Curated OER
Luisa's Steller Evolution Lab
Students examine stars and constellations in the night sky. They complete a KWL chart and calculate the mass of stars. They also discuss how a star is formed.
Curated OER
Mineralogy, Astronomy, & Ancient Wisdom
Students complete a variety of activities surrounding minerals, crystals, and mineralogy. They locate common minerals on a world map, complete a lab in which they identify the chemical and physical properties of various minerals, etc.
Curated OER
Living in Extreme Environments
Students explore the living conditions needed to grow bacteria. They develop an experiment that will test the ability of bacteria to survive various temperature extremes. In addition, they complete a lab reprt to share their results.
Curated OER
Why is the Average Temperature Greater on Venus than on Mercury?
Middle schoolers examine the reasons why the temperature is higher on Venus than on Mercury. In groups, they analzye both planet's atmospheres and determine the rate of global warming on each. They use the internet to research the...
Curated OER
Forces And Energy
Students investigate the atom and how it is formed. They conduct research using a variety of resources and then construct a model of the atom. Then students have class discussion. The instructional activity includes background...
Curated OER
Modeling Celestial Motion
In this modeling celestial motion worksheet, students fill in the blank about the motion of celestial bodies: planets and stars. Students complete the blanks with information about the scientists and philosophers responsible for early...
Curated OER
Solar System Lesson Plans
Solar system lesson plans provide teachers with a multitude of ways to interest even the most reluctant learners.
Curated OER
Patterns in Nature
Research patterns in nature which illustrate biological and mathematical concepts. Your class will discover and explore aspects of fractals, Fibonaccis numbers, whale and butterfly migration patterns, whale identification, flower...
New York Science Teacher
Planet Scaling using Extra Terrestrial Tools
Your class will use a set scale to convert diameters of planets to the model size, the diagram given to expand on the number of planets drawn as concentric circles, and examine the scale that would be needed to fit the larger...
Teach Engineering
Manned Mission to Mars
To go or to not to go — the question for a mission to Mars. This resource provides details for a possible manned mission to Mars. Details include a launch schedule, what life would be like on the surface, and how the astronauts would...
Curated OER
From Light to Dark and Back
Experiment with light and dark in a series of interactive activities that lead up to reading and writing poetry. Class members have the opportunity to observe their feelings while sitting in the light and dark and to play with shadow...
Curated OER
Reading Comprehension 6
Set the timer for five minutes (or less), and distribute this resource to your class. There's a very short reading passage followed by a set of three questions. What a great tool in prepping your class for upcoming state testing.
Curated OER
Discovering a Law of Space Physics
Learners use data collected by an astronomer to determine the relationship between the time it takes the planet to orbit the sun and the average radius of the planet's orbit around the sun. Students use trial and error to find the...
Curated OER
The Doctrine of Signatures
Students use the graphing calculator and the core equation: y=Ax^2+Bx+C where A = the acceleration of gravity/2, B = the initial velocity, and C = initial height above ground to graph parabolas for Earth and Mars. They experiment with...
Curated OER
Coordinate Plane Treasure Hunt
Middle schoolers create a treasure map by plotting points on a coordinate plane using a computer drawing program. Students name and identify different landmasses and structures on their map. They create instructions to find the...
Curated OER
Intellectual History
In this online interactive world history activity, students answer 22 matching questions regarding the Enlightenment. Students may submit their answers to be scored.
Curated OER
The Planets Terra Firma
High schoolers explore the theories of the creation of the universe and examine the properties of celestial bodies. They analyze the relationship between the sun, Earth and the other planets.
Curated OER
Earth's Orbit Lesson
Tenth graders devise a computational model to explore how the orbit of the Earth might change if its velocity were different. Using accurately recorded data, 10th graders defend a scientific argument.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Open Course Ware: Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences: Solar System
A university-level course that looks at the structure of the solar system, the sun, the planets, and other bodies in space. Includes course readings, assignments, and study notes.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Earth Science Education Activities: Prof. Larry Braile
A lesson plan collection covering plate tectonics, with some structural geology and planetary science projects. The PDF files include activities, hand outs, maps, and directions for building a simple seismometer and seismograph. Also...
![Earth and Planetary Science: Procedure for Evaluating Environmental Impact [Pdf] Handout](https://d15y2dacu3jp90.cloudfront.net/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/FPO-knovation.png "Earth and Planetary Science: Procedure for Evaluating Environmental Impact [Pdf] Handout")
University of California
Earth and Planetary Science: Procedure for Evaluating Environmental Impact [Pdf]
A useful guide for environmental impact reporting and as a systematic reference.
NASA
Nasa Space Science Data Archive: Chronology of Lunar and Planetary Exploration
A detailed chronology of all Russian and American attempts at lunar and planetary exploration. Contains links to each individual spacecraft.
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Multiple Choice Planetary Motion Study Cards
Kepler's Laws 1,2,3 including eccentricity of elliptical orbits. Good for reviewing planetary motions (NYS Earth Science).
Other
Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics
Studies involving earth sciences, marine sciences and oceanography.