Curated OER
Stargazers and Skywatchers
Students observe the daily motions of the sun and relate them to the functions of a sundial. They determine the locations of sunrises and sunsets and determine how the elevation of the sun effects temperature.
Curated OER
Seeing The Sun In A New Light
Students examine the observation of "coronal holes," by x-rays, also about related fast streams and moderate magnetic storms that recur at 27 day intervals. They study NASA'S great observatories.
Curated OER
Take a Spin Through the Solar System
Second graders participate in a variety of activities to explore the Solar System in this unit.
Curated OER
Where Does My Energy Come From?
Students gain an understanding that the Sun is the source of all energy. With a partner, they examine various web sites to explore food chains and food webs, later sharing their findings with the class.
Curated OER
Bouncing Sunlight
Third graders use flashlights and balls to demonstrate how the light bounces off of the sun and reflects onto the moon. They record their observations in a journal.
Curated OER
Sun Prints
Young scholars use coins to help them explore the sun as a source of renewable energy. They go outside in the sunshine and make a design by placing coins on their piece of black construction paper.
California Institute of Technology
Cool Cosmos: Sun Ask an Astronomer
Cool Cosmos provides the answer to many questions about the sun! Just find your question and click on it.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: A Guide to Astronomy Resources
A portal to resources on the sun, the Earth's neighboring planets, and the weather in space. Find out why Saturn is the "jewel of the Solar System" and explore what happens when Venus and Mercury make their rare transits across the sun.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Global Weather Machine
In this illustrated essay from NOVA Online, explore the cyclical process of weather creation and the effects of El Nino on the global weather system.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Project Ideas: The Reasons for the Seasons
In this astronomy science fair project, investigate how the earth's axial tilt creates seasons. The Science Buddies project ideas are set up consistently beginning with an abstract, objective, and introduction, followed by a section on...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Using the Soho to Determine the Rotation of the Sun
This project shows you how to use images from an orbiting observatory to measure how fast the Sun rotates.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Get Something for Nothing: Free Power From the Sun!
Taking advantage of free energy can reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, which are harmful to our environment. In this science fair project, you will work with a solar panel, which is a collector of free energy, and investigate how...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Cold Room? Heat It Up With a Homemade Solar Air Heater
Humans need food, water, and warm shelter to survive. But a lot of humans depend on fossil fuels to supply gas and electricity to heat our homes. But burning fossil fuels to create energy is harmful to the environment. In this science...
University of Colorado
University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Blackbody Spectrum
How does the blackbody spectrum of the sun compare to visible light? Learn about the blackbody spectrum of the sun, a light bulb, an oven, and the earth. Adjust the temperature to see the wavelength and intensity of the spectrum change....
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Rotation: Why Is There Day and Night?
In this rotation activity, students investigate what causes day and night by participating in a classroom activity. Students will observe, question, and investigate how the relationship between the earth and sun causes day and night.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Characteristics of the Sun
This video segment adapted from NASA describes the basic characteristics of our star, the Sun. Includes background reading material and discussion questions. Video length: 1 min. 28 sec.
Chase Young, PhD
Dr. Chase Young, Ph D: Reader's Theater Script: Goodnight Moon [Pdf]
A reader's theater script for Margaret Wise Brown's early childhood book, Goodnight Moon, is provided on these pages. Four character roles are needed in this activity.
American Association of Physics Teachers
Com Padre Digital Library: Open Source Physics: Equinox Precession Model
Experience a science simulation illustrating the Copernican theory of Earth's orbit around the sun.
University of Colorado
University of Colorado: Ph Et Interactive Simulations: Blackbody Spectrum
An interactive simulation that teaches about blackbody, sun, light, and quantum mechanics. Students learn my making observations while changing the temperature with a sun, a light bulb, an oven, and the Earth in order to see the changes...
Harvard University
Harvard University: The Solar System
These hands-on activities are a great way for students to gain perspective on the relative sizes and distances of each planet, the relationship between the sun and Earth, and much more.
NASA
Nasa: The Sun
An introduction to the Sun including its size and distance from the Earth, sunspots, flares and coronal mass ejections.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Sunspots on the Move
The following videos show sunspots using wavelengths of light that the human eye cannot see. Watch sunspots emerging on the earth's surface, a sunspot moving across the earth's surface, and the rotation of the sun as a sunspot evolves...
Other
Simple Science: Planetary Gallery
The innovative resource examines images of the Sun, Moon, Pluto, and all eight planets in the Solar System. Learners calculate the diameter of each object and rank the objects in order of size. The activity has an interactive online...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Our Solar System Lithograph Set
View these amazing high-quality images of our solar system from NASA with this lithograph set. Each lithograph contains images, facts, dates, and general information on a particular subject. Background information and teaching tips are...