Curated OER
Gaia: The Wisdom of the Earth
Learners are introduced to Gaia theory of natural homeostasis. They graph Earth's temperatures over time, construct terrariums or monitor the outdoor environment. Related videos titles are suggested, but may be outdated. The objectives...
Curated OER
A DISAPPEARING ACT Astronomy: Do Stars Always Shine?
Students observe why stars are not visible during the day with a classroom demonstration using an index card punched with holes.
Curated OER
Our Home in the Milky Way
Students gain appreciation of the vastness of our galaxy by viewing an applet about the Milky Way. Students hypothesize about how long it would take to get from Earth to Pluto.
Curated OER
Travelogue of a Planet
Students randomly select a planet, including Earth. They research key features of the planet including mass, volume, density, gravity, temperature, weather, geology, atmosphere, surface features, location from sun, Earth and other...
Curated OER
Moon, Mars, and Beyond-Mission Briefing
Students complete this introductory lesson 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 goals.
Curated OER
Soaring Through Space With a Kid Pix Slide Show
First graders create a slide show on Kid Pix about space. In this space lesson plan, 1st graders will explore the earth, sun, moon, and planets. After exploring their motions and locations around the sun, they create a 4 page slide show...
Curated OER
Astronomical Scales
Students describe the different units of measurement. In this space science activity, students calculate astronomical distances using a scale. They explain the significance of using scientific notation in expressing very small or...
Curated OER
Graphing Sunspot Cycles
Young scholars explore sunspots and then graph them to analyze the data. In this sunspot cycles lesson students complete an activity sheet and complete questions.
Curated OER
Tracking an Active Sunspot Region
Eighth graders plot the location of a single active region for 12 days. In this sunspot lesson students track an active region across the face of the sun.
Curated OER
What Makes you Hot?
Students manipulate different variables in a model and make inferences about the temperature on Earth. In this heat activity students calculate the blackbody radiation of an object at a certain temperature.
Curated OER
Upgrading Hubble
Young scholars 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
Does Humidity Affect Cloud Formation?
Pupils use NASA's S'COOL database to identify factors that affect cloud formation.
Curated OER
Global Warming: The Greenhouse Effect Visualizer
Young scholars work in small groups to study the various aspects of global weather and discuss the possibility of a Greenhouse Effect.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Solar System Scale Model
Teach the concept of scale models and the size of the solar system through this extensive lesson plan. Learners will learn about scale models, estimate which objects to use to create a scale model of Earth and Sun, and figure out how far...
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas Mc Donald Observatory: Solar System Science
Each student becomes the "ambassador" for a planet and prepares by researching their planet, then meets with other ambassadors to form new mini-solar systems.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Scaling Down the Solar System
In this lesson students will work collaboratively to gain a better understanding of the vastness of space by scaling down the solar system. This lesson plan was created as a result of the Girls Engaged in Math and Science University,...
Other
Montana State University: How Much Would You Weigh on Distant Planets?
This resource contains a lesson plan in which students study the effects of gravity on the planets of the Solar System. They will view movies from the lunar Apollo missions, calculate their own weight on other planets, and propose what...
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas Mc Donald Observatory: Rock Cycle
This activity combines the concept of Earth's rock cycle with the characteristics of other planets in the solar system.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Introduction to the Universe
Students use descriptive words to create imagery of the many varieties of objects found in our universe.
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas Mc Donald Observatory: Sunspots
Experiment involves identifying sunspots, temporary phenomena on the Sun's photosphere that appear as spots darker than the surrounding areas.
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Beyond the Earth Part Ii
A continuation of Beyond the Earth Part I. As part of a unit on the solar system, students will choose a component of the solar system to research. Students may use a variety of resources such as the Internet, books, and reference...
Alabama Learning Exchange
Alex: Beyond the Earth Part I
Students will access prior knowledge of the solar system by completing a graphic organizer. After participating in a teacher lecture and whole group discussion, the students will work in collaborative groups to create a...
National Institute of Educational Technologies and Teacher Training (Spain)
Ministerio De Educacion: La Situacion De La Tierra en El Universo
Throughout this unit you will make an imaginary journey that will transport you from the remotest infinity of the universe around us, to the surface of our planet. During this trip you will see the main features and components of our...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Beyond the Milky Way
When we look at the night sky, we see stars and the nearby planets of our own solar system. Many of those stars are actually distant galaxies and glowing clouds of dust and gases called nebulae. The universe is an immense space with...