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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pocket Solar System

For Teachers 3rd - 8th Standards
The scale of the solar system is difficult to grasp without some sort of concrete visual; with some register tape and different-sized stickers, teach astronomers of any age just how spread out our solar system really is. Try to use...
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Interactive3:41
Scholastic

Study Jams! The Universe

For Students 4th - 8th
Take your kids on a trip through the universe as they explore galaxies, solar systems, stars, and more. Watch the short video, then have learners show their knowledge with the included quiz. Supplement the video by having teams build a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

THAT'S WHY THEY CALL IT SPACE

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders set up a scale model of the solar system using the same scale for distance and diameter. They calculate scale distances and sizes for modeling the solar system and relate actual distances to difficulties in discovering and...
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Activity
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1
Teach Engineering

An Inflated Impression of Mars

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Help your class understand the magnitude of the distance between Earth and Mars with an activity that asks small groups to use balloons to create scale models of the Earth, Moon, and Mars. Class members figure out the distances between...
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Unit Plan
1
1
NASA

The Science of the Sun

For Teachers K - 6th Standards
There's more to that glowing ball of light in sky than most children realize. From the overall structure of the solar system, to the changing of the seasons, these hands-on lessons open the eyes of young scientists to the important role...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Solar Systems Models Foldable Question Sheet

For Students 7th - 10th
In this solar system worksheet, students use foldable models they made of the planets to answer questions about each planet. They answer questions about the theories and predictions made in our history about the solar system and answer...
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Lesson Plan
Journey Through the Universe

A Scale Model Solar System

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Between the time scientists discovered Pluto and reclassified it as a dwarf planet, it did not even make one full revolution around the sun. In two activities, scholars investigate scale models and their properties. Pupils find that it...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Solar System Bead Distance Activity

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students create a scaled solar system model using colorful beads. In this space science instructional activity, students convert AU units into metric measurements. They arrange the planets according to their distances from the sun.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Solar System

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students describe the different bodies that make up our solar system, explain the place of our solar system within the Milky Way Galaxy and the universe, explain day and night and the Earth's movement, and describe the relationship...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Nine Planets

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
A solid lesson on teaching the nine planets in our solar system is here for you. In it, young scientists learn the correct order of the planets, and they choose one of the planets to do a research report on. They must come up with five...
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Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Modeling Eclipses with Size and Distance Scales

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Size within the solar system is a difficult thing for pupils to imagine. Using everyday objects, they build models to show the scale between the sun, moon, and Earth. They situate their props in proportional distances between the objects...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Solar System Walk

For Teachers 11th - 12th
A unique lesson on the solar system, and some of the mathematics associated with it, is here for your high schoolers. Pupils are put into groups of four, and each group is assigned one of the planets from our solar system. They must...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Night Here, Day There

For Students 3rd - 5th
Explore astronomy with a lab sheet for fifth grade scientists. After reading a short explanation about the earth's rotation, they solve a word problem about the differences in times across the world. Next, they make a model of the solar...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Scale Model of the Solar System

For Teachers 8th - 12th
Students explore the size of the planets. In this science lesson, students create a scale model of the solar system. Students determine a scaling factor and calculate the size of their planets. Students create a scale drawing of the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Bringing the Solar System Down to Earth

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Pupils develop a scaled down model of the solar system. In small groups, they calculate the scaled-down diameters of the planets and the sun, the scaled-down distance of the planets from the sun, complete two charts, and create a model...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring the Solar System

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students are introduced to the nine planets and countless moons of the solar system. Using the internet, they research one of the planets to determine if a manned mission to the planet would be possible. They share their information...
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Lesson Plan
Journey Through the Universe

Voyage of Discovery

For Teachers 5th - 8th Standards
Did you know that Pluto is smaller than the United States of America? It is difficult to conceptualize the size of planets and the distance between them, and the lesson plan addresses those exact issues. After a discussion, pupils create...
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Interactive
American Museum of Natural History

Planetary Mysteries

For Students 6th - 12th
Get to know our little part of the vast universe. Learners read about the common and not-so-common facts about each of the planets in the solar system. The interactive lesson includes a large amount of information as well as a quiz to...
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Activity
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Star Date

Modeling the Night Sky

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Dramatize the stars and planets as they become a visual representation of the solar system in this activity. Young astronomers track and simulate various constellations as they orbit the Earth to learn the position and motion of objects...
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Experience a Solar Eclipse

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Didn't catch the last solar eclipse? Now every day can be eclipse day, thanks to an interactive lesson plan from PBS' Space series for middle schoolers! The well-rounded multi-media experience includes video clips, an interactive, and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

A Journey Through Our Solar System

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the concept of the solar system in our universe by constructing a model that is made to a measurable scale. Once the model is constructed it should be placed in a wide open space for observation and demonstration...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Toilet Paper Solar System

For Teachers 5th - 9th
Students classify the planets in the solar system, study planetary objects, and measure the relative distance between planets. In this solar system lesson, students use toilet paper to complete a scale model of the distance between the...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Solar System

For Teachers 3rd
Third graders describe the composition of our solar system. They recognize the names of the planets in our solar system and compare and contrast the nine planets that orbit the sun.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Our Solar System and Seasons

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders investigate the relative diameters of planets and distances between them and the cause for seasons on Earth using the 5-E Learning Model. They appreciate the size and distances involved with objects in the real universe....