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Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Kinesthetic Astronomy: Longer Days, Shorter Nights

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
A lamp, four globes, and some signs taped around the room are all you need to set up a solar system simulation for teaching how Earth's tilted axis creates the seasons. (Sticky dots are also needed, but not mentioned in the materials...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Far-out Astronomy in a Suitcase

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders engage in a web-based research activity. They use a teacher provided worksheet to guide their research through the website. This lesson plan provide a excellent opportunity to showcase Canadians astronomy and space science...
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Lesson Plan
American Institute of Physics

African Americans in Astronomy and Astrophysics

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
A two-part lesson focuses on the contributions to the fields of astronomy and astrophysics of two African Americans: Benjamin Banneker and Dr. George Carruthers. In part one, scholars learn about Benjamin Banneker by examining his...
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Lesson Plan
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California Academy of Science

Kinesthetic Astronomy: Earth's Rotation

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
After completing the activity, "Kinesthetic Astronomy: The Meaning of a Year," zoom in on Earth's rotation using the same simulation setup and this outline. Each class member dons a map of the Western Hemisphere and plays the part of...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Canada's Role in Astronomy and Space Science

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders, in groups, research a Canadian astronaut, developing a profile of their astronaut for presentation in a learning center. They visit the other groups' centers to explore more astronauts.
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Lesson Plan
National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science

Mask of the Black God

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Finally, an astronomy lesson for the high schooler! Explorers are able to read star maps for finding objects in the night sky by determining celestial coordinates. In particular, they locate the Pleiades and read about a Navajo legend...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mathematics at the Frontier of Astronomy

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the different types of measurements used in astronomy. In this space science lesson, students explain the relationship between planets' orbits and distance from the sun using Kepler's Laws. They discuss how math aides in...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Astronomy and Me: Moons Over New Haven

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders study the features of different moons orbiting the planets. In this astronomy activity, 3rd graders explore the different phases of the moon using an interactive online website. They compare and contrast the features of the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

An Introduction to the Night Sky and Movement Astronomy

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Basically, this is an interactive exploration of educational astronomy software and an app. Young astronomers discover how the apparent motion of the sky relates to Earth's movements and the position of the observer. It is out of this...
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Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Kinesthetic Astronomy: Mars Opposition Dance

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
Your class will watch as one child orbits the sun as Earth, while another orbits as Mars. If the timing is right, they will see the repetitive dance between the two planets and discover how often they are opposite from each other. For...
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Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Kinesthetic Astronomy: Birthday Stars

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
Space explorers take a virtual trip around the sun right within your classroom! They stand in a circle facing away from the "sun" (a lamp) in the center of the room. As they move according to your instructions, they view different...
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Lesson Plan
3
3
California Academy of Science

Kinesthetic Astronomy: Moon Phases

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
We are the world! Each of your class members models Earth and holds a styrofoam ball to see its phases. Thorough teacher background information and a detailed lesson plan will make this a cinch to teach. If you do not want to purchase...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Radio Astronomy and Radio Telescope

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students construct a simple radio telescope. For this astronomy lesson, students explain how this telescope works and what information it collects.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Astronomy Jeopardy

For Teachers 9th
There are 5-point level questions available for each of the categories in this Jeopardy game.  The categories are the main topics within astronomy; stars, galaxies, the sun, planets, meteors etc. The game is logically set up and clear to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Looking At Illuminated Manuscripts: A Book Of Modern Astronomy

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine a medieval manuscript on astronomy and create their own books based on modern discoveries in astronomy. They choose a subject of modern astronomy that they would like to write and create an illuminated image about.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth Science Astronomy Unit: Seasons on Earth

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders describe how the Earth's position causes seasonal changes. In this astronomy lesson, 8th graders explain how solar radiation varies depending on the season. They create a collage or poster on each of the Earth's four seasons.
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Lesson Plan
Voyage Solar System

Round and Round We Go — Exploring Orbits in the Solar System

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
Math and science come together in this cross-curricular astronomy lesson plan on planetary motion. Starting off with a hands-on activity that engages the class in exploring the geometry of circles and ellipses, this lesson plan then...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Make a Sundial

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore space science by conducting a sun experiment in class. In this time telling lesson, students discuss how the sun sits in our sky at exact times each day and how astronomy is based on our perspective of the solar system....
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Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Kinesthetic Astronomy: The Meaning of a Year

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
How many times have you traveled around the sun? Aspiring astronomers grasp what a year is and they differentiate between orbit and rotation by walking around the sun right within your classroom. Place a lamp in the center of the room to...
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Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

Navigating with the Kamal

For Teachers 8th - 11th Standards
Historians have proven that as early as 1497 skilled navigators were using a kamal to sail across oceans. Scholars learn about navigation tools and astronomy before building their own kamals. They then learn how to use it to determine...
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Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

Exploring the Sky: Reading Maria's Comet

For Teachers K - 4th
Discover the science behind astronomy. After reading the book Maria's Comet, which is about a young woman who breaks new ground by becoming a female astronomer, young learners practice reading comprehension with worksheet questions about...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Taking the Measure of the Universe

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Four fabulous activities immerse amateur astronomers into measuring objects that we cannot handle. The experiences are applied to NASA's Space Interferometry Mission, which will take measurements of planets around stars other than our...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Observing the Sky

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners explore astronomy. For this astronomy lesson, students discuss the history of the movement of celestial bodies and then communicate with other learners regarding the movements that they observe in the sky nightly. Students...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Orbital Dynamic Variables are Responsible for Earth's Weather?

For Teachers 6th - 10th
Learners explore the changing of the seasons. In this astronomy and seasons lesson, students construct a model of the revolution of the sun and the moon. Learners compare the recorded solstice/equinox orbital positions and explain the...

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