Lesson Plan
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Theoretical Quantum Physics... For Kids!

For Teachers 4th - 9th
Students explore quantum physics by participating in several class activities. In this space-time lesson, students discuss the concepts of time traveling and the anatomy of an atom. Students draw geometric figures and utilize string to...
Lesson Plan
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Follow the Sun

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students use a simple model of the Earth and Sun as seen from space to explore the sun's apparent movement across the sky over the course of a day and year. They consider the apparent direction of movement and changes in the sun's angle.
Lesson Plan
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Probing Our Solar System

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders engage in a instructional activity utilizing small group activities and individual work incorporating student research on space satellites, probes and international connections. They, in groups, construct information disks,...
Lesson Plan
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Not Your Average Planet

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders explore median, mode, mean, and range using information about the planets and our solar system.
Lesson Plan
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Voyage: A Journey through our Solar System

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students build the Voyage scale model of the Solar System on a playground and "travel" to each planet. They recognize that the Sun and planets are tiny worlds in a vast space, giving them a new perspective on the Solar System, and...
Lesson Plan
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Beads, Balls, and Beakers

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Students analyze the amount of space required to pack round objects. In this geometry lesson, students practice using space economically by practicing packing spheres into beakers. They then translate this concept to molecules being...
Worksheet
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The Dawn Mission: Ion Rockets and Spiral Orbits

For Students 11th - Higher Ed
In this ion rocket and orbits worksheet, students read about the spiral orbit the Dawn spacecraft took due to its ion rocket motor. Students solve 3 problems including finding the path taken by the spacecraft, determining the total path...
Lesson Plan
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Digestive System

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students analyze how the digestive system works by taking the food we eat and breaking it down for our bodies to use for various reasons. They list the major components of the digestive system and draw a diagram. They explain how...
Lesson Plan
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Stellar Resorts

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore the future of "orbital vacations" and create fanciful tours of the Milky Way Galaxy. Students respond to the following prompt in their journals "Entrepreneurs are currently designing concepts for accommodating tourists...
Lesson Plan
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Shedding New Light

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students consider why photographs in space might not show stars and research the importance of light in this phenomenon. They research other scientific processes related to light or its absence and create "How It Works" posters about them.
Lesson Plan
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Magazine Dollars and Sense

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students analyze magazine advertisements that appeal to them. They explore how tobacco companies continue to target teens in magazine advertisements. They explore how advertisers select magazine ad space.
Lesson Plan
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What's Air Got to Do with It?

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students use M&M's to create a pie graph that expresses their understanding of the composition of air. They watch and conduct several simple experiments to develop an understanding of the properties of air (it has mass, it takes up...
Lesson Plan
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Etymology

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Young scholars tie together planet names with Greek mythology. Students browse thru a dictionary to see where exactly these names came from and what significance they have. Young scholars explore the origins of some English words.
Lesson Plan
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Plate Tectonics: Movin' and Shakin'

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students are introduced to the causes of plate movements and the hazards they present. They plot the location of 50 earthquakes and 50 volcanic eruptions on a map and explore the relationships between plate tectonics, earthquakes, and...
Lesson Plan
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Water Resources

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students study water resources that are important to the people of North American and Africa. They use satellite images and data to explore how human actions can degrade, improve, or maintain water resources. They analyze and interpret...
Lesson Plan
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Gravity Launch

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students examine how gravity affects launching rockets into space. In this physical science instructional activity, students review the concept of gravity and use an interactive online site, "Gravity Launch," to simulate a rocket launch.
Lesson Plan
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Air and Water in the Environment

For Teachers 1st - 2nd
Students demonstrate an awareness of air as a substance that surrounds us and takes up space, and whose movement we feel as wind. They predict and describe how local weather conditions affect living things, including themselves.
Lesson Plan
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Waterproof Paper

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explore matter through the concept of displacement. They perforrm an inquiry experiment with a glass, paper and a bucket to demonstrate that gases take up space.
Lesson Plan
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-Body in Motion - Axial and Locomotor

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Young scholars practice increasing their movement and dance vocabulary through axial motion and locomotor step skill-building. They work with a partner and create and perform short sequences utilizing the vocabulary their practicing....
Lesson Plan
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Program Your Partner

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explore the world of robotics. In this robotics lesson, students study the history of robots and work with partners to find out how hard it is to accurately guide robots through simple tasks.
Lesson Plan
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Life of a Navajo Weaver

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Learners explore Native American weaving patterns and dance movements. In this Native Americans lesson, students view examples of weaving patterns on the Internet and compare the patterns to a Native American dance. Learners demonstrate...
Lesson Plan
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Model Rockets

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students build a model rocket. In this model rocket lesson plan, students explore a rocket launch cycle. Students investigate the laws of physics for each part of the launch. Students build model rockets and launch at school.
Lesson Plan
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Mathematics at the Frontier of Astronomy

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the different types of measurements used in astronomy. In this space science lesson plan, 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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Soil Properties

For Teachers 5th - 10th
Students explore the porosity of soil. In this soil lesson, students conduct an experiment which shows the porosity of different types of soil. They use sand, silt, and clay to see how soil particles are more or less aerated and thus...