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Stars and Constellations
Ninth graders investigate how ancient cultures viewed their world in terms of astronomy. They read and discuss an informational handout, construct an astrolabe, and locate stars and constellations using star charts.
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A Moon with a View
Third graders explore the rotation of Earth and the moon. In this solar system lesson, 3rd graders participate in an Earth and moon simulation in which part of the class "becomes" the sun, while other children represent the moon by...
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What are Stars?
Students research the solar system and it's characteristics. In this solar system lesson, students are broken into 4 groups, each assigned a specific part of the solar system. Students use the Internet to research their part...
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Earth is Round?
Third graders discuss how Aristotle concluded that the Earth was round. As a class, they review theories about the Earth's shape and describe how life on Earth would be different if it were flat. Individually, they make a moon book in...
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Your Galactic Address
Students discover their place in the universe. In this astronomy lesson, students identify their location on various maps that have increasingly larger scales. In the end, the students write their address in terms of their...
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See the Stars
Students explore the nighttime sky. In this space science lesson, students read the book Maria's Comet and and investigate the sky using their naked eyes. Students compare the view of their naked eyes to the view of a telescope.
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SETI WebQuest and the Drake Equation
Students complete a WebQuest where they research the Internet for extraterrestrial intelligence. For this extraterrestrial lesson plan, students also explore how the Drake Equation can predict the occurrence of life elsewhere.
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The Amazing and Beautiful Aurora
Learners create an oil pastel painting. In this pastel painting lesson, students examine images of the aurora borealis. Learners produce an original pastel painting of the aurora.
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The Milky Way and Beyond
Students consider the scale of the Milky Way Galaxy. In this Milky Way lesson, students hypothesize the length of time necessary to cross the Milky Way.
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Cosmic Rays
Students study cosmic rays and the energy behind them. In this atmospheric instructional activity students complete a cosmic ray telescope project.
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Stellar Magnitudes
Learners analyze the stellar magnitude scale. In this stellar magnitude instructional activity, students examine the stellar magnitude scale. Learners predict the Sun's magnitude from various planets.
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Your Weight on Other Planets
Pupils explore their weight on other planets. In this science lesson plan, students view a presentation about the other planets and complete a worksheet in which they make predictions about their weight on the moon and other planets.
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The Celestial Sphere and Circumpolar Motion
Students investigate the celestial sphere and circumpolar motion. In this science lesson, students view an applet, The Celestial Sphere and Circumpolar Motion. Students discuss the Earth's rotation and stellar movement.
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The amazing and Beautiful Aurora
Students research the aurora. In this aurora lesson, students participate in a webquest about the aurora. Webquest worksheet is included.
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The Phases of the Moon
Students sketch the different phases of the moon after exploring them on an internet program. In this moon phases lesson plan, students discuss how the Sun, Earth, and Moon are related.
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Solar and Lunar Eclipses
Students examine eclipses. In this eclipse lesson, students investigate solar and lunar eclipses. Students complete a WebQuest and write a descriptive summary of eclipses. Lesson references a WebQuest, but does not include a link.
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Tides
Students discover how the position of the Sun, Moon and Earth affect tides. In this science lesson, students view a presentation about the tides. Students discuss the different types of tides.
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Planet Interiors
Young scholars compare and contrast the Earth's interior with 2 other planets by looking at images on the computer. In this planet interiors lesson plan, students write a paper about their findings.
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Scale Model of the Solar System
Students explore the size of the planets. In this science lesson, students create a scale model of the solar system. Students determine a scaling factor and calculate the size of their planets. Students create a scale drawing of the...
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Sky Pictures
Learners investigate constellations. In this space science lesson, students view transparencies of constellations and identify the zodiac constellations. Learners research the legends connected with the constellations.
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Heavens Above
Students study the stars and their positions. In this astronomy lesson plan students see how scientists can predict the positions of the stars and can tell how they would have appeared in the past.
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Sundials
Students investigate the different types of sundials and their history. In this shadows and time of day lesson students build their own sundials.
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Scoping Out Space
Students research existing and proposed telescope projects and synthesize their knowledge by creating presentations on each telescope and speculating about which project is worthy of additional funding.
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Unveiling the Secrets of Saturn
Learners read and study an article then answer questions on Saturn. In this investigative lesson students identify ways space exploration has helped humanity and then they search the Internet for space pictures and sketch a drawing...