Curated OER
Rover Races
Students identify the challenges encountered by astronauts in operating a planetary rover. In this space science instructional activity, students create a rover using their team members. They follow a command sequence from the driver and...
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The Universe
Middle schoolers describe what scientists mean by an "expanding universe" in their own words. They explain how scientists comprehend the universie is expanding. Students comprehend the vast scale of the universe. They comprehend how...
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Earth Science Lesson Plans on Geologic Time
Springboard your fourth and fifth graders into the study geologic time. They will complete 7 activities to learn about geologic time and the topics most often associated with it: astronomy, creation, planet formation, volcanology,...
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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...
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A Star Party
High schoolers explore the parts and function of a telescope. In this investigative lesson students gain an understanding of a telescope and identify planets and constellations.
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An Interview with Mr. Sol
Students explore the sun, the galaxy, and planets. As an introduction to a class discussion of the sun, students perform a skit. They discuss the elements that make up the sun, stars and planets.
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Kepler's Second Law
Pupils gain an understanding of Kepler's 2nd law--that planets (and satellites) move fastest at their closest approach to the center of attraction, and slow down when far away. They explore the concepts of "potential energy" and "kinetic...
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Planetary Research (Grades 9-12)
Students are introduced to planetary research and familiarize them with the planets and their features. They see that each planet has unique features. Planets have some common features and that images can be used to study the planets and...
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The Solar System
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...
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Are There Other Neighborhoods Like Our Own?
Students investigate the possibility of life existing on other planets. They conduct research using a variety of resources. The lesson includes an overview that is used for classroom discussion practices. They tell the teacher how to...
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Mars: Off the Charts--Until You Put It There
Students explore the night sky and make illustrations which are shared in class the next day. Distinctions are made between the stars and the planets and views of the constellations for the season are made available. The work of early...
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Tracking and Tracing Sunspots
Students examine sunspots. In this sunspot lesson, students use applets to investigate the movement of sunspots. Students research sunspots and evaluate the rotation of the sun. Lesson references outside resources not available in this...
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Earth
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.
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The Milky Way and Beyond
Learners consider the scale of the Milky Way Galaxy. In this Milky Way lesson, students hypothesize the length of time necessary to cross the Milky Way.
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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.
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Astronomy: A Star Party
Students explain the functions of a telescope. They name the parts of the telescope. After previously learning the planets and constellations, students identify and view them during a star party.
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Lesson Plan on Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion
Learners construct a solar system model. For this space science lesson, students calculate the eccentricity of a planet's orbit. They calculate the period of a planet's revolution using Kepler's formula.
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Out There: An Astronomical Project
Fourth graders complete a WebQuest involving astronomy and copyright laws. They conduct Internet research, complete the WebQuest, and design and publish a planet travel brochure.
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The 'Solar' System Past and Present
Students identify cardinal and intermediate directions, recognize that models changes due to new or improved observations and technology, identify the major characteristics of the planets including their positions in the solar system,...
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Observations From the Past
Ninth graders explore direct and indirect evidence. In this astronomy lesson, 9th graders investigate the contribution of early astronomers to their field. They create a model of the solar system.
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Meteorites
Students model how meteors fall to the surface of planets. In this space science lesson, students identify different types of meteorites using an interactive online website. They investigate the relationship between a meteorite's size...
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A DISAPPEARING ACT Astronomy: Do Stars Always Shine?
Learners observe why stars are not visible during the day with a classroom demonstration using an index card punched with holes.
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Voyage: A Journey Through Our Solar System
Thoroughly written, this plan walks you through every detail of having your high school astronomers design scale models of the solar system. Complete instructions on building to scale, lesson plan procedures, and associated worksheets...
National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science
A Rose By Any Other Name
In part one, your astronomers read an interview dialogue between a reporter and Dr. Maria Ocasio, the chair of the group that assigns names to celestial objects. The topic in question is Pluto's status. Learners research Plutinos and...