Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Earth Science: Inner Versus Outer Planets

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Compares the characteristics of inner and outer planets.
Handout
NASA

Nasa Space Science Data Archive: Mars 2007 and Beyond

For Students 9th - 10th
Check this resource for NASA's present, past, and future Mars' missions. Launch periods, descriptions of the mission, and related press releases are provided for each mission.
Handout
NASA

Nasa Space Science Data Archive: Neptune Fact Sheet

For Students 9th - 10th
Resource has text information to compare Neptune with Earth. Includes Neptune observational data, orbital data, magnetosphere, and atmosphere. Also contains an image of Neptune that can be enlarged.
Handout
NASA

Nasa Space Science Data Archive: Neptunian Rings Fact Sheet

For Students 9th - 10th
A data table of nearly everything known about the ring system of Neptune. The resource also includes an image of the rings of Neptune that can be enlarged.
Website
NASA

Nasa: Spitzer Science Center: Code of Faraway Worlds

For Students 9th - 10th
Under the heading, "Cracking the Code of Faraway Worlds" this site explores the uses of spectrum (and spectrograph, spectra) in planetary study. In addition to an image, a description of spectrum and its uses in space science is provided.
Unit Plan
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Physical Science: Rutherford's Atomic Model

For Students 7th - 9th
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Rutherford's discovery of the nucleus and his planetary model of the atom.
Online Course
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Mit: Open Course Ware: Courses: Earth Science: Basic Impact Cratering

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A complete university-level course in the fundamental principles of impact craters. Includes lecture notes, readings, assignments, and sample student projects.
Activity
Other

Lunar and Planetary Institute: Make a Comet

For Students 3rd - 5th
Hands-on activity allows children to learn about comets by creating their own models using art supplies.
Graphic
Wolfram Research

Wolfram Science World: Science World of Astronomy: Snc Meteorites

For Students 9th - 10th
View a chart displaying various kinds of meteorites collected on earth and read a technical article describing the manner in which they are studied. Provides a link to more information about the planet Mars and the role it plays in the...
Graphic
NASA

Nasa: Dare Mighty Things

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore this interactive timeline to learn about fifty years of planetary exploration. Click on each box for more expanded details.
Website
Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Australian Broadcasting Corporation: News in Science: Universe May Disappear From View

For Students 9th - 10th
From ABC News in Science, Larry O'Hanlon's article on the universe presents research related to the expanding of the universe and the corresponding distance between planetary objects.
Article
Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Australian Broadcasting Corporation: News in Science: The Planet Formerly Known as Pluto

For Students 9th - 10th
From ABC News in Science, this article discusses issues related to Pluto its removal from planetary status. The brief article also touches on the renaming and re-listing process of Pluto.
Website
Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Australian Broadcasting Corporation: News in Science: Astronomers Find 28 More Exoplanets

For Students 9th - 10th
From ABC News in Science, Maggie Fox's article explores a new string of "exoplanets" discovered orbiting distant stars. This research leads to numerous possibilities, one of which being the existence of planetary systems containing life...
Handout
NASA

Nasa Space Science Data Archive: Asteroid 253 Mathilde

For Students 9th - 10th
This site contains facts about the asteroid 253 Mathilde from the National Space Science Data Center at NASA.
Website
Space Telescope Science Institute

Overview of the Hubble Space Telescope

For Students 9th - 10th
This site gives an overview of the Hubble Space Telescope program. It also gives details about the previous and current science instruments used in the program, and information about the mission operations and observations.
Handout
NASA

Nasa Space Science Data Archive: Ice on Europa

For Students 9th - 10th
With the exception of Earth, Europa currently appears to be the only body in the solar system which potentially harbors a global ocean of liquid water. The possibility of liquid water raises the possibility of life, as well. This NASA...
Website
NASA

Nasa Space Science Data Archive: Apollo 11 30th Anniversary

For Students 9th - 10th
A look back at the first lunar landing by Apollo 11 in July of 1969. Site has links to audio clips and images from the mission and other Apollo web sites.
Website
NASA

Nasa Space Science Data Archive: The Mariner Missions

For Students 9th - 10th
This web page contains detailed information on the Mariner 4 spacecraft. The page explains that the Mariner 4 was the first spacecraft to obtain information at close range on Mars. This page also contains information about other Mariner...
Handout
NASA

Nasa Space Science Data Archive:comet Collision With Jupiter

For Students 9th - 10th
Comet collision with Jupiter with lots of pictures and some text. Links to the information about the comet, the impacts, and observations made by four different spacecraft.
Handout
NASA

Nasa Space Science Data Archive: Galileo Project Information

For Students 9th - 10th
This is the homepage of all of the archived information about and from the Galileo Mission. Included is data from the flybys of Venus, Earth, Moon, and Asteroids Gaspra and Ida, as well as the current data from Jupiter and its moons. See...
Handout
NASA

Nasa Space Science Data Archive: Viking Mission to Mars

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource provides thorough background information on the Viking Missions and links to detailed data and images.
Graphic
Curated OER

Science Kids: Science Images: Planetary Nebula

For Students 9th - 10th
A photo of an amazing planetary nebula taken by the Hubble Space Telescope.
Graphic
Curated OER

Science Kids: Science Images: Young Planetary Nebula

For Students 9th - 10th
A spectacular photo taken by the Hubble Space Telescope of a young planetary nebula.
Graphic
California Institute of Technology

Spitzer Science Center: Is There Anybody Home?

For Students 9th - 10th
This image, titled "Is There Anybody Home?" features six fuzzy pictures depicting six stars associated with known planets. The text under the image details various specifics about the picture and the planetary system associated with the...