Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Activity: Is There Really Life on Mars?

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) activity explores the controversy over whether or not there is life on Mars. Part of the Mysteries of Deep Space Program that originally aired in April 1997, the activity includes instructional...
Lesson Plan
National Institute of Educational Technologies and Teacher Training (Spain)

Ministerio De Educacion: La Situacion De La Tierra en El Universo

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Throughout this unit you will make an imaginary journey that will transport you from the remotest infinity of the universe around us, to the surface of our planet. During this trip you will see the main features and components of our...
Article
Society for Science and the Public

Science News for Students: So Many 'Earths'

For Students 3rd - 8th
Article reports on the recent discovery that many suns in the universe host "Earth-like" planets. Includes a vocabularly list.
Graphic
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: The Sun and Planets

For Students 6th - 8th
Observe the sun and the rotation of the planets in this moving image from NASA. Observe the axial tilts and directional rotation of planets and how they differ for each planet. Be sure to read the background information on how planets...
PPT
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: The Planets of the Solar System

For Students 6th - 8th
As technology has advanced, so do our views and understanding of the solar system. No longer do we have to rely on our unaided eyes to observe planets. View these high-quality images of planets provided by NASA spacecraft.
Lesson Plan
NASA

Nasa: Kepler: A Search for Habitable Planets: Transit Tracks

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Classroom lesson for teaching astronomy uses PowerPoint presentations and illustrations of Kepler's light curves used to discover planets.
Website
PBS

Pbs: Find the Planets

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out how astronomers locate new planets by observing the traits of the stars they orbit. Get some tips at locating stars with the help of star maps.
Website
Space Telescope Science Institute

Space Telescope Science Institute: Hubble Space Telescope

For Students 9th - 10th
Find out how astronomers are conducting extensive observations to estimate how many planets in our Milky Way galaxy might be potential abodes for life.
Interactive
Other

University of Cambridge: Astro Adventure

For Students 3rd - 5th
Imagine a time when you can travel through space, planet to planet, cheaply and in comfort, when you can take a trip to the stars as your next holiday. Well, imagine no more. Learn more about the solar system as you take this trip of a...
Website
Other

Canal Kids: Ciencias (Science for Portuguese Speakers)

For Students 3rd - 8th
Colorful, engagingly written information about astronomy and biology for Portuguese-speaking English language learners. Both subjects are broken down into a broad array of related subtopics. The biology section is particularly helpful...
Website
Views of the Solar System

Views of the Solar System: The Solar System

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore the solar system through this site that includes vivid multimedia resources. Learn the latest scientific discoveries, the history of space exploration, and much more. Site includes videos, graphics, articles, and photographs.
Handout
NASA

Nasa: Mission Science: What Is a Planet?

For Students 5th - 9th
Find out about how planets have been classified historically, and what scientists use to study them.
Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Mysteries of the Universe

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Consider the issues surrounding the world of space exploration including the new fields of archaeoastronomy and astrobiology. Investigate zero gravity, the Big Bang theory, life in space and how sound travels in a vacuum.
Unit Plan
Scholastic

Scholastic: Study Jams! Science: Our Solar System: The Universe

For Students 3rd - 5th
A video and a short multiple-choice quiz on the Universe and what it is made up of.
Unit Plan
Scholastic

Scholastic: Study Jams! Science: Our Solar System: Outer Planets

For Students 3rd - 5th
A slideshow and a short multiple-choice quiz on the four outer planets of our solar system, which include Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
Unit Plan
Scholastic

Scholastic: Study Jams! Science: Our Solar System: Inner Planets

For Students 3rd - 7th
A slideshow and a short multiple-choice quiz on the four inner planets of our solar system, which include Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Earth.
Lesson Plan
Other

Lunar and Planetary Institute: Explore! Mars Inside and Out

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Four hands-on activities and explorations designed to engage children in learning about Mars.
Activity
National Geographic

National Geographic: Educator Resources: Extreme Weather on Other Planets

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Find lesson plans, worksheets, photo galleries, and related links for teaching about the weather systems of planets in our solar system.
Graphic
NASA

Nasa: Astronomy Picture of the Day: Uranus's Moon Umbriel

For Students 9th - 10th
Brief overview of Umbriel from NASA. Answers the question "why is the moon so dark"? Provides additional links for more information. A NASA picture of the day.
Graphic
NASA

Nasa: Astronomy Picture of the Day: Titania, Uranus's Largest Moon

For Students 9th - 10th
A brief overview of Titania, Uranus's largest moon. Includes a very good description of the moon's surface. A NASA picture of the day.
Unit Plan
E-learning for Kids

E Learning for Kids: Science: Antarctica/ What Are the Different Parts of the Universe?

For Students 4th - 6th
In this lesson, students learn about objects in the universe, including constellations, planets, meteors, asteroids, and comets.
Handout
Smithsonian Institution

National Air and Space Museum: Exploring the Planets: Ancient Times & the Greeks

For Students 9th - 10th
In ancient times only five planets were known: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. Learn about Greek astronomer Ptolemy's theory for the solar system that was to survive for fourteen centuries.
Unit Plan
E-learning for Kids

E Learning for Kids: Science: Seychelles: What Is the Solar System?

For Students 2nd - 4th
In this lesson, students learn about the planets, their moons, asteroids, comets, and dwarf planets in our solar system.
Handout
NASA

Nasa: Space Place: What Is a Planet?

For Students 4th - 8th
Explore our solar system's planets- more specifically what planets are made of, and how they are formed.