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Activity
Harvard University

Harvard University: The Solar System

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
These hands-on activities are a great way for students to gain perspective on the relative sizes and distances of each planet, the relationship between the sun and Earth, and much more.
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Website
University of Maryland

University of Maryland: The Astronomy Workshop

For Students 9th - 10th
Find tools to calculate astronomical distances and sizes, to view various Solar System models, to compare gravity's affect on weight, and more. A good place to find interesting facts, simple animations, and astronomy links to physics and...
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Graphic
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: The Sun and Planets

For Students 6th - 8th
Observe the sun and the rotation of the planets in this moving image from NASA. Observe the axial tilts and directional rotation of planets and how they differ for each planet. Be sure to read the background information on how planets...
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eBook
Mathigon

Mathigon: Geometry: Circle and Pi: Conic Sections

For Students 9th - 10th
The circle is one of four different shapes which can be created using "slices" through a cone, a 3-dimensional solid that has a circular base joined to a single point (called the vertex) by a curved side. If you tilt a cone, you get an...
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Lesson Plan
Other

Sandburg Center for Sky Awareness: What Are the Shapes of the Planets' Orbits?

For Teachers 6th - 8th
In this lesson plan investigation students learn about the shapes of the planetary orbits by experimenting with ellipses of different proportions.