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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stellar Fingerprints: the Spectra of Stars

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students explain how an element can be identified using emission spectra. They relate the emission spectrum of hydrogen to its absorption spectrum and identify hydrogen absorption lines in the spectrum of stars.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Astronomy

For Students 6th - 8th
A broad sampling of material related to stars is covered here. You will want to review each question to see if it corresponds to your curriculum. The formatting is inconsistent, but easily corrected if you use the information to create...
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Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Atomic Colors

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Stars are too hot to visit, so how do we know what different stars are made of? An enlightening simulation uses a spectrum graph to show the various electron emission and absorption reactions. Scholars experiment with both helium and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Long Would It Take To Travel To the Stars?

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students consider the amount of time that it would take to get to the star, Sirius using various modes of transportation, some practical and some whimsical. The practicality of physically going to another star system is explored in this...
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PPT
Curated OER

Spectral Lines

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Slides and slides of emission spectra bring this topic to light for your physics class! Exited electrons returning to lower energy levels is offered as the cause of emission spectra. In summary, viewers learn that we can determine the...
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PPT
Curated OER

Fun Physics You Can See

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Fascinating aspects of electromagnetic radiation and its use in obtaining and transferring information are described here. Learners will find the connections to current technology interesting. Although the slides are text-heavy, they do...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Many Stars in the Milky Way?

For Teachers 8th - 11th
Students perform an experiment in which they will use a statistical method called `sampling' to count to a billion (and beyond). Students practice sampling by estimating the number of characters on a page from the classified section of a...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

The Lives of Stars

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
In this stars activity, students review what makes up a star, how astronomers learn about stars, and the different types of stars including low mass and high mass stars. This activity has 62 fill in the blank statements.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tools of Modern Astronomy

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners describe the electromagnetic spectrum and astronomy.  In this astronomy lesson students complete an activity, predict what will happen and complete a worksheet. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Unraveling the Mysteries of Objects in Space

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students study emitted and absorbed light, and label each type of spectrum. They identify elements by their spectral signatures and use a spectroscope.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Exploring Power-Law Functions Using WISE Data!

For Students 11th - 12th
In this power-law functions worksheet, students solve 3 problems using data from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Experiment in the constellation Carina. Students use a photograph to determine the number of stars as bright as the brightest...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

F(x)g(x): A Tale of Two Functions

For Students 10th - 12th
In this graphing functions worksheet, students solve four problems where they graph given functions, find the sum related to the area under the curve and determine an integral.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students examine the relationship between temperature and brightness.  In this astronomy lesson students will correlate the evolution of stars to the HR diagram plotted. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Stellar Spectroscopy

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students investigate white light. In this science lesson, students participate in a variety of experiments in which they study light. Students use spectroscopes to view the components of light.
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PPT
Curated OER

Infrared Telescope

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Most of the twenty slides in this presentation include photographs or diagrams, making it an eye-catching way to teach about infrared telescopes. The pros and cons of using infrared light to study outer regions of space are explained....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Chandra X-Ray Observatory

For Teachers 6th - 11th
Students tour Chandra's top galactic X-ray images. For this Chandra X-Ray Observatory lesson, students play games and complete puzzles based on the Chandra Mission and X-Ray Astronomy. Students listen to pod casts, question an...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Do We Know?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
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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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

Spectroscopy Demonstrations

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students study light and see what emits photons and that light can be separated onto a spectrum.  In this energy and matter lesson students identify gases using a spectrum chart. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Constructing a Spectroscope

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students construct a simple spectroscope. They observe the emission spectrum produce by a source of light.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Color Recognition

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars envision how space observatories make use of monochromatic filters to collect data on the color of objects in space. They see the actual colors of objects when they are in monochromatic light.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Integrating Physics-Atomic Fingerprints

For Students 9th - 11th
In this atomic fingerprint worksheet, students read about the Bohr model and electrons changing energy levels and emitting energy. They answer questions about the atomic spectrum and the fingerprints for specific atoms.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Galaxy Mapping

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Young scholars research the constellations and discuss their findings. Then they construct their own maps of the galaxy using paper, black paint, aluminum foil, etc. They make a 3-D map of their chosen constellation.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Photometry

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students examine blackbody radiation and light wavelengths. Students research the various types of electromagnetic spectrum. Students examine any misconceptions they may have in light.