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Exploring a Galaxy
In this galaxy worksheet, students use the Internet or other resources to answer 13 questions about the galaxy NGC-1232. They are given a photograph of the galaxy to help determine the width and diameter of certain regions of...
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How Hot and How Big?
Students explore star color and size. In this space science lesson, students conduct various inquiry activities to explore how the color of a star affects the amount of heat produced. They also investigate how the color of stars affects...
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Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star
Students identify patterns in the stars. In this constellation lesson, students simulate constellations using black canisters and patterns. Students discuss the points on the constellations and how to draw imaginary lines to see the...
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Size of Stars
Fifth graders draw constellations in the sky and use the brightness levels of stars to show how big they are. For this constellations lesson plan, 5th graders describe what they see in the night sky by discussing the star's distances.
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Constellation Capers
Students create a constellation. In this outer space lesson, students complete a KWL chart on constellations, list the constellations they know and read the book The Big Dipper. Students use construction paper and stars to create and...
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The Planet Mars
Fifth graders gain knowledge about Mars and Earth. In this compare and contrast instructional activity, 5th graders use visual representations of the solar system to observe the characteristics of the planets. Students read fiction and...
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Details from an Exploding Star
In this nebula worksheet, students read about the Crab Nebula and calculate the average speed of the expanding gas. They determine the size of the smallest clumps of gas and they draw the diameter of the solar system to scale.
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Seeing Stars
Young scholars discover constellations. In this astronomy lesson, students discuss stars in the sky and that a group of stars is called a constellation. Young scholars then create their own constellations by dropping stars onto a black...
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How Many Stars are in the Sky?
In this star count worksheet, students solve three problems using a given polynomial and its logarithm to determine the number of stars in a given area.
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F(x)g(x): A Tale of Two Functions
In this graphing functions worksheet, learners solve four problems where they graph given functions, find the sum related to the area under the curve and determine an integral.
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Big Dipper Story Wheel
Students research a Canadian Indian Tale. In this constellation activity, students hear the story "Never-Ending Bear Hunt" which describes the constellations from the Native American perspective. They create their own constellation wheel...
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Sky Observation Project
In this sky observation worksheet, students make observations of the night sky and use their planisphere and star charts to help identify what they observe. They make observations and record what they see for 10-15 minutes. They draw a...
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Exploring Power-Law Functions Using WISE Data!
In this power-law functions activity, learners solve 3 problems using data from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Experiment in the constellation Carina. Students use a photograph to determine the number of stars as bright as the brightest...
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Explore the Characteristics of Stars with Microsoft WorldWide Telescope
Young scholars explore the characteristics of stars. In this space science activity, students use the Microsoft WorldWide Telescope program to identify the properties of stars and identify the stars in the galaxy.
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Planetary Conjunctions
In this planetary conjunctions worksheet, students read about planetary alignments and they solve 2 problems. They determine the location of 3 planets given their orbit time after 1, 2 , 3 and 4 years and they determine when three given...
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Counting the Stars in Draco
In this counting stars instructional activity, students construct a histogram for stars in a given star field using their apparent magnitude. Students answer 5 questions using their tabulated data and histogram to answer questions about...
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Auroras
In this aurora worksheet, students read a description of an aurora observed by Captain Standard in 1859. Students interpret the description with a drawing giving as much detail as possible using colored media to capture what they read.
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Stellar Temperature, Size and Power
In this stellar temperature of stars worksheet, students use a given formula that relates the stellar light output with the surface area and temperature of a star to solve 3 problems. Students find luminosities of different stars and...
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Spectral Classification of Stars
In this spectral composition of stars instructional activity, students use data collected by a spectroscope to compare the stellar spectra to a standard for 5 stars. Students compare the spectral lines to the temperatures of the stars.
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The Solar Neighborhood within 17 Light Years!
In this distance between stars worksheet, students plot the distance between the sun and 11 other stars on a 2 dimensional grid using a protractor and a ruler. They determine the distances between various stars and they find the shortest...
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Sky Quest: Exploring the Constellations
Students examine constellations and planets through completing various activities. Students work individually and in groups to create drawings based on stars, compare and contrast the night sky with and without a telescope and learn...
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Stars and The Modern Telescope
In this stars and the modern telescope worksheet, students use a photograph taken by the 2MASS telescope to calculate the number of bright stars and faint stars in the picture, the size of the picture, and the number of stars expected to...
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Where Did All the Stars Go?
In this brightness of stars worksheet, students solve 4 problems given a unit of measurement of cents/second for brightness. Students find cents collected in timed exposures, they find brightness of stars and they determine visibility of...
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Measuring Star Temperatures
In this measuring star temperatures, students find the temperature of a star using Planck's curve and the Wein Displacement law. Students also find the peak wavelengths for given stars using Planck's curve.