Activity
Scholastic

Scholastic: Dirtmeister's Science Lab: Let the Sun Shine In

For Students 6th - 8th
Students graph data reflecting time of day and length of shadow, and then draw conclusions about Earth's seasons and position in relation to the Sun.
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Solar Speedway

For Students 6th - 8th
Solar power is hot these days. Gleaming, black solar panels soak up rays on more and more rooftops of homes and businesses providing a clean, alternative source of heat and electricity. You might guess that different times of the day...
Graphic
University of Utah

University of Utah: Aspire: Seasons Exercise

For Students 9th - 10th
In this activity, use seasons to determine your location. Click on the different dates to view the earth's shadow at different times of the year from the sun's position.
Handout
Other

The Astrolabe: Home Page

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a very general overview of astrolabe principles with links to other pages for more detailed information.
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Lunar Learning

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Why does the Moon not always look the same to us? Sometimes it is a big, bright, circle, but, other times, it is only a tiny sliver, if we can see it at all. The different shapes and sizes of the slivers of the Moon are referred to as...
Lesson Plan
Illustrative Mathematics

Illustrative Mathematics: G Mg Solar Eclipse

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
In this task, students investigate why total solar eclipses are rare. They will learn that, in addition to requiring the positioning of the Sun, Moon, and Earth, the Moon can only completely block out the Sun when it is closest to the...
Unit Plan
Institute and Museum of the History of Science

Museo Galileo: Multimedia: Video: Astronomical Use of the Plane Astrolabe

For Students 9th - 10th
Invented in ancient Egypt, the plane astrolabe is a tool used by astronomers and navigators to determine time and identifying positions of the Sun, Moon, stars, and planets. Read text or view the video to understand the details of its...
Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Physics Simulation: Phases of the Moon

For Students 9th - 10th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Learn how the steady motion of the Moon around the Earth, and the phases created by the relative position of the Earth, Sun, and Moon, allow us to tell time by simply looking at the shape and...
Whiteboard
ClassFlow

Class Flow: Phases of the Moon

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart demonstrates how the positions of the Earth, Moon and Sun cause phases of the Moon. It also illustrates the positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun during a day and a month's time.