Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spacecraft Launched on Mission to Pluto

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Pupils read a news article about a space mission being launched to the planet Pluto. They study the necessary vocabulary and complete an anticipation guide of questions which they revisit after they read the article.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Environment

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students examine the world's environmental dilemmas and create project depicting how to improve the environment. They study ten endangered species.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Volcanoes in Space

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students research volcanoes on the Internet to compare/contrast the volcanoes on Earth to the ones found on Io, a moon of Jupiter. Students list the similarities and differences in science journals, and illustrate pictures of the volcanoes.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Redesign the Rover: Mars Research Year-Round

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils discuss the solar system, the planets, periods of orbit and revolution.  In this space lesson students discuss the importance of the study of Mars and brainstorm ideas on how NASA might solve its Rover design problem. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planetary Mobile

For Teachers K - 4th
Learners receive pre-cut templates of cardboard with appropriate diameters of each planet and the sun. They use multi-colored construction paper, scissors, yarn, and other art supplies to create their own models of planets. When students...
App
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NASA

NASA

For Students 3rd - 12th
Everything you have ever wanted to know about our solar system, space exploration, and more can be found here. Be prepared to clear your schedule; you will be sucked into the app like a star into a black hole.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Colonizing the Stars

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students compare and contrast the size, composition and surface features of the nine planets of our solar system with the possible sizes and compositions of extra -solar planets.
Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

2105

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students read excerpts from Jon Scieszka's novel, 2095, prior to presenting their vision of the future in a creative project accompanied by written explanation. They design a museum exhibit which shows a scene from a science fiction book...
Lesson Plan
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University of Colorado

Are All Asteroids' Surfaces the Same Age?

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
There are more than 600,000 asteroids in our solar system. Pupils analyze images of two asteroids in order to determine if they are the same age. They count craters for each asteroid and compare numbers. 
Lesson Plan
University of Colorado

Are All Asteroids' Surfaces the Same Age?

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Did you know scientists can tell the age of an asteroid by looking closely at its craters? This final lesson of a six-part series focuses on two asteroids, Gaspra and Ida, in order to demonstrate the concept of dating asteroids. Scholars...
Lesson Plan
Messenger Education

Mission: Possible—How Can We Plan an Exploration of Another World?

For Students 5th - 8th Standards
An astronaut's spacesuit weighs 280 pounds and takes 45 minutes to put on — that's a serious suit! The second activity of a three-part series allows pupils to see all that goes into space exploration. Through simulations, groups analyze...
Handout
National Institute of Open Schooling

Environmental Concerns

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Every year, more than 14 billion pounds of garbage is dumped into the oceans of the world, most of which is plastic and toxic to ocean life. Lesson 32 in the series of 36 focuses on environmental concerns, specifically pollution. Under...
Lesson Plan
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Illustrative Mathematics

Tilt of Earth's Axis and the Four Seasons

For Teachers 9th - 11th Standards
Geometry meets earth science as high schoolers investigate the cause and features of the four seasons. The effects of Earth's axis tilt features prominently, along with both the rotation of the earth about the axis and its orbit...
Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Properties of Minerals

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore the basic building blocks of our planet.  In this minerals lesson high schoolers begin the process of forensics on the basis of investigation and drawing conclusions from observations. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring the Universe

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students conduct Internet research to find information about each planet and present their findings to the class. Students research statistical information and two interesting facts about each planet, then create a multimedia...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fine Motor Skills

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders discuss what they know about the planets, space, and the solar system including the colors of the planets. They also talk about why the planets are the color that they are. Next, they color cut-outs of the planets using...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Solar System

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Young scholars research the characteristics of planets in our solar system. In this space science lesson, students create a solar system model with each planet arranged according to their distance from the sun. They solve problems using...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

WEAVING TECHNOLOGY INTO THEMATIC UNITS

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore the planets by researching and writing a report about one of the nine planets.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planetary Poster

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students engage in a study about the planets and create a poster as one of the projects during the study. They create individual charts for mapping the solar system so the locations can be found in mock space missions to other planets.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Earth's Interior

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders identify the layers of the Earth's interior, while learning to use WP utilities.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students study the earth in relation to the solar system.  In this planetary instructional activity students complete several investigations into the measurement of the earth and its magnetic field.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Beyond the Earth Part II

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Learners explore the solar system. In this solar system lesson, students use Internet and print resources to research a component of the solar system. Learners create travel brochures based on their research findings.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Language Arts Written Drama Project: Creationism

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers create and perform science fiction drams based upon their knowledge of the solar system. For this solar system lesson students work in cooperative groups to create a short play and will also score the play.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planet X

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students select a wide variety of presentation methods to compare Planet X and Earth. Students share these with their classmates. Students select other methods to present their ideas about a livable planet for human life forms. ...