NASA Teacher Resources
Find NASA lesson plans and worksheets
Showing 36 resources
Curated OER
NASA Spacecraft meets Comet Temple 1
On Valentines Day in 2011, a NASA spacecraft met comet Temple 1. Introduce the class to the information, evidence, and technology needed to have a date with an orbiting comet. A great look into the science behind great discoveries.
Curated OER
History of Flight Timeline Activity
Scholars are introduced to the significant events that led to the development of today's modern forms of air travel. They create a timeline to identify the vital events that are related to man's flight. In addition, they research various...
NASA
Century Timeline
Scholars use the Cosmic Times and the Internet to create a timeline of events from 1916 when Einstein presented the Theory of General Relativity to 2016. Scientific discoveries are the main focus, then pupils add in events from culture,...
Curated OER
NASA Robots
Students discuss the needs for robots in space discovery, and take turns simulating a robot and controller to demonstrate the difficulties of programming a robot to successfully complete simple tasks.
University of Colorado
Astro-Chronology
Class members play a version of the game Chronology to determine when certain scientific events occurred in history. Teams play until someone has 5-10 events in the correct order.
Curated OER
History of Saturn Discoveries
Learners interpret how scientists have explored Saturn. In this NASA based astronomy lesson, students create a timeline depicting the study of Saturn from 1610 until 2010. Each student will write a letter to Galileo discussing how the...
PBS
Black Hole Apocalypse | Modeling Galaxies
Once, scientists believed black holes to be rare, but modern technology is proving otherwise. Using data from the Hubble telescope, scientists create computer models of distant galaxies. They discover super massive black holes in the...
National Woman's History Museum
Inventive Women - Part 1
While a woman didn't invent the parasol, three women received patents for their improvements to the original design of umbrellas. In the first of a two-part series on inventive women, class members investigate the patent system to...
Teach Engineering
Inside the DNA
Get your class to take a closer look at DNA. Pupils conduct research to determine the methods used by scientists to analyze the molecular structure of DNA. The class members investigate different types of molecular imaging along with gel...
NASA
What’s the Problem with Isotropy?
Some patterns are so small, we can't see them without the help of technology. The same is true for cosmic microwave background radiation. During this activity and discussion, scholars examine both anisotropic and isotropic items and...
NASA
Space Images
As technology advances, so does our understanding of the universe around us. Thanks to the Hubble Telescope, Mars rovers, and other high-resolution cameras, there are amazing photographs of celestial bodies, planets, comets, and more...
NASA
Space Station Research Explorer
Take a trip into outer space from the safety of your classroom. A great addition to the digital library of any science teacher, this reference offers a behind-the-scenes look at the research going at the International...
Curated OER
Wondering About Saturn: A Short History
Learners read an article about the history of Saturn. They complete reading comprehension tests. They examine what has been discovered on the planet.
Curated OER
The Global Precipitation Measurement Mission (GPM) Lesson
Introduce your class to one of the ways that technology is benefiting humanity. The Global Precipitation Measurement Mission involves the data collected by nine satellites from different countries with a united focus on studying world...
PHET
Science and Engineering Conference
Young scientists present their experimental designs from the previous experiment. The ninth lesson in the series outlines what learners should present, what class discussions should happen, and the solution NASA came up with for the same...
NASA
Lunar Plant Growth Chamber
Would astronauts be able to grow their food on the Moon? Teams research plant growth in order to design and build a growth chamber that will function on the lunar surface. They narrow down plant choices based upon their...
Curated OER
Exploring Dwarf Planet Eris
In this planet Eris learning exercise, students read about the discovery of this dwarf planet and its characteristics. Students answer 3 questions about the planets, the classification of planets and the definition of planets. Students...
NASA
Blinded by the Light!
Pupils learn of multiple ways astronomers look for planets outside of the solar system. By completing a hands-on activity, scholars discover that trying to see the planets directly because of the glare from the nearby star is nearly...
Teach Engineering
Copycat Engineers
It's often said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Young engineers learn about biomimicry, which uses nature to generate engineering ideas, in the fifth lesson of nine in a Life Science unit. Working in groups, they select...
Curated OER
Cloud Discovery
Students create a HyperStudio stack that describes and illustrates twelve different kinds of clouds. They then make inferences about which types of weather the different types of clouds could help predict.
Physics Girl
Everything You Should Know about Trappist-1 Exoplanets
Have we found the next Earth? Join the host of an interesting physics series as she learns what scientists know about the planets orbiting the star Trappist-1 during an engaging video. Astronomers discuss how they located the system,...
Curated OER
Nasa's Return To Flight: Testing In
Students explain basic components of the space shuttle stack and the chemical fuel makeup and storage used on the external tank of space shuttle. They discuss findings of Columbia mission accident. and the safety improvements that have...
Curated OER
A Turning Point in the Space Shuttle Program
Learners study about the Columbia crew and their mission, how space shuttles work, and explore the history of the shuttle program. By accessing many websites imbedded in this plan, students gain a deep understanding of the Space Shuttle...
Curated OER
Astronomy as a Career
In this astronomy as a career instructional activity, students use 2 graphs to answer 4 questions about the number of PhDs awarded, the number of PhD's awarded compared to Bachelor's degrees in astronomy and factors that might be...