Follow along as Stella Stardust interviews the sun. A fun and informative interview provides scholars with information about the sun. 

Fifteen detailed pictures and informative captions delve deep into the exploration of stars—their life cycle and importance in the universe. 

Three astronomy activities in one resource! Here you will find one hands-on activity, one demonstration, both with discussion questions, and one activity worksheet. During these lessons young scientists discuss how stars are...

Focus on inquiry-based learning in your science class with a series of activities designed for middle schoolers. A helpful packet samples four different texts, which include activities about predator-prey relationships, Earth's axis...

In this solar system worksheet, students complete 13 multiple-choice questions to demonstrate their knowledge of the solar system.

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...

Students complete a unit on orbiting spacecraft designed to study astronomical objects. They conduct Internet research on NASA missions, use a satellite dish to downlink information, and construct and launch a rocket out of paper and tape.

Students examine images from space.  In this third from the Sun lesson, students examine images from, Landsat, the satellite launched by NASA in 1972.   

In this asteroids of the solar system activity, students observe a diagram showing all the minor planets found in the orbit of Mars. Students answer 4 questions about the minor planets inside the orbit of other planets, they find the...

Young scholars use Scion Image to estimate the proportion of space images. In this proportion lesson, students investigate the online site of Image of the Orbitor and relate the dimensions and sizes to known sizes.

In this galaxies, clusters and planets learning exercise, students solve 5 problems including determining sunspot groups on the sun in a particular day, finding the number of individual galaxies present, determining the number of stars...

In this Van Allen Belts worksheet, students read about the deadly affects of the high energy particle clouds located around the Earth. Students answer 4 questions about the dosages of radiation astronauts receive in the zones of the Van...

For this planetary conjunctions worksheet, students read about planetary alignments and they solve 2 problems. They determine the location of 3 planets given their orbit time after 1, 2 , 3 and 4 years and they determine when three given...

Students explore the concept that not all light is visible to the human eye. Although UV light is not visible, it can still be harmful, causing sunburns or skin cancer. They use special beads to detect UV light around the school....

Students write electron configuration of elements using atomic numbers and they identify valence electrons. For this electrons lesson plan, students observe a demonstration showing the space-filling property of an electron. They also...

For this Hubble telescope worksheet, students solve 4 problems about the image of the distant planet the Hubble telescope discovered. Students determine the distance the planet was from its star in 2006, they determine the planet's...

Students investigate comets. For this space science lesson, students study overhead transparencies of the orbits of Earth and a comet. Students identify various locations and times where comets would be visible from Earth.

In this solar system worksheet, students complete a database comparing the 9 different planets' mass, surface temperature, rotation period, orbital period, moons, and distinguishing features. This worksheet is a graphic organizer.

In this satellite synchrony worksheet, students use a spreadsheet or Least Common Multiples to solve 4 problems related to the satellite orbits, orbital periods and their synchronicity. Students determine when the satellites launched in...

In this Mars radiation worksheet, students use data from the Mars Radiation Environment Experiment to solve 4 problems. They determine the total radiation dosage during a specific period of time, they determine the dosage during the...

Fourth graders explore communications by reading assigned space science text. In this satellite lesson plan, 4th graders identify the concept of orbiting and examine gravitational pull by viewing diagrams. Students are assessed based on...

Students explain why a transiting planet causes a periodic dimming in the light from its parent star. They determine the radius of a planet, and its orbital distance, by analyzing data and manipulating equations. Students compare the...

Young scholars explore geography by completing a navigation activity in class. In this satellite positioning lesson, students define terms such as orbit, satellite, GPS and triangulation. Young scholars view diagrams of the Earth's orbit...

In this cosmic radiation on Mars worksheet, students study a radiation map of Mars taken by the MARIE instrument on the Odyssey spacecraft. Students answer 4 questions using the radiation map and they answer questions about the exposure...