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Unit Plan
CPALMS

Florida State University Cpalms: Florida Students: Center Stage: Models of the Solar System

For Students 7th - 9th
An explanation of two very different perspectives of the solar system.
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Lesson Plan
Alabama Learning Exchange

Alex: Scaling Down the Solar System

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
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,...
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Interactive
CK-12 Foundation

Ck 12: Plix: Gravity in the Solar System

For Students 7th - 9th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Test your knowledge of Newton's Law of Universal Gravitation with an animation and a short quiz.
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eBook
Harvard University

Harvard University: Eye on the Sky, Feet on the Ground

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
An ebook filled with information and classroom activities covering several astrological topics such as the Earth's rotation and the solar system. Many tips and teaching tools are available to aid in discovering what the sky has to offer.
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Unit Plan
Scholastic

Scholastic: Study Jams! Science: Our Solar System: The Universe

For Students 3rd - 5th
A video and a short multiple-choice quiz on the Universe and what it is made up of.
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Handout
Other

University of Leicester: Sun

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides a brief overview of the Sun, including a focus on solar eclipses, solar wind, and solar sailing.
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Handout
Utah State Office of Education

Utah State Office of Education: How Did the Universe and Solar System Develop?

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore this unit to learn how the universe began. Through illustrations, videos, and classroom activities, gain an understanding of how stars help with the formation of elements.
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Activity
Harvard University

Harvard University: The Solar System

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
These hands-on activities are a great way for students to gain perspective on the relative sizes and distances of each planet, the relationship between the sun and Earth, and much more.
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Activity
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Activity: Scale of the Universe on a String

For Students 9th - 10th
This activity will help your students comprehend the huge scales of time and space by using familiar objects. You can explore the massive distances of our Solar System using scale models made out of string. Included is a scale model of...
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Interactive
Other

University of Cambridge: Astro Adventure

For Students 3rd - 5th
Imagine a time when you can travel through space, planet to planet, cheaply and in comfort, when you can take a trip to the stars as your next holiday. Well, imagine no more. Learn more about the solar system as you take this trip of a...
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Website
Other

Astro Mia: Tierra, Sistema Solar Y Universo

For Students 9th - 10th
This site is a good resource to study Astronomy. It has six sessions: the Universe, the solar system, the earth and the moon, history of Astronomy, articles, famous astrologers and a glossary.
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Website
University of Maryland

University of Maryland: The Astronomy Workshop

For Students 9th - 10th
Find tools to calculate astronomical distances and sizes, to view various Solar System models, to compare gravity's affect on weight, and more. A good place to find interesting facts, simple animations, and astronomy links to physics and...
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Lesson Plan
Other

Montana State University: How Much Would You Weigh on Distant Planets?

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
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...
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Article
University of Texas at Austin

The University of Texas Mc Donald Observatory: Jupiter

For Students 9th - 10th
Discover interesting facts about Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system.
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Article
University of Texas at Austin

The University of Texas Mc Donald Observatory: Saturn

For Students 9th - 10th
Discover interesting facts about Saturn, the second-largest planet in the Solar System.
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Lesson Plan
University of Texas at Austin

The University of Texas Mc Donald Observatory: Rock Cycle

For Teachers 6th - 8th
This activity combines the concept of Earth's rock cycle with the characteristics of other planets in the solar system.
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Article
University of Texas at Austin

The University of Texas Mc Donald Observatory: Asteroids

For Students 9th - 10th
Discover interesting facts about asteroids, large chunks of rock that were leftover from the formation of the solar system.
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Website
Rice University

Galileo Project: The Copernican System

For Students 9th - 10th
This site from The Galileo Project of Rice University contains information relating to Copernicus's sun-centered solar system theory. Pictures are provided throughout this article along with links to additional information.
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Unit Plan
TED Talks

Ted: Ted Ed: Is There a Center of the Universe?

For Students 9th - 10th
It's been a long road to the discovery that Earth is not the center of the Solar System, the Milky Way, or the universe; great thinkers from Aristotle to Bruno have grappled with it for millennia. But if we aren't at the center of the...
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Website
Natural History Museum

Natural History Museum: Our Place in the Universe

For Students 9th - 10th
Part of a larger online exhibit on the moon and space, this site deals with one's place in the universe. The topics covered include the sun and solar system, the galaxy, and the universe.
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Primary
Other

American Scientist: Author Interview: Neil De Grasse Tyson

For Students 9th - 10th
Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson has made "Popularizing science a personal passion." Tyson's latest book, Origins, is the starting point here for a discussion of dark matter, intelligent life in our solar system, the possibility of...
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Interactive
NASA

Nasa: Star Child: Elementary Astronomy Unit

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Learn everything you can about outer space with this interactive astronomy unit. 2 levels of difficulty with modules on the solar system, the universe, other "space stuff" and a glossary of terms. Links for parents and other great website.
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Website
Other

Physics.org: A Grain of Sand Covers 10,000 Galaxies

For Students 9th - 10th
A fascinating look at how big our solar system really is. Shows how we can only see a tiny bit of our vast universe.
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Website
NASA

Nasa Star Child: Star Child

For Students 3rd - 8th
StarChild from NASA defines and describes the Solar System in a simple and easy-to-understand manner. The website is broken down into two versions for the student, grade school and junior high.