Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making The Geologic Time Scale Real

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students are assigned significant geologic events in Earth's history. They convert the date of the events into distances and then space themselves (on an outside playing field) away from other groups, to represent time between various...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Astronomy

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students complete a series of activities to better understand space studies. In this space science lesson, the teacher is provided with a number of activities for students to complete such as finding words that begin with the prefix...
Worksheet
Curated OER

The Moon

For Students 6th - 8th
In this space science activity, students complete each of the statements with the correct word or phrase about the moon. Then they identify four ways that scientists believe the moon was formed, selecting one and writing a paragraph...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Aurora

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students study the Aurora Borealis lights known commonly as the Northern and Southern lights. In this space science lesson, students study pictures of the Auroras for Jupiter and Saturn. Students visit the given website for an...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Scavenger Hunt: Who am I?

For Students 6th - 8th
In this space science worksheet, students use the sites listed on the Solar System and Planets page of the Kid Zone to locate the names of the people credited with each discovery. They identify and name 26 different scientists who made...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth & Space Science: Holding it Together

For Teachers K - 6th
Students estimate how many drops of water can fit onto the surface of a penny and then test their hypothesis to find out. They also experiment with bubbles.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gravity

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders explore the characteristics of gravity. They discuss gravity on Earth and then use cereal boxes to research and compare the weight of objects on Earth to the weight of those objects on other planets.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stellarium

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore the rotation of the planets from various locations on Earth Using planetarium software, they will make observations, and explain how the rotation of the planets varies based on ones location on the Earth. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plate Tectonics: Movin' and Shakin'

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students are introduced to the causes of plate movements and the hazards they present. They plot the location of 50 earthquakes and 50 volcanic eruptions on a map and explore the relationships between plate tectonics, earthquakes, and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Greenhouse Effect: A Computer Simulation

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students complete an online simulation of the greenhouse effect. In this lesson on the greenhouse effect, students use a website, similar to a webquest, to simulate and answer questions on how the greenhouse effect works. This lesson is...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Balloon Rockets

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students, after reviewing and analyzing Newton's third law of motion, make balloon rockets and experiment with a variety of models. After the experiment, they chart the results and form conclusions. In addition, they compare/contrast...
Lesson Plan
Michigan Sea Grant

Environmental Decision Making

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Pupils participate in a board game activity in which landing on a space called "Decision Card" presents them with a land-use situation to consider and decide how to act. In order to advance in Hydropoly, players must think critically and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pangaea Puzzle

For Teachers 5th - 11th
Students explore plate tectonics and the formations of the Earth's surface and why maps are distorted.  In this Earth's surface lesson students complete a lab and answer questions. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

TE Activity: A Roundabout Way to Mars

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students investigate Hohmann orbit transfers using cardboard and string while focusing on the orbits of Earth and Mars. They look at the planets orbits around the sun and transfer orbit form one planet to another to determine what a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Discovery Shuttle Ready for Liftoff

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners investigate and research what the space shuttle and ground crews must do to make sure all goes well from liftoff to landing each time the shuttle leaves earth.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Milestones in Human Spaceflight

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students investigate the history and goals of NASA and human spaceflight. In this space science lesson, students answer questions about one of seven manned space programs and print pictures from the mission. As a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

NASA Robots

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students discuss the needs for robots in space discovery, and take turns simulating a robot and controller to demonstrate the difficulties of programming a robot to successfully complete simple tasks.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tides

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students discover how the position of the Sun, Moon and Earth affect tides. In this science instructional activity, students view a presentation about the tides. Students discuss the different types of tides.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Incredible Light Bulb-Egg Drop Challenge

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students examine how spacecraft land on Mars. Using eggs or lightbulbs, they design a craft that withstand a drop from a table or ladder, competing in groups to see which module demonstrates the most successful landing.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Body Changes in Space

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students explain the cause of and effects of fluid shift in a microgravity environment. Students identify the effects of microgravity during long duration space flight. Students describe research on cardiovascular effects in microgravity...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Space Shuttle

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students share what they comprehend about the space shuttle program. They are given information about the first space shuttle mission. Students work in groups to investigate the different shuttle missions from April 1981 through January...
Interactive
Curated OER

A Mission-To-Mars Quiz

For Students 6th - 8th
In this space exploration worksheet, students complete a 6 question multiple choice on-line interactive exercise about the exploration of Mars.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plan a Mission to Recently Discovered Planet

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Pupils plan a mission to a recently discovered planet. In this science lesson, students research spacecraft design, distances in space, long-term missions in space, and life-sustaining planets. Pupils work in groups to research an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weather and Wind

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Students study wind and its effect on weather.  In this investigative activity students write a report on wind and weather and create a movement sequence.