+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Star Party- Closing Lesson

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students study the stars and galaxies.  In this universe lesson students complete their unit by participating in an evening bonfire to share what they learned. 
+
Worksheet
Curated OER

Our universe

For Students 6th - 8th
For this quiz, students are asked 20 questions about the magnitude of planets and stars both in and out of our Solar System. An answer key is provided.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earth, the Universe, and Culture

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explore different scientists throughout history.  In this scientists and culture lesson students research using the Internet and complete a handout. 
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cosmic Poetry: Words and Ideas Bring the Cosmos to Life

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders study the cosmos and their thoughts and feelings about the universe.  For this cosmic poetry lesson students create a venue where they can "safely" ask questions and discuss ideas. 
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Knowledge of the Universe

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore an idea about the history of human knowledge of the universe and understand the process of scientific exploration.  In this scientific exploration lesson students contemplate the state of astronomy and future missions. 
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Big Bang

For Teachers 11th - Higher Ed
Learners explore our universe. For this solar system lesson, students gain knowledge about the solar system, galaxy, the universe and the Big Bang Theory. Learners watch videos and view a slideshow.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Are we alone? Do aliens exist?

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students discuss the existence of aliens in the universe. In this alien lesson, students discuss the answers to the questions: What are the chances that aliens exist in the universe? and What are the chances that aliens have visited earth?
+
Worksheet
Curated OER

The Expanding Universe

For Students 2nd - 6th
In this expanding universe instructional activity, students create a universe with balloons, clothes pins, markers, and more and see what this means for the distance between the Earth and stars. Students follow 6 directions and answer 3...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Decoding a Mystery Message from Space

For Teachers 3rd - 6th
Students examine a message sent from outer space and do their best to interpret its meaning. In this problem solving lesson, students investigate a code sent to them from "outer space." The students collaborate with their classmates to...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Big Bang Theory

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students explore the Big Bang Theory and discover how it can be used to explain the origin of the universe. For this Big Bang Theory lesson, students use a balloon with colored paper inside, blow it up and pop it, group the colored...
+
Worksheet
Curated OER

The Solar System

For Students 9th - 12th
In this solar system instructional activity, students complete a word puzzle by determining the terms associated with the 10 statements about the planets.
+
Worksheet
Curated OER

Scavenger Hunt: Who am I?

For Students 6th - 8th
In this space science activity, students use the sites listed on the Solar System and Planets page of the Kid Zone to locate the names of the people credited with each discovery. They identify and name 26 different scientists who made...
+
Worksheet
Curated OER

Watch This Space!

For Students 7th - 9th
In this space worksheet, students, with a partner, answer five questions about the universe and read and discuss ten questions regarding astronomy.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Types Of Nebulae

For Teachers 8th
Eighth graders explore the different types of nebulae that can be found in the solar system. They view a PowerPoint presentation about the material and identify each nebulae as it is presented. Students also discuss the life cycle of a...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Journey Through Our Solar System

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers investigate the concept of the solar system in our universe by constructing a model that is made to a measurable scale. Once the model is constructed it should be placed in a wide open space for observation and...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

20th-Century Astronomy

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Pupils examine and explain how the distance to nearby stars can be measured by the parallax method, discuss the role of women in the history of American astronomy, form their own opinions of the importance of Harlow Shapley and Edwin...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar System Socratic Questions

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students reflect on and discuss theories of how the solar system was formed. They respond to prompts in a structured sequence to relate the formation of the solar system and the age of the Earth.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Galaxies

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students use the provided website to classify galaxies after exploring information about elliptical, spiral, lenticular, and irregular galaxies and using the Hubble Tuning Fork.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Great Planetary Debate

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners' are given a research sheet to complete in small groups. They are to select a planet or moon to research using the Internet. With this research and their completed form, each group defends their planet or moon in a debate...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Look At Sunspots

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers 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...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Universe: Designed or Evolved?

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students brainstorm and write arguments for Evolution and Intelligent Design. They research the history of each of these ideas. They also examine the controversy of teaching one or both ideas in schools.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Spacing Out on the Internet

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Young scholars explore and locate information about the universe using the Internet.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Working in Space

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students design and build one of three engineering problems dealing with living and working in space.
+
PPT
Curated OER

Baseball Lesson: The Universe

For Teachers 6th
This PowerPoint provides a look at vocabulary associated with the structure of the solar system. Students review definitions for 8 solar system terms included as well as notes about the universe.