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Lesson Plan
NASA

Earth, Earth’s Moon, Mars Balloons

For Teachers K - 8th Standards
Very specific diameters are given for blowing up three different balloons to represent, in scale, the moon, Earth, and Mars. In groups of three, amateur astronomers explore scale measurements and distance in space.
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Unit Plan
NASA

Marsbound! Mission to the Red Planet

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
It's time to go to Mars. Using the provided cards and mat, groups design a mission to Mars. The cards contain information about the different components of the launch and warn about a few mishaps that might occur along the way.
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Unit Plan
NASA

Food For Thought

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
Science can be quite tasty. A delectable unit from NASA shows learners why it's important to consider food, nutrition, and health in space. Four lessons explore the idea in great depth, including testing cookie recipes. Along the way,...
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Lesson Plan
NASA

Soda Straw Rockets

For Teachers K - 6th Standards
Three, two, one, blast off to a better understanding of force and motion with this exciting science lesson plan! Beginning with a discussion about rockets and gravity, young scientists go on to complete a series of worksheets about net...
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Lesson Plan
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics

Goldilocks and the Three Planets

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Venus is the second brightest object in the night sky after the moon. Here is an interesting lesson that explores three planets — Venus, Earth, and Mars — specifically their surfaces and atmospheres. Through an analysis of their spectra,...
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App
NASA

Space Images

For Students 3rd - 12th
As technology advances, so does our understanding of the universe around us. Thanks to the Hubble Telescope, Mars rovers, and other high-resolution cameras, there are amazing photographs of celestial bodies, planets, comets, and more...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

once and future MOON

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Beyond the phases of the moon, this comprehensive lesson plan covers geologic history and geology. Amateur astronauts examine photos of the lunar landscape, experiment with the creation of craters, and delve into information about the...
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Lesson Plan
NASA

Is It Alive?

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Determining whether or not something is living can be more difficult than it seems. Put your young scientists to work defining their own criteria to identify life, then work with three samples to see if they are alive or not. 
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Lesson Plan
NASA

Lava Layering

For Teachers 4th - 10th
Take the old baking soda and vinegar volcano to the next level by using it to study repeated lava flows over time, examine geologic features on Earth and Mars, and speculate about some of the formations on Mars. 
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Interactive
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics

Marvelous Martian Mineralogy

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Believe it or not ... martian soil does have nutrients needed for plants to survive! An out-of-this-world tutorial moves scholars through an analysis of martian soil to determine its chemical make-up. Pupils analyze reflectivity of...
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Interactive
Curated OER

English Exercises: The Significance of Science in Society

For Students 8th
In this significance of science in society worksheet, 8th graders read 3 paragraphs, then interactively answer 9 comprehension and grammar questions, with immediate online feedback; video at the beginning is not longer available, but the...
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Lesson Plan
NASA

Rover Races

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
Operating a vehicle remotely can be difficult, especially when the vehicle is on another planet. Young engineers get a feel for some of the real-world challenges as they work to program their rovers (blindfolded group members) through an...
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Lesson Plan
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NASA

Solar System Scale & Size

For Teachers K - 8th Standards
Use a variety of whole fruits to represent the different planets in the solar system to introduce scale sizes to your math or space science class. They follow suit by creating a non-scaled model of the solar system using specific-colored...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cell Structure and Function

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students discuss scientific advances brought about by the Mars Surveyor Space Program which impact on daily life, identify laboratory apparatus like microscopes, slides and coverslips, and use the microscopes to view cells and organisms.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Strange New Planet

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students simulate different spacecraft missions using materials provided. In this space science lesson, students observe and record a planetary model's features from a distance. They relate this activity to scientists' space exploration...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Moon, Mars, and Beyond-Mission Briefing

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students complete this introductory instructional activity in which they find out about the scenario for a simulated online space mission. They review vocabulary and complete a review sheet to reinforce the details of the mission and its...
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Lesson Plan
NASA

Mystery Planet

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
What can one learn about a planet based on a small surface sample? Learners will explore artifacts from a mystery planet and see what they can determine about the planet based on the evidence in front of them. 
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Interactive
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics

The Solar Wind Tunnel

For Students 9th - 12th
The winds of change are blowing in our very own solar system!  But what makes some heavenly bodies more affected by solar winds than others?  Pupils discover the concept of magnetic forces at work in space in this attractive interactive,...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Space Flight Simulation

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students engage in the study of flight with the help of a computer flight simulation. They take part in a variety of activities that imitate the Space Shuttle Endeavor. Students work as teams like the astronauts would to complete mission...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rover Races

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students simulate driving a rover on the surface of Mars. In this space science lesson, students identify the challenges experienced by astronauts in operating a vehicle. They recommend some changes to make their 'rover' better.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rover Races

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders participate in a simulation in which they explain the problems of operating a planetary rover.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Graphical Determination of Density

For Teachers 10th - 11th
Learners determine the density of metal shot by a graphical method using significant digits in making measurements and calculations. Students graph a seris of laboratory measurements and determine density from a mass verses volume graph.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Soybeans in Space

For Teachers Higher Ed
Pupils work together to design an experiment that compares and contrasts differnet plant cultivation systems. In groups, they evaluate the results of the experiment to discover if the cultivation system could be used in space. They...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Unveiling the Secrets of Saturn

For Teachers 7th - 10th
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 of...