Students practice skills used in scientific investigation while studying the three main types of galaxies. Students identify Earth as part of Milky Way galaxy, the parts of galaxies, and the types of galaxies, as well as classify...

Young scholars gain appreciation of the vastness of our galaxy by viewing an applet about the Milky Way. Students hypothesize about how long it would take to get from Earth to Pluto.

Survey the solar system by viewing this PowerPoint. Amateur astronomers discover that gravity is responsible for Earth's orbit around the sun and the moon's orbit around Earth. They explore the moon's phases and Earth's seasons. This...

In this cosmic bar graph worksheet, students solve 2 problems using given bar graphs that plot the number of galaxies vs. the galaxy type and the number of gamma-ray bursts vs. the burst classification. Students find the fraction of...

Middle schoolers write a probability fraction based on the number of favorable outcomes and the number of total outcomes. In this math lesson plan, learners come up with their fractions based on a bag of candy that has six Three...

To gain an understanding of the significance of Galileo Galilei's revolutionary ideas, class members watch the short video "Stargazing Before Galileo," and conduct a close reading of Galileo's Sidereal Messsenger. They then...

In this galaxies, clusters and planets worksheet, students solve 5 problems including determining sunspot groups on the sun in a particular day, finding the number of individual galaxies present, determining the number of stars in...

In this stellar magnitude scale learning exercise, students use a scale showing the magnitude of objects in the sky to answer 5 questions about the brightness of the moon, the planets and stars.

Get scholars thinking about the scientific process with this fun experiment they can do at home. Learners practice reading directions as they underline each instruction in a procedural paragraph. They create a flow chart and record...

In this cosmic collision worksheet, students explore interactive online website to study about the dynamics of different galaxies. They write short answers to 8 questions that follow.

Students create a business card after researching their location in space and determining their Galactic Address.

Seventh graders explore stars. In this star lesson, 7th graders apply generalities about space objects to constellations and explore the differences between radio waves and light waves by answering essential questions in their research.

Students define the origin of rock samples and how surface core samples can tell us about the history and make-up of Mars. Candies are used as a Martian surface sample. Students study the samples and make a hypothesis about the cause of...

Students identify and apply the scientific method through an experiment with popcorn. Then they identify what independent, dependent, and control variables are and create a list of different variables that affect popcorn popping....

in this working with tenses worksheet, students identify time expressions in sentences. Students then determine the tense of each of the verb phrases and create new sentences.

Students measure their shadows early in the morning, record direction of shadow, make marks in ground with chalk or tape, measure with ruler, and record results. Students repeat process at noon, and then later in afternoon. Students...

In this space science activity, students read facts about the solar system. Students look at the diagram showing the position of the planets. Pluto is included as a planet here.

In this scientists worksheet, learners read a brief synopsis of a scientist, then try to identify the person, 12 total. Worksheet contains links to additional activities.

Students build their knowledge and understanding of vocabulary related to space.  In this space lesson, students discuss four categories of words and phrases related to space. 

Fourth graders research a specific rock or mineral. They compile the facts into a database which students access for information.

Many of the objects you can see in the night sky are stars, large objects in space that produce light. Our galaxy, the Milky Way, contains more than 100 billion stars. Stars are so far away that their light does not reach us for years....

This site from Powersource gives links to many Cherokee myths, including the "Cycle of the Seasons" and "Rock House: Why the Sun Follows the Moon." These are both good examples of the Cherokee religious beliefs of creation.

A tutorial that looks at the components within a galaxy such as gas, dust, stars and objects that orbit stars. A PDF file of the tutorial is available.

Get started on the road to becoming an expert stargazer by following these recommendations for identifying stars, planets, and constellations. Includes an example of a journal that can be used as a record of your investigations.