NASA
Eclipse Activity Guide
Ever made solar s'mores? Or recreated the solar system using peanuts? Astronomers young and old investigate all things solar using a variety of activities. Explore how the sun works, types of light it emits, and methods of charting the...
Curated OER
Our Intriguing Star, the Sun!
Explore the sun in a lesson plan about space. The lesson spans ten weeks, with students performing activities to answer weekly questions about the Sun and Earth.
University of Colorado
Looking Inside Planets
Researchers use scientific data to understand what is inside each of the planets. The first in a series of six, this instructional activity builds off of that concept by having pupils use a data table to create their own scale models of...
University of Colorado
Looking Inside Planets
All of the gas giant's atmospheres consist of hydrogen and helium, the same gases that make up all stars. The third in a series of 22, the activity challenges pupils to make scale models of the interiors of planets in order to...
University of Colorado
Clay Planets
Why do scientists use models? In the first installment of 22, groups create scale models of our solar system. They then share and discuss their models.
Curated OER
Paint By The Numbers
Students, in groups, explore how astronomical spacecraft and computers create images of objects in space.
Curated OER
No Edge, No Center -- Exploring the Shape of Our Universe
Students examine various "spaces" (including ones that are one-dimensional, two-dimensional, and three-dimensional). For each space, they will examine what it means to have or not have an edge, or to be finite or infinite.
Curated OER
Scoping Out Space
Students research existing and proposed telescope projects and synthesize their knowledge by creating presentations on each telescope and speculating about which project is worthy of additional funding.
Curated OER
Out of This World and Into Our Classroom
Young scholars complete a background survey on technology to determine where they need to focus on to complete this project. Using the Internet, they research a topic in Astronomy they are interested in and determine what math concepts...
Curated OER
How Do Scientists Study the Planets?
In this planets worksheet, students brainstorm 2 facts about how scientists study the planets. Then students will come to a conclusion based on their facts. This worksheet is a graphic organizer.
Curated OER
Probes to Other Planets
Sixth graders use a list of robot components and common household items to design and construct a robot spacecraft model suitable for exploring the Saturn System. They present the robots to the class.
Curated OER
Celebrating 100 Years of Flight
Students explore the history, science, and journey through flight. They use the Internet to access information in order to participate in active writing assignments. They conduct other activities and build their own virtual plane.
Curated OER
Unveiling the Secrets of Saturn
Students read and study an article then answer questions on Saturn. In this investigative lesson students identify ways space exploration has helped humanity and then they search the Internet for space pictures and sketch a drawing of...
Curated OER
Super Scientists Bingo
In this science worksheet, students select twenty-five scientists from the list to fill in their bingo card. Then they match each of the scientists listed to their correct description strip.
Curated OER
Hunting for galaxies in the Hubble Deep Field
Learners examine Hubble Deep Field images. In this galaxy classification lesson, students research galaxy classification. Learners view and classify Hubble Deep field images of galaxies.
Curated OER
Tracking and Tracing Sunspots
Learners examine sunspots. In this sunspot lesson, students use applets to investigate the movement of sunspots. Learners research sunspots and evaluate the rotation of the sun. Lesson references outside resources not available in this...
Curated OER
The Farther Away You Are, The Faster Away You Move
Pupils explore linear relationships. The instructional activity uses science to develop an understanding of the expanding Universe. There are 3 Labs, only 2 of which are required. Lab C is an enrichment for higher level classes.
Curated OER
Exploring the Planets
Sixth graders explore the planets through an interactive web site. In this astronomy based lesson, 6th graders compare planets, explore comets, and discover planet facts through a variety of activities provided by the Smithsonian Museum.
Curated OER
The Solar System
In this solar system instructional activity, students complete a word puzzle by determining the terms associated with the 10 statements about the planets.
Curated OER
Heavens Above
Middle schoolers study the stars and their positions. In this astronomy lesson students see how scientists can predict the positions of the stars and can tell how they would have appeared in the past.
Curated OER
CHARTING A COURSE
Students model how a gyroscope works with string, an old phonograph record and crayon.
Curated OER
BOUNCING INFORMATION AROUND
Learners examine how satellite signals are sent and duplicate it with a mirror, flashlight and black paper.
Curated OER
Earth's Revolution and Rotation
Eighth graders investigate the regular motions of the sun, Earth and the moon and explain how these are related to days, years, seasons, eclipses, tides and moon cycles. They participate in an exercise where they explore the...
Curated OER
Black Holes Word Search
In this black holes word search, students locate terms relating to a black hole. A list of ten words is provided. An answer sheet is available.