Santa Monica College
Flame Tests of Metal Cations
Scientists used flame tests to identify elements long before the invention of emission spectroscopy. Young chemists observe a flame test of five metal cations in the fourth lesson of an 11-part series. Individuals then work...
Virginia Department of Education
Isotopes
Lead your class through the amazing world of isotopes as they investigate the various properties they contain and further understand their respective location on the periodic table. They explore half-lives and radioactivity as each...
Curated OER
Charting The Progress of New Horizons
Learners explore the long distances and timescales involved in space travel. They track the progress of the New Horizons spacecraft and access the New Horizons website to discover the distance of the spacecraft from the Sun, and then...
Curated OER
By Land, Sea or Air
Students learn navigational techniques change when people travel to different places. They understand differences between navigation on land, water, air and in space. They explain the concept of dead reckoning as it applies to...
Curated OER
Which Quadrilateral Is It?
Young scholars prove conjectures about geometric figures on the plane or in space using coordinate geometry. They develop fluency in operations with real numbers, vectors and matrices using mental computation or paper-and-pencil...
Curated OER
Exploring Pendulums
Students observe the movement of pendulums, they begin to understand the relationship between gravitational forces and the mass of objects, the changes in speed and direction of objects, and the distance between objects. They understand...
Curated OER
A CEENic Galaxy Quest!
Students research the distances between objects in the Milky Way. In this astronomy activity, students calculate the time it would take for a robot to travel from Milky Way object to another. They create a travel package for customers...
Curated OER
Distance Makes a Difference
Students create a clay model of the Sun and Earth. In this space science lesson, students explain how distance affects the appearance of objects. They write a poem or riddle about the Sun in their journal.
Curated OER
Spaced Out
Students explore the transit of Venus and the information that this minieclipse provides about the distance between the Earth and the sun. They create their own astronomical units.
Curated OER
Measurement
Students experience a positive science experiment and study fundamental concepts of measurement.
Curated OER
Lunar Language
Students use a Lunar Language Graphic Organizer to draw and describe the phases of the moon. They explain patterns of changes in the appearance of the moon as it orbits Earth.
Space Awareness
Valleys Deep and Mountains High
Sometimes the best view is from the farthest distance. Satellite imaging makes it possible to create altitude maps from far above the earth. A three-part activity has your young scientists play the role of the satellite and then use...
NASA
Discovering Some of Your “Yardsticks” Are Actually “Meter-sticks”
The Milky Way gets great reviews on Trip Advisor — 100 million stars. The activity allows scholars to rethink their assumptions and prior knowledge. Pupils observe a set of two lights at equal distance and brightness, but they believe...
PBS
Data Plots of Exoplanet Orbital Properties
Scientists discovered the first exoplanet in 1995 and by early 2018, they confirmed the existence of more than 3,700—that's a lot of data! As part of the PBS 9-12 Space series, scholars interpret data about exoplanets. They compare...
Curated OER
Just How Big is this Place?
Students are introduced to the the formula for calculating travel time. They listen to different scenarios relating to long distance travel into space and calculate travel time using the formula.
Curated OER
Looking Back in Time (Alternative Activity)
Students, in groups, devise alternative ways of measuring distances. They view a video and are introduced to the concept of parallax in measuring. They discuss their ideas with the class.
Curated OER
Probes, Exploration and Application
Students examine the benefits of the space program to our life on earth. In this space exploration instructional activity students participate in a lab, answer questions and study radar mapping.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Scaling Down the Solar System
Learners work collaboratively to gain a better understanding of the vastness of space by scaling down the solar system. They measure by inches, gain an understanding of space, and model the distances of the planets from the sun.
Curated OER
Distances to Stars
Students explore the idea of parallax. In this astronomy instructional activity, students study the distances of stars. They investigate how parallax can be used to determine these distances.
Curated OER
Measurement: Volume
Sixth graders determine how to find the volume of a box. In this volume lesson, 6th graders participate in a lesson in which the teacher uses the associated study guide to explain how to find the volume of a cubic figure. They use boxes...
Curated OER
Measuring Magnetic Field Strengths Using Ferrofluids
Learners explore the field of nanotechnology by examining magnetic field strength in ferrofluids. They use probes attached to a computer program to determine the relationship between magnetic field strength and magnetic field lines.
Curated OER
Lessons for Beginner Atlatl Users
Ninth graders research weapons of the Aboriginal people and throw a dart with and without the use of an atlatl. In this cross curricular lesson, 9th graders research the weapons of the Aboriginal people. They throw darts with and without...
Curated OER
UFOs
Students, in groups, construct a catapult. Then they conduct a series of experiments by catapulting a marshmallow, using different lengths of spoons, across the room. They predict, measure, and record the measured distance on a worksheet.
Curated OER
Mathematics at the Frontier of Astronomy
Students explore the different types of measurements used in astronomy. In this space science lesson, students explain the relationship between planets' orbits and distance from the sun using Kepler's Laws. They discuss how math aides in...