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Glow in the Dark Stars and Planets
Young scholars view a "night sky" made from glow in the dark stars. They discuss stars, planets, the sun, and constellations.
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How Old Are the Stars?
Young scholars determine the age of a star cluster by observing, measuring, and plotting astronomical data. They examine the Jewe lbox cluster, located within the southern constellation Crux and determine its age.
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Exploring the Sky: Reading Maria's Comet
Discover the science behind astronomy. After reading the book Maria's Comet, which is about a young woman who breaks new ground by becoming a female astronomer, young learners practice reading comprehension with worksheet questions about...
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Sky Stories
Learners are introduced to the branch of science known as astronomy. They discuss stars and constellations and then view the night sky using a portable digital planetarium projector. They identify a variety of constellations and...
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Gazing At Cosmic Pinballs
Students explore the world of stars. They see that the color of a star tells how hot or cold it is, that stars come in different sizes. and that stars are moving through space. They draw lines connecting start to star.
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Exploring the Night Sky: Summer
Young scholars explain how moon phases occur. They describe and explain at least two common misconceptions that people have about the moon. Students explain what a star is. They explain 3 ways that the night sky has been used throughout...
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Night Sky Paintings
Sixth graders use the Internet to research stars. They discuss painting techniques that might be useful in painting stars and plan a painting of the night sky incorporating their research.
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Sky Pictures
Students investigate constellations. In this space science instructional activity, students view transparencies of constellations and identify the zodiac constellations. Students research the legends connected with the constellations.
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Star Master Viewer
Students construct the viewing tubes by cutting along the designated line shown on the template, rolling the paper into a tube, and taping the tube securely. Next they cut out the cardstock circles - the StarCards cutting on the outside...
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Make Your Own Constellation Myth
Students examine constellation myths. For this constellation myth lesson, students read "Orion, the Hunter", "Ursa Major, the Great Bear", and Taurus, the Bull". Students discuss similarities and differences in the 3 myths, create...
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Constellation Prizes
Students study meteors, meteorites, and comets by reading and discussing a related New York Times article about the Leonid meteor showers and the methods that scientists are using to study from these meteors. They create a comet in the...
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The Earth, Sun, Moon, And Stars
Fifth graders explore the solar system. In this solar system unit, 5th graders investigate numerous projects while rotating through learning centers. Students write about space and construct a space shuttle model. Students practice map...
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Constellation Companions
Learners identify constellations and the characteristics of the stars that compose them. In this space science instructional activity, students view depictions of Ursa Major and Ursa Minor in the book Astronomical Micelleny. Learners...
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Constellation Companions
Young scholars research the star composition for a constellation after a brainstorming session suggesting why humans have organized the night sky into constellation patterns. They use the research to create their own constellation and...
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Introduction to Constellations
Young scholars examine constellations. In this astronomy lesson plan, students study various constellations and identify five major constellations. They will construct a model of one of the constellations.
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Constellations
Students examine present constellation patterns by reading The Glow-In-The-Dark Planetarium Book by Annie Ingle. They copy a few of the constellations and then create their own, using sticky stars and black paper.
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Star Search
Seventh graders explore stars. In this star lesson, 7th graders apply generalities about space objects to constellations and explore the differences between radio waves and light waves by answering essential questions in their research.
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Starring...Bears!
Students illustrate a First Nations' legend. For this legend of bears lesson, students read several legends which involve bears and groups of stars or constellations. After reading, students illustrate portions of the stories. Also,...
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Constellations
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...
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Let the North Star Tell You Where You Are
Students participate in activities in which they find the Big Dipper and locate the North Star in the night sky, examine the relationship between the angle to Polaris and latitude, and determine latitude by using an astrolabe.
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Ride the Road to Freedom
Second graders discover that people can connect the dots of the stars to make pictures in the sky and have been doing so for thousands of years. They understand that throughout the United States people worked together to plan an escape...
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How Hot and How Big?
Students explore star color and size. For this space science lesson, students conduct various inquiry activities to explore how the color of a star affects the amount of heat produced. They also investigate how the color of stars affects...
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Star Patterns
Third graders create constellation maps and record their own legends of how constellations came into existence. After observing the sky at night, 3rd graders discuss star maps, read previously recorded legends on the origin of stars. ...