Curated OER
Memory Techniques
Learners enhance memorization skills by using the following techniques: acrostics, acronyms, number pictures, spelling memory tips, name pictures, grouping, and journey pegs.
Curated OER
Space Trading Cards
Students use the Internet and other reference sources to gather information on a space topic. They create a trading card displaying the information learned and import pictures from libraries and the Internet.
Messenger Education
Exploring Solar Systems Across the Universe
Scientists have theorized that our solar system formed 4.6 billion years ago. In this pair of activities, learners first hypothesize how our solar system was formed. Using this information, groups then determine how scientists search for...
Messenger Education
Sensing the Invisible: The Herschel Experiment
The electromagnetic spectrum includes everything from very powerful gamma rays (which are used to treat cancer) to much weaker radio waves (which include microwaves). Through a hands-on activity, scholars explore the temperature...
Messenger Education
Dangers of Radiation Exposure
Gamma radiation, which is harmful, is useful in treating cancers. In the second lesson in a series of four, young scientists take surveys and calculate their yearly exposure to ionizing radiation. Then they read about how harmful their...
Messenger Education
Mission: Possible—How Can We Plan an Exploration of Another World?
An astronaut's spacesuit weighs 280 pounds and takes 45 minutes to put on — that's a serious suit! The second activity of a three-part series allows pupils to see all that goes into space exploration. Through simulations, groups analyze...
Curated OER
Create an Alien Life Form
In this creative writing worksheet, students answer a series of questions about an alien they imagine. There are also other pre-writing exercises about historical figures, monuments, a zoo, and other topics designed to aid in the...
Curated OER
Boosting Your Memory
In this memory instructional activity, students learn about three different ways to memorize given information. They make up phrases to help remember lists and they create mental maps to remember terms. They put what they learned to the...
Curated OER
Space Travel Timeline
Learners use the Internet to find events in space history to include in a timeline. They recognize the cause and effect relationships between events that happened in the exploration of space. They see how to use the TimeLiner software.
NASA
Nasa Star Child: Mercury
Provides good information about Mercury and is a good starting point for information about the planet along with pictures and audio. Links to a simple fact table, puzzle, glossary, and more detailed information.
Nine Planets
The Eight Planets: Just for Kids
Here is a clear, simple picture of the solar system. Click on the names of the planets to learn more about each. Clicking on underlined terms takes you to more and more detailed scientific information.
NASA
Nasa: Solar System
This resource provides a general overview of all the planets in the solar system, as well as the sun, various comets and asteroids, the deep space network, and the latest solar system news.
Curated OER
Science Kids: Science Images: Mercury
A photo of the planet Mercury showing its rugged, scarred surface which looks similar to that of the Earth's moon.
NASA
Nasa: Surface Maps of the Solar System
Solar system surface map database. Includes maps of all solid planets and many moons. Maps of gas planets are either based on images taken by Voyager, or are fictitious maps including general storm systems.
NASA
Nasa: Planetary Photojournal
This NASA site provides access to publicly released images from various Solar System exploration programs.
NASA
Nasa: The Space Place
This site from NASA's Space Place is geared towards early elementary learners. It offers detailed instructions for crafts and activities related to space, games and a teacher resource area. Students can also ask an expert at this site.