Lesson Plan
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Our Solar System to Scale

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students calculate the diameter of planets and their relative distances.  In this space science instructional activity, students discover how small or big the planets are in comparison to each other. Students use cross multiplying...
Lesson Plan
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Environment: The Haves and the Have Nots

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine consumption habits in developed and developing countries and determine their effects on natural resources. In groups, they assess graphs on the Living Planet Report and observe the connection between consumption and...
Lesson Plan
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Gravity - The Glue of the Universe

For Teachers 2nd - 7th
Learners explore physics by conducting a class experiment. In this gravitational force lesson plan, students define several scientific terms associated with force. Learners utilize a styrofoam cup and marbles to simulate a satellite...
Lesson Plan
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Planetary Landers

For Teachers K - 8th
Students watch programs from a series titled "Planetary Landers". As a class, they view a poster of various vehicles that have made their way into space. In groups, they brainstorm the characteristics that should be included when...
Interactive
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Coordinates

For Students 6th
In this coordinates worksheet, 6th graders solve ten multiple choice questions by using their knowledge of coordinates on a grid. This is an interactive worksheet.
Lesson Plan
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Eco Points Score Card

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students play a game in which points are assigned to daily activities which require fossil fuels or electricity. They compare the impact their energy and transportation choices have in everyday life.
Lesson Plan
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A Recipe for Air

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students create a pie graph using M&Ms to demonstrate the composition of air. They label each section of the graph, and list the fractions from largest to smallest.
Lesson Plan
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It's Alive! Or is it...?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students apply their knowledge of the characteristics of living things to unknown creatures to determine whether they can be considered "alive." They watch a Star Trek episode, then describe the characteristics of life.
Lesson Plan
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Earth's Age: The Dating Game

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students conduct a simulation to determine radioactive decay and half-life. Using pennies, dice or sugar cubes as isotopes placed in shoe boxes simulating rocks, they hold five trials representing 1000 years each to find the theoretical...
Lesson Plan
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Phases of the Moon

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students read "The Moon Seems to Change" and conduct an experiment with oranges to demonstrate the phases of the moon. They write about the experiment and describe each phase of the moon.
Lesson Plan
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How High Does the Atmosphere Go?

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students explain how relatively thin the atmosphere is, compared to the size of the planet, and determine the relative extent of the four major atmospheric layers.
Lesson Plan
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Birds of the Northeast

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students identify several common birds through field observations, preserved specimens and personal experience. They classify the species and choose one to research. They draw a migration map and participate in a project that benefit...
Lesson Plan
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What's Out There? Space Shuttle Exploration and Simulation

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students role-play the jobs of space shuttle astronauts, conduct experiments, and research space using the Internet and offline experiments. Student-astronauts hold a "press conference" to share their information with others in a...
Lesson Plan
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Scientific Notation

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners explore the concept of expressing numbers in scientific notation. In this scientific notation instructional activity, students understand the importance of using scientific notation by finding real world examples where...
Lesson Plan
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Changing Faces: A Study of Solar and Planetary Rotation Rates

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students determine rotation rates of a variety of solar system objects using images and the Internet.
Lesson Plan
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Phases of the Moon

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students research and identify the phases of the moon. They consider the moon's rotation, as well as that of the earth and sun. They write a description of their research and present it to the class.
Lesson Plan
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The Oceans Below

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students investigate the geological characteristics of the ocean environment and create a labeled drawing of the ocean floor's geography. Students view videos and conduct Internet research about the ocean's floor and then create their...
Lesson Plan
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WATER CHEMISTRY

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students list reasons why water is important and investigate and graph the freezing points of different solutions.
Lesson Plan
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Flight Direction

For Teachers K - 8th
Students are introduced to NASA's Connect Series and Flight Direction programs. They explore the world of aeronautics and their missions. Students receive a front role set to the concepts and skills involved with the various NASA programs.
Lesson Plan
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Everything's Connected

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Students explore how trash decomposes. In this ecosystem instructional activity, students discuss new vocabulary words, such as producers and consumers, and think critically to answer how landfills work.
Interactive
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What is a black hole anyway?

For Students 4th - 6th
In this black holes instructional activity, students answer multiple choice questions about black holes in space. Students complete 4 multiple choice questions.
Lesson Plan
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Extraterrestrial Communication: Can We Talk to Anybody Out There?

For Teachers 5th - 6th
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.
Lesson Plan
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Rubber Gardens

For Teachers K - 8th
Students recycle discarded automobile tires and create gardening sites for limited space areas.
Lesson Planet Article
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Water, Water, Everywhere!

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Get kids excited about environmental studies with these exciting lesson plans about water!