Lesson Plan
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Why is the Average Temperature Greater on Venus than on Mercury?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students 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 planets in...
Lesson Plan
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Solving Saturn's Mysteries

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students study the Cassini spacecraft and its travel to Saturn. They discover the results of the space mission and examine images of Saturn that Cassini sent back.
Lesson Plan
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Our Solar System to Scale

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students calculate the diameter of planets and their relative distances.  In this space science instructional activity, students discover how small or big the planets are in comparison to each other. Students use cross multiplying...
Lesson Plan
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Best of the Solar System

For Teachers 5th - 8th
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...
Unit Plan
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Our Universe: Always Moving, Always Changing

For Teachers 3rd
Students explore the main concepts of astronomy through the eleven lessons of this unit. The past, present, and future methods of studying the science are examined in this unit.
Lesson Plan
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Nature of Meteor Showers

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders describe, in general terms, the distribution of matter in space and identify evidence for, and describe characteristics of, bodies that make up the solar system. They then investigate predictions about the motion,...
Lesson Plan
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Observing Mars in the Night Sky

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students compare and contrast the orbits of Earth and Mars, locate the planet Mars, and diagram its retrograde motion.
Lesson Plan
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Sea Secrets

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students study the following: For centuries, people have been challenged by the mysteries that lie beneath the blue depths of our ocean planet. Very little was known about the ocean until late in the nineteenth century, although nearly...
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.  In this space exploration lesson students brainstorm the pros and cons of space exploration, then rehearse a sketch and present it to the class. 
Handout
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The Earth

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
In this earth fact worksheet, students look at a picture of the planet earth and read a list of accompanying facts, along with a brief paragraph.
Lesson Plan
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Mass and Weight

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Students explore the science topics of mass and weight. In this mass and weight lesson, students determine the difference between mass and weight as they discuss the definitions and the application the definitions.
Lesson Plan
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Rubber Gardens

For Teachers K - 8th
Students recycle discarded automobile tires and create gardening sites for limited space areas.
Lesson Plan
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Project SETI.

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders study how to search for life in outer space and make use of the 40-foot radio telescope at Greenbank, West Virginia. Request that the telescope be pointed at a particular location and time and receive data back from it...
Lesson Plan
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Looking Out Is Looking Back...

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore the size of our Universe by understanding how long it takes to travel around from object to object in it - even if you travel at the speed of light! In making our exploration, we will examine ways of measuring distance,...
Lesson Plan
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Animating Motion

For Teachers 9th - 11th
Learners 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...
Lesson Plan
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Climate in the Western Regions

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners examine the interactions of the Earth's systems and other objects in space.  In this climate change lesson students study the pros and cons of different climates and what their preferences are. 
Lesson Plan
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Everybody Needs a Rock

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders examine science non-fiction books in the 500 section of the media center. They listen to Byrd Baylor's, Everybody Needs a Rock, and write a sentence that tells why everyone does need a rock. They illustrate the sentence.
Lesson Plan
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Mother Earth - Father Sky

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders research and write about Cyrus Dillan. They explain one of Dillan's sculptures. Students locate six constellations and two planets. They research and write about the daily life of the Pawnee.
Lesson Plan
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Retrograde Motion

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students study the motions of the heavenly bodies.  In this space lesson plan students use models to show a variety of schemes explaining the motions. 
Lesson Plan
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Make Way for Wild Migrants

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Young scholars discuss the threats facing migratory species and track the seasonal journeys of wildlife in real space and in cyberspace. Once they have gathered information from several sources, they create a portfolio to share with...
Lesson Plan
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Blast Off with Model Rockets

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students investigate science and math by building a rocket. In this geometry lesson, students build a rocket using paper towel tubes while investigating questions about launching a rocket. They discuss balance and unique structure as...
Lesson Plan
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Gravity: It's GREEEAAATTT!

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students calculate effects of gravitational force on planets, discuss the effects of weightlessness on the human body and describe and demonstrate how objects in a state of free fall are accelerated by gravity at an equal rate.
Lesson Plan
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Mathematics at the Frontier of Astronomy

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars explore the different types of measurements used in astronomy. In this space science lesson, students explain the relationship between planets' orbits and distance from the sun using Kepler's Laws. They discuss how math...
Lesson Plan
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The Solar Cycle

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners research the solar cycle. In this Science lesson, students use the internet to investigate the solar cycle. Learners produce a spreadsheet and graph from the information collected.