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Constellations
Students explore the major constellations. After reviewing the Earth's basic motions and their significance, students discuss the moon's orbit and revolutions. Using a Digitarium Alpha portable planetarium projector, they observe at...
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Sensing the Invisible
Learners study visible light and explain why we want to use infrared radiation to study Mercury. For this sunlight lesson students construct a device to measure the presence of infrared radiation in sunlight.
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Exploring the Planets
Sixth graders explore the planets through an interactive web site. In this astronomy based lesson, 6th graders compare planets, explore comets, and discover planet facts through a variety of activities provided by the Smithsonian Museum.
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Exploring the Solar System
In this exploring the solar system learning exercise, 6th graders use the online Gizmo then answer 14 questions and complete a chart about planets and orbits.
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Selling the Stars
Students create a travel brochure, poster, and presentation to encourage others to visit a star. In this stellar characteristics lesson, students research a star type based on its life-cycle. They create a travel campaign to convince...
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Green House Effect
Learners read about the green house effect and how our environment is deteriorating and what we can do to help it. In this green house effect lesson plan, students conduct a home and school energy audit, and create a rap.
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Gravitational Factors
Students identify the forces that affect the weight of an object. In groups, they determine the proper math model which can demonstrate the attraction between two objects based on gravity. They discuss the relationship between the weight...
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Exploring the Celestial Neighborhood
Ninth graders study the origin and organization of the solar system. They investigate the Earth's place in the system and how planetary motions explain natural phenomena observable from Earth.
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Planet Picking
Students arrange the planets according to their distances from the sun. In this astronomy lesson, students list interesting properties about each planet. They identify an unknown planet photo.
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Pioneers of Space
Students explore how to use natural resources in the next millenium. Students create a KWL chart and then research information on our solar systsem, natural resources, and environments. Students build a model of a future community and...
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Out of This World
Learners take a mission to Mars. In this space science lesson, students listen a lecture about space travel to Mars and the planet itself. Learners then create timelines of exploration and write poetry about their ideal planet.
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Sun too close? We'll just change Earth's orbit
Students study an article and discuss what would happen if the Earth's orbit changed. In this Earth's orbit lesson students answer a list of questions and complete an activity.
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Daisyworld: Interactive On-line PC and Mac
Students use a JAVA interface to explore the Daisy World model to illustrate a mechanism through which - according to the Gaian hypothesis - biota might optimize their abiotic environment by means of negative feedback.
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MEASURING THE GRAVITATIONAL CONSTANT, G
Students study gravitational force an. In this gravitational force lesson plan students observe a demonstration.
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Probes, Exploration & Application
Students explore how a surface can be described without seeing it.
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Seeing Sound and Sonar
Students grasp how underwater animals can "see" using sound waves. They practice making inferences, and build a conceptual understanding of sonar radar.
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Estuarine Currents
Students explore an estuarine system to gather data on density driven currents. This type of current is contrasted with temperature and wind driven currents.
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Focus on Saturn's Fascinating Features
Students identify and discuss the characteristics of Saturn. They create a book using those characteristics. They also develop diagram to show Saturn and its moons.
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Being Nosy About Our Neighbors
Students use the scientific method to explore the effect of size on impact cratering. They compare images of landforms on Earth to those of other planets to compare surface processes. Students infer the geologic history of another...
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Scientific Inquiry: Periodic Motion
Students construct their own pendulum. In this physics instructional activity, students design an experiment to find the factors affecting its period. They formulate a conclusion based on experimental data.
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How Much Do You Really Weigh?
Sixth graders check to see how their weights differ if they weighed themselves on different planets. They record their findings on a data sheet.
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Extra Terrestial Excursions
Fourth graders determine how long it would take to fly to each of the planets in the solar system. They do two calculations: one, if they were using conventional jet, the other if they were using the fastest spacecraft possible.
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E.T. Write Home
Students read the book, The Magic School Bus Lost in the Solar System, and discuss the planets visited by the characters in the book. They write journal entries from the viewpoint of E.T., writing letters home describing his travels in...
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Best of the Solar System
Students visit a site which provides images to be analyzed. Notes are taken and planets are named based on observed features and observations. Using peer review, they try to determine the identity of the planets. They are free to browse...