NASA
Radiation Shielding on Spacecraft
Here is a terrific science instructional activity for your elementary schoolers. In it, learners analyze different materials to simulate space radiation shielding on spacecraft, then select the best material to use to build one. This is...
Curated OER
Reach for the Stars
Students consider the significance of space exploration. For this space science lesson, students visit selected websites to discover information about astronomy, lunar missions, and space travel. Students discuss the value of space...
Curated OER
Motion, Force, and Gravity
Students write a research paper about human space travel. In this space travel lesson, students watch a video and research issues related to space travel. They use their research to write a paper about whether human space travel should...
Curated OER
Space Exploration
Sixth graders investigate the historical even surrounding the Apollo Mission to the Moon. They conduct research specifically to find information about the astronauts on the mission. The students conduct class discussion about the...
Curated OER
3,2,1.....Spinoff
Young scholars investigate spinoffs of space exploration. In this space exploration lesson, students conduct research regarding technological advancements. Young scholars use the information gained to write a script and produce a podcast.
Curated OER
Exploration Across Eras
Learners discover the chronology of events related to the Corps of Discovery and the United States space program of the 1960s. They compare the Corps of Discovery's journey with the space exploration program.
Curated OER
Astronomical Distances and Space Travel
Students estimate the size of the solar system and the distance to the nearest star. For this space lesson students complete calculations and use Sattgast Hall as a scale model.
Curated OER
Dream Big
Students discuss the success of privately built and flown space crafts by reading and discussing a news article. They develop adventure trip proposals to present to Sir Richard Branson. Students write essays reflecting on the importance...
Curated OER
Could the Solar System have Ten Planets?
Students react to statements about the solar system, then read a news article about a recently discovered object that could be another planet. For this space science and current events lesson, the teacher introduces the lesson with a...
Curated OER
Life In Space
Students figure out how to design their own space station. They take a tour on the International Space Station to see what living there is really like, and how lessons learned on the ISS help pave the way for future space tourists.
Teach Engineering
Get Me Off This Planet
What do Newton's Laws have to do with getting from Earth to Mars?The activities in this resource show how Newton's Laws work with rockets to get them into space. Background information includes facts about orbits and how orbits are used...
Curated OER
Visual Arts- Planetary Travel Brochure
Students research the planets and create a "travel brochure." For this space science lesson, students read the book Magic School Bus: Lost in Space and identify various properties of each planet. Students create a brochure for a specific...
Curated OER
Navigation and Trajectory
Middle schoolers prepare a creative demonstration of how Earth and Mars revolve around the Sun. In this astronomy lesson, students determine the different challenges engineers face when building spacecrafts. They draw possible paths for...
Curated OER
Investigating Planetary Life
Students research about the search for life in Mars. In this space science lesson, students develop a creative visual display of their findings. They present their project in class.
Curated OER
Time Travel to the Edge of the Universe and Back!
High schoolers analyze the size of the universe and calculate the time to travel to near and distant destinations.
Curated OER
Mission Survival
Learners determine ways to survive the extreme conditions of Antarctica. In this space and earth sciences lesson, students work as a group to determine how to survive after a plane crash in Antarctica. They relate survival in Antarctica...
Curated OER
Personal Space
Young scholars explore the meaning of personal space. In this social skills lesson plan, students are taught to respect others personal space by discovering their own personal space, and reading a story to identify when that personal...
Curated OER
Sending Messages to Space
High schoolers interpret a message sent to space using a radio telescope and draw inferences from the interpreted message. Working with a partner, they interpret data that scientists believe is a message from aliens. They work on...
Curated OER
Team Moon
Students read "Team Moon: How 400,000 People Landed Apollo 11 on the Moon," by Catherine Thimmesh. They watch portions of the movie "Apollo 13." Students use the internet and the attached study guide to discover specific information...
Curated OER
Beyond the Milky Way
Fourth graders explore space science. In this space exploration lesson plan, 4th graders investigate the tools that engineers use to examine the solar system. Students analyze the history of the stud of the solar system.
Curated OER
Voyage to Outer Space
Students design and construct a spacecraft. For this space voyage lesson, students read Regards to the Man in the Moon by Ezra Jack Keats and gather materials before constructing their own spacecraft.
University of Colorado
Spacecraft Speed
Space shuttles traveled around Earth at a speed of 17,500 miles per hour, way faster than trains, planes, or automobiles travel! In the 13th installment of 22, groups graph different speeds to show how quickly spacecraft move through...
Space Awareness
How To Travel On Earth Without Getting Lost
Have you ever wanted to travel the world? Take a virtual trip with a geography lesson that uses longitude and latitude, the position of the sun, an astronomy app, and a classroom globe.
Curated OER
Space Exploration to Find Habitable Planets
Students explore space science by reviewing scientific vocabulary terms. In this planet identification lesson, students identify the nine planets in our solar system and discuss which ones could potentially harbor life at some point....