Curated OER
Look Ma! I'm a Rocket Scientist!
Students use a ball to push and pull to demonstrate the concept of force. In this force lesson plan, students talk about the importance of force in space and use balls to demonstrate this phenomena.
Curated OER
Look At Those Leaves!
Students observe, measure and sort leaves. In this leaf lesson students divide into groups and observe the different kinds of leaves.
Curated OER
The Great Wall of China
Students examine the Great Wall of China. In this world wonders lesson, students discover facts about the wall and its construction as they research the landmark. Students build their own replica of the wall in their classroom.
Curated OER
Tropical Deforestation
In this natural resources worksheet, students read a 1-page article about tropical deforestation and then respond to 11 short answer questions. Students then write a memo on deforestation and select 1 of 3 assessment activities to complete.
Curated OER
TE Activity: Testing the Caverns
Students make model caverns out of paper mache or clay. They bury them in a tray of sand, and test the models by dropping balls into them simulating as asteroid hitting the earth. They discuss the results of the activity in a whole class...
Curated OER
Rocket Me into Space
Fourth graders study the concept of thrust and how it propels rockets into space. They discover why airplanes cannot travel into space while considering the engineering techniques use in designing rockets. They look at how space...
Curated OER
The Great Wall of China Lesson
Fourth graders explore The Great Wall of China and use materials to make a class Great Wall of China students measure a portion of the classroom, school or playground and construct a "Great Wall" to scale.
Curated OER
Cooler in the Shadows
Students explore how the amount of sunlight and heat change in areas that are shaded.
Curated OER
Dangers of Radiation Exposure
Students explore sources of high-energy radiation and calculate student exposure to ionizing radiation over the past year.
Curated OER
Star Power! Discovering the Power of Sunlight
Students estimate the energy output of the sun. They estimate how much power sunlight the sunlight provides to the earth. They build a simple device to measure the amount of solar radiation the earth receives from the sun.
Curated OER
Space Shuttle Statistics
students are the opportunity to enhance their computation skills using real life statistics associated with the Space Shuttle. Skills emphasized include working with fractions, decimals, percents, ratios and proportions, comparing units,...
NASA
Nasa: Information on the Sts 51 L Challenger Accident
The mission profile of the Challenger accident, including the sequence of events, images and movie clips, crew profiles, and the report of the Presidential Commission.
A&E Television
History.com: Challenger Explosion: How Groupthink and Other Causes Led to the Tragedy
Seven lives were lost as communications failed in the face of public pressure to proceed with the launch despite dangerously cold conditions. January 28, 1986, The sun had been up for less than an hour and air temperatures were a few...
NASA
Nasa: Space Shuttle Basics
Basics of space shuttle operations are explained, including details of launch vehicle and orbiter configuration. Information on each shuttle Enterprise, Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, Endeavour is included. Has video and...
NASA
Nasa Environmental Control and Life Support Systems Water Filtration Challenge
This educator guide provides students with a challenge to design, build, and test a water filtration system, simulating what is used in a spacecraft. Includes background information, lesson plans, and extension activities.
NASA
Nasa: Engineering Design Challenges: Spacecraft Structures Educator Guide
This detailed educator's guide provides a lesson in designing the structure of a spacecraft. The design challenge contains pre-lab activities and instructions for how to test the models.
NASA
Nasa E Clips: Nasa's Launchpad: The Great Boomerang Challenge [Pdf]
Students use the principles of technological and engineering design to research and explain how airfoil shape affects flight characteristics and how it applies to boomerang flight.. They will work in teams to design, build, test, and...
NASA
Nasa Star Child: The Space Shuttle (Level 2)
This site has a description of the Space Shuttle and its uses. Included are vocabulary words linked to a glossary of terms, graphics and a printable version.
NASA
Nasa: Astronaut Biography: Gregory B. Jarvis
Official NASA biography of Gregory B. Jarvis, the payload specialist for the Challenger. He was on board when the Challenger exploded in 1986.
NASA
Nasa: Astronaut Biography: Francis R. (Dick) Scobee
NASA's official biography of Dick Scobee, the commander of the Challenger spacecraft which exploded after launch.
NASA
Nasa: Astronaut Biography: Michael J. Smith
The official NASA biography of Michael J. Smith, the pilot on the Challenger which exploded shortly after launch.
NASA
Nasa: Astronaut Biography: Ronald E. Mc Nair, ph.d
Official NASA biography of Ronald McNair, the mission specialist on the Challenger spacecraft which exploded shortly after launch.
NASA
Nasa: Astronaut Biography: Ellison S. Onizuka
Official NASA biography of Ellison S. Onizuka, the mission specialist on the Challenger spacecraft which exploded shortly after launch.
NASA
Nasa: Astronaut Biography: Judith A. Resnik, ph.d.
The official NASA biography for Judith A. Resnik who was the mission specialist on board the Challenger spacecraft when it exploded in 1986.