Lesson Plan
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Ptolemy vs. Copernicus

For Teachers Higher Ed
Students list differences in the diagrams of a geocentric universe and a heliocentric universe. They students describe the religious impact of this change on man's conception of the universe and man's place within it. Students describe...
Lesson Plan
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Discovering a Law of Space Physics

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students use data collected by an astronomer to determine the relationship between the time it takes the planet to orbit the sun and the average radius of the planet's orbit around the sun. Students use trial and error to find the...
Lesson Plan
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The Weather Classroom: Atmosphere

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students explore the planets and their atmospheres online. They write the story of "Goldilocks and the Nine Planets" to explain how each planet's atmosphere differs from Earth's. They design a viable life form.
Lesson Plan
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Planet Structure & Interior

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students compare Jupiter and Earth. In this Earth and space studies lesson, students compare the composition of Earth and Jupiter and analyze how the composition affects the rate at which the planets spin.
Lesson Plan
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Unveiling the Secrets of Saturn

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Learners read and study an article then answer questions on Saturn.  In this investigative lesson plan students identify ways space exploration has helped humanity and then they search the Internet for space pictures and sketch a...
Lesson Plan
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Our Home in the Milky Way

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students gain appreciation of the vastness of our galaxy by viewing an applet about the Milky Way. Students hypothesize about how long it would take to get from Earth to Pluto.
Lesson Plan
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Once In a Blue Moon

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Learners review the characteristics of the planets and their moons. Using the internet, they research the relationship between the Earth and its moons. They take a template of the moon and draw craters of different colors to present to...
Lesson Plan
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Pocket Solar System

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
The scale of the solar system is difficult to grasp without some sort of concrete visual; with some register tape and different-sized stickers, teach astronomers of any age just how spread out our solar system really is. Try to use...
Lesson Plan
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5th Grade, Egg Droppers

For Teachers 5th
The classic "Egg Drop Activity" is described in this fine science lesson plan. Young scientists work together to design a container that will protect the eggs inside of it when dropped from a high place. Lots of good scientific...
Lesson Plan
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Space Science: Adventure is Waiting

For Teachers 4th - 6th
These full-color handouts feature two activities. The first is a reading on comets, meteors, and meteoroids. Your space science learners will examine ten phrases and determine which of the three each characterizes. The second activity...
Worksheet
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Solar System Crossword 2

For Students 4th - 8th
In this solar system worksheet, students fill in a crossword that gives them clues about the solar system. Students solve 41 clues for the crossword.
Lesson Plan
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Putting Our Solar System in Order

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders create models of the solar system.
Lesson Plan
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Weather

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students recognize that carbon dioxide's role in the greenhouse effect. They research the greenhouse effect to design and create a greenhouse structure to measure the changing temperatures over a 24-hour period. In addition, they write a...
Worksheet
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Distances in Space

For Students 8th - 10th
In this distances in space worksheet, learners learn about astronomical units and light years as measurements for great distances. Students use both of these units of measurements to solve five problems.
Lesson Plan
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Plant an Ozone Monitoring Garden

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students create a garden.  In this ozone lesson, students discuss ozone injury, identify plants sensitive to ozone, and then plant their own ozone garden.
Lesson Plan
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What is a greenhouse?

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students experiment to gain understanding of how a greenhouse retains heat.  For this greenhouse lesson, students work with soda bottles and simulate a greenhouse. Students compare data from a vented and intact bottle. Students...
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What's Up? Astronomy Curriculum

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students study astronomy. In preparation for a field trip to a planetarium, students discuss the stars, planets, and light. They explore the importance of the north star and constellations. The Digitarium system is used to assist the...
Lesson Plan
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Melts in Your Bag, Not in Your Hands

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students study how the sun transfers heat to the earth through radiation. They examine how animals absorb energy from the sun to warm their bodies by experiment with chocolate melting. They examine sun safety.
Lesson Plan
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What's Up?

For Teachers K - 2nd
Students compare and contrast the various heavenly bodies found in the sky at night. They identify the moon and stars in the sky as well as how the stars form pictures called constellations. Students also experiment with reflection and...
Lesson Plan
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Stellar Magnitudes

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students analyze the stellar magnitude scale. In this stellar magnitude lesson plan, students examine the stellar magnitude scale. Students predict the Sun's magnitude from various planets.
Lesson Plan
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What Do I See When I Picture Saturn?

For Teachers 3rd - 4th
Students create their own Saturn Discovery logs. They draw pictures of the planet and its founder. They share their drawings and writings with partners.
Lesson Plan
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Moon Watch

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders read books about the moon and discuss its perceived changes as it moves across the sky. They observe the moon over the course of a month and chart their observations. They discuss their observations and conduct further...
Lesson Plan
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Your Own Greenhouse

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students discuss the similarities between the Earth's atmosphere and a greenhouse. In this science lesson, students make their own greenhouses out of plastic bottles and thermometers. Students record the temperature different times of...
Worksheet
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Worksheet 27

For Students 11th - Higher Ed
In this math activity, students examine the equations for the planets of Mercury and Saturn. Then they find the distance of Saturn’s closest and farthest approach to the sun.