It's getting hot in here! The first in a series of six lessons has learners model nuclear fusion with a simple lab investigation. Groups collect data and analyze results, comparing their models to the actual process along the way.

Is Pluto still a planet? Using this popular question, kids are introduced to graphic organizers as a writing tool. As a class, they watch a demonstration on how to use them and work together with a partner to research whether Pluto is a...

Gamma radiation, which is harmful, is useful in treating cancers. In the second instructional activity in a series of four, young scientists take surveys and calculate their yearly exposure to ionizing radiation. Then they read about how...

How many planets can you name? Did you get all 13 in our solar system, including the dwarf planets, or were you surprised when you read there are 13 planets? The instructional activity helps scholars understand the scale of the universe...

Lead your class through the amazing world of isotopes as they investigate the various properties they contain and further understand their respective location on the periodic table. They explore half-lives and radioactivity as each...

The majority of all confirmed exoplanets relied on Kepler's laws to discover their locations. Scholars learn how to apply Kepler's laws and then practice using data to discover exoplanets. They benefit from NASA video footage, NOVA...

First graders examine space in this unit of lessons. They create a KWL chart and write in their journals about space. They also examine the phases of the moon and identify the constellations.

Young scholars research space flight exploration and technology. In small groups, they research a significant event from early time until the start of the space age. A class time line is created from the research groups.

Eighth graders explore and discuss the various space exploration missions.  For this space mission lesson students work in pairs and create a PowerPoint presentation on the contributions of space exploration missions. 

Students work together to create a 3D coordinate system. They plot points that are given to them and asked to find these points in space. They discover how engineers use coordinates in their careers.

Sixth graders investigate living in space. In this science lesson, 6th graders discuss what it is like to live in space and create their own space station or space city of the future.

Young scholars research and identify important events in the history of space exploration. They work in groups of three to four in order to research an important astronaut and record their finding on a poster board and present to the class.

Young scholars explore space. In this current events lesson, students visit selected websites to learn about NASA, Mars, the Seti Institute, and space exploration terminology. Young scholars make space glossaries and their own telescopes.

Fourth graders role-play a space exploration. They read scripts detailing an astronaut's journey on a space exploration. They discuss how it felt to be an astronaut, the emotions, moods and feelings of going on a space exploration.

Students explore the potential challenges of living in space.  In this investigative lesson plan students search the Internet to locate 16 nations that are working together to build the Independent Space Station, then they divide...

Students complete four tasks with certain restrictions. In this astronomy instructional activity, students explore different ways that astronauts can anchor and maneuver in space. They recognize the challenges they face from day to day.

Students design and construct a spacecraft. In this space voyage instructional activity, students read Regards to the Man in the Moon by Ezra Jack Keats and gather materials before constructing their own spacecraft.

Students examine the work of NASA. In this space exploration lesson, students watch "1958: Project Mercury Begins." Students then view a PowerPoint presentation about the history of NASA and research each of the manned space programs.

Students use the Internet to find events in space history to include in a timeline. They recognize the cause and effect relationships between events that happened in the exploration of space. They see how to use the TimeLiner software.

Fresh water is a precious resource. Most kids don't realize how little of the water on Earth is actually drinkable. This lesson will help to illuminate them on this important topic. They discus the ratio of water to land, where most...

Young scholars calculate the escape velocity of planets in our solar system and use that knowledge to calculate the escape velocity for NGC 2300 group. They then suggest reasons for the escape velocity to be higher than possible given...

Learners make predictions and draw conclusions from given information as they learn the meaning of probability in this vocabulary-rich, integrated activity that presents a variety of teaching strategies to motivate and reach...

Creating a solar system map is a snap thanks to a hands-on activity! Science scholars explore the solar system by building it wherever they choose during an interactive from PBS's Space series. Users pick both the location and scale for...

Apply the concepts of conservation of energy to a skater to introduce a fun way the concepts apply to real life. Scholars build tracks, ramps, and jumps then analyze the various types of energy and friction. For an added challenge,...