It's About Time
Orbits and Effects
What does your world revolve around? Challenge the class as they learn about orbits and the effects of them on our modern world. Young astronomers begin by measuring ellipses and calculating the eccentricity of Earth's orbit. Then,...
University of Colorado
The Jovian System: A Scale Model
Jupiter has 67 moons! As the seventh in a series of 22, the exercise shows learners the size and scale of Jupiter and its Galilean moons through a model. They then arrange the model to show how probes orbited and gathered data.
Curated OER
Dark Matter In The Universe
Middle schoolers investigate the concept of dark matter and how it occurs in the universe. They conduct research using a variety of resources. Students use the information by reading at least two articles about dark matter. They also...
Curated OER
Clay Planets
Have your class learn about the solar system using this hands on technique. Learners review what they know about the planets, and create a clay model of the solar system. There are a list of resource links to make this lesson a complete...
National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science
A Rose By Any Other Name
In part one, your astronomers read an interview dialogue between a reporter and Dr. Maria Ocasio, the chair of the group that assigns names to celestial objects. The topic in question is Pluto's status. Learners research Plutinos and...
Curated OER
Meteorites
Students model how meteors fall to the surface of planets. In this space science lesson plan, students identify different types of meteorites using an interactive online website. They investigate the relationship between a meteorite's...
Curated OER
Reading Comprehension Worksheet: Planet Earth
After reading five short paragraphs about planet earth, students must answer 4 comprehension questions about the topic. This worksheet provides great practice for state testing in language arts.
Curated OER
An Explorative Journey Through the Solar System
Students explore space science by creating a planetary model in class. In this solar system instructional activity, students identify the many planets and moons that make up the solar system and decide on one entity in which to research....
Curated OER
The Magic School Bus Out of This World
Students learn along with Ms. Frizzle's class. In this Magic School Bus lesson plan, students explore craters that objects of different sizes and weights (marbles, Ping-Pong balls, and aluminum foil balls) create.
Curated OER
What's This Solar System All About?
Sixth graders complete a unit of lessons on the solar system. In small groups, they participate in a Webquest, watch movies, complete graphic organizers, and answer questions, create a model of the planets, and develop a Powerpoint...
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
Ceres and Pluto: Dwarf Planets as a New Way of Thinking about an Old Solar System
Young scholars examine the new categories of planets and how planets were reclassified. In this solar system lesson plan students complete activities using Venn diagrams and images of planets.
Curated OER
Exploring the Solar System
Your students can learn more about our solar system with these lesson plan ideas.
Curated OER
Creating Craters
Students explore parts of an impact crater and compare and contrast craters found in Earth, the Moon, and Mars. Crater formation is modelled and the relationship of mass, velocity, and size of the projectile to the crater formation is...
Curated OER
The Life Cycle of a Star
Students investigate the life cycle of a star through research. Once research is complete, students prepare posters and present findings to class. Flash animation is included to help students visualize life cycle of star researching.
Curated OER
The Big Bang Theory
Students will use scientific reasoning to formulate ideas about the formation of the universe using the Big Bang Theory. The use of critical thinking skills is part of the activity and the foundation of the scientific method will serve...
Curated OER
A Family of Planets-Science Puzzlers, Twisters & Teasers
In this space science learning exercise, learners complete 7 science puzzles, riddles, word scrambles, and teasers about the planets and solar system.
Curated OER
Subject-Verb Agreement exercise 5
For this recognizing present tense verbs worksheet, students choose the correct present tense verb form to agree with the subject and compete sentences. Students choose twenty-five multiple choice answers.
Curated OER
Traveling the Planets!
Fourth graders research the planets and create brochures to share their information. In this planets lesson, 4th graders navigate the Internet to gather information for a brochure about an imaginary trip to their planet....
Curated OER
The Life Cycle of a Star
Students investigate the life cycle of a star and make conclusions based on evidence, research, and observation. In this instructional activity on space and scientific investigation, students describe the relationships between...
Curated OER
Modeling the Big Bang and the Formation of the Universe
Sixth graders conduct an experiment to understand the Big Bang Theory. In this Big Bang Theory lesson, 6th graders will observe a balloon with confetti popping to emulate and analyze information related tot he Big Bang theory....
Curated OER
Using Bloom's Taxonomy in Science
Help your students internalize knowledge by creating activities that utilize higher level thinking skills.
Curated OER
Solar System Alphabet Activity
In this solar system worksheet, 3rd graders explore the parts of the solar system. Students are given twenty-five words that relate to the solar system and are to put the words in alphabetical order.
Curated OER
Making Craters
Students study craters and identify the different things that characterize craters. In this crater lesson students create a model of an impact crater.