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Pack Your Bags for a Trip to Another Planet
Student investigate and understand the planets and their characteristics and create a hypothetical travel brochure through the solar system.
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My Spacecraft to Saturn
Students discover problems that NASA must deal with on a daily basis. They work together to think of solutions and sketch their own idea of a spacecraft. They discover the concept of engineering.
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My Spacecraft and Cassini
Students discover solutions to the problems that NASA used in a previous lesson. They write a paper comparing and contrasting their spacecraft idea to the one that was actually used to go to Saturn. They also discover Saturn's moons.
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Space Presents Problems
Students use the internet to research problems related to space. They complete a questionaire to direct their research before beginning. They create a database of moon and planet characteristics.
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Let's Think About Air
Pupils explore the concept that air is all around us and identify ways that we can use air, and what air can do. They watch a short video that illustrates some of their findings.
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Where Next?
Students read an article explaining NASA's possible Mars landing sites. They use the Internet to research Mars and the Module. They are able to submit their own proposals for a landing site after researching the planet.
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Planetary Tourism
Students pretend they are the first student to be allowed in space. They examine all nine planets on their journey. They complete a KWL chart and worksheets before they do their research. They create an itinerary of their tour and...
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Extraterrestrial Communication: Can We Talk to Anybody Out There?
Students examine the possibilities of communication with other living organisms within our solar system through research and hands on activities, as well as observing and analyzing teacher demonstrations.
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Exploring Habitats
Students analyze the difference between the human habitat and the different habitats of animals in the six lessons of this unit. The students' imaginations and literature are used to explore important aspects of the living environments...
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an Explorative Journey Through the Solar System
Students, in groups, research a planet from our solar system. They create Styrofoam models of the planets and place the planets on a correct distance scale from the sun.
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The Moon is made of Cheese
Eighth graders explore the reasons why they believe scientific ideas are true. They think critically rather than accept everything they are told without question.
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E.T. Write Home
Students read the book, The Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System, and discuss the planets visited by the characters in the book. They write journal entries from the viewpoint of E.T., writing letters home describing his travels in...
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Finding the Spot
Fourth graders use circles to "home in" on particular spots, showing the ability of scientists to locate unseen objects in space. This activity shows how scientists know certain objects exist in space due to the forces exerted by...
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My Water's Place in Space
Pupils discover their absolute and relative place in space relative to water and create a book sequencing that space from most specific to most general.
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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.
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Researching the Planets
Students use a search engine and links on the Internet to gather research. They record data and cite references used. They organize research into an outline and use a Word Processing program to publish a report.
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Compare and Contrast Planets Using a Venn Diagram
Learners use the Venn diagram template to complete the assignment or prepare their own Venn diagram using the Draw program on their computer (if available). They share their Venn diagrams with the class.
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Seeing The Sun In A New Light
High schoolers examine the observation of "coronal holes," by x-rays, also about related fast streams and moderate magnetic storms that recur at 27 day intervals. They study NASA'S great observatories.
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Take a Spin Through the Solar System
Second graders participate in a variety of activities to explore the Solar System in this unit.
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PROBLEMS/SOLUTIONS
Pupils choose an interesting problem related to space travel and then design a plan to solve the problem. They present their solution to the class.
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BOUNCING INFORMATION AROUND
Learners examine how satellite signals are sent and duplicate it with a mirror, flashlight and black paper.
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CHARTING A COURSE
Students model how a gyroscope works with string, an old phonograph record and crayon.
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A DISAPPEARING ACT Astronomy: Do Stars Always Shine?
Students observe why stars are not visible during the day with a classroom demonstration using an index card punched with holes.
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LIFE IN SPACE Human Body: An Un-Earthly Home
Students examine an effect of zero gravity on the human body using a baby food jar, balloons and a jar with a large mouth.