Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Is There Liquid Water on Mars?

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners assess whether there is liquid water on Mars by analyzing images and data.  In this planetary lesson students analyze temperature and pressure graphs and hypothesize about how water could have flowed on Mars.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Changes Inside Planets

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Students relate meteorites to the mantle and crust of asteroids.  In this planetary lesson students complete experiments to model the separation of light.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ceres and Pluto: Dwarf Planets as a New Way of Thinking about an Old Solar System

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students examine the new categories of planets and how planets were reclassified.  In this solar system lesson students complete activities using Venn diagrams and images of planets. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating Planetary Soils

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars study soil characteristics and identify properties of soils from different parts of the solar system.  In this soil lesson students divide into groups, read soil descriptions, test and record soil samples. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Can Photosynthesis Occur at Saturn?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students identify the different requirements for photosynthesis to take place. In this space science lesson, students simulate conditions in Saturn to investigate if photosynthesis is possible there. They use data and observations...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planetary Diversity

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students explore the infrared radiation and the part of the spectrum that is not always visible.  In this electromagnetic lesson plan students complete a lab activity on the different wavelengths.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Loneliest Animals

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students examine the different species that are headed towards extinction.  In this animal population lesson students compare the causes of extinction, research an endangered species and present an oral report. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Getting to Know Saturn: Moons, Rings, and Relationships

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students identify the different objects that orbit Saturn. For this space science lesson, students plot the graph of orbital speed and distance. They explain why planets and asteroids remain in orbit around the sun.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

History of Saturn Discoveries

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students 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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Saturn’s Moons

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students compare Saturn's moons to the Earth's moon.  In this moon lesson students work in groups and complete a lab activity then answer questions. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Earth, Sun, Moon, And Stars

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore the solar system. In this solar system unit, 5th graders investigate numerous projects while rotating through learning centers. Students write about space and construct a space shuttle model. Students practice map...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bringing the Solar System to Life

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Learners walk marked paths as they simulate the orbit of the planets.  In this solar system lesson, students recognize the relationship between the sun and the planets.  Learners visualize how the phases of the moon are seen.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Traveling the Planets!

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders research the planets and create brochures to share their information.  In this planets lesson, 4th graders navigate the Internet to gather information for a brochure about an imaginary trip to their planet....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar System Differentiation

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students explore the solar system.  In this solar system science lesson, students choose 3 out of 12 centers to visit, each of which contains an activity related to the planets. The station activities are designed to address...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Space: Our Star, the Sun, and Its Friends, the Planets

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students examine the solar system. For this space lesson, students identify the order of the planets and their relative size to the sun. Students create a scale model of our solar system using a variety of household objects.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planets

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders discover facts about the planets. In this planets instructional activity, 3rd graders form groups, choose a plant, gather facts about that planet and create a poster with the information. Students learn "tricks" on how...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Planet Mars

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders gain knowledge about Mars and Earth. In this compare and contrast lesson, 5th graders use visual representations of the solar system to observe the characteristics of the planets. Students read fiction and nonfiction...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Grade 8 Science written test

For Students 8th
In this science worksheet, 8th graders complete multiple choice questions on plant and animal cells, organisms, planets, and more. Students complete 70 questions.
Worksheet
Curated OER

GED Vocabulary: Earth and Space Science

For Students 9th - 12th
In this earth and space science worksheet, students complete a crossword puzzle given seven clues and seven terms about earthquakes, the solar system, and convection currents.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Out of This World

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders animate their own planets.  In this solar system lesson, 5th graders use smartphones and the software, GoKnow Sketchy, to create images for presentations on their created planets that appear to be animated when played...
Worksheet
Curated OER

The Universe Has Room for Change

For Students 7th - 9th
In this universe and change instructional activity, learners read about the demotion of Pluto as one of the 9 planets as well as other changes in science. Students summarize their reading and identify unfamiliar words in the...
Worksheet
Curated OER

From Asteroids to Planets

For Students 9th - 12th
In this asteroids and planets learning exercise, students read about the formation of planets from asteroids. Students solve 6 mathematical problems including finding the rate of growth of a planet, determining the mass of a planet at a...
Worksheet
Curated OER

From Dust Grains to Dust Balls

For Students 10th - 12th
In this formation of planets worksheet, students solve 6 problems including finding the equation for the mass of rocks as a function of time, finding the equation for the rate of growth of the mass of rocks and integrating these equations.
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

The Solar System

For Teachers 3rd - 4th Standards
Learners explore the Solar System. In this cross-curriculum space instructional activity, students identify the planets, name them in order according to distance from the sun, and describe major characteristics of each planet. Learners...