Curated OER
Apparent Motion of the Sun
Demonstrate the path of the sun across the sky at different times of the year with an engaging science lesson.  Learners use a series of questions and diagrams to examine the movement of the sun and appearance of the sky around their...
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Azimuth and Altitude
Students use a compass and their hands to find positions of stars and planets in the night sky or of the sun during the day.
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The Sun's Path
Starting with questions about the tilt of the Earth and apparent motion of the sun, a worksheet provides instructions on how to figure the paths of the Sun on certain dates. Learners answer three more questions, complete with details...
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Solar Kit Lesson #7 - Positioning Solar Panels I: Explorations with Tracking
In this first part of a two-part lesson, learners track and record the sun's azimuth using a solar panel. They graph and analyze the data to identify relationships among the time of day, the altitude and azimuth of the sun, and the...
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Measuring the Sun's Position
In this sun learning exercise, students measure the altitude of the sun and the azimuth of the sun to determine the sun's position five times a day for a week. They answer questions about their results.
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Suns Path and Seasons
Using a plastic dome  to represent the hemisphere of the sky, your class is able to demonstrate the path of the sun at different points of the day and year.  They use a protractor to record movement and answer questions about elapsed...
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Mountains
Mountains are described and some of the more famous listed along with their altitudes. Climate, glaciers, and avalanches are also covered. Because there is a copious amount of text on each slide, this would be best used by assigning...
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Sun
Students study how the sun is at the center of the solar system. In this solar lesson students measure the altitude of the sun and its size.
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Sunrise, Sunset: Apparent Motion of the Sun
Pupils 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 sun's...
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Tracking the Sun with a Solar Dome
Pupils study the sun and how it moves throughout the day. In this tracking the sun lesson students create a model of the celestial sphere.Â
National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science
Mask of the Black God
Finally, an astronomy lesson for the high schooler! Explorers are able to read star maps for finding objects in the night sky by determining celestial coordinates. In particular, they locate the Pleiades and read about a Navajo legend...
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Sun Path: Interactive On-line Mac or PC
Students use SunPath in the yearly mode to investigate seasonal changes in sunrise, sunset, length of day and sun altitude at their own latitude. Sun Path JAVA applet uses equations for a spherical Earth to calculate the sunrise and...
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Seasons Worksheet #1
First, your earth science pupils determine what season is depicted in a diagram of the tilted Earth as it receives radiation from the sun. They answer multiple choice questions about occurrences at different points on Earth in the...
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Astronomy with a Stick
Students describe the movement of the Earth as it relates to the sun and
formulate a hypothesis for the movement and the changing length of the shadow. They express the relationship between the sun and the Earth and how that causes the...
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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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Estimating Altitude of Water Cloud Base
Students conduct an experiment to determine dew point and use a formula to detemine altitude. They construct a chart and predict what altitude clouds would form, given the dew point on the ground.
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Solar Kit Lesson #7 Positioning Solar Panels I: Explorations with Tracking
Learners track and record data on the Sun's position in the sky and on the output of a solar panel tracking the Sun. On a second day, students graph and analyze the data to identify relationships between (1) the time of day, (2) the...
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High School Mathematics Problems from Alaska: Writing an Equation: Altitude Range vs. Day in Barrow, Alaska
Students answer questions about the altitude range of the sun over time in Barrow, Alaska.
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A Star to Steer Her By
Students determine their latitude using a protracdtor and/or cross-staff to find the altitude of Polaris.
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Let the Sun Shine In: Energy Conservation
Students create a project applying their math skills as they discuss energy conservation. In this geometry lesson, students define vocabulary relating to the environment and energy conservation. They construct a building that allow lots...
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Angle Measurements
In this angle measurement worksheet, 10th graders solve and complete 9 different word problems. First, they read the word problems carefully. Then, students draw a picture that represents each problem and solve. Finally, they find side...
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Unit VIII: Worksheet 3 - Central Force
Beginning physicists imagine being aerospace engineers by solving seven centripetal force problems. They calculate the work, speed, time, and acceleration of objects in orbit: a satellite around Earth, and Earth around the sun. This is a...
Colorado State University
Why Do Clouds Form in the Afternoon?
The stability of the atmosphere changes on a daily basis. A kinesthetic lesson models how the stability of the air changes as it's warmed by the sun. Learners connect their models to the changing air currents and movement of warm and...
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Astronomy With a Stick
Young scholars find the altitude of the Sun at 10 A.M., at solar noon, and at 2 P.M. by measuring the height of the gnomon and the length of the shadow at each time. They record the measurements in their notebooks for later conversion.