Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Why Do We Have Night?

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students engage in a fun, creative way to discover how the Earth moves. This lesson helps students explain why there is day and night. It can also create curiosity to further study the solar system and eclipses!
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Path of the Sun, the Ecliptic

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students are introduced to the ecliptic, the zodiac and the apparent motions of the Sun, Moon and planets across the sky.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Path of the Sun: The Ecliptic

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the celestial sphere and the paths it takes in the solar system.
Worksheet
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Email From Another Planet

For Students 4th - 6th
In this article about emails and plants learning exercise, students read short descriptions about 8 planets in the solar system and then imagine they are visiting one of the planets and send an email to a family member describing their...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Sky Clock

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explore space science by completing a worksheet in class. In this astronomy instructional activity, students discuss and identify star patterns in the night sky and relate these patterns to the approximate time they appear....
Lesson Plan
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Sampling Rocks

For Teachers K - 2nd
Learners investigate rocks. In this earth science lesson, students collect rocks from the schoolyard and describe each of the rocks. Learners measure and weigh each rock and record the results. Students create a rock guide for the...
PPT
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Jupiter

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
A student-produced PowerPoint provides basic facts about the planet of Jupiter. Illustrated slides highlight its physical attributes and satellites. A lot of interesting information about Jupiter is included, such as the fact that twenty...
Lesson Plan
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Mars Calendar Project

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students design a calendar that displays time on Mars. They explore the differences between time on Earth and time on Mars while making the calendar.
Unit Plan
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The Motions of the Oceans

For Teachers 6th
Students examine the topics of ocean waves, currents, and tides. They locate and label ocean currents on a world map, conduct experiments, analyze key vocabulary, view demonstrations and record the data, and complete handouts.
Worksheet
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TLS Books

Jupiter

For Students 3rd - 5th Standards
Young astronomers read an informational text on the gas giant, Jupiter. Then they answer four multiple choice questions based on what they read.
Worksheet
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Our Solar System

For Students 6th - 10th
In this solar system worksheet, students read about the planets, asteroids, meteoroids, comets, and the moon. Then students complete 25 multiple choice, 4 true or false, and 3 short answer questions.
Worksheet
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Astronomical Data

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
In this astronomy activity, students use a chart with planetary data comparing the inner planets to each other. Students will use the period of rotation, period of revolution, and distance from the sun for these inner planets to complete...
Lesson Plan
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Ride the Tide

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students examine the cause-and-effect relationship between tides and the rocky coast ecosystem. They complete a worksheet that illustrates the intertidal zone.
Lesson Plan
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Solar System: Let's Take a Trip

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders consider outer space. In this introductory solar system lesson, 3rd graders complete a KWL chart and listen to the story The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System, by Joanna Cole & Bruce Degen. They will contribute...
Lesson Plan
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Building a Scale Model

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders create a model of the solar system. In this solar system lesson, 3rd graders create a scale model of the solar system. Working in pairs students solve mathematical problems to correctly measure the distance each planet is...
Lesson Plan
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Inner Planets

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students create a booklet about the inner planets after researching the characteristics of each planet. Students research the following items for each planet: moons, size, rotation, orbit, atmosphere, an interesting fact. Their final...
Lesson Plan
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Understanding Climate

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders create two dioramas out of household materials to compare the influence of various factors that impact climate. Each group discuss how the change in factors influenced the climate, flora, and fauna of their area.
Lesson Plan
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Inner Planets

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students research characteristics of the planets and record their findings on Planet Web worksheet. They create fold paper to create a foldable booklet to display the information they discover about the planets.
Lesson Plan
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The Tides of Change Worksheet (Part 1)

For Teachers 1st
In this science worksheet, 1st graders track the tides of the ocean for a number of days and examine the data to determine the meaning of the pattern.
Lesson Plan
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Tides

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars graph 40 days of high and low tide data for a site in Baja, Mexico near the Wetlands & Fisheries Live! research center. They identify patterns in the data and finally to make a connection between tidal heights and the...
Lesson Plan
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Gravity - The Glue of the Universe

For Teachers 2nd - 7th
Learners explore physics by conducting a class experiment. In this gravitational force lesson, students define several scientific terms associated with force. Learners utilize a styrofoam cup and marbles to simulate a satellite crashing...
Lesson Plan
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Our Solar System

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students analyze the theories of the formation of the universe and solar system. Students analyze planetary motion and the physical laws that explain that motion: Rotation, Revolution, Apparent diurnal motions of the stars, sun, and...
Lesson Plan
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Limpet Shell Exercise

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students review the terms and concepts: evolution, selection, biotic, and abiotic factors. They come up with hypotheses about limpet shell types based on what we discuss about intertidal environments. Students use ratios to compare...
Worksheet
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The Solar System Word Search 2

For Students 3rd - 5th
In this solar system word puzzle worksheet, students examine the 26 words an names in the word bank and locate them in the word search puzzle.