Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Building a Scale Model

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders create a model of the solar system. In this solar system lesson, 3rd graders create a scale model of the solar system. Working in pairs students solve mathematical problems to correctly measure the distance each planet is...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

THAT'S WHY THEY CALL IT SPACE

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders set up a scale model of the solar system using the same scale for distance and diameter. They calculate scale distances and sizes for modeling the solar system and relate actual distances to difficulties in discovering and...
Lesson Plan
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Space, the Final Frontier...

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students study a common theory on how the solar system was formed and examine the relative scale of the size and distances among the bodies of the Solar System.
Lesson Plan
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How High Does the Atmosphere Go?

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Young scholars explain how relatively thin the atmosphere is, compared to the size of the planet, and determine the relative extent of the four major atmospheric layers.
Lesson Plan
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Paper Mache Solar System

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Students make a model of the solar system. In this solar system instructional activity, students make paper mache models of the planets to hand in the classroom, measure the distance to each planet scaled with footsteps, and model the...
Lesson Plan
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Is There Liquid Water on Mars?

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners assess whether there is liquid water on Mars by analyzing images and data.  In this planetary lesson students analyze temperature and pressure graphs and hypothesize about how water could have flowed on Mars.
Lesson Plan
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The Sun's habitable Zone

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore the average surface temperature of planets. They use the Planet Temperature Calculator to find the average temperature. Students explore how the distance from the sun affects the Earth's average surface...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Our universe

For Students 6th - 8th
For this quiz, students are asked 20 questions about the magnitude of planets and stars both in and out of our Solar System. An answer key is provided.
Lesson Plan
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Scale Basketball

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars understand that a spreadsheet can be used to find the best scale to use in a model. They place the distances of the planets of the solar system to the Sun in one column of the spreadsheet. Students try different scales so...
Lesson Plan
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Planetary Poster

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students engage in a study about the planets and create a poster as one of the projects during the study. They create individual charts for mapping the solar system so the locations can be found in mock space missions to other planets.
Lesson Plan
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Earth's Place in the Solar System

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Learners study and discuss the planets. They create a visual representation of the layout of the solar system and color it. They also write an informative/narrative summary report on the cultural relevance of the Sun.
Activity
Discovery Education

Solar System Scale

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Extremely large or extremely small numbers are difficult to comprehend. To help understand the massive scale of the solar system, learners complete two activities. First, they create a model to compares the size of the bodies in the...
Lesson Plan
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Just How Big is this Place?

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students are introduced to the the formula for calculating travel time. They listen to different scenarios relating to long distance travel into space and calculate travel time using the formula.
Lesson Plan
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Animating Motion

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Students apply what they recall about objects in motion by animati ng sequences of pictures that model a set of physical conditions. They animate the orbital motions of the Earth, the space shuttle, and the Moon based on calculations of...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Catch a Wave. . .

For Students 4th - 8th
Part of a larger online space science website, this page has a brief explanation of electromagnetic radiation and a chart of wavelengths as compared to common objects. There are four questions to answer about the information. This can be...
Lesson Plan
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Making Models To Understand Our Home

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students investigate the concept of a model and how it is used to represent something that is real. They recognize how the model can be applied to other types of concepts like the solar system. Students create a scale drawing of a house...
Lesson Plan
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Making Numbers Manageable

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders recognize and express numbers when written in time saving techniques. They gather data from a variety of sources, including print and electronic media. They develop a presentation using a variety of techniques.
Lesson Plan
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Planet Structure & Interior

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students compare Jupiter and Earth. In this Earth and space studies lesson plan, students compare the composition of Earth and Jupiter and analyze how the composition affects the rate at which the planets spin.
Lesson Plan
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Location

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students explore the tools used by Columbus to chart his latitude. They study the change of a location over time.
Lesson Plan
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Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Fact Sheet

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
In this space worksheet, learners will read facts about Mars and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Students will also find 24 space related words in a word search.
Lesson Plan
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Soil: Food Mapping

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students examine the concept of food mapping . In this agriculture lesson, students explore food and agriculture systems in the United States in the past and today. Students complete food mapping activities.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Mathematical Fingerprint of Our Solar System

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students study the beautiful mathematical model unique to our solar system.
Worksheet
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Solar System Lab

For Students 8th
In this solar system worksheet, 8th graders make a scale model of the solar system, answer 5 questions and write a conclusion.
Worksheet
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Black Holes....II

For Students 8th - 10th
In this black hole activity, students use the equation for time dilation to solve 8 problems including determining the time it takes to receive a GPS signal from space, the time delay for the GPS-Earth system, the distance a radio signal...