Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Changing Faces: A Study of Solar and Planetary Rotation Rates

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students determine rotation rates of a variety of solar system objects using images and the Internet.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Human Factors

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students design a space settlement for colonizing a planet in our solar system. In small groups, they play a space colony game and read an article about human needs in space to prepare for the design stage. They discuss their design...
App
Midnight Martian

Mars Globe HD

For Students 3rd - 8th
Explore the surface of Mars without leaving the comforts of your home or classroom! Learn about volcanoes, missions to the red planet, view the topography, and more. 
Worksheet
Curated OER

Hubble Sees a Distant Planet

For Students 7th - 9th
In this Hubble telescope worksheet, students solve 4 problems about the image of the distant planet the Hubble telescope discovered. Students determine the distance the planet was from its star in 2006, they determine the planet's...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Microbial Influence on Earth's Systems

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students identify the different biogeochemical cycles on Earth. In this biology lesson, students observe microbes under a microscope. They compare and contrast respiration and photosynthesis.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Hello, Anybody Out There?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students understand that people believe there may be life in other solar systems. In this communication with other solar systems lesson, students analyze our planet and write things they want to communicate to other solar systems.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Jupiter - King of the Planets

For Students 5th - 6th
In this Jupiter worksheet, students read a passage about the environment and atmosphere of Jupiter. Students then answer several multiple choice questions about the passage.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Destination Mars!

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders view Mysteries of Earth & Mars Video on DVD and record thoughts in their online journal. They record data in a spreadsheet about each planet then form a theory of the best time to launch a space craft from Earth to land...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Drake Equation

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars use the Drake Equation to calculate the probability of sustaining life on various planets. Through the use of the equation, they determine whether intelligent and advanced civilizations can be developed on planets other...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar System: Earth

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students research Earth including what makes it suitable for life, its rotation, geological composition and gravity.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Space Travel Brochure

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Students discover information about the planets and the solar system. They work together to research a specific planet. They develop a brochure for the planet and share with the class.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Planets

For Students 7th - 10th
In this planets worksheet, students read information about Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn and then complete 21 multiple choice, 1 true or false, and 2 fill in the blank questions.
Worksheet
2
2
T. Smith Publishing

Earth

For Students 3rd - 6th Standards
Young astronomers read an informational text passage and then answer questions based on what they read.
Worksheet
1
1
TLS Books

Jupiter

For Students 3rd - 5th Standards
Young astronomers read an informational text on the gas giant, Jupiter. Then they answer four multiple choice questions based on what they read.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planet Research

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Pupils recognize that the other eight known planets, which revolve around the Sun, have characteristics and surface conditions that are different from Earth; and identify examples of those differences.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Out of This World 1

For Students 4th - 6th
In this planets research skills instructional activity, students use their research skills to fill in the blanks in 15 sentences regarding the planets.
Lesson Plan
National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science

A Rose By Any Other Name

For Teachers 9th - 12th
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...
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

Exploring Meteorite Mysteries: Building Blocks of Planets

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students simulate the formation of chondrites and asteroids. In this astronomy lesson, students demonstrate accretion using balloons and static electricity. They compare and contrast their models to the actual process of chondrites and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Daily and Seasonal Cycles

For Teachers 1st
First graders identify the sun as a source of heat and light. They identify features of houses that help keep use sheltered and comfortable throughout daily and seasonal cycles. Students are told that summer is the best season to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Climate Change Skeptic's Argument: Natural Solar Cycles or Human Activity?

For Teachers Higher Ed
Teachers explore patterns in sunspots and total solar irradiance to understand the counterpoint to the human effect of global warming. In this professional development tool, teachers work through a lesson on the sun's natural...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Travelogue of a Planet

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students randomly select a planet, including Earth. They research key features of the planet including mass, volume, density, gravity, temperature, weather, geology, atmosphere, surface features, location from sun, Earth and other...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Earth, Moon and Sun Assessment Test

For Students 4th - 5th
In this space science activity, students answer 14 essay questions pertaining to the Earth, moon, and sun and their relationship. Prior knowledge is assumed, or this could be a pre-test.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Space: Stars and Planets

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Pupils observe and report that the moon can be seen sometimes at night and sometimes during the day. They describe how changes to a model can help predict how the real thing can be altered. Students explain the essential fact of the...