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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Space: Our Star, the Sun, and Its Friends, the Planets

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students examine the solar system. In this space lesson, students identify the order of the planets and their relative size to the sun. Students create a scale model of our solar system using a variety of household objects.
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Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

History of the Universe

For Students 3rd - 5th
Your pupils may believe that you and their parents are the oldest things in the universe, but surprise! There are elements of the universe that are even older. Elementary scientists create a class timeline to demonstrate the expansive...
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Lesson Plan
1
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Baylor College

Using Heat from the Sun

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Let's heat things up! This simple experiment demonstrates for students the important role the sun plays in providing the earth with energy. Place one cup of water in direct sunlight and one in shade, then take measurements in order to...
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Lesson Plan
University of Colorado

Are All Asteroids' Surfaces the Same Age?

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Did you know scientists can tell the age of an asteroid by looking closely at its craters? This final lesson of a six-part series focuses on two asteroids, Gaspra and Ida, in order to demonstrate the concept of dating asteroids. Scholars...
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Lesson Plan
1
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Baylor College

Greenhouse S'Mores

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Your class will agree that this is the best way to demonstrate the greenhouse effect: making solar s'mores! Using a clear plastic cups as mini atmospheres, lab groups compare how adding different materials affects the melting rate of...
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Worksheet
T. Smith Publishing

Solar System Fun

For Students 4th - 6th Standards
Looking for some vocabulary for your unit on space? Check out this 25-word solar system crossword puzzle for ideas. There is no word bank for this puzzle, so pupils will either need prior instruction or a reference material that they can...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Earth Moon Scaling

For Students 6th - 12th
A wonderful lesson incorporating math and physics skills along with specific details about the planetary bodies. The cross-curricular approach makes for a valid activity to challenge multiple ages and abilities. Your class could work in...
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Lesson Plan
2
2
Baylor College

Needs of Plants

For Teachers K - 3rd Standards
What better way to learn about plant life than by creating a class garden? Young botanists start with a brief discussion about radishes before planting seeds and watching them grow. To determine the importance of water, sunlight, and...
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Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

Measure the Solar Diameter

For Teachers 7th - Higher Ed Standards
Scientists could measure the diameter of the sun before they knew its distance. Scholars construct a simple mirror box to measure the diameter for themselves. They compare this measurement with the official size, listed in a textbook,...
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Lesson Plan
2
2
Baylor College

People and Climate

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Model how the sun's energy strikes the planet and help your class relate it to a climate map. Assign small groups an individual climate zone to discuss. They reflect on and research how humans survive in the assigned climate and write a...
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Lesson Plan
Baylor College

What Is the Water Cycle?

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Small groups place sand and ice in a covered box, place the box in the sunlight, then observe as evaporation, condensation, and precipitation occur. These models serve as miniature water cycles and demonstrations of the three phases of...
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Lesson Plan
Mascil Project

Closed Greenhouses

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Controlling the efficiency of a greenhouse is a mathematical task. A collaborative project challenges learners to create an efficiency plan for a closed greenhouse. Using algebraic equations, they consider a set of constraints, design...
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Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

Making A Sundial

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Can people really measure time just by using the sun? Scholars venture outside on a nice, sunny day to build sundials and learn how people measured time 600 years ago. The class builds two different sundials while gaining practice with...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Satellites and Solar Cells

For Students 8th - 10th
In this satellite and solar cells worksheet, students determine the electrical power generated by the solar cells on the IMAGE satellite. Students solve 3 problems including finding the usable area of the satellite, determining the power...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Central Tendency

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders compare and contrast different sets of data on the basis of measures of central tendency.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Numbers in Art

For Teachers K - 3rd
Learners choose a number from one to twelve and tell a number story about it. They listen to the teacher read "Numbers in Art" by Lucy Micklethwait. Students choose three numbers from one to twelve and view works of art while looking for...