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Worksheet
Curated OER

The Ellipse

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
This is a practical sheet with the instructions to draw a set of ellipses. After following the diagrams, there are ten questions to complete, with calculations expected for alternate orbits and comparisons related to actual planets in...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ellipses and Kepler's First Law

For Teachers 11th - 12th
The class examines graphs in the form r = F(¿¿) in polar coordinates (r, ¿¿), in particular with the circle, ellipse and other conic sections. They determine the nature of an ellipse by studying the role of the semimajor axis and...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Ellipse Lab

For Students 7th - 9th
Leading the learners to draw a representation of ellipses of planets, this handout will help understanding the planet movement around the sun.  There are ten questions about the analysis of those orbits and a conclusino specifically...
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Lesson Plan
Voyage Solar System

Round and Round We Go — Exploring Orbits in the Solar System

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
Math and science come together in this cross-curricular astronomy lesson plan on planetary motion. Starting off with a hands-on activity that engages the class in exploring the geometry of circles and ellipses, this lesson plan then...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Drawing Ellipses Lab

For Students 9th - 11th
In this ellipse worksheet, students learn the difference between an orbit and an ellipse. They draw ellipses and calculate the distance between foci, they calculate the length of the major axis and they determine the eccentricity. They...
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Lesson Plan
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Teach Engineering

Get Me Off This Planet

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
What do Newton's Laws have to do with getting from Earth to Mars?The activities in this resource show how Newton's Laws work with rockets to get them into space. Background information includes facts about orbits and how orbits are used...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ellipse

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore the concept of ellipses including finding the center, vertices's, foci and eccentricity. They assess how to graph elliptical functions and solve application problems involving ellipses. This assignment is to be completed...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ellipse

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students find the center, vertices, foci, and eccentricity of ellipses using the subscriptions website www.explorelearning.com. They graph elliptical functions and solve application problems involving ellipses.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Bellwork for Week 19-Electromagnetic Spectrum and Planets

For Students 8th - 10th
In this bellwork on the electromagnetic spectrum and planets worksheet, learners answer questions about the information determined using a spectroscope, the geocentric and heliocentric models of planet rotation and the planets.
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Interactive
McGraw Hill

Kepler's Second Law Interactive

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
Kepler decided to think outside the box and discovered that planets orbit in elliptical patterns. An engaging activity demonstrates the elliptical orbit pattern in relationship to the area of a planet to explain Kepler's Second Law....
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Worksheet
Curated OER

The Focus of an Ellipse

For Students 9th - 11th
In this algebra worksheet, students solve for the center of an ellipse by finding the focus. They use the focus formula when solve for conics. There are 13 problems with an answer key.
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Activity
It's About Time

Orbits and Effects

For Teachers 7th - 12th
What does your world revolve around? Challenge the class as they learn about orbits and the effects of them on our modern world. Young astronomers begin by measuring ellipses and calculating the eccentricity of Earth's orbit. Then, they...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planet Paths: Studying Planetary Orbital Paths

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students define and identify planetary orbit, ellipse, parabola, and hyperbola, and simulate Kepler's Second Law. They explore interactive websites demonstrating orbital motion and complete modeling activities.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Application of Ellipses

For Students 11th
For this algebra worksheet, 11th graders apply ellipses to real life scenarios such as football, satellite and planet orbits. They discuss a variety of way sto apply ellipses.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Planet Earth

For Students 6th - 10th
In this Earth instructional activity, students review the characteristics of the Earth including it's rotation and revolution. This instructional activity has 9 fill in the blank and 7 short answer questions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Ellipses And Kepler's First Law

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explain that planets actually orbit the center of gravity of the solar system, and that distant planets may be detected by motions of their central star around the centers of gravity of their planetary systems.
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Assessment
University of Washington

Kepler’s Laws

For Students 9th - 12th
Introduce your physics or astronomy class to Kepler's laws of planetary motion with this straightforward instructional activity. It covers the basic concepts of each and has learners answer questions to demonstrate their grasp on them....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Orbital Bliss

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Most young mathematicians are aware that the planets don’t orbit the sun in a circle but rather as an ellipse, but have never studied this interesting feature. This resource looks at the planetary orbits in more detail and helps learners...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planetary Orbit

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students compare and contrast ellipses of various eccentricities that represent the shape of planetary orbits. They make a circle with the string by trying the two ends togther. Students calculate the eccentricity of their ellipses by...
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Organizer
Curated OER

Exploring the Solar System

For Students 6th
In this exploring the solar system worksheet, 6th graders use the online Gizmo then answer 14 questions and complete a chart about planets and orbits.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cometary Orbits

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students study orbits and ellipses and see the differences between orbits and comets.  In this investigative lesson students do an activity that shows them what objects are more like comets and fill out a worksheet. 
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Solar Systems Models Foldable Question Sheet

For Students 7th - 10th
In this solar system worksheet, students use foldable models they made of the planets to answer questions about each planet. They answer questions about the theories and predictions made in our history about the solar system and answer...
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Interactive
Physics Classroom

Kelper's Three Laws

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
A flipped classroom lesson introduces astrophysics fanatics to Kepler's three laws of planetary motion. After reading about the laws of ellipses, equal areas, and harmonies, and also learning how Newton's gravitation concepts come into...
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Activity
New Mexico State University

Lab 6: Kepler's Laws

For Teachers 9th - 12th
A 15-page package thoroughly teaches your physics or astronomy learners about Kepler's three laws of planetary motion. Each one is stated and explained. Class members answer questions, solve problems, and participate in the classic...