Curated OER
How Big Is That Star?
Aspiring astronomers study stars. They compare stars and explain the relationship between radius, mass, and diameter. By creating a star simulation, they discover how a binary star system's orbit can cause changes in the observed...
Curated OER
Navigating a Spacecraft
Students work with a partner to plot the trajectory of a spacecraft traveling between Earth and Mars in the 2018 and returning in 2020. They examine the key factors when planning a mission to and from Mars such as travel time, distances...
Curated OER
Not So Lost in Space
Students investigate how engineers navigate satellites in orbit around the Earth and on their way to other planets in the solar system. They study vocabulary words and participate in studying a satellite by learning about times and...
Curated OER
Life in Space: International Space Station
Students 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 into groups...
Curated OER
Space Science: A Scoop of Moon Dirt
Students discover soil characteristics and how it is formed on Earth and the Moon by examining local samples to a lunar simulant. They replicate the effects of wind erosion by scraping dry bread with sandpaper. Students use rocks and...
Curated OER
Keep In Touch: Communications and Satellites
Fourth graders explore communications by reading assigned space science text. In this satellite instructional activity, 4th graders identify the concept of orbiting and examine gravitational pull by viewing diagrams. Students are...
Curated OER
Observing and Sketching the Lunar Surface
Students explore space science by conducting an illustration activity. In this lunar lesson, students discuss what the moon is and the role it plays for our environment on Earth. Students view images of the moon and utilize chalk to...
Curated OER
Weather Art in Space Settlements
Students demonstrate a cloud formation and the relation between pressure and temperature in gases. They explain how clouds could be created in space settlements and see the relation between pressure and temperature in gases.
Curated OER
The Nature of Science and Technology
Pupils study the environmental concerns of orbital debris. In this orbital debris lesson students complete several activities.
Curated OER
Lesson Plan on Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion
Students construct a solar system model. In this space science lesson, students calculate the eccentricity of a planet's orbit. They calculate the period of a planet's revolution using Kepler's formula.
NASA
Eclipse Activity Guide
Ever made solar s'mores? Or recreated the solar system using peanuts? Astronomers young and old investigate all things solar using a variety of activities. Explore how the sun works, types of light it emits, and methods of charting the...
McGraw Hill
Lunar Phases Interactive
View the moon changes from space while simultaneously experiencing the changes on Earth. A creative lesson allows pupils to view the big picture as they watch the orbit of the moon through a calendar period. At the same time, they see...
Curated OER
Strange New Planet
Students choose a spherical object to decorate with stickers, scents, etc to make it interesting. They write a key to the features for future explorers. Students use viewers to observe mystery planets. Students simulate NASA missions by...
Curated OER
Science: Daily and Seasonal Cycles
First graders use their observations to describe daily and seasonal cycles. through a demonstration using a suspended ball and flashlight, they determine the time of day in various locations. Next, 1st graders participate in a...
Curated OER
Orbit an Artificial Satellite
High schoolers construct an artificial satellite from random materials. They demonstrate the principle of an orbit. Students are divided into small groups. Each group creates a model of an artificial satellite in orbit.
Curated OER
Introduction To Orbital Mechanics
Students use NASA drawings to build a model satellite for a specific mission. They design a set of drawings for their satellite showing its subsystems as well.
Curated OER
Earth, Moon, Mars Balloons
Learners demonstrate size and orbits of Earth, Moon, and Mars. In this space science lesson plan, students will use balloons to show how the size and distance between the planets and satellite compare.
Curated OER
LIFE IN SPACE Human Body: An Un-Earthly Home
Pupils examine an effect of zero gravity on the human body using a baby food jar, balloons and a jar with a large mouth.
Curated OER
Exploring Place and Space
Students explore number values by completing mathematical worksheets in class. In this decimals lesson, students identify the different place values a number has and the use of decimals to represent a fraction of a number. Students...
Curated OER
Earth and Sun's Distance
Students consider the shape of the Earth's orbit around the Sun. They view the first segment of Science Court video and use Timeliner software to construct a scale of the distance between the Earth and the Sun.
Curated OER
There's More to Light than Meets the Eye
Students explore the concept that not all light is visible to the
human eye. Although UV light is not visible, it can still be harmful, causing sunburns or skin cancer. They use special beads to detect UV light around the school....
Curated OER
Categorizing Celestial Objects
Students work together to develop a classification system for planets. They take a class vote and read an article about an astronomer's classification system. They write an essay on how scientists make decisions for the general public.
Curated OER
Student Experiment Flies On NASA Space Shuttle!
Students design and construct an experiment that will be launched into space aboard a NASA research shuttle. How better to gain and appreciation for (and, hopefully, a love of) scientific investigation than to do real science and be...
Curated OER
Reason for the Seasons
Students study the seasons of the Earth. In this seasons lesson, students study the science of the seasons on Earth by studying the tilt and axis of the Earth's orbit. Students read background information and four experimental activities...