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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Nine Planets

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
A solid lesson on teaching the nine planets in our solar system is here for you. In it, young scientists learn the correct order of the planets, and they choose one of the planets to do a research report on. They must come up with five...
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Unit Plan
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NASA

Collecting Electromagnetic Radiation

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
Astronomy is literally over your head, but this lesson will explain how we study it. Young scientists make telescopes, calculate and compare the light gathering power of lenses, and simulate detection of infared radiation. Materials...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

3rd Rock from the Sun's Baby Rock

For Teachers 7th
Seventh graders have a chance to actively see each phase of the moon and make connections to what they see in the sky when you show how the moon goes through each of the phases.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Constellations

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the major constellations. After reviewing the Earth's basic motions and their significance, students discuss the moon's orbit and revolutions. Using a Digitarium Alpha portable planetarium projector, they observe at...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Tides of Change Worksheet (Part 1)

For Teachers 1st
In this science worksheet, 1st graders track the tides of the ocean for a number of days and examine the data to determine the meaning of the pattern.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Charting Seasonal Changes

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students research the Earth's patterns of rotation and revolution, create a chart and graph of these patterns and use them to explain the causes of night and day and summer and winter.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tides

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students graph 40 days of high and low tide data for a site in Baja, Mexico near the Wetlands & Fisheries Live! research center. They identify patterns in the data and finally to make a connection between tidal heights and the phase...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Eclipses

For Students 6th - 9th
In this eclipses activity, students read about solar and lunar eclipses to complete 8 short answer questions comparing the two types of eclipses.
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PPT
Curated OER

Exploring the Solar System: All About Spacecraft/Spaceflight

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Rarely do you find resources that reach high school astronomy learners. Here is something at their level! The physics of flyby missions is explained via several examples. Landing, penetrating, and roving spacecraft are examined. Diagrams...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Collecting Electromagnetic Radiation

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students using different experiments and activities explore electromagnetic radiation and the effect on the Earth.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sky Watching

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students complete night-sky observations to understand how our knowledge of the sky has been enhanced by telescopes. Students complete a timeline worksheet giving the history of telescopes. Students then then make their own observations...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Graphing San Diego Tides

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students observe the tides in San Diego for one month. Using this information, they graph the tides on a chart along with the phases of the moon. They answer questions related to the graph to end the lesson.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigation 3 - What is Moonlight?

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders observe a demonstration explaining that the moon reflects sunlight in ordr to shine.
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Interactive
Curated OER

Galileo Galilei Questions for Study

For Students 9th - 12th
In this online interactive philosophy worksheet, students respond to 10 short answer and essay questions about Galileo's contributions to science. 
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Astronomical Data

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
In this astronomy worksheet, students use a chart with planetary data comparing the inner planets to each other. Students will use the period of rotation, period of revolution, and distance from the sun for these inner planets to...
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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 activity students use models to show a variety of schemes explaining the motions. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Life Cycle of a Star

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students investigate the life cycle of a star through research. Once research is complete, students prepare posters and present findings to class. Flash animation is included to help students visualize life cycle of star researching.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Take a Spin Through the Solar System

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders participate in a variety of activities to explore the Solar System in this unit.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar and Lunar Eclipses

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students examine eclipses. In this eclipse lesson, students investigate solar and lunar eclipses. Students complete a WebQuest and write a descriptive summary of eclipses. Lesson references a WebQuest, but does not include a link.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Space, the Final Frontier...

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students study a common theory on how the solar system was formed and examine the relative scale of the size and distances among the bodies of the Solar System.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let the North Star Tell You Where You Are

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners create an astrolabe and locate the North Star in the night sky. They determine the latitude of the North Star, and calculate an average latitude based on class results.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let the North Star Tell You Where You Are

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students participate in activities in which they find the Big Dipper and locate the North Star in the night sky, examine the relationship between the angle to Polaris and latitude, and determine latitude by using an astrolabe.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Extensions - Astronomy Review Unit

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers participate in a review unit in Astronomy using the Layered Curriculum. This allows them to take charge of the type of assessment that is given. The method also allows better differentiation of instruction to occur.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Celestial Photography

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students practice photographic skills and gain an awareness of photography as a scientific tool.