California Academy of Science
Kinesthetic Astronomy: Earth's Rotation
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...
California Academy of Science
Kinesthetic Astronomy: Longer Days, Shorter Nights
A lamp, four globes, and some signs taped around the room are all you need to set up a solar system simulation for teaching how Earth's tilted axis creates the seasons. (Sticky dots are also needed, but not mentioned in the materials...
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Variables Affecting Earth's Albedo
Students study the variables that affect the Earth's albedo. In this environmental data analysis lesson students interpret and graph information and calculate changes.
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Tilted Earth
What causes Earth's seasons? Find out through a series of anticipatory questions, an easy yet powerful activity representing the sun-Earth system, a diagram to label, and follow-up questions. Dispel the misconceptions about Earth being...
Bowels Physics
Methods of Motion
How could you earn a $6,000,000 speeding ticket? This presentation uses an analogy that relates speed in the universe to the cost of a speeding ticket. Scholars ultimately understand that motion is relative. Also covered is the...
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Astronomical Data
For this astronomy worksheet, students use a chart with planetary data comparing the inner planets to each other. Students will use the period of rotation, period of revolution, and distance from the sun for these inner planets to...
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Earth's Tilt Creates Seasons
Students examine how the Earth's tilt creates the seasons. For this seasons lesson, students study a diagram that shows the rotation of the earth around the sun and how it tilts during the rotation. They answer 4 discussion questions and...
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Unit 2 Sun & Stars
Young scholars describe stellar objects using terms such as stars, planets, satellites, orbits and light. In this sun and stars unit, students research stellar objects through seven individual lessons discovering star characteristics,...
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A Look At Sunspots
Students research how the development of new technology has increased our knowledge of how the sun works. This lesson is part of a three-part series aimed at showing students how our knowledge of the universe must be inferred through the...
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Our Solar System
Students investigate the coincidental parade of planets and witness dramatic views of the solar system by researching websites and participating in online activities. They write about their findings.
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Planet Picking
Students arrange the planets according to their distances from the sun. For this astronomy lesson, students list interesting properties about each planet. They identify an unknown planet photo.
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an Explorative Journey Through the Solar System
Students, 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.
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The Planets Moon
Students explore the theories of the creation of the universe and examine the properties of celestial bodies. They analyze the relationship between the sun, Earth and other planets. They discover the infinite potential of the science of...
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Out of this world! 2
In this solar system worksheet, students fill in the blank to sentences that refer to the solar system. Students fill in 15 blanks with planet names.
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Meteorites
Students model how meteors fall to the surface of planets. For this space science lesson, students identify different types of meteorites using an interactive online website. They investigate the relationship between a meteorite's size...
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What are Stars?
Young scholars research the solar system and it's characteristics. In this solar system lesson, students are broken into 4 groups, each assigned a specific part of the solar system. Young scholars use the Internet to research...
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Coronal Mass Ejection
In this coronal mass ejection learning exercise, students read about the coronal mass ejections detected by the IMAGE satellite and the Hubble Space Telescope resulting in auroras. Students solve 6 problems and determine the speed of the...
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Scale Model of Our Nearest Stars
Sixth graders calculate a light day, light hour, and light minute from the standard of a light year. After establishing the distances, a one meter scale is created to demonstrate the distance between the sun and the planets of our solar...
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In Outer Space
Students use the internet to gather information on the solar system. They identify the discoverer and unique characteristics of each planet. They compare and contrast each planet based on size, mass, and distance from the sun. They...
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Planets or Not, Here We Come!
Students, working in groups, research planets in terms of the size, temperature, number of moons, and potential for life. They use packets and worksheets as guides for their research. Students may role-play as aliens visiting their...
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Watch This Space!
In this space worksheet, students, with a partner, answer five questions about the universe and read and discuss ten questions regarding astronomy.
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Planet Earth
In this Earth learning exercise, students review the characteristics of the Earth including it's rotation and revolution. This learning exercise has 9 fill in the blank and 7 short answer questions.
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Planetary Weather
Middle schoolers study the weather on other planets in our solar system. In this planetary weather lesson students create a display of the different weather conditions on the other planets.
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Contrails and the Climate
In this contrails and climate worksheet, students read a short article about the effects of contrails on the weather and the climate. They answer 5 questions about the article.