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Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

Coma Cluster of Galaxies

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed Standards
Scientists classify everything from the smallest cells to the largest galaxies, but how do they decide on a classification system? Scholars use 40 pictures of galaxies taken by the Hubble Space Telescope to sort and try creating their...
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Activity
IMAX

Hubble

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Explore what it takes to service the Hubble telescope. In the set of three activities, groups investigate several aspects of the Hubble telescope, including robotic arms used during repairs, spacesuits, and extravehicular activity (EVA)...
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Lesson Plan
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Telescoping Periscope

For Teachers 3rd - 12th Standards
Ahoy, matey! Here is an engineering expedition that mini mariners are sure to be swept away by! After reading a brief description and history of periscopes, they work in crews to construct one. Use this activity to enhance a lesson on...
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PPT
Mr. E. Science

Stars, Galaxies and the Universe

For Students 7th - 8th Standards
It takes 225 million years for our sun to travel around the galaxy. The presentation covers astronomical units, light years, telescopes, types of stars, the life cycle of a star, and types of galaxies. This is the last lesson in a...
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Activity
International Technology Education Association

Dampen That Drift!

For Students 10th - 12th Standards
The spacecraft is drifting too far off course! Two games help explain how a spacecraft can use its thrusters to maintain its position. The games have pupils be the components of vectors in order to create and counteract the disturbances. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sky Quest

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students identify constellations in the evening sky. In this Sky Quest lesson, students create their own star patterns using a star map worksheet. Students explain how different celestial bodies in space are viewed through a telescope.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Looking into Space

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore how telescopes work, build a model of their own, and consider how real telescopes can be used to ask-and help answer-questions about the universe.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

The Most Important Equation in Astronomy!

For Students Higher Ed
In this astronomy optics worksheet, students calculate the angular resolution and maximum resolution for given telescope specifics. This worksheet has 3 problems to solve.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sky Watching

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine telescopes and understand how they have helped us better understand the sky.  In this astronomy lesson students complete a worksheet and a lab activity.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Close Up and Far Away

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students use magnifiers and telescopes to view things close up. In this magnifiers and telescopes lesson plan, students use the tools to identify things that are close and far away. Students tell details of things they can see closer.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating the Dynamic Martian Polar Caps

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Pupils download NASA Hubble Space Telescope images of the Martian polar ice caps in summer and winter, and measure and compare various images of the changing Martian and Earth polar ice caps.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

To Boldly Go Where No One Has Gone Before

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students study pictures of space vehicles and make their own space vehicle. In this space vehicle lesson plan, students study pictures of the vehicles and compare and contrast the pictures. Students classify the space crafts and then...
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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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Lesson Plan
Science Friday

Pinhole Viewer

For Students 6th - 8th Standards
Take a peep into optics. Pupils watch a video about a large Polaroid camera before building pinhole viewers. The scholars then create different types of viewers and compare them to determine which provides the best image.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Counting Atoms in a Molecule

For Students 8th - 10th
In this counting atoms in a molecule worksheet, students read about the molecule propanal that was discovered by the giant radio telescope in the Milky Way Galaxy. Students solve 6 problems where they find the number of atoms in the...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

NASA Anniversary

For Students 5th - 10th
In this NASA Anniversary instructional activity, students complete activities such as reading a passage, phrase matching, fill in the blanks, correct words, multiple choice, spelling, sequencing, scrambled sentences, writing questions,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy for Earth: The Sun

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Super science learners examine the sun's production of energy by the process of nuclear fusion. Hands-on activities make this instructional activity engaging for middle schoolers. The instructional activity is made up of four parts. Part...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Microscopes and Telescopes

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars analyze a microscope and study what they do.  In this investigative lesson students study how microscopes were first invented, and how ray diagrams are used in conjunction. 
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App
GoSoftWorks

GoSkyWatch Planetarium for iPad - The Astronomy Star Guide

For Students 6th - Higher Ed
Digital compass alignment enables navigation of the skies with true orientation at any time. Just point to the sky or "aim for the stars!" This application acts as a virtual telescope, allowing you to zoom in on any object that is...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Life Cycle of a Star

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate the life cycle of a star and make conclusions based on evidence, research, and observation.  In this lesson on space and scientific investigation, students describe the relationships between science and technology...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Black Hole...Fade-out!

For Students 9th - 12th
In this black hole worksheet, high schoolers read about how images fade to black when they reach an event horizon of a black hole. Students solve 3 problems about black holes using a given equation for luminosity. They find the time it...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mirror, Mirror

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the Law of Reflection and how light travels.  In this reflection instructional activity students produce data from their experiment then create a pencil tracing.
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Activity
Exploratorium

Persistence of Vision

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Ahoy, matey! Peer through a special telescope to explore the persistence of vision. The telescope has only a thin strip with which to view the world, but as it scans the area, your eye and brain work together to create a complete...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Scale/Ratio

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Investigate the use of ratios in scale drawings. Learners scale objects up or down using ratios then find the actual size of something using ratios. They apply their knowledge of ratios as they make their own telescopes in science class....