Curated OER
3-2-1 Pop!
Students investigate how rocket liftoff demonstrates Newton's Laws of Motion. They participate in a class discussion, and construct a rocket powered by the pressure generated from an antacid tablet reacting with water.
Curated OER
Areology-The Study of Mars
Students examine core samples from Mars and discover what they can use it to tell the history of Mars. In this core sample lesson plan students create and analyze their own core samples then eat them at the end.
Curated OER
Investigating Planetary Soils
Students study soil characteristics and identify properties of soils from different parts of the solar system. In this soil lesson students divide into groups, read soil descriptions, test and record soil samples.
Curated OER
Altitude Tracking
Young scholars estimate the altitude of a rocket during several flights. They create their own altitude tracking devise. They examine and discuss their results at the end of the activity.
Curated OER
Antacid Tablet Race
Students complete experiments to determine how rocket fuel is affected by surface area and temperature. They compare the reaction rates of antacid tablets. They discuss their results to complete the lesson.
Curated OER
Satellite Drag and the Hubble Space Telescope
In this satellite drag and Hubble space telescope worksheet, high schoolers solve two problems using a graph showing the altitude of the satellite vs. the year with two lines showing two different types of re-boost and one...
NASA
Space Images
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...
Messenger Education
Mission: Possible—How Can We Plan an Exploration of Another World?
An astronaut's spacesuit weighs 280 pounds and takes 45 minutes to put on — that's a serious suit! The second activity of a three-part series allows pupils to see all that goes into space exploration. Through simulations, groups analyze...
Messenger Education
Can You Hear Me Now?—Communicating with Spacecraft
Radio signals transmitted to Pluto take five hours to reach their destination! In these two activities, young scientists explore data communication in space. In activity one, pupils learn how data is gathered and sent back to Earth....
Curated OER
Exploring Mars
Students, working in small groups construct scale models of the planets and solar system. They examine images of Mars and discuss what might have caused the features. They record facts about their planetary research in their journals and...
NASA
Marsbound! Mission to the Red Planet
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.
American Museum of Natural History
Are YOU Cut Out for Mars?
A brief, 6-question quiz identifies whether or not a scholar is ready for a mission to Mars.
DiscoverE
Rubber Band Rovers
Get your learners interested in space exploration. Groups design space rovers using design software and then build prototypes of their designs. The farther the rovers can travel, the better. The catch? The rovers must be powered by...
Curated OER
Aerology- The Study of Mars
Students investigate various aspects of the planet Mars. They examine a core sample that is simulated to make observations. Then compare the known sample with one that is unknown and differentiate between the two. Students hypothesize...
National Center for Case Study Teaching in Science
To Boldly Go, or Not
Here is a different way to combine social studies and science. Have your high schoolers read a passage about the 2004 vision for space exploration and then discuss the practicality, costs, and reasons for returning to the moon. Then, the...
Curated OER
A Different Kind of Rock Star
Students examine the mysteries of Mars. In this scientific comprehension lesson, students read a USA Today article and discuss questions about Mars. To conclude the lesson, students engage in a Rorshach inspired experiment.
Curated OER
Can You "Gas" What's Happening?
Students examine gas production in "soil" samples through hands on activities and class discussions, to determine if the soil samples have contain living or non-living systems.
Curated OER
Upgrading Hubble
Learners investigate the Hubble telescope's role in astrophysics research. They complete a Webquest, watch a video, view Hubble photographs, play online games, answer discussion questions, and evaluate newspaper articles about optics.
Curated OER
Topo Map Mania!
Seventh graders describe the major features of maps and compasses. They read a topographical map. They take a bearing using a compass. They practice using scales on a map.
Curated OER
Collecting S.O.C.K.S
Pupils participate in the Collection S.O.C.K.S program to protect their local watersheds. Using the socks, they plant new plants and trees around the watershed in order to protect it for future use. They also perform in a skit that is...
Curated OER
The Planets Terra Firma
Students explore the theories of the creation of the universe and examine the properties of celestial bodies. They analyze the relationship between the sun, Earth and the other planets.
Curated OER
Reading Comprehension-Space
In this comprehension worksheet, students read 5 short paragraphs about space, then complete a set of 4 related questions. Worksheet contains a link to additional activities.
NASA
Nasa: Robotics
Contains information about how to program a robot and how space exploration benefits from robotics technology.
BBC
Bbc Newsround: Nasa Tests Out New Robot for Mars
Brief article and video report on a humanoid robot NASA is testing for a mission to Mars.