Curated OER
Searching For Protoplanetary Disks
Learners download NASA Hubble Space Telescope views of star-forming regions in nebulae and look for evidence of planetary systems forming beyond our own solar system. They hypothesize about mysterious objects in NASA HST images.
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Star Master Viewer
Students construct the viewing tubes by cutting along the designated line shown on the template, rolling the paper into a tube, and taping the tube securely. Next they cut out the cardstock circles - the StarCards cutting on the outside...
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What's Up? Astronomy Curriculum
Students study astronomy. In preparation for a field trip to a planetarium, students discuss the stars, planets, and light. They explore the importance of the north star and constellations. The Digitarium system is used to assist the...
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Moon Watch
Third graders read books about the moon and discuss its perceived changes as it moves across the sky. They observe the moon over the course of a month and chart their observations. They discuss their observations and conduct further...
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Our Solar System
Learners investigate the coincidental parade of planets and witness dramatic views of the solar system by researching websites and participating in online activities. They write about their findings.
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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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Bouncing Sunlight
Third graders use flashlights and balls to demonstrate how the light bounces off of the sun and reflects onto the moon. They record their observations in a journal.
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Three D Constellations
Students are introduced to both celestial coordinates and to the first rung on the distance determination ladder. They convert spherical coordinates to Cartesian coordinates to construct a three dimensional model of a constellation...
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Planetarium- Identifying Constellations
Students explore the planetarium. In this space science lesson plan, students identify the different constellations in the sky. They make their own map of the constellations.
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The Dust Bowl: Out of the Dust
Is your class going to read the novel, Out of the Dust? If so, you can prep them with a presentation that provides both images of the Dust Bowl and quotes from the book. Tip: Have learners use the images to compose descriptive...
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Lunar Learning
Students learn about the phases of the moon. In this moon phases lesson plan, students learn about what causes the moon to look different to us everyday and how the Earth and Sun's position determine what phase the moon is in.
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Patterned Paragraphs
Students reinforce the importance of being specific while dealing with events of a sequential nature, such as the phases of the moon.
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The Solar System and the Forces Behind It
Sixth graders discover why planets stay in orbit. In groups, they use everyday materials to examine the effect of gravity of objects and calculate how mass changes based on gravitational pull. To end the activity, they discuss how...
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Reasons for the Seasons
Sixth graders conduct and analyze a survey that explores public perceptions about the reasons for seasonal change. They measure the changing length of days, observe shadows and discuss how the Earth's axis of rotation affects the seasons.
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The Wanderers: Planets of Our Solar System
In this planets worksheet, students read a detailed 3 page text about the planets in our solar system. Students then complete 21 true/false and multiple choice questions about planets.
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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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Map the Constellations
Learners build constellation guides from empty sotf drink cans. Using star charts, they use straight pins to mark the major stars in the constellations. After turning the charts over, they connect the dots. When they look through cans...
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Determining the Altitude of Iridium Flares
Students examine what iridium flares are and when they occur. In this iridium flare lesson students complete an activity to see how far overhead Iridium satellites are.
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Planetary Alignments
In this planetary alignments worksheet, students use 2 different methods to find out when planet alignments will occur. They use a three number series and they use least common multiples to find out when Mercury and Venus will align.
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Adopt A Constellation
In this space science worksheet, learners discover and write the name of their favorite constellation. Then they describe the history of it and draw a diagram, labeling the major stars and providing lines to show its shape.
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Adopt a Constellation
Students adopt a constellation and find detailed information about their constellation. For this constellation lesson plan, students use the web to find information about a constellation of their choice. They identify the history of the...
Echoes & Reflections
The Ghettos
Young historians examine primary sources, including diaries, poems, and photographs, to consider the conditions in the ghettos and how they fit into the escalation of the Third Reich's plot against the Jewish people.
Echoes & Reflections
Studying The Holocaust
While many young scholars are familiar with the Holocaust, they may not understand the specific history that led to the unprecedented atrocity. The first lesson in the unit helps teachers gauge their pupils' background knowledge. A...
Echoes & Reflections
Nazi Germany
The Holocaust was an evolution of anti-Semitism, scapegoating, and targeted violence against Jews with Nazi policies. A resource unpacks the escalation in violence, along with the erosion of democratic institutions, during the 1930s....