Third graders engage in a lesson to find different facts and connect them to the concept of the solar system. They conduct research using the technology integration of the internet. Using the information the students create a classroom...

Learners identify constellations in the evening sky. In this Sky Quest lesson, students create their own star patterns using a star map worksheet. Learners explain how different celestial bodies in space are viewed through a telescope.

Students examine the concept of a solar system. In this research based lesson, students compare a star and a planet. They explain the requirements for life in a biosphere.

Learners explore the idea of parallax. In this astronomy lesson, students study the distances of stars. They investigate how parallax can be used to determine these distances.

Ninth graders study the uses of spectroscopy and the operation of the Hubble space telescope.  In this astronomy lesson students complete a lab activity that includes graphing star color and temperature.

Learners complete a WebQuest where they research the Internet for extraterrestrial intelligence. In this extraterrestrial lesson plan, students also explore how the Drake Equation can predict the occurrence of life elsewhere.

Students research the aurora. In this aurora lesson, students participate in a webquest about the aurora. Webquest worksheet is included.

Students identify and label the different parts of a robot, rover, or a spacecraft. They discuss and record all of the features their robot will need to accomplish its mission and be able to explain why they chose these features to...

Students focus on stellar luminosities to estimate size of habitable zones, map out habitable zone around hot light bulbs that serve as models of stars, investigate how size of model "habitable zone" around light bulbs depends on...

Students identify the basic requirements needed for survival and identify the resouces needed for survival that are found within their own community. They use craft materials to create a model of it and then. create a color key to...

Students arrange the planets according to their distances from the sun. In this astronomy activity, students list interesting properties about each planet. They identify an unknown planet photo.

Students model how a gyroscope works with string, an old phonograph record and crayon.

Students examine how satellite signals are sent and duplicate it with a mirror, flashlight and black paper.

Students explore the discovery of pulsar stars, and the characteristics of pulsar stars. Theories and ideas behind black holes are discussed. The issues of women's historical role in science are also touched on.

Students write Sun and Moon poetry. In this poetry lesson, students research the sun and the moon.  They write poetry and create two class baskets for descriptive words about each.

Students build their knowledge and understanding of vocabulary related to space.  In this space instructional activity, students discuss four categories of words and phrases related to space. 

Students explore rotating frames of reference, focusing on the weightless environment in space and the Coriolis force.

Third graders demonstrate the position of the Earth, Moon, and Sun in a solar and lunar eclipse. They list uses for manmade satellites and write a description of how a satellite would be use.

Students discuss the solar heating of the Earth and atmosphere, its heat loss proceses, and the way these relate to weather and climate.

Students using a rope and other materials explore wavelengths and frequency. If time permits, more experiments can be tried.

Students investigate lenses and mirrors showing how they bend and reflect light waves.

Did you know light can decrease visibility? Light pollution absolutely makes it more difficult to see stars. Scholars build a simple magnitude reader to determine the magnitude of stars. They use these data to estimate the impact of...

Third graders explore the rotation of Earth and the moon. In this solar system lesson, 3rd graders participate in an Earth and moon simulation in which part of the class "becomes" the sun, while other children represent the moon by...

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.