Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Constellations

For Teachers K - 3rd
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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Planet/Constellation Mobile

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students construct three-dimensional solar system mobiles.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Stars

For Students 4th - 8th
For this space science worksheet, students use the clues to assist them in solving the crossword puzzle on the stars. They identify various constellations and how each rotates.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Magic Tree House: Midnight on the Moon

For Students 2nd - 3rd
Take your class to the moon with Midnight on the Moon! Then provide them with this short packet to develop vocabulary and practice reading comprehension. The first page has readers match vocabulary terms to their correct...
Lesson Plan
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Curated OER

Exploring the Sky: Reading Maria's Comet

For Teachers K - 4th
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...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students identify patterns in the stars. In this constellation activity, students simulate constellations using black canisters and patterns. Students discuss the points on the constellations and how to draw imaginary lines to see the...
Lesson Plan
National Endowment for the Humanities

Galileo: Revealing the Universe

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
To gain an understanding of the significance of Galileo Galilei's revolutionary ideas, class members watch the short video "Stargazing Before Galileo," and conduct a close reading of Galileo's Sidereal Messsenger. They then...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Plan a Mission to Recently Discovered Planet

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students plan a mission to a recently discovered planet. In this science instructional activity, students research spacecraft design, distances in space, long-term missions in space, and life-sustaining planets. Students work in groups...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sky Pictures

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students investigate constellations. In this space science lesson, students view transparencies of constellations and identify the zodiac constellations. Students research the legends connected with the constellations.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Glow in the Dark Stars and Planets

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students view a "night sky" made from glow in the dark stars. They discuss stars, planets, the sun, and constellations.
Worksheet
Curated OER

How To Build a Planet From The Inside Out!

For Students 9th - 11th
High schoolers read about the Spitzer Space Telescope and the technology used to learn about planet composition. They calculate the radius of a planet, the size of a planet, the average density of a planet and the likely core composition...
Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Kinesthetic Astronomy: Birthday Stars

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Space explorers take a virtual trip around the sun right within your classroom! They stand in a circle facing away from the "sun" (a lamp) in the center of the room. As they move according to your instructions, they view different...
Lesson Plan
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California Academy of Science

Kinesthetic Astronomy: Earth's Rotation

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
After completing the activity, "Kinesthetic Astronomy: The Meaning of a Year," zoom in on Earth's rotation using the same simulation setup and this outline. Each class member dons a map of the Western Hemisphere and plays the part of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring the Constellations, a WebQuest Activity

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students explore space science by participating in a class WebQuest. In this constellation identification instructional activity, students view star charts based on the four seasons and identify the changes our sky goes through in the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Constellation Companions

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
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...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Observing The Sky

For Students 6th - 8th
In this space science worksheet, students find the words that are related to the observations made of constellations and other related puzzles.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Starquest

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students study the history and cultural interpretation of a celestial body or constellation. They create technology based presentations of the information.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gazing At Cosmic Pinballs

For Teachers K - 1st
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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dot to Dot: Patterns in the Night Sky

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders are introduced to several major constellations and locate them in the night sky. They graph the constellations on grid paper and work in groups to research common myths and stories associated with specific constellations.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Exploring a Galaxy

For Students 9th - 11th
In this galaxy worksheet, students use the Internet or other resources to answer 13 questions about the galaxy NGC-1232. They are given a photograph of the galaxy to help determine the width and diameter of certain regions of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Galaxy Mapping

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students research the constellations and discuss their findings. Then they construct their own maps of the galaxy using paper, black paint, aluminum foil, etc. They make a 3-D map of their chosen constellation.
Worksheet
Curated OER

Exploring Power-Law Functions Using WISE Data!

For Students 11th - 12th
In this power-law functions worksheet, students solve 3 problems using data from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Experiment in the constellation Carina. Students use a photograph to determine the number of stars as bright as the brightest...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

An Explorative Journey Through the Solar System

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore space science by creating a planetary model in class. In this solar system lesson plan, students identify the many planets and moons that make up the solar system and decide on one entity in which to research. Students...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Constellations

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders investigate space by researching their zodiac signs.  In this space science lesson, 3rd graders discuss the different zodiac symbols, their star representation and where the stars are located in the sky.  Students...