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Handout
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: How Our Solar System Formed

For Students 9th - 10th
An article describing how the sun, planets, moons, and beyond Pluto was formed. Learn more about the beginning of our solar system.
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Graphic
Khan Academy

Khan Academy: Gallery: Earth & Solar System

For Students 9th - 10th
A gallery of pictures of the cosmic beauty of the Sun, our Solar System, and exoplanets. Pictures include a caption of what the viewer is looking at.
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Unit Plan
Sophia Learning

Sophia: Solar System Formation

For Students 6th - 8th
An illustrated slide show highlighting the origin and make-up of our solar system.
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Unit Plan
CommonLit

Common Lit: Learning About the Solar System

For Students 3rd - 4th
A learning module that begins with "Learning About the Solar System" by Barbara Radner, accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. The text can be printed as a PDF or assigned online through...
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Activity
Read Works

Read Works: Explore Our Solar System

For Teachers 2nd - 4th Standards
[Free Registration/Login Required] This informational text passage shares facts about planets in the solar system. This passage is a stand-alone curricular piece that reinforces essential reading skills and strategies and establishes...
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Website
NASA

Nasa: Our Solar System

For Students 9th - 10th
This thorough look at our solar system has numerous links to a variety of topics that are updated periodically.
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Activity
Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments: Solar System

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This activity is designed to assess the comprehension of concepts related to the planets and other astronomical bodies in the Solar System.
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Handout
State Energy Conservation Office-Texas

State Energy Conservation Office: Passive Solar Design for Homes [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Discusses different features that can be incorporated into a home's design in order to harness solar energy.
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Handout
State Energy Conservation Office-Texas

State Energy Conservation Office: Solar Water Heaters [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Explains the types of solar water heaters a home can have. These include a passive system, an active system, and a solar collector, as well as the need for a storage tank. It also gives tips on how to get the best use from a solar water...
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Handout
State Energy Conservation Office-Texas

State Energy Conservation Office: Learning About Photovoltaic Systems [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Explains how photovoltaic systems work and how Texas homeowners are using them. Discusses how a homeowner can use solar energy and still be on the electricity grid system.
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Handout
State Energy Conservation Office-Texas

State Energy Conservation Office: Solar Electricity Works for Texas [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Discusses photovoltaic energy systems and their many applications, e.g., in telecommunications, consumer products, space technology, solar lights, etc.
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Website
California Institute of Technology

Spitzer Science Center: Historias Desde Espacio: Premiacion a Las Planetas

For Students 3rd - 8th
All the planets are competing to see who is the best planet in the Solar System. Read the story in Spanish to learn the results of the pageant. Excellent source of information presented in a fun manner.
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Graphic
NASA

Nasa: Sun: Overview: Our Star

For Students 9th - 10th
A graphical representation of facts, figures, and information about our solar system's only star, the sun.
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Handout
Smithsonian Institution

National Air and Space Museum: Exploring the Planets: Mercury

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a useful resource for facts and images pertaining to the planet Mercury.
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Activity
Other

Lunar and Planetary Institute: Explore! Ice Worlds

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Features a collection of hands-on activities, investigations, and explorations designed to engage students in learning about ice, both in the solar system and on planet Earth.
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Handout
Smithsonian Institution

National Air and Space Museum: Exploring the Planets: Earth's Lithosphere

For Students 9th - 10th
The plate tectonics and other features of the Earth's lithosphere are explained and illustrated. Has links to definitions of the magnetosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere.
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Article
American Institute of Biological Sciences

Action Bioscience: Looking for Life on Mars and Beyond

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
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Unit Plan
NASA

Nasa: 21th Century Explorer: Why Do We Want to Study and Travel to Mars?

For Students 9th - 10th
This article answers some of the most common questions about Mars: Why is it red? Is there water on Mars? What else have scientists discovered from spacecraft that have landed there? Also, visitors can follow links to learn more about...
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Activity
NASA

Nasa: Students K 4

For Students Pre-K - 1st
NASA-sponsored coverage and research on a range of topics related to space exploration -- flying weather stations, comets, first steps on the Moon, and other space-related topics -- are presented in age-appropriate activities, lesson...
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Unit Plan
NASA

Nasa: Neptune: Overview: The Windiest Planet

For Students 9th - 10th
Prepared by NASA, this site provides a detailed look at the planet Neptune. The menu tabs are divided into overview, moons, rings, photo gallery, and facts and figures. Just click to access specific information on any of these topics.
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Handout
Cool Math

Coolmath: Science Monster: Pluto

For Students 3rd - 8th
A cool fact sheet about Pluto including a place for students to enter their weight on Earth to convert it to what it would be on Pluto.
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Graphic
Curated OER

Harvard University: The Solar System

For Students 3rd - 8th
These hands-on activities are are a great way for students to gain perspective on the relative sizes and distances of each planet, the relationship between the sun and Earth, and much more.
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Graphic
Curated OER

Harvard University: The Solar System

For Students 3rd - 8th
These hands-on activities are are a great way for students to gain perspective on the relative sizes and distances of each planet, the relationship between the sun and Earth, and much more.
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eBook
Quia

Quia: Brushing Your Teeth

For Students 3rd - 5th
This site gives you opportunities to practice putting the planets in the correct order from the sun. Press "Click here to begin" to get started.