Space Awareness
Where on Earth Am I?
Almost every phone has GPS installed, but a large number of teens don't know how the technology works. An initial activity illustrates how GPS determines a location on Earth. Scholars then apply trilateration procedures to a...
Curated OER
Asteroids
Students examine the different types of asteroids and how they enter the atmosphere. In this space lesson students use mashed potatoes to create an asteroid they can eat.
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The Celestial Sphere and Circumpolar Motion
Students investigate the celestial sphere and circumpolar motion. In this science lesson, students view an applet, The Celestial Sphere and Circumpolar Motion. Students discuss the Earth's rotation and stellar movement.
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Tides
Young scholars discover how the position of the Sun, Moon and Earth affect tides. In this science lesson, students view a presentation about the tides. Young scholars discuss the different types of tides.
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Your Weight on Other Planets
Students explore their weight on other planets. For this science lesson, students view a presentation about the other planets and complete a worksheet in which they make predictions about their weight on the moon and other planets.
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Why Do We Have Night?
Learners engage in a fun, creative way to discover how the Earth moves. This lesson helps students explain why there is day and night. It can also create curiosity to further study the solar system and eclipses!
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Galaxies
Tenth graders explore the structure and content of galaxies. Through discussion, lab, and hands-on activities, they discover the general structure of the three types of galaxies as well as the effect they have on the structure and...
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How Far... How Powerfu
Students work with a real optical spectrum of a gamma ray burst afterglow taken at the Keck Observatory. They measure the shifts of spectral lines, deduce the velocity of the astronomical object, and then use Hubble's Law to get its...
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Meteor Showers
Students use the Internet to discover the wonderful world of comets and meteor showers. They discover how to spot one and predict them using a calendar. They also examine the makeup of meteoroids and meteorites.
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Starquest
Students study the history and cultural interpretation of a celestial body or constellation. They create technology based presentations of the information.
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Our Sky: Home of Stars and Planets
Students discover that astronomy is a branch of science that includes the study of planets, stars, and constellations.
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Earth and Beyond!
Learners investigate one or more of the following topics and develop a plan for the future regarding it: global warming, lunar exploration, space travel, Mars exploration, or terraforming. They disucss the audio files and the video that...
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Paint By The Numbers
Students, in groups, explore how astronomical spacecraft and computers create images of objects in space.
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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.
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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.
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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...
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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.
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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.
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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...
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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.
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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...