Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Glowing Constellations

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students conduct their research to creating an artistic image that shows what their constellation represents. They demonstrate their ability to represent data in their own artistic manner. Afterward, they recognize constellations both...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wild Constellations

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Students examine the various constellations they can see at night. After listening to an expert speak, they discover how the Earth rotates and how that affects the constellations. To end the lesson plan, they make a representation of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mapping Constellations

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students become familiar with constellations. For this space science lesson, the teacher introduces constellations by showing students the star patterns and reading myths. Students, observe the stars nightly, then choose one...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Illustrate the Constellations

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students explore space science by participating in a star identification activity. In this astronomy lesson, students identify different star patterns and discuss the movement of stars across the sky as the seasons change. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Adopt a Constellation

For Teachers 6th - 7th
Students adopt a constellation and find detailed information about their constellation. In this constellation lesson plan, students use the web to find information about a constellation of their choice. They identify the history of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students identify patterns in the stars. In this constellation lesson, students simulate constellations using black canisters and patterns. Students discuss the points on the constellations and how to draw imaginary lines to see the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sky Quest: Exploring the Constellations

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students examine constellations and planets through completing various activities. Students work individually and in groups to create drawings based on stars, compare and contrast the night sky with and without a telescope and learn...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Space - Make a Constellation

For Teachers All
Students discuss stars and constellations; they experiment with star stickers, chalk, and construction paper to create constellations, while developing fine motor skills.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Demonstrating the Distances of Stars

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the distance from Earth to stars. They create a model to show the arrangement of constellations. They also identify the importance of the parallax effect.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth Science: Create a Star Clock!

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students identify and use the starts to tell time just as people had for thousands of years. They identify the stars that appear to rise in the east and set in the west, and that those stars near the North Pole appear to go in circles...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dot to Dot: Patterns in the Night Sky

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders are introduced to several major constellations and locate them in the night sky. They graph the constellations on grid paper and work in groups to research common myths and stories associated with specific constellations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Earth, Sun, Moon, And Stars

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders explore the solar system. In this solar system unit, 5th graders investigate numerous projects while rotating through learning centers. Students write about space and construct a space shuttle model. Students practice map...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let the North Star Tell You Where You Are

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students participate in activities in which they find the Big Dipper and locate the North Star in the night sky, examine the relationship between the angle to Polaris and latitude, and determine latitude by using an astrolabe.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Hot and How Big?

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students explore star color and size. In this space science lesson, students conduct various inquiry activities to explore how the color of a star affects the amount of heat produced. They also investigate how the color of stars affects...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mystery Constellations

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders predict constellations each month. In this astronomy lesson, 4th graders are presented with two constellations every month, and guess what they are as clues are given.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Summer Sky Tour

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners explore space science by participating in a constellation identification activity. In this astronomy instructional activity, students view star charts based on the different seasons and define a list of astronomy related terms....
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring the Night Sky: Fall/Winter

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explain how moon phases occur. They explain three ways that the night sky has been used through history. Students locate some of the constellations in the night sky. They discuss stories and myths surrounding stars.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's Up?

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students compare and contrast the various heavenly bodies found in the sky at night. They identify the moon and stars in the sky as well as how the stars form pictures called constellations. Students also experiment with reflection and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Do We Know...?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils identify and explain how various inventions and astronomers have improved our appreciation of the universe. Students identify at least two constellations in the sky and discuss how they were used in ancient times to tell time and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring the Constellations, a WebQuest Activity

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore space science by participating in a class WebQuest. In this constellation identification lesson, students view star charts based on the four seasons and identify the changes our sky goes through in the course of 12...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Mystery Constellation

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students decipher two teacher chosen mystery constellations a month. They listen to stories, explain what they know about constellations and name the mystery constellation.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Three D Constellations

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars address a major misconception in astronomy, the understanding of scale. The lesson plan is designed to introduce students to both celestial coordinates and to the first rung on the distance determination ladder, parallax.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Luisa's Steller Evolution Lab

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students examine stars and constellations in the night sky. They complete a KWL chart and calculate the mass of stars. They also discuss how a star is formed.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chandra X-Ray Observatory

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Students tour Chandra's top galactic X-ray images. For this Chandra X-Ray Observatory lesson, students play games and complete puzzles based on the Chandra Mission and X-Ray Astronomy. Students listen to pod casts, question an...