American Museum of Natural History
What is Astronomy?
Go study the universe. Pupils learn seven aspects about astronomy and astronomers. They begin to learn about constellations; distance and motion between objects; gravity; the electromagnetic spectrum; dark matter and energy; and teams of...
Curated OER
Illustrate the Constellations
Students research ancient Greek heroes immortalized in constellations. They choose three constellations in either the summer or winter sky to illustrate and reinforce their understanding of the northern constellations.
Curated OER
Illustrate the Constellations
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...
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History of Mythology, Astronomy and Astrology
Ninth graders examine the relationships of science and technology and how it influences people's perceptions of places. For this mythology and astronomy lesson students view a PowerPoint presentation and complete a...
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Sundials
Students investigate the different types of sundials and their history. In this shadows and time of day lesson students build their own sundials.
Curated OER
Asteroids
Students examine the different types of asteroids and how they enter the atmosphere. In this space lesson students use mashed potatoes to create an asteroid they can eat.
Curated OER
How Distant is the Moon?--2
Students examine total eclipses of the Sun and their limited regions of totality. They explain that this limited view occurs because the Moon is close enough to us for different points on Earth to view it differently.
Smithsonian Institution
National Air and Space Museum: Exploring the Planets: Ancient Times & the Greeks
In ancient times only five planets were known: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. Learn about Greek astronomer Ptolemy's theory for the solar system that was to survive for fourteen centuries.
Smithsonian Institution
National Air and Space Museum: Exploring the Planets: Early Discovery
This section of the exhibition gives the history of the discovery and study of space starting with the Greeks and Romans through to the early 1900's.