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Solar System
Students study space. In this solar system lesson, students discover the correct order of the planets and create a diagram showing this knowledge. They listen to the book A New View of the Solar System and then work in groups on their...
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Earth
Fourth graders engage in a study of the solar system. The teacher constructs an outside model of it. They walk through it making constructive observations. Students conduct a class discussion about the solar system and planets. They...
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WEAVING TECHNOLOGY INTO THEMATIC UNITS
Fourth graders explore the planets by researching and writing a report about one of the nine planets.
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Solar System Bead Distance Activity
Middle schoolers 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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Exploring the Constellations, a WebQuest Activity
Students explore space science by participating in a class WebQuest. In this constellation identification instructional activity, students view star charts based on the four seasons and identify the changes our sky goes through in the...
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Celestial Motions
Ninth graders complete a unit of lessons on the history of our knowledge of celestial objects. They conduct Internet research, plot the motion of a planet, construct a model of the sun's apparent motions, and create diagrams of the solar...
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Finding the Pole Star
Students study the constellations fo the Big Dipper and Cassiopeia and their use in finding the Pole Star. They realize that other celestial objects--Sun, Moon and planets--share the rotation (and hence rise and set), even though their...
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A DISAPPEARING ACT Astronomy: Do Stars Always Shine?
Students observe why stars are not visible during the day with a classroom demonstration using an index card punched with holes.
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Sky Watching
Students examine telescopes and understand how they have helped us better understand the sky. In this astronomy lesson students complete a worksheet and a lab activity.
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Star Wars Activity
Students investigate radiant energy by completing discrepant events and identify various temperature changes through absorption and how radiant energy can be used for solar panels. They experiment with different color fabrics in order...
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My! What a Sky!
First graders read "Goodnight Moon" or "Day And Night" and discuss what they see in day and night skies. They read and sing lyrics to the "Day and Night" song. They identify objects in the sky as day or night objects. They illustrate day...
NorthEast Ohio Geoscience Education Outreach
Earth, Sun and You
Middle schoolers model Earth's revolution round the sun by walking a mini-globe around a lamp. You will assess whether or not they tilt and rotate the planet properly and that the revolution is counterclockwise. Discussion beforehand...
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Observational Astronomy
Students research about the characteristics of celestial bodies using a database. In this space science lesson, students collect data such as brightness, apparent color and size by observing the night sky. They share their findings with...
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Observations From the Past
Ninth graders explore direct and indirect evidence. In this astronomy activity, 9th graders investigate the contribution of early astronomers to their field. They create a model of the solar system.
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Sky Pictures
Students investigate constellations. In this space science instructional activity, students view transparencies of constellations and identify the zodiac constellations. Students research the legends connected with the constellations.
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The Starry Night Time and Day Time
Second graders complete a unit of lessons on the solar system. They complete various art projects inspired by Van Gogh's 'Starry Night,' create a moon phases book, create a moon phase wind chime, develop a timeline of space exploration,...
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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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A Different Kind of Rock Star
Students examine the mysteries of Mars. In this scientific comprehension lesson, students read a USA Today article and discuss questions about Mars. To conclude the lesson, students engage in a Rorshach inspired experiment.
Starry Night Education
The Year and Seasons
Turn your classroom into a live demonstration of how the earth and sun interact to create the four seasons. Using a globe, a light source, and a series of constellation cards, super scientists discover how the motion of these...
Space Awareness
How To Travel On Earth Without Getting Lost
Have you ever wanted to travel the world? Take a virtual trip with a geography lesson that uses longitude and latitude, the position of the sun, an astronomy app, and a classroom globe.
Voyage Solar System
Round and Round We Go — Exploring Orbits in the Solar System
Math and science come together in this cross-curricular astronomy lesson plan on planetary motion. Starting off with a hands-on activity that engages the class in exploring the geometry of circles and ellipses, this lesson plan then...
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Space Words and Comparatives
Which is bigger: the sun or the moon? Which is nearer: the planets or a star? English Language Learners first located a series of space-related nouns and adjectives in a word search, and then identify the comparative and superlative...
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Small Angle Calculations
Students work with circles, angles and estimating angles in the night sky. In this circles and angles lesson, students practice measuring a degree using the circumference of a circle and apply the degree to determine a way to use their...
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As the World Turns
Third graders read books and participate in class discussions about the motion of the stars and planets and moons in relation to the Earth. In small groups, 3rd graders act out these movements to music.