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Moon Phases
Sixth graders investigate the phases of the moon. In this moon phase activity, 6th graders discover that the moon changes in a cycle as it orbits Earth. Students label pictures of moon phases and keep a moon phase journal. Students...
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Meteorites
Students model how meteors fall to the surface of planets. In this space science lesson, students identify different types of meteorites using an interactive online website. They investigate the relationship between a meteorite's size...
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Food Chain
Students discuss what makes plants grow and who eats the plants. They are asked where do we get all of our energy? Students are asked to draw and label a picture of the sun in the center of the yellow strip of paper. They are explained...
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Sunlight and Warm Air
Students examine the different ways heat can be felt. In this radiation and conduction lesson, students recognize that the sun radiates heat. Students conduct three experiments to find how the sun warms the Earth and how that heat...
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Why is Summer Hot?
Students examine how variations in temperature are due to the Sun and length of day. In this solar lesson students complete a lab activity using thermometers and artificial sunlight to see how the earth is heated.
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Sky Stories
Students are introduced to the branch of science known as astronomy. They discuss stars and constellations and then view the night sky using a portable digital planetarium projector. They identify a variety of constellations and...
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Agriculture is a Cycle
Students explore cycles in nature. In this cross curriculum agriculture instructional activity, students define "cycle" and research weather and planting folklore. Students make a bracelet in which individual colored beads represent the...
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What Makes Shadows? Observing and Drawing Shadows
Students make accurate drawings of a classmate's shadow. They note position of the sun in the sky. They identify a connection between the direction of the shadow and the location of the sun. They observe changes in shadows over time.
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Heating The Atmosphere
In this science worksheet, high schoolers look for the answers to finding the correct temperatures that match the location in the atmosphere.
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Application of Scientific Notation
In this scientific notation instructional activity, students solve eight problems about the sun, the planets and the universe using very large numbers expressed in scientific notation.
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Our Sky Clock
Young scholars explore space science by completing a worksheet in class. In this astronomy lesson, students discuss and identify star patterns in the night sky and relate these patterns to the approximate time they appear. Young scholars...
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Meet Meteorology
Students explore meteorology, discuss Earth's atmosphere, create drawings of the water cycle, create meteorology journals, and role play forecasters. Nine lessons on one page; includes unit test.
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The Magic School Bus Lost in Space
Students learn along with Ms. Frizzle's class. In this Magic School Bus lesson plan, students explore outer space as they visit the Sun, Mercury, Venus, and Mars in order to learn about our solar system.
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Using Models to Communicate
In this models instructional activity, students read about how models are used to communicate events or principles in science. They are given an example and answer 4 questions about models. They discuss accuracy and inaccuracy of models....
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The Climate Change Skeptic's Argument: Natural Solar Cycles or Human Activity?
Teachers explore patterns in sunspots and total solar irradiance to understand the counterpoint to the human effect of global warming. For this professional development tool, teachers work through a lesson on the sun's natural...
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The Life Cycle of a Star
Young scholars investigate the life cycle of a star and make conclusions based on evidence, research, and observation. In this lesson on space and scientific investigation, students describe the relationships between science and...
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Could the Solar System have Ten Planets?
Learners react to statements about the solar system, then read a news article about a recently discovered object that could be another planet. In this space science and current events lesson, the teacher introduces the lesson with a...
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Rain
First graders practice oral and silent reading using beginning comprehension and decoding strategies. In this guided reading lesson, 1st graders take a picture walk and make plot predictions prior to reading the book Rain by Robert...
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Gravity and the Planets
In this gravity worksheet, students read about the solar system and the effects of the gravity of the sun, the planets and the moon on the orbits of the planets. They answer three critical thinking questions about gravity.
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You Can Die Here
Students examine Death Valley including the amount of precipitation and winds that it gets. In this climate based lesson students explain the reasons for the amount of precipitation and windward patterns in Death Valley.
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Greenhouse Effect- Online Interactive
In this greenhouse effect instructional activity, students learn about Earth's climate change by reading a 7 paragraph text. Students then answer 10 questions. This is an online interactive instructional activity.
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Getting to Know Saturn: The Saturn System
Students compare and contrast Earth and Saturn's planet features. In this space science lesson plan, students draw a diagram of the solar system and identify the different components. They complete a Saturn system scavenger hunt and Venn...
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Extraterrestrials
Students discuss the possibility of intelligent life in space. In this space science lesson plan, students decipher a radio message electronically transmitted in space. They create their own extraterrestrial welcome greeting.
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Black Holes IV
In this black holes activity, students read about black holes and solve 3 problems where they calculate the Schwarschild radius of one, the number of grams/second a quasar luminosity implies for another and the number of suns per year a...