National Endowment for the Humanities
Galileo: Revealing the Universe
To gain an understanding of the significance of Galileo Galilei's revolutionary ideas, class members watch the short video "Stargazing Before Galileo," and conduct a close reading of Galileo's Sidereal Messsenger. They then...
Curated OER
Mystery Constellations
Fourth graders predict constellations each month. In this astronomy lesson, 4th graders are presented with two constellations every month, and guess what they are as clues are given.
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Identify and Construct a Constellation
Third graders identify and construct constellations. In this constellation lesson, 3rd graders choose a method to create a picture of a constellation, either using a shoe box, paper cup, or transparent paper.
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Constellations
In this constellations worksheet, students write their name as a constellation using an x and y-axis graph. This worksheet has 1 graph to create.
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Magpies across the milky way
Students make origami birds after studying about Asian legends and culture. In this Asian legends lesson plan, students also learn about Asian art, constellations, and the Milky Way Galaxy.
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Designed to Scale
Seventh graders construct a three dimensional model of a constellation. In this constellation instructional activity, 7th graders make a blueprint for a scale model of the constellation and create their models. They present their models...
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Observational Astronomy
Students research about the characteristics of celestial bodies using a database. In this space science lesson plan, students collect data such as brightness, apparent color and size by observing the night sky. They share their findings...
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A Star Party
Learners explore the parts and function of a telescope. In this investigative lesson plan students gain an understanding of a telescope and identify planets and constellations.
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Big Dipper Story Wheel
Students research a Canadian Indian Tale. In this constellation lesson, students hear the story "Never-Ending Bear Hunt" which describes the constellations from the Native American perspective. They create their own constellation wheel...
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Exploring the Night Sky: Summer
Learners explain how moon phases occur. They describe and explain at least two common misconceptions that people have about the moon. Students explain what a star is. They explain 3 ways that the night sky has been used throughout history.
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Scavenger Hunt: Who am I?
In this solar system worksheet, students use an on line source to find the names of the people who discovered the planets, comets, asteroids, black holes and the idea of the big bang theory.
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Exploring the Constellations, a WebQuest Activity
Students explore space science by participating in a class WebQuest. In this constellation identification instructional activity, students view star charts based on the four seasons and identify the changes our sky goes through in the...
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Astrology: Fact Or Fiction?
Students investigate the concept of astrology and how it evolved from history. They use the Zodiac in order to find the location of constellations in the night sky. The differences between astrology and astronomy are compared and any...
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How Do We Know?
Students investigate the history of astronomy and how the study of constellations has evolved since the dawn of ancient civilization. They conduct research using a variety of resources. The teacher uses demonstrations to model how the...
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How Do We Know...?
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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Viewing Earth and Sky
In this earth and sky instructional activity, students review terms associated with map reading. Students also review topographic maps and how contour lines represent elevation. This instructional activity has 5 matching, 5 true or...
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Using a Starfinder
In this starfinder worksheet, 5th graders construct a starfinder in order to determine which stars are in the night sky on a given date and time. Students use their starfinder to answer 9 questions about the stars and constellations,...
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Exploring a Galaxy
In this galaxy worksheet, students use the Internet or other resources to answer 13 questions about the galaxy NGC-1232. They are given a photograph of the galaxy to help determine the width and diameter of certain regions of...
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Planetarium- Identifying Constellations
Students explore the planetarium. In this space science lesson, students identify the different constellations in the sky. They make their own map of the constellations.
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Constellation Projections
Learners draw constellations. In this astronomy activity, students create constellations from star groupings projected on a chalk board. Learners connect the "stars" to create a pattern on the board. Student can create new groupings of...
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Let the North Star Tell You Where You Are
Students participate in activities in which they find the Big Dipper and locate the North Star in the night sky, examine the relationship between the angle to Polaris and latitude, and determine latitude by using an astrolabe.
American Museum of Natural History
A Kid's Guide to Stargazing
Get kids interested in stargazing with a step-by-step guide. The guide begins with the do's and don'ts, what the defines a star, and introduces a journal. The page is linked to see stars if light pollution keeps stars away in your area.
American Museum of Natural History
Cosmic Connection
Do you see what I see? Individuals view eight images from the Hubble Space Telescope and then determine exactly what is being shown in the images. The pictures range from the rings of Saturn to views of billions of galaxies that take up...
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Introduction to the Planisphere
In this planisphere worksheet, students use a planisphere to locate stars and constellations for particular times and dates. Students use the planisphere to answer specific questions about stars and constellations that are rising and...