Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gravity Gets You Down

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars investigate the force of gravity and how it effects different objects that are put into acceleration when applied the experiment of free falling. They drop different objects that have a variety of masses and some that...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Orbital Mechanics

For Teachers 12th
Twelfth graders examine the misconceptions of Newton's laws of motion.  In this motion and gravity instructional activity students interpret data and see the effects of gravity. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Keep In Touch: Communications and Satellites

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore communications by reading assigned space science text. In this satellite lesson, 4th graders identify the concept of orbiting and examine gravitational pull by viewing diagrams. Students are assessed based on...
Interactive
McGraw Hill

Escape Velocity Interactive

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
How hard do you need to throw a ball in the air so that it never returns? Scientists call this measure the escape velocity. Classes can explore this concept through an intriguing interactive lesson. Pupils adjust velocities and observe...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Getting to Know Saturn: Moons, Rings, and Relationships

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students identify the different objects that orbit Saturn. In this space science lesson, students plot the graph of orbital speed and distance. They explain why planets and asteroids remain in orbit around the sun.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Saturn’s Moons

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students compare Saturn's moons to the Earth's moon.  In this moon lesson students work in groups and complete a lab activity then answer questions. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let's Think About Day and Night

For Teachers K
Students explore day and night and the relationships between the Earth, the sun and the moon. They discuss the ways in which the sun and moon help us. They watch a short video that helps illustrate these concepts.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Newton's Universal Law of Gravitation with Simple Machines

For Teachers 1st
First graders engage in a lesson that is about Newton's Laws Of Gravitation while conducting research in order to perform an information search. They sing a song about the Law of Gravitation and play a game of Ring Around The Rosie. Then...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water and Ice

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students investigate how water goes from a solid to a liquid then back again.  In this experimental lesson students conduct their own experiment and see how water changes form. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weightlessness

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Pupils compare and contrast the terms "weight" and "mass". In this physics lesson, students observe an experiment in which objects are placed on a balance scale and weighed under different circumstances. Partners drop items and observe...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gravity - The Glue of the Universe

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

Foucault's Pendulum

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate how the motion of the Foucault pendulum proves that the Earth is rotating. They research the Internet about pendulums and conduct an experiment online. They view a multimedia presentation about pendulums and read...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth's Orbit Lesson

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders devise a computational model to explore how the orbit of the Earth might change if its velocity were different. Using accurately recorded data, 10th graders defend a scientific argument.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water and Ice

For Teachers K - 2nd
Learners explore the physical properties of water.  In this water instructional activity, students observe, measure, and describe water as it changes state. There are 2 extensions for this instructional activity that one can access...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Solar System

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students describe the different bodies that make up our solar system, explain the place of our solar system within the Milky Way Galaxy and the universe, explain day and night and the Earth's movement, and describe the relationship...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life in Space: International Space Station

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Middle schoolers explore the potential challenges of living in space.  In this investigative lesson students search the Internet to locate 16 nations that are working together to build the Independent Space Station, then they divide...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sea Ice and Satellites

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students study satellites and satellite images using Google Earth. In this satellite lesson, students discuss satellites and how they work. Students watch a demonstration of how satellites work and learn what they are used for. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planetary Orbits

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore space science by completing a solar system identification worksheet. In this planets lesson, students discuss the different planets in our star system and identify their traits. Students complete an orbital system...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar System

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders identify the basic concepts of celestial bodies. They discover the difference between perihelion and aphelion and demonstrate how the universe is expanding. They also discover how gravity and centrifugal force are...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Enslaved and Running

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students use runaway slave advertisements to discover how the language varies from the 18th to 21st century. Using primary source documents, they research the brutality of slavery and the desire of those in slavery to be free. They...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Action-Reaction! Rocket

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Students construct a rocket from a balloon propelled along a guide string. They use this model to learn about Newton's three laws of motion, examining the effect of different forces on the motion of the rocket. They measure the distance...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weightlessness Demonstration

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the concept that free-fall eliminates the local effects of gravity. They discuss what an Earth-orbiting spacecraft experience is like as well as the terminology of weightlessness. Their lab experiment commences.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Weightlessness Demonstration

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students investigate gravity.  For this weightless lesson students complete a lab activity about how a free fall might effect how one perceives gravity.
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Our Universe: Always Moving, Always Changing

For Teachers 3rd
Students explore the main concepts of astronomy through the eleven lessons of this unit. The past, present, and future methods of studying the science are examined in this unit.