Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reaching the Solar System

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students sing the Rap of the Solar System, view pictures of the planets, and calculate their weights and ages on all the planets and the sun. They create a presentation comparing themselves with a planet or object in the solar system.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Physics The Earth and Beyond

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders will explore our solar system. In this physics lesson students create a model of the solar system to explore the movement of Earth, the Sun, and stars.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Observations From the Past

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders explore direct and indirect evidence. In this astronomy lesson, 9th graders investigate the contribution of early astronomers to their field. They create a model of the solar system.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Observing the Outer Planets

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Learners observe the outer planets. For this science lesson, students use a telescope locate the outer planets of the solar system. Learners create a video of their observations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Relatives

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students examine the solar system by creating a model representation.  In this space science lesson, students research our solar system and the distances between planets.  Students create a model solar system in their gymnasium...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Sun-Earth Connection

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders research about the location of different planets from the sun. In this earth science lesson, 3rd graders discuss the weather in their place and identify common weather terminologies. They explain how tornadoes form and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Solar System

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Learners explain the classification of planets according to various criteria. They create charts illustrating comparative data.
Lesson Plan
NASA

Dark Matter NASA Conference

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Young scholars calculate the escape velocity of planets in our solar system and use that knowledge to calculate the escape velocity for NGC 2300 group. They then suggest reasons for the escape velocity to be higher than possible given...
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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar System

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders create planet mobiles in order to reinforce concepts such as planet size, position in relation to the sun, and planet names.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Demonstrating the Distances of Stars

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students examine the distance from Earth to stars. They create a model to show the arrangement of constellations. They also identify the importance of the parallax effect.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar System: Fantasy Planet

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Young scholars create their own fantasy planet using computer software on KidPix. In this planets lesson plan, students also write a paragraph about their planet including the name, population, weather, and more.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Destination Outer Space

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate space travel. For this space travel lesson students examine space exploration history, engineers and scientists involved in space exploration, and Newton's third law of motion. Students make rockets.
Unit Plan
Columbus City Schools

Moon Phase Mania

For Teachers 7th Standards
Now you see it, now you don't. Our moon seems to pull a disappearing act from time to time—but why? Take your seventh grade scientists above and beyond to discover the truth about the moon and the role it plays in Earth's little...
Activity
Teach Engineering

Energy Systems

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Is electricity created in the outlet? Using posters of several energy systems, collaborative groups identify and describe the parts of their systems. The groups also look at the environmental impacts of the systems and present...
Activity
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Lunar and Planetary Institute

Oreo Moon Phases

For Teachers 2nd - 7th Standards
Learning about the moon has never tasted delicious! Using the popular Oreo cookie as a model, young scientists carve out the cream filling to represent the different phases of the moon.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

an Explorative Journey Through the Solar System

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students, in groups, research a planet from our solar system. They create Styrofoam models of the planets and place the planets on a correct distance scale from the sun.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Out of This World

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders animate their own planets.  In this solar system lesson, 5th graders use smartphones and the software, GoKnow Sketchy, to create images for presentations on their created planets that appear to be animated when played...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Voyage of Discovery

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Students develop a sense of the scale of our solar system by creating a one to ten billion scale model. They calculate the relative sizes and distances for the planets and asteroid belt using a guiding worksheet. To create the model they...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

World In Motion Curriculum

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the night sky and its solar system. Using a Digitarium planetarium system, students observe four constellations. They discover the phases of the moon and eclipses. Students recognize the difference between normal and...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Scavenger Hunt: Who am I?

For Students 7th - 9th
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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Visit Our Solar System

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students learn about the planets by creating a MediaBlender travel brochure. In this space science worksheet, students do research on a planet and create an interactive brochure for a visit to this planet. Students include facts about...
Activity
DiscoverE

Solar-Heated Water

For Students 6th - 12th
Heat up some interest in solar energy. Young engineers create a water heater that runs on solar power (simulated by a lamp). Using thermometers, they determine the change in temperature before and after the water goes through the heater.
Lesson Plan
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Bonneville

Introduction to the Photovoltaic Effect

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Let a video light the way to a better understanding of solar energy. Scholars first learn vocabulary terms related to the photovoltaic effect, solar cells, and electricity. They then watch a video to learn why silicon is often used as a...