Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seeing Interference Fringes with a Telescope

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers construct an interferometer using a simple telescope. In this physics lesson, students explain how light waves create the fringe patterns. They observe patterns made by different objects in the sky and compare them.
Unit Plan
Curated OER

Astronomy

For Teachers 3rd
Students complete a unit of lessons on our solar system, its stars, and astronomers. They record information in a space journal, design constellations, define key vocabulary, observe the phases of the moon, and create a group planet...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Measuring Snowfall

For Teachers K - 4th
Students predict the amount of snowfall for the week and measure snowfall.  In this measuring snowfall lesson, student use a precipitation gauge to measure the week's snowfall; and analyze the data to determine whether or not...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy Defined

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders complete activities to study the sources of energy and forms. In this energy lesson, 4th graders discuss the origin of energy and define it. Students participate in several experiments to further study energy including a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Einstein's Big Idea

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the meaning of c2 in E=mc2 by measuring the energy delivered by an object falling at different velocities. They state that kinetic energy is the energy of an object in motion. Students illustrate how kinetic energy...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Still Movement

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students explore constant motion. Using photography equipment and a dark room, students develop photographs that depict motion. Students demonstrate the proper use of photograph equipment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Never Push Your Pendulum

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students investigate the behavior of pendulums and identify the variables that affect it.  In this pendulum instructional activity students complete a lab on pendulums, make conclusions about frequency and the period then conduct a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Looking Blue

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students participate in a research project that is exclusively using the internet. The author states that traditional labs are hard to conduct for a light lab. This one uses the internet with the intention that students can manipulate...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth's Journey Through Space

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Learners arrange various pictures of the Earth to identify its journey through space. In this Earth's rotation lesson plan, students use models of the Earth and demonstrate its journey through space. Learners complete the worksheet about...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let the Sunshine in

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students collect and analyze data to study wavelengths of visible light. They cover Styrofoam cups with three different colors of sun filtering products and shine a lamp directly on the cups. They determine the most effective filtering...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy Conversion

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders study energy conversions. They watch a demonstration of a working engine and make a chart explaining the energy conversions taking place. They build a simple electric motor and research other types of electric generators.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Constellations

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the major constellations. After reviewing the Earth's basic motions and their significance, students discuss the moon's orbit and revolutions. Using a Digitarium Alpha portable planetarium projector, they observe at...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What is electrical energy?

For Teachers K - 3rd
Students distinguish between items with and without energy. In this energy lesson, students understand that natural resources power electrical apparatus and that energy needs to be saved.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

More Power to You

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars construct a simple galvanometer in order to detect the presence of an electric current as well as determine the amount of the current. Activity is divided into two parts, first part as group work and second as individual.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planets Curriculum

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students complete an in-depth study of the known planets in the solar system. As a class, students identify the planets that are known in the universe, in the night sky. They explain the differences between planets and stars and the...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Astronomy Class

For Students 6th - 8th
In this space science worksheet, students find the words associated with the basic terms of Astronomy. The answers are located at the bottom of the page.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planets Curriculum

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students investigate the planets in our solar system. They conduct research using a variety of resources in order for students to make cognitive connections with the demonstrations made by the teacher. Students discover how to recognize...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Composting in Schools: Observing Compost Microorganisms

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students explore composting. In this composting lesson, students use compound microscopes to observe the microbial communities in compost. Observations and documentation of changes will occur over the course of several weeks.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mars Curriculum

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners study Mars and other plants in the night sky. In a planetarium setting using Digitarium planetarium system, students identify the Big Dipper and Polaris. They explore the major differences between the planets and the stars. ...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

From Vibration to Sound

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students observe a series of demonstrations to illustrate wave movement. In this sound wave lesson, students witness how objects create waves when dropped in a dish of water, use a rope and slinky to produce transverse and longitudinal...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sound Box

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students make simple observations and identify relevant variables, such as frequency and diameter. They then discuss the relationship between variables. The task assesses students' abilities to make simple observations and make...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Energy Transformation

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars identify different kinds of energy such as heat energy, kinetic energy, potential energy, and magnetic energy. They investigate the concept of conservation of energy.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

2005 Submarine Ring of Fire Expedition: What's for Dinner?

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students compare and contrast photosynthesis and chemosynthesis as sources of primary production for biological communities, and describe sources of primary production observed in biological communities associated with volcanoes of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Nerve Racking

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders study the components and function of the nervous system. They investigate how engineers design biomedical equipment to assist the nervous system and explain how the five senses are affected during spaceflight.