Curated OER
Our Neighborhood in the Milky Way
In this Milky Way galaxy worksheet, learners are given a table of distances and angles of nebulae and star clusters from the sun. Students plot each one on a piece of paper and solve 2 problems using the data.
Curated OER
Probing Below the Surface of Mars
Learners simulate the search for water in Mars using simple apparatus. For this space science lesson, students explain how soil temperature affects the cooling of probes. They graph the data collected from the simulation.
Curated OER
Volcanic Clouds and the Atmosphere
High schoolers examine how scientists monitor volcanoes. In this volcano lesson students complete several activities including why we see things when using satellites.
Curated OER
Thermo and Fluid Dynamics of a Homemade "Lava Lamp"
Learners construct their own lava lamp using simple substances. In this physics lesson, students explain how difference in density causes convection. They solve for forces and buoyancy using mathematical equations.
Curated OER
WAVES AND PHOTONS
Learners examine the many types of electromagnetic waves, the concept of an EM wave, how James Clerk Maxwell proposed a slight modification of the equations of electricity, Heinrich Hertz and his radio-frequency, wavelengths, and light...
Curated OER
MOTION IN A CIRCLE
Young scholars explore uniform circular motion, and the relation of its frequency of N revolutions/sec with the peripheral velocity v and with the rotation period T, and the "centripetal acceleration" of an object.
Curated OER
Areology-The Study of Mars
Students examine core samples from Mars and discover what they can use it to tell the history of Mars. In this core sample lesson students create and analyze their own core samples then eat them at the end.
Curated OER
Creature Feature
Students make detailed observations and identify an unknown using descriptions. In this observation lesson students are given a creature and must be able to identify it by species and genus.
Curated OER
It's Just Right
Young scholars conduct an experiment to determine the temperature tolerance of yeasts. In this biology lesson plan, students collect data and compare them by plotting graphs. They explain how extreme temperatures affect organisms.
Curated OER
Impact Craters: Holes in the Ground!
Middle schoolers simulate crater formation through a lab activity. In this space science lesson, students calculate how much energy is transferred during meteorite impact. They identify different factors affecting the size and depth of...
Curated OER
Follow the Falling Meteorite
Students use triangulation method to locate meteorite landing site on the map. In this earth science lesson, students participate in a meteorite treasure hunt set up by the teacher. They explain how this method is used by scientists to...
Curated OER
A Bird's Eye View Of Your Community
Students locate and identify their community by using a satellite image from the Internet. Students locate and identify common land structures within their community. You may want to include structures such as roads/streets, houses and...
Curated OER
Blame It On El Nino
Learners understand what the weather phenomenon El Nino is and what causes it. Students recognize how remote sensing technology can detect and predict El Nino. Learners discover how El Nino effects weather conditions throughout the globe...
Curated OER
MASS
Students distinguish between weight and mass. They examine how in oscillations of a mass against an elastic spring--in the absence of gravity, or in horizontal motion--the length of the oscillation period is proportional to the square...
Curated OER
FRAMES OF REFERENCE: THE BASICS
Students examine the concept of frames of reference in physics: that two frames of reference, each moving with respect to the other with a constant velocity v, observe the same accelerations and therefore Newton's laws are the same in both.
Curated OER
Is There Water on Mars?
Young scholars decide whether or not there is or has even been water on Mars. They analyze temperature and pressure data from the Pathfinder mission to Mars, and then they analyze images of Mars, interpreting the landforms they see and...
Curated OER
Modeling Hot and Cold Planets
Students, in teams, design and construct models of two planets, one hot and the other cold, using a variety of materials. They attempt to create the models out of substances that will actually show the greatest temperature differences...
Curated OER
Investigating Planetary Soils
Students study soil characteristics and identify properties of soils from different parts of the solar system. In this soil instructional activity students divide into groups, read soil descriptions, test and record soil samples.
Curated OER
Searching for Meteorites
Students examine meteorites and attempt to recover meteorite fragments. In this space instructional activity students complete a demonstration on the impact of a meteorite using water balloons and make experimental predictions.
Curated OER
Planetary Diversity
Students explore the infrared radiation and the part of the spectrum that is not always visible. In this electromagnetic lesson plan students complete a lab activity on the different wavelengths.
Curated OER
What Color is the Ocean?
Students view satellite pictures of the ocean, and discuss the presence of phytoplankton and the colors of the ocean. Students compare/contrast ocean satellite images with maps and globes, then color world maps to replicate the satellite...
Curated OER
Criteria and Constraints in Aircraft Design
Students investigate criteria and constraints for designing any aircraft. They define these terms and categorize a series of examples of both. Using the constraints and criteria set before them, they design and construct airplanes in...
Curated OER
Particle Man and the Photon
Students simulate photon transmission, scattering and absorption. In this physics instructional activity, students explain why some objects appear bright while others appear dark. They define photon and radiation in their own words.
Curated OER
Preventing Hypothermia
Students identify the causes of hypothermia. For this biology lesson, students investigate the different types of heat transfer and heat loss. They discuss several practical measures to avoid hypothermia.