LESSON PLANS / CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
Amazing Space ('E' 'M')
Designed for elementary students to learn about the solar system.
Contains a number of different astronomy activities, including a
student astronaut challenge wherein students plan a mission to
service the Hubble Space Telescope.
amazing-space.stsci.edu/
Astronomy Picture of the Day ('E' 'M')
In addition to enjoying the daily picture, you can search for
astronomy photographs featured in the past, arranged by subject.
The main entrance:
antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/
Index arranged by subject matter:
antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
Keyword search:
antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/cossc/apod_search
Auroras ('M')
Self-guided lesson on Auroras that explains the science basics
behind this phenomenon. Provides activity suggestions for teachers
and invites your contributions. By the Exploratorium.
www.exploratorium.edu/learning_studio/auroras
CERES Project ('E' 'M' 'H')
A fantastic collection of astronomy lesson plans are included here.
Part of a NASA project.
btc.montana.edu/ceres/
COOL Cosmos: The Infrared Universe ('E' 'M' 'H')
Clever, imaginative site from which to learn about infrared light
through fun games, cool movies, images, and more with classroom and
individual activities. Lesson plans/activities correlated with
National Science Standards.
coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/
Version en Español:
www.spitzer.caltech.edu/espanol/edu/index.shtml
Exploring Planets in the Classroom ('E' 'M' 'H')
"More than 25 hands-on science activities are provided in
classroom-ready pages for both teachers and students for exploring
geology, Earth, the planets, and space sciences." Developed by the
University of Hawaii at Manoa for the state's K-12 educators.
www.spacegrant.hawaii.edu/class_acts/index.html
Eyes on the Sky, Feet on the Ground ('E' 'M')
This site contains hundreds of fun hands on astronomy activities for
kids designed as a classroom tool for learning how to theorize,
experiment, and analyze data.
hea-www.harvard.edu/ECT/the_book/toc.html
Fun With Science! ('M')
Build pop rockets, comet models, hold egg drops, have fun. This
engaging after-school science activity program for middle-school
students "encompasses eight sessions, complete with
activities, book lists, resources, and NASA handouts. Each session
lasts approximately 1½ hours and requires a minimum amount of
materials and preparation time." By the Lunar and Planetary
Institute (LPI) and the State Library of Louisiana under NASA
brokerage.
Teacher resource:
www.lpi.usra.edu/education/EPO/fun_w_sci.html
Imagine the Universe ('M' 'H')
Designed by NASA, this site discusses black holes, neutron stars,
gamma rays, and supernovas. Includes lesson plans related to algebra
II, high school physics and chemistry, as well as middle school
mathematics in "The Teacher's Corner."
imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/
Teacher resources:
imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/teachers/teachers_corner.html
To "Adopt An Astronomer" who can assist you with teaching projects,
visit:
imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/teachers/adopt_astronomer.html
Life on Other Planets in the Solar System
('H')
Explores the possibility of life on orbiting bodies beyond Earth. In
addition to its own content on possible life-supporting environments
on Mars and Europa, the site presents links to related essays and
sites. Created by the Regional Educational Service Agency of Wayne
County, Michigan.
Main entrance to the site:
www.resa.net/nasa/
To view some student projects and posters:
www.resa.net/nasa/lowrey/index.htm
Living in Space - Games and Activities for Kids ('E' 'M')
Fun and learning combined (by grade level) from the Children's
Museum o f Indianapolis.
www.childrensmuseum.org/kids/games.htm
NASA Kids ('E' 'M')
Provides information about space exploration, planets and other
celestial objects, projects, and games. Includes sections on Space
Art and Stories.
kids.msfc.nasa.gov/
Teacher resources ('E'):
www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/k-4/internet/index.html
Teacher resources ('E' 'M'):
www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/5-8/features/index.html
Schoolyard Solar System ('E' 'M')
"The vastness of the solar system offers a unique lesson in large
numbers and in scale. THE SCHOOLYARD SOLAR SYSTEM was developed to
demonstrate the solar system to scale; to show the relationship
between units of thousands, millions, and billions; and to
accomplish these goals with student involvement that will re-enforce
the lessons." Choose the 100 foot or 330 foot model. From NASA.
nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/education/schoolyard_ss/
Science and Technology Lesson Plans ('E' 'M' 'H')
The Smithsonian has an extensive lesson plan database for teachers.
Search by subject, grade level and/or keyword(s). You will sometimes
be directed to other web sites for the plans.
Teacher resources:
smithsonianeducation.org/educators/lesson_plans/science_technology.html
Secret Worlds: The Universe Within ('E' 'M')
An amazing view of the powers of 10. "View the Milky Way at 10
million light years from the Earth. Then move through space towards
the Earth in successive orders of magnitude until you reach a tall
oak tree just outside the buildings of the National High Magnetic
Field Laboratory in Tallahassee, Florida. After that, begin to move
from the actual size of a leaf into a microscopic world that reveals
leaf cell walls, the cell nucleus, chromatin, DNA and finally, into
the subatomic universe of electrons and protons." Lesson plans
included, correlated with National Science Standards..
micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/scienceopticsu/powersof10/index.html
Teacher resources:
micro.magnet.fsu.edu/optics/activities/teachers/perspectives.html
Space Art Through the Ages ('E' 'M' 'H')
Includes interdisciplinary lesson plans, divided by grade level from
K through 12. From the Getty Museum.
Teacher resources:
www.getty.edu/artsednet/resource
Space Science Education Resource Directory ('E' 'M' 'H')
A premier site for teachers. Includes lesson plans and activities,
divided by grade level from K through 12. "This site is a convenient
way to find NASA space science products for use in classrooms,
science museums, planetariums, and other settings."
Main entrance to the site:
www.getty.edu/artsednet/resource
StarChild Project: Connecting NASA and the K-12 Classroom ('E'
'M' 'H')
Covers Astronomy, Earth, Galaxies, Moon, Planets, Space, Stars, Sun
and the Universe. Some short basic material with some parts written
simply, others less so. Rich links to other projects.
heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/
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