Curated OER
Kepler And His Laws
Students engage in an overview of the story of Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler, and of Kepler's laws. Each of Kepler's laws be studied separately in more detail in later lessons. They examine Kepler's 3rd law.
Curated OER
Mensa For Kids: The Moon
First graders explore space science by completing an arts and crafts activity. In this moon lesson, 1st graders explore the geography of the moon and discuss the importance it has for people living on Earth. Students create a replica...
Curated OER
Distance And Parallax
Students will determine distances to nearby stars using parallax. In this Astronomy lesson plan, students will use a web program, trigonometry, and sketches to determine the distance of stars.
Curated OER
Astronomy 1 Quiz- Online Interactive
In this space science learning exercise, students complete 5 multiple choice questions pertaining to the planets and other space bodies. This is an online interactive quiz. Prior knowledge is assumed.
Curated OER
The Lives of Stars
In this stars worksheet, students review what makes up a star, how astronomers learn about stars, and the different types of stars including low mass and high mass stars. This worksheet has 62 fill in the blank statements.
Curated OER
Sky Stories Curriculum
Students investigate the stories told by ancient cultures about the constellations. They listen to stories told by the Greeks and Romans. The classroom should have posters of constellations for the lesson and the teacher performs...
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
Remember the Egg!
Students investigate how to see, describe and draw faint or subtle features on an object which is thought of by most people as having a smooth, featureless surface. The exercise is important to reinforce skills in making observations...
Curated OER
Please Ex-Planet
Seventh graders create a model of an earth centered solar system and a model of the sun centered solar system. As a class, they discuss why the earlier astronomers believed their model and why it changed when evidence arose that this...
Curated OER
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...
Curated OER
Photometry
Learners examine blackbody radiation and light wavelengths. Students research the various types of electromagnetic spectrum. Learners examine any misconceptions they may have in light.
Curated OER
Where in the World is 5T?
Students use the Internet to research astronomy questions written by another class. As questions are answered, clues are given telling where the other class is "hiding" in the world.
Curated OER
Where in the World is 5MT?
Students use the Internet to research astronomy questions written by another class. As questions are answered, clues are given telling where the other class is "hiding" in the world.
Curated OER
Best of the Solar System
Students visit a site which provides images to be analyzed. Notes are taken and planets are named based on observed features and observations. Using peer review, they try to determine the identity of the planets. They are free to browse...
Curated OER
The Universe in a Different Light
High schoolers become aware of some of the objects studied in, and concepts associated with, high-energy astronomy. They do this by participating in card games that teach and review these concepts.
Curated OER
#22 Frames of Reference: The Basics
High schoolers explore the concept of frames of reference in physics.
Curated OER
Kepler's Second Law
Students gain an understanding of Kepler's 2nd law--that planets (and satellites) move fastest at their closest approach to the center of attraction, and slow down when far away. They explore the concepts of "potential energy" and...
Curated OER
Graphs And Ellipses
Students become acquainted with linear graphs, the parabola and the rectangular hyperbola. Also prepare tables of paired values as preparation for plotting a line. They study the cartesian equation of an ellipse, with a worked example.
Curated OER
The Mystery Constellation
Young scholars decipher two teacher chosen mystery constellations a month. They listen to stories, explain what they know about constellations and name the mystery constellation.
Curated OER
Eyes on the Sky, Feet on the Ground
Fifth graders participate in online astronomy activities with hundreds of fun explorations into astronomy as a classroom tool for learning how to theorize, experiment, and analyze data.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Using the Soho to Determine the Rotation of the Sun
This project shows you how to use images from an orbiting observatory to measure how fast the Sun rotates.
American Institute of Biological Sciences
Action Bioscience: Looking for Life on Mars and Beyond
Learn some of the characteristics of Mars. These characteristics lead some people to believe that life forms may be found on the fourth planet from the Sun.
Harvard University
Harvard Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
This resource presents information on the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. There are links to research, events, facilities, press releases, etc.
Utah Education Network
Uen: Lunar Language
This lesson engages students in listening and viewing comprehension strategies to help them learn about the phases of the moon. Students will use a specialized graphic organizer to draw and describe observed moon phases. A sheet with ABC...