Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sand or Rock? Finding Out From 1,000 km

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students observe how measurements are made with different instruments.  In this remote sensing lesson students investigate the physical state of surfaces including the surfaces of the solar system. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Solar System: Why do we Explore?

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders act as scientists. In this property discovery lesson plan, 3rd graders explore the substance "Oobleck" (cornstarch, water, food coloring). They work in groups to investigate the substance and make observations as a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Out of This World Writing!

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Miss Frizzle's class provides the inspiration for your young learners! Read "The Magic School Bus Explores Outer Space," and discuss the solar system. First learners will complete a KWL chart about a planet they're assigned to. Then, as...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Seasons and Cloud Cover, Are They Related?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students use NASA satellite data to see cloud cover over Africa.  For this seasons lesson students access data and import it into Excel. 
Lesson Plan
NASA

Moon Phases and Eclipses

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Starry-eyed astronomers draw different views of the Moon in order to introduce its phases. Then they experiment with a ball and a lamp to recreate the phases. A demonstration ensures every pupil understands the process, and the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Junior Solar Sprint Series: Gears and Drive Belts

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Activate middle schoolers' minds with this physical science activity. Learners vary the diameter of gears and the number of teeth on them to find how energy output is affected. This writeup features well-developed background...
Lesson Plan
PHET

Soda Bottle Magnetometer

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Introduce learners to set of complete instructions that describe how to build a magnetometer that works just like the ones professional photographers use to predict auroras. The diagrams are wonderfully descriptive, and the written...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Residential Power System

For Teachers 7th - 11th
Perform data analysis on energy consumption to apply algebraic expressions to the real world. Learners will write and solve equations that answer various questions from residential power use. They will collect data at home and calculate...
Lesson Plan
NASA

Let's Investigate Mars

For Teachers 3rd - 7th Standards
Take your science class on a hypothetical field trip to Mars with an engaging astronomy lesson. After first learning about NASA's Mars rover missions, young scientists plan their own scientific investigations of Earth's...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Do The Research! Space

For Students 3rd - 4th
In this space research worksheet, students use the Internet or other sources to find facts about the planets in the solar system. Students answer 3 short essay questions.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Capturing Renewable Energy

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers watch a video segment on the engineering design process, then design a storage system for renewable energy. Students brainstorm and research ways in which renewable energies such as solar and wind power can be stored.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Capturing Renewable Energy

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students watch a video segment on the engineering design process, then design a storage system for renewable energy. Students brainstorm and research ways in which renewable energies such as solar and wind power can be stored.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Role of the Atmosphere and Greenhouse Effect in Determining the Surface Temperature of the Earth

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Students complete research and solve problems that show the factors that determine the temperature of the earth's surface including the effect of greenhouse gases. They look at the relationships between solar energy, atmosphere, and how...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Electrolysis of Water

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders examine the electrolysis of water by completing an experiment.  In this water lesson students will explain how hydrogen can be extracted from water and how energy flows through an electrolysis system. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Earth-Sun-Moon System

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders construct a model of the earth-sun-moon system using students as the sun, moon, and earth. They discuss ways that time is related to the movement of the earth and moon.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Cosmic Rays and Solar Cells

For Students 7th - 9th
In this cosmic rays and solar cells worksheet, students read about how cosmic rays damage the electrical output of solar cells over time on satellites. Students use a graph of the solar power output compared to the year for the SOHO...
Worksheet
Curated OER

The Heliopause...a question of balance!

For Students 9th - 12th
In this heliopause worksheet, learners read about the balance between the solar wind pressure and the interstellar medium pressure and the relationship between these two pressures. They are given an inquiry problem and enter the bow...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar Powered Cars

For Teachers 8th - 10th
Students build and race solar powered cars after a teacher lecture. They answer questions based on their experiences with the car they build.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Finding Extra-Solar Planets

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers plot and analyze NASA data to determine the period of an invisible planet orbiting a wobbling star. They explore the motion of a two-body system around a center of mass to better explain how extra-solar planets are...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water on the Moon

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders evaluate the pros and cons of using a system on the moon.  In this water on the moon instructional activity students construct a solar water collector and estimate the amount of water in a given sample. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

WEAVING TECHNOLOGY INTO THEMATIC UNITS

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore the planets by researching and writing a report about one of the nine planets.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Being Nosy About Our Neighbors

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students use the scientific method to explore the effect of size on impact cratering. They compare images of landforms on Earth to those of other planets to compare surface processes. Students infer the geologic history of another...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Puzzling Planets

For Teachers 6th - Higher Ed
Students list the order of the planets, describe the general characteristics of each planet and explain why we could not live on other planets without special equipment.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Destination Mars!

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders view Mysteries of Earth & Mars Video on DVD and record thoughts in their online journal. They record data in a spreadsheet about each planet then form a theory of the best time to launch a space craft from Earth to land...

Other popular searches