Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Star Circles

For Teachers 9th - 11th
In this star circles worksheet, students solve six problems given a diagram of a time-exposure photograph of the stars. Students determine the scale of the image, the location of the North Celestial Pole, they identify Polaris and they...
Worksheet
Curated OER

Is There Ice on Mercury?

For Students 9th - 12th
In this ice on Mercury worksheet, students read about the data collected from the NASA Messenger and the Arecibo Radio Telescope indicating the possibility of ice on Mercury. Students solve 6 problems including finding the scale of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Understanding Air Pressure

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders complete experiments with air to understand that air takes up space, has mass, and that air pressure can be changed. In this air pressure lesson, 5th graders test the air pressure by using balloons, syringes, and water to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

once and future MOON

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Beyond the phases of the moon, this comprehensive lesson plan covers geologic history and geology. Amateur astronauts examine photos of the lunar landscape, experiment with the creation of craters, and delve into information about the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bringing the Solar System Down to Earth

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students develop a scaled down model of the solar system. In small groups, they calculate the scaled-down diameters of the planets and the sun, the scaled-down distance of the planets from the sun, complete two charts, and create a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

an Explorative Journey Through the Solar System

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Learners, in groups, research a planet from our solar system. They create Styrofoam models of the planets and place the planets on a correct distance scale from the sun.
Lesson Planet Article
Curated OER

Solar System Lesson Plans

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Solar system lesson plans provide teachers with a multitude of ways to interest even the most reluctant learners.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

We Are Lunar tics!

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders, working in cooperative groups, will create a multimedia presentation about the Earth's moon. Their research must be presented through three or more methods. (i.e. charts; graphs; oral reports; multi-media; dramatic role...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Tracking Satellites Using Latitude and Longitude

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students, viewing an Internet site, plot the path of several satellites using latitude and longitude over the course of an hour. They learn the four basic types of satellites and their purpose.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Is There Liquid Water on Mars?

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners assess whether there is liquid water on Mars by analyzing images and data.  In this planetary lesson students analyze temperature and pressure graphs and hypothesize about how water could have flowed on Mars.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Solar System Walk

For Teachers 11th - 12th
A unique lesson on the solar system, and some of the mathematics associated with it, is here for your high schoolers. Pupils are put into groups of four, and each group is assigned one of the planets from our solar system. They must...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Mars

For Teachers 4th - 10th
Learners, working in small groups construct scale models of the planets and solar system. They examine images of Mars and discuss what might have caused the features. They record facts about their planetary research in their journals and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Charting The Progress of New Horizons

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Learners explore the long distances and timescales involved in space travel. They track the progress of the New Horizons spacecraft and access the New Horizons website to discover the distance of the spacecraft from the Sun, and then...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gravity

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders explore the characteristics of gravity. They discuss gravity on Earth and then use cereal boxes to research and compare the weight of objects on Earth to the weight of those objects on other planets.
Lesson Plan
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A Model of the Sun's interior

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Young scholars create a three-dimensional model of the sun. For this solar system lesson, students design a scale model of the sun using plasticine.
Lesson Plan
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NASA's Mars gamble pays off

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students read an article about NASA and Mars and complete short answer questions about the article. In this Mars lesson plan, students also create a scale model of the solar system.
Lesson Plan
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Stellar Magnitudes

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Learners analyze the stellar magnitude scale. In this stellar magnitude lesson, students examine the stellar magnitude scale. Learners predict the Sun's magnitude from various planets.
Lesson Plan
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How Far Away Is Saturn?

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students work together to create a scale model of the solar system. They write a descriptive paper and a paper comparing and contrasting the Earth to Saturn. They discuss their writings with the class.
Lesson Plan
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Spaced Out

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Young scholars explore the transit of Venus and the information that this minieclipse provides about the distance between the Earth and the sun. They create their own astronomical units.
Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

History of the Universe

For Students 3rd - 5th
Your pupils may believe that you and their parents are the oldest things in the universe, but surprise! There are elements of the universe that are even older. Elementary scientists create a class timeline to demonstrate the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Making Models To Understand Our Home

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students investigate the concept of a model and how it is used to represent something that is real. They recognize how the model can be applied to other types of concepts like the solar system. Students create a scale drawing of a house...
Worksheet
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Catch a Wave. . .

For Students 4th - 8th
Part of a larger online space science website, this page has a brief explanation of electromagnetic radiation and a chart of wavelengths as compared to common objects. There are four questions to answer about the information. This can be...
Unit Plan
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What Is El Niño?

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students access information at remote sites using telecommunications, identify impacts by reviewing past El Ni??o events, make and use scale drawings, maps, and maps symbols to find locations and describe relationships.
Worksheet
Curated OER

The Mysterious Hexagon on Saturn!

For Students 9th - 12th
In this Saturn activity, students use a photograph of a hexagon feature on Saturn to solve three problems. These include finding the time it takes for the jet stream to complete one circuit around the hexagon, to find the size of the...