National Endowment for the Humanities
Galileo: Revealing the Universe
To gain an understanding of the significance of Galileo Galilei's revolutionary ideas, class members watch the short video "Stargazing Before Galileo," and conduct a close reading of Galileo's Sidereal Messsenger. They then compare...
GoSoftWorks
GoSkyWatch Planetarium for iPad - The Astronomy Star Guide
Digital compass alignment enables navigation of the skies with true orientation at any time. Just point to the sky or "aim for the stars!" This application acts as a virtual telescope, allowing you to zoom in on any object that is...
National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science
Mask of the Black God
Finally, an astronomy instructional activity for the high schooler! Explorers are able to read star maps for finding objects in the night sky by determining celestial coordinates. In particular, they locate the Pleiades and read about a...
Curated OER
Taking the Measure of the Universe
Four fabulous activities immerse amateur astronomers into measuring objects that we cannot handle. The experiences are applied to NASA's Space Interferometry Mission, which will take measurements of planets around stars other than our...
Curated OER
Deep Impact's Comet on a Stick!
Students create a model of a comet. In this space science lesson, students compare their model to the characteristics of a real comet. They evaluate and make necessary modifications to their original design.
Curated OER
Regents High School Examination: Physical Setting Earth Science 2007
This comprehensive earth science practice test is composed of 50 multiple choice questions and 32 short answer questions. The questions cover weather, the water cycle, geology, the solar system, and more. Many of the short answer...
Curated OER
Regents High School Examination: Physical Setting Earth Science 2009
This extensive earth science practice test is composed of 50 multiple choice questions and 31 short answer questions. The questions cover weather, the water cycle, geology, the solar system, and more. Many of the short answer questions...
Curated OER
Cookin' Up a Comet
Students view a teacher demonstration of comet composition. In this comet science lesson, students watch as the teacher combines sand, ammonia, cola, and dry ice to simulate the composition of a comet. They answer discussion questions...
Curated OER
Tú eres el Astrónomo
Aligned with the Common Core State Standards for writing, this resource has Spanish language learners take on the role of an astronomer. After they use the graphic organizer to list names, verbs, and adjectives related to astronomy, they...
Curated OER
Good Vibrations Remote Sensing data Collection: Thermal Emission Spectrometer
The Mars Global Surveyor spent two years creating a mineral map of the planet Mars using thermal emission spectrometry. To help young astronomers understand this remote sensing instrument, have them simulate how data is collected and...
Curated OER
Exploring Mars
Learners, working in small groups construct scale models of the planets and solar system. They examine images of Mars and discuss what might have caused the features. They record facts about their planetary research in their journals and...
Curated OER
Subject and Verb Agreement
Using astronomy-themed sentences, grammarians complete ten sentences with the correct verb tense. This subject-verb agreement instructional activity does the work of two objectives as learners read informative sentences about space while...
Curated OER
The Scientific Revolution
Scientists participate in studying how new scientific advances have changed the world. They explain how astronomers have changed the way people view the universe, summarize the advances that were made in chemistry and medicine, and...
Curated OER
Branches of Earth Science
Connect earth science to science occupations and real-life events with this worksheet and activity. After listing the 4 branches of earth science, learners spend some time brainstorming two activities each type of earth scientist might...
Curated OER
Modeling the Solar System
Students build a scaled model of the solar system. In this space science lesson, students arrange them according to their distances from the sun. They analyze each planet's unique features such as density and relative gravity.
Curated OER
Canada's Role in Astronomy and Space Science
Ninth graders, in groups, research a Canadian astronaut, developing a profile of their astronaut for presentation in a learning center. They visit the other groups' centers to explore more astronauts.
Curated OER
Astronomers and Their Tools
Ninth graders have the opportunity to prepare arguments with like-minded classmates for what they believe to be the next logical step in astronomical research, in an effort to convince their opposing classmates of their position.
Curated OER
Gingerbread Spacecraft
Students explore the different parts of the Cassini spacecraft. In this space science lesson, students create a model of the spacecraft using food products. They compare and contrast their model with the real one and evaluate its...
Curated OER
Make a Sundial
Students explore space science by conducting a sun experiment in class. In this time telling lesson, students discuss how the sun sits in our sky at exact times each day and how astronomy is based on our perspective of the solar system....
Curated OER
Astronomy - Ancient Philosophies
Combine science and social studies with this collection of notes on ancient astronomy. Ideas propagated by early scientists influenced the way people viewed life and our place in the universe. Examine the philosophies of Aristotle,...
Curated OER
Jeopardy - Earth Sciences
Questions about water, weather, geology, astronomy, and the scientific process make up this Jeopardy game. It is a pretty well-rounded set of slides, although you may want to be aware that a few of the questions are specific to the state...
Curated OER
Science Crossword Puzzles: Constellations
If your class is studying constellations, you might consider this crossword puzzle as a light activity to go along with your lesson. Learners solve the puzzle using 9 given clues. You could have your pupils look up the constellations and...
Curated OER
Astronomy Unit: For Autistic Learners
In need of a few great ways to teach an arts-enriched lesson on astronomy? This resource contains several interesting ideas that link poetry to the stars in the sky. These suggestions are very simple and could use a teachers touch, but...
Curated OER
What is Earth Science?
This activity tests general knowledge of scientific fields with a focus on those involved in earth science. Learners fill in 9 blanks using the provided word bank of scientific fields. In addition, there are 2 questions specifically...