Lesson Plan
American Institute of Physics

African Americans in Astronomy and Astrophysics

For Teachers 6th - 12th Standards
A two-part instructional activity 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...
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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Supernova Chemistry

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Using spectroscopes, high school astronomy, physics, or chemistry learners observe emission spectra from several different sources. This stellar NASA-produced lesson plan provides terrific teacher's notes and a student handout. Make sure...
Website
American Museum of Natural History

Being an Astronomer: Neil deGrasse Tyson

For Students 6th - 12th
An interview delves deep into the life of famous astronomer Neil deGrasse Tyson. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Guest Investigator Puzzle

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students conduct a brief astrophysics lab matching the EUVE spectra of various kinds of "mystery" stars with the spectra of known stars taken at Extreme Ultraviolet and optical wavelengths to determine their type.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stars and Slopes

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students use the slopes of various curves plotted on log-log graph paper to classify stellar objects as binary stars, supernovae, or active galaxies.The data used in this lesson were obtained from X-ray astronomy satellites.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Big Is That Star?

For Teachers 6th - 9th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Time That Period

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Physical science starters play with a pendulum in order to experience periodicity. Detailed procedures and a worksheet are included for day one. For day two, learners will use a graphing calculator to help them plot orbit data from a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Get the Picture!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Astronomers practice downloading data from a high-energy satellite and translate the data into colored or shaded pixels. As a hands-on activity, they use pennies to simulate high-energy satellite data and they convert their penny...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Monster Functions in Space Science I

For Students 10th - 12th
In this solar magnetic field worksheet, students are given 2 equations and use them to find the magnetic field strength and the Bp and Bz for given conditions. they express their answer using scientific notation.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Super-Fast Solar Flares!

For Students 9th - 12th
In this solar flares learning exercise, students observe a sequence of figures of a solar flare observed in 2003 from the Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager satellite. Students solve 6 problems including finding the scale of...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Spelling List 35: Sight Words, Gk Roots Audio/Astro, and Academic Vocabulary

For Students 3rd - 5th
In this spelling list activity, students practice spelling words that are sight words, Greek roots audi/astro, and vocabulary. Students practice spelling 21 words total.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seeing Interference Fringes with a Telescope

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students construct an interferometer using a simple telescope. In this physics lesson, students explain how light waves create the fringe patterns. They observe patterns made by different objects in the sky and compare them.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The EUVE Orbit

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study the nature of a satellite's orbit around the Earth.
Website
University of Chicago

University of Chicago Library: Multiwavelength Astronomy

For Students 9th - 10th
Get the inside story on how Astrophysics emerged as a field of study from personal stories of scientists that helped to revolutionize our view of the Universe.
Website
Other

Astronomy and Astrophysics

For Students 9th - 10th
This site is about Astronomy and Astrophysics. The site has plenty of information and links to related topics.
Website
NASA

Nasa Space Science Data Archive: Astronomy and Astrophysics

For Students 9th - 10th
NASA sponsored site dealing with several topics in Astronomy and Astrophysics. The site provides links to various topics.
Website
Harvard University

Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource presents information on the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. There are links to research, events, facilities, press releases, etc.
Website
Harvard University

Smithsonian Astrophysical: Chandra X Ray Observatory

For Students 1st - 9th
Chandra X-Ray Observatory is an space observatory designed to detect x-rays. The public web site gives information about Chandra and X-ray astronomy in general (in field guide). It also gives educational materials for teachers.
Website
Other

University of Birmingham Astrophysics and Space Research Group

For Students 9th - 10th
Homepage of the Unviersity of Birmingham School of Physics and Astronomy's Astrophysics and Space Research Group. This page has links to further information on astrophysical research, sofware development, space instrumentation, and more.
Website
Harvard University

Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics: 1.2 Meter Millimeter Wave Telescope

For Students 9th - 10th
Describes the collection of 1.2m millimeter wavelength radio telescopes that are operated by the Millimeter Wavelength Group at Harvard Smithsonian. It details some history of radio astronomy and of the telescope itself, gives great...
Website
California Institute of Technology

Submillimeter Wave Astrophysics at Caltech: Caltech's Submillimeter Observatory

For Students 9th - 10th
Homepage of a radio telescope operated by Caltech in Hawaii. This radio telescope focusses on submillimeter frequencies. Be sure to look at the General Information link for info on telescope and the Astrophysics link to find information...
Handout
Other

Astronomylinks

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a very comprehensive site on the subject of Astronomy and Astrophysics. The site has links to many sites on topics including astronauts, astronomy, astrophysics, education, jobs, etc.
Website
NASA

Nasa: Astronomy Picture of the Day: Nebulae Planetary

For Students 9th - 10th
At this resource several pictures of nebulae are available with informative caption. Related links and other resources.