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Particle Collection
Students research various substances to test their ability to collect particles from a comets tail. In this inquiry based space science lesson, students drop a clay ball into a substance to test if the ball has been changed in any...
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What is a Community?
Second graders write sentences in a graphic organizer about communities and what they include. In this community lesson, 2nd graders will also draw a picture based on their description.
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Up, Up and Away
Fourth graders design and launch rockets. In this rocket instructional activity, 4th graders observe the changes in outcome caused by size and fuel variables. Students navigate the NASA website to learn the parts of a rocket. Students...
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Reading Satellite Images
Students analyze satellite images. In this astronomy instructional activity, students examine 3 satellite images in order to understand how satellite images are taken and what they can teach scientists.
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LRO Explores Lunar Surface Cratering
In this lunar surface worksheet, students use an image taken by the LRO satellite to investigate the size of craters on the moon's surface, to determine the crater density and to find the average distance between the craters.
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Classroom Planetarium
Students work in groups to create the planets of the solar system. In this planets lesson, students create a hanging solar system taking into account the size, shape and position of the planets. Students discuss the gravity on each...
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Hello Sun, Goodnight Moon
Students become familiar with different times around the world through the reading of 9 O'clock Lullaby. In this Earth, sun, moon lesson, students recognize the movement of the Earth and the relationship to the sun and the moon. ...
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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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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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Space Telescope Debate
Students investigate the Hubble and Webb telescopes. In this space telescope lesson plan, students research Internet sites to find out what type of information these telescopes provide. They debate whether it is financially responsible...
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Our Changing View of the Solar System
Students identify and name the eight planets and the five dwarf planets in our solar system. In this space science lesson, students view a slideshow of the planets and label them on an included Solar System chart.
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Space Exploration
Students explore the significance of the four space programs: Sputnik, Apollo, Viking, and Voyager. In this space exploration lesson, students view a space exploration slideshow and complete an included chart of space exploration.
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Teacher Notes - "Comets And Asteroids - What They Are, Where They Are, They and Us"
Students examine the make-up of comets and asteroids. In this comets and asteroids instructional activity, students examine pictures of comets in asteroids that are included in a teacher presented PowerPoint. They complete an associated...
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Moon Phases - Finally Making Sense of Them
Students investigate the different phases of the moon. In this lunar cycle lesson, students create models of the sun, earth and moon and investigate why we observe the moon the way we do. Students observe a PowerPoint presentation...
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What is Matter?
Students investigate what matter is and how it changes states. In this physical properties lesson, students examine the vocabulary database and identify the characteristics of the three phases of matter. Students perform a liquid vs....
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Fermi Detects Gamma-Rays from Messier
In this power law function worksheet, students use data from the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space telescope to apply the power law function to physical phenomena. Students use a graph to solve four problems.
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Mission Meals
Students calculate the basal metabolic needs of astronauts. In this food preservation lesson, students take on the role of a NASA nutritionist to create a diet for an astronaut. Students create a meal plan for a week to maintain enough...
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Notes: Characteristics of Stars
Students investigate stars and the solar system by completing a worksheet. For this space science lesson, students complete a fill in the blank worksheet based on the stars and components of the cosmos.
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How Many Stars are in the Sky?
In this star count activity, 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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Demonstrating Moon Phases
Third graders participate in a demonstration of the moon's phases. In this moon phase lesson, 3rd graders watch as the teacher demonstrates moon phases with a bright light and a Styrofoam ball. They answer questions associated with the...
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Phases, Eclipses, and Tides
In this reading comprehension activity, students read a passage about what causes the phases of the moon, solar and lunar eclipses, and tides and answer main idea and vocabulary questions. Students answer 12 questions.
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Clip the Face
Students discover the moon's phases and the rarity of eclipses. In this lunar lesson, students view a video titled Spin Around the Solar System: A Moon Dance, which demonstrates the key differences between a lunar and solar eclipse....
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Sweet Candy Comets
Fourth graders use candy to make a comet. In this lesson, 4th graders examine the role comets have played throughout history, students watch NASA videos about comets and complete the lesson by making an edible model of a comet. This...
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Application of Scientific Notation
For this scientific notation worksheet, students solve eight problems about the sun, the planets and the universe using very large numbers expressed in scientific notation.