Model of the Sun's interior

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Pupils create a three-dimensional model of the sun. In this solar system lesson, students design a scale model of the sun using plasticine.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Measuring the Diameter of Our Star

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students conduct an experiment to measure the diameter of the sun. In this astronomy activity,  students construct a simple equipment to collect scientific data. They calculate the sun's diameter using a given formula.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Magnetism

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders study magnetism.  In this solar wind lesson students complete several activities on space and weather.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Moon Shadows

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students study the moon and its shadows.  In this moon lesson students complete a lab activity that shows the different shadows and answer questions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Retrograde Motion

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students study the motions of the heavenly bodies.  In this space lesson students use models to show a variety of schemes explaining the motions.