Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Comet Myths, Facts, and Legends

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Here is an interactive book lesson through which learners explore the facts and stories about comets. The plan is comprehensive, providing background information, standards met, vocabulary, assessment ideas, and more. Though the content...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Vocabulary of Space

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students build their knowledge and understanding of vocabulary related to space.  For this space lesson, students discuss four categories of words and phrases related to space. 
Lesson Plan
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After 7 years, capsule of comet dust heads to Earth

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students examine an article on a space capsule and explore NASA.  For this space exploration lesson students brainstorm the pros and cons of space exploration, then rehearse a sketch and present it to the class. 
Lesson Plan
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Earth to Saturn, Earth to Saturn!

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students compare and contrast the characteristics of Earth and Saturn. They practice writing analogies using those characteristics. They complete a worksheet to end the lesson.
Lesson Plan
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The Weather Classroom: Atmosphere

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the planets and their atmospheres online. They write the story of "Goldilocks and the Nine Planets" to explain how each planet's atmosphere differs from Earth's. They design a viable life form.
Lesson Plan
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Rotating Rings of Ice

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students work together to develop a model of Saturn and its rings. They identify what types of materials make up the rings and how they revolve around Saturn. They write a short paragraph describing the rings.
Lesson Plan
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Soaring Through Space With a Kid Pix Slide Show

For Teachers 1st
First graders create a slide show on Kid Pix about space. In this space lesson plan, 1st graders will explore the earth, sun, moon, and planets. After exploring their motions and locations around the sun, they create a 4 page slide show...
Lesson Plan
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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.
Lesson Plan
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Scientific Notation

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the concept of expressing numbers in scientific notation. For this scientific notation lesson, students understand the importance of using scientific notation by finding real world examples where scientific notation is...
Lesson Plan
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Kepler And His Laws

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils engage in an overview of the story of Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler, and of Kepler's laws. Each of Kepler's laws be studied separately in more detail in later lessons. They examine Kepler's 3rd law.
Lesson Plan
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Planet Paths: Studying Planetary Orbital Paths

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students define and identify planetary orbit, ellipse, parabola, and hyperbola, and simulate Kepler's Second Law. They explore interactive websites demonstrating orbital motion and complete modeling activities.
Lesson Plan
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Global Change- Earth as Home

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students create their own environment. In this environmental protection lesson, students pretend they are the owners of a tropical island. They create jobs for the citizens and develop the island as a model environment.
Lesson Plan
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What Do I See When I Picture Saturn?

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students create their own Saturn Discovery logs. They draw pictures of the planet and its founder. They share their drawings and writings with partners.
Lesson Plan
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Extensions - Astronomy Review Unit

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners participate in a review unit in Astronomy using the Layered Curriculum. This allows them to take charge of the type of assessment that is given. The method also allows better differentiation of instruction to occur.
Lesson Plan
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Expanding Children's Geographic and Economic Worlds

For Teachers K - 1st
Students learn their addresses and gain a sense of connection between their neighborhood and the rest of the world and the universe.
Lesson Plan
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Earth's Revolution and Rotation

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders investigate the regular motions of the sun, Earth and the moon and explain how these are related to days, years, seasons, eclipses, tides and moon cycles. They participate in an exercise where they explore the...
Lesson Plan
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Amazing -- Saturn Is So Far Away!

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students work together to create a scale model of the distances between the planets. They write a paragraph to describe Saturn and their make-believe trip to the planet. They identify other characteristics of Saturn as well.
Lesson Plan
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Creation and Our Creator

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Pupils consider the creation. In this creation lesson, students observe nature and relate natural things to the creation. Pupils watch a Christian video about the creation.
Lesson Plan
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Human Factors

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners 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...
Lesson Plan
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What's Up? Astronomy Curriculum

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students study astronomy. In preparation for a field trip to a planetarium, students discuss the stars, planets, and light. They explore the importance of the north star and constellations. The Digitarium system is used to assist the...
Lesson Plan
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Searching For Protoplanetary Disks

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students download NASA Hubble Space Telescope views of star-forming regions in nebulae and look for evidence of planetary systems forming beyond our own solar system. They hypothesize about mysterious objects in NASA HST images.
Lesson Plan
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Introduction to Earth Sun Relationships Incorporating P.E.

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders investigate space science by performing physical activities.  For this solar system lesson, 3rd graders perform a relay activitiy with their class in which they race between different "planets".  Students define...
Lesson Plan
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Why is the Average Temperature Greater on Venus than on Mercury?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
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...
Lesson Plan
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Planetary Tourism

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students pretend they are the first student to be allowed in space. They examine all nine planets on their journey. They complete a KWL chart and worksheets before they do their research. They create an itinerary of their tour and...