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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring the Night Sky: Fall/Winter

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explain how moon phases occur. They explain three ways that the night sky has been used through history. Students locate some of the constellations in the night sky. They discuss stories and myths surrounding stars.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Star Gazers

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learners research stars, constellations, planets and galaxies including names, shapes, sizes, colors, patterns and ages. They suspend the stars and planets from the ceiling and change monthy to display the various constellations. As a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Finding Out About the Stars and Planets

For Teachers K - 4th
Students complete a web-based activity to study the planets and solar system. Students complete a number of activities including a slide show that depict the true facts about planets.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Sky: Home of Stars and Planets

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students discover that astronomy is a branch of science that includes the study of planets, stars, and constellations.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Do We Know...?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify and explain how various inventions and astronomers have improved our appreciation of the universe. Students identify at least two constellations in the sky and discuss how they were used in ancient times to tell time...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Starring...Bears!

For Teachers K - 4th
Students illustrate a First Nations' legend.  In this legend of bears lesson, students read several legends which involve bears and groups of stars or constellations. After reading, students illustrate portions of the stories.  Also,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Introduction to the Day and Night Sky

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students explore space science by participating in a sky observation activity. For this astronomy lesson, students define a list of astronomy vocabulary terms and examine star charts of the four seasons. Students gather with their...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Multicultural Sun, Moon, and Star Activities

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students research the multicultural stories and artistic representations of the Sun, Moon, and stars. In this multicultural space lesson, students discuss the symbols and stories for the sun in various cultures. Students construct a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Three D Constellations

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students address a major misconception in astronomy, the understanding of scale. The instructional activity is designed to introduce students to both celestial coordinates and to the first rung on the distance determination ladder,...
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Lesson Plan
3
3
California Academy of Science

Kinesthetic Astronomy: Earth's Rotation

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
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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App
Kids Discover

Galaxies by KIDS DISCOVER

For Students 4th - 12th
An e-magazine with kid-friendly informational text, vibrant visuals, and activities about galaxies.    
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Interactive
American Museum of Natural History

Planetary Mysteries

For Students 6th - 12th
A website all about planetary mysteries—it's a one-stop-shop for all things, stars, planets, and space travel. Scholars read an astronomy overview to discover the page's big ideas, then choose from the plethora of resources, including...
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Printables
Research Parent

Universe Cards

For Students 3rd - 8th Standards
A 9-page packet comes with 24 cards that have pictures and informational text about each object in the universe. From nebulae to dwarf planets, objects we see—or don't see—are represented in the cards through pictures and words.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Glowing Glimpses of Our Universe

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students will complete hands-on space activities. In this space science lesson, students will create a glow-in-the-dark model of the solar system, visit a planetarium, make star pictures, and paint constellations. Activities are meant to...
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Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

How To Travel On Earth Without Getting Lost

For Teachers 3rd - 7th Standards
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.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stories in the Sky

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students discover the concept of combining constellations and tall tales. In this tall tale instructional activity, students compare constellations to tale tales. They create their own tall tale and constellation.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Palm use in Astronomy

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners identify and recall common constellations by using a palm pilot with astronomy software. Students will use their Palm to assist them in correctly identifying constellations using a telescope.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Star Patterns

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders create constellation maps and record their own legends of how constellations came into existence. After observing the sky at night, 3rd graders discuss star maps, read previously recorded legends on the origin of stars. ...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Myths and Legends

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders write a myth about a constellation that is seen from the night sky in South Carolina. They draw a picture of their constellation to attach to their myth. They scan their pictures and type their stories into a web page...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Constellations

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders investigate space by researching their zodiac signs.  In this space science lesson, 3rd graders discuss the different zodiac symbols, their star representation and where the stars are located in the sky.  Students create a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stellar Lunar Curriculum

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars engage in a instructional activity about the moon and three different constellations. They conduct research using a variety of resources. The teacher leads the class with demonstrations and discussion groups. The research...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mars: Off the Charts--Until You Put It There

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore the night sky and make illustrations which are shared in class the next day. Distinctions are made between the stars and the planets and views of the constellations for the season are made available. The work of early...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Shadow Know-How

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
In this fill in the blank worksheet, students identify the names of fourteen constellations by analyzing their outlines in shadow pictures.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Take a Spin Through the Solar System

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders participate in a variety of activities to explore the Solar System in this unit.