Voyage Solar System
Round and Round We Go — Exploring Orbits in the Solar System
Math and science come together in this cross-curricular astronomy lesson plan on planetary motion. Starting off with a hands-on activity that engages the class in exploring the geometry of circles and ellipses, this lesson...
PHET
Planetary Magnetism
What do magnetic fields look like? The best way to learn about magnetic fields is to try identifying them for yourself. Scholars will understand the importance of magnetic fields after completing this experiment. The extension activities...
Curated OER
Solar Eclipse
Pupils demonstrate the revolution of the moon around the earth and the effect of its direct alignment in between the earth and the sun.
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Graphing the Facts
Pupils investigate the correlation between our planet's weather and solar activity. They analyze and discuss data regarding the solar activity cycle, graph annual precipitation and temperature averages over a period of 100 years, and...
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Spacecraft Launched on Mission to Pluto
Pupils read a news article about a space mission being launched to the planet Pluto. They study the necessary vocabulary and complete an anticipation guide of questions which they revisit after they read the article.
NASA
Solar System Scale & Size
Use a variety of whole fruits to represent the different planets in the solar system to introduce scale sizes to your math or space science class. They follow suit by creating a non-scaled model of the solar system using specific-colored...
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Sensing the Invisible
Students study visible light and explain why we want to use infrared radiation to study Mercury. In this sunlight instructional activity students construct a device to measure the presence of infrared radiation in sunlight.
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Day and Night
Third graders view a classroom simulation that demonstrates how the Earth's rotation creates day and night.
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Windows to the Universe Scavenger Hunt
Students access the Internet to go on a scavenger hunt to investigate the solar system. For this space mission lessons students fill out a worksheet and explain how technology and scientific inquiry have helped us learn about...
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Finding the Pole Star
Students study the constellations fo the Big Dipper and Cassiopeia and their use in finding the Pole Star. They realize that other celestial objects--Sun, Moon and planets--share the rotation (and hence rise and set), even though their...
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Solar Effects on Global Warming
Students explore the greenhouse effect and how it affects our climate. In this global warming lesson students draw the sun and label features and describe the effects of the sun's energy on the world.
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The Sky Jeopardy
First graders reinforce concepts about sun, moon, day, night and sky by playing the Sky Jeopardy game. In the end, 1st graders get to nibble crackers in order to show the different phases of the moon.
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The Mathematical Dynamics of Celestial Navigation and Astronavigation
High schoolers explore the different methods used in celestial Navigation and astronavigation. In this math lesson, students construct a sextant and demonstrate how it works.
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Does the Distance Between the Earth and Sun Cause the seasons?
Students reflect upon the concepts of seasons. The concepts are taught using a variety of different teaching approaches. A activities lead to a reflection that will help students to make a cognitive transfer of information form...
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The Earth, Sun Mood and Stars Unit (Planets too!)
Fifth graders prepare five activities to do then show their energy saving skills. In this investigative lesson plan students create five projects then participate in an energy saving demonstration.
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Pollution - What is It Doing to Us?
Students recognize some forms of pollution. In this science lesson plan, students recognize and understand some of the devastating effects of the acid rains and other possible factors that are contrary to the pH balance of nature.
Space Awareness
Climate Zones
The climate at the equator is hotter than the climate at the poles, but why? The instructional activity goes in depth, explaining how the angles of illumination relate to the heating rate at different latitudes and seasons. Scholars use...
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Earth
First graders define what a planet is and study the planet earth. They examine the effects of the sun on the earth and make a model.
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Sunspots: Correlating Sunspots to Active Regions
Learners investigate sunspots. They use solar imaging from satellite instruments which are currently circling the sun. Students compare images from the satellites and determine the existence of a correlation between the two types of...
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Solar System: Mars
Young scholars research Mars, read why it is called the Red Planet and find out whether there is or was life on Mars.
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Astronomy and Me: Moons Over New Haven
Third graders study the features of different moons orbiting the planets. In this astronomy lesson, 3rd graders explore the different phases of the moon using an interactive online website. They compare and contrast the features of the...
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Mercury
Middle schoolers study the planet Mercury and develop an understanding of the planet's composition, geology, and other important characteristics. They explore a Web resource on the planet Mercury which is the central focus of this lesson...
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Cosmic Wheels
Students build a scale model of the Solar System and determine the time other planets take to travel around the Sun in comparison to the time of the Earth's revolution. The velocity of the planets are also determined in this lesson.