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Start the Space Flight Time Line
Students research space flight exploration and technology. In small groups, they research a significant event from early time until the start of the space age. A class time line is created from the research groups.
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Science: Planet Sizes
Pupils compare planet sizes using class members holding fruit to represent the planets. They arrange the nine students in planetary order and compare and contrast the planets. Working in groups, pupils color and decorate planet cutouts.
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Astronomy and the Cold War: How the United States Used the Moon to Target the Soviet Union
Pupils examine how astronomical observations were used to help target sites in the Soviet Union during Cold War and why such targeting was needed. Students then make predictions and observations of same astronomical events for their...
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Galaxies
Students use the provided website to classify galaxies after exploring information about elliptical, spiral, lenticular, and irregular galaxies and using the Hubble Tuning Fork.
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Anza and Font in Search of Latitude
This is an integrated activity that incorporates Social Studies, Science, and Mathematics. In Social Studies, 7th graders complete an online interview and complete an online worksheet about latitude of sites on the Anza trail. In Science...
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The KAO Telescope
Students explore the basic principles of the operation of the NASA's KAO telescope. They construct a simplified model of it using film canisters and other everyday objects. Step by step directions are included in plan.
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Summer Research Program for Science Teachers
Students analyze the optical region of the electromagnetic spectrum.
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Good Timing
Students investigate time, how people measure it, and how it influences our lives. They complete an online Webquest, analyze various calendars, answer discussion questions, and identify references to time in a newspaper article.
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Following in Galileo's Footsteps
Students explore the findings of Galileo and research the moons of Jupiter. They construct simple telescopes, and examine the moons for themselves at a star party. They record their findings in a journal.
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`Great Debate' Lesson Plan for Undergraduates
Students study the Curtis- Shapley debate which highlighted the view of human place in the universe. They examine the clash of these two astronomers in a debate which took place in 1920.
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Astronomy
Students complete a unit of lessons on our solar system, its stars, and astronomers. They record information in a space journal, design constellations, define key vocabulary, observe the phases of the moon, and create a group planet...
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Herschel Infrared Experiment
Students perform a version of the experiment of 1800 by the famous astronomer Sir Frederick William Herschel.
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Constellation Creations
Fourth graders puncture holes in black paper to represent stars in constellations. They glue white paper behind the black to show the stars. They create several constellations and keep them to use as study guides.
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Momentum
Students learn the concepts of momentum and its conservation, using the recoil of a cannon as an example. They examine how momentum is a vector, allowing its conservation to be applied to problems in 2 and 3 dimensions.
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Kepler And His Laws
Pupils engage in an overview of the story of Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler, and of Kepler's laws. Each of Kepler's laws be studied separately in more detail in later lessons. They examine Kepler's 3rd law.
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Looking At Illuminated Manuscripts: A Book Of Modern Astronomy
Students examine a medieval manuscript on astronomy and create their own books based on modern discoveries in astronomy. They choose a subject of modern astronomy that they would like to write and create an illuminated image about.
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Edible Model of the Sun
Students identify the different features of the Sun. In this space science lesson plan, students create a model of its surface using cookies and candies. They compare and contrast their model to the real Sun.
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Mensa For Kids: The Moon
First graders explore space science by completing an arts and crafts activity. In this moon lesson, 1st graders explore the geography of the moon and discuss the importance it has for people living on Earth. Students create a replica...
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Distance And Parallax
Students will determine distances to nearby stars using parallax. In this Astronomy lesson plan, students will use a web program, trigonometry, and sketches to determine the distance of stars.
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Planet Picking
Students arrange the planets according to their distances from the sun. In this astronomy lesson, students list interesting properties about each planet. They identify an unknown planet photo.
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Tools of Modern Astronomy
Students differentiate refracting and reflecting telescopes. In this earth science instructional activity, students explain how they are closely connected to satellites. They complete the concept map at the end of the activity.
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Astronomical Scales
Pupils describe the different units of measurement. In this space science lesson, students calculate astronomical distances using a scale. They explain the significance of using scientific notation in expressing very small or very...
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Lesson Plan on Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion
Learners construct a solar system model. For this space science lesson, students calculate the eccentricity of a planet's orbit. They calculate the period of a planet's revolution using Kepler's formula.
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Universal Gravitation
Students create a KWL chart about gravity. In this astronomy class, students investigate the nature of gravity. They discuss common misconceptions and address them.