This cluster includes the following access points.
Vetted resources educators can use to teach the concepts and skills in this topic.
| Name |
Description |
| Stars: HR Diagram & Classification: | In this lesson students will categorize a list of stars based on absolute brightness, size, and temperature. Students will analyze astronomical data presented in charts and plot their data on a special graph called a Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram (H-R Diagram). Using this diagram, they must determine the proper classification of individual stars. Using their data analysis, students completing this lesson will develop two short essay responses to a professional client indicating which stars are Main Sequence Stars and which ones are White Dwarfs, Giants, or Supergiants. |
| Martian Bill of Rights: Part 1: | Students will predict the challenges for humans living on Mars in the future by considering the differences between Mars and Earth. In light of these potential challenges, students will consider how the rule of law could influence a new Martian society founded under the principles of the U.S. constitutional republic in this integrated lesson plan. This lesson is Part 1 of 2. |
| Martian Bill of Rights: Part 2: | Students will use their understanding of the habitability challenges on Mars (developed during Part 1) to create a Martian Bill of Rights that will guarantee civil rights and liberties of future Martian citizens in this integrated lesson plan. This lesson is Part 2 of 2. |
| Space Race to Mars: | Students will investigate current and potential impacts of the space program on citizens of Florida, relating this to the responsibilities of citizens to be informed and vote to influence tax-funded government programs. They will research the impact of NASA on the economy and ecosystems of Florida and weigh pros and cons of funding a program aimed at exploring Mars. Students will take a position and develop a commercial to convince the public to vote for or against funding this program in this integrated lesson plan. |
| Where Should We Move? STEM Lesson Plan: | Students will collect data to identify planet composition, average temperature, and the distance of some planets within the Milky Way Galaxy from the Sun. Students will complete two-way tables to make comparisons. Students will then analyze and interpret their data. Students will make inferences and justify their reasoning. |
| It's Not All Visible: | The student will investigate and construct explanations regarding the uses and applications of the electromagnetic spectrum. Students will investigate the various types of electromagnetic radiation with the use of a graphic organizer and create a foldable to represent the EM spectrum, including the types, uses, and applications. |
| NASA and the Space Program Change Florida: The Space Program Changes the Economy and Culture of Florida: | The Soviet Union launched Sputnik I, the first man-made satellite, into space in 1957. Americans watched the Soviet satellite beeping and blinking across the American night sky. Sputnik I weighed only 184 pounds and could do little more than beep, but many people worried that this meant the United States was losing the race to develop space technology.
Pressure exploded from United States politicians and the American public demanding that the country catch up and increase investment in rocket technology and aeronautics. In this lesson students will analyze the film Florida: Moonport USA to describe the effect of the United States space program on Florida's economy, growth and culture. |
| Lunar Phases: | Hands-on modeling of lunar phases in order to recognize each of the eight positions in the lunar cycle. |
| Proxima b: How Earth-like Is It?: | In this lesson, students will analyze an intended to support reading in the content area. The article showcases the recent discovery of a planet orbiting our nearest star that may have the necessary ingredients to harbor life. The possibly Earth-like planet is 4 light years away, however. How might we explore it in greater detail? The lesson plan includes a note-taking guide, text-dependent questions, a writing prompt, answer keys, and a writing rubric. Numerous options to extend the lesson are also included. |
| Which Map Should We Use?: | Students will create a working model of the solar system to scale. They will incorporate QR codes to present information on solar system objects, as well as compare the geocentric and heliocentric models of the solar system. |
| Desktop Constellations: | Students will draw constellations on their desktops with dry erase crayons. They will identify the stars' absolute magnitudes for the brightest stars in the constellation. Students will explore the meaning of absolute magnitude vs. apparent magnitude in a 3D environment. Students will write explanations for how the stars in a constellation can appear to be of similar magnitude and similar distances away from the observer even if their true data shows they are very different. |
| The Impact of the Sun and Moon on Tides: | The student will use models to demonstrate the relative positions of the Earth, Sun, and Moon and their impact on tides. Students will explain the impact and relative positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun on tides. |
| Sea Ice Analysis Grade 8: | The changing climate is an important topic for both scientific analysis and worldly knowledge. This lesson uses data collected by the National Snow and Ice Data Center to create and use mathematical models as a predictive tool and do critical analysis of sea ice loss. |
| Moons: Searching for Signs of Life on 'Water Worlds': | In this lesson, students will analyze an informational text that explains the importance of examining moons in our solar system for signs of life. The text provides evidence on several moons of Saturn and Jupiter and explains how these moons might be good candidates for potentially harboring life, in part due to the presence of water. This lesson is designed to support reading in the content area. The lesson plan includes a graphic organizer, text-dependent questions, a writing prompt, answer keys, and a writing rubric. Numerous options to extend the lesson are also included. |
| Amazing Galaxies: | In this activity, students will gain basic knowledge of the different types of galaxies. There is a presentation via Prezi to show, guided practice, and an activity. To measure their understanding, they will create a travel brochure for a galaxy. Students will need two classes or one 90 minute block to complete. |
| Visualizing the Universal Law of Gravity: | Students will be able to visualize how mass and distance influence gravity. Using simple materials, students will explore how mass and distance affect gravitational pull through this 5-E lesson. |
| Rockets To Pluto: | Students will explore current space technology and explore the possibilities of traveling to Pluto. Students will participate in an Engineering Design Challenge in which they will construct and test their rockets to see how far they can go!
An Engineering Design Challenge is a combination of project-based learning, design thinking, and the engineering design process that develops the innovator's mindset through iteration. This lets students use their own imaginations to design projects according to science and engineering processes. |
| Solar System Models and Contributors: | This lesson will introduce heliocentric and geocentric models of the solar system. The presentation will go through some of the greatest thinkers and their contributions to each model. This includes a presentation, and a foldable template for students to link the contributors to the model and their input. |
| Land Management from Outer Space: | In this lesson, students will analyze an informational text that explains how ranchers in Australia are using satellite data to more effectively manage their land. The text also describes how NASA's satellite technology is used by farmers in other parts of the world, providing them with data to help them track changes to their land in near real-time and over time. This lesson is designed to support reading in the content area. This lesson includes a note-taking guide, text-dependent questions and a writing prompt, sample answer keys, and a writing rubric. |
| Expanding the Universe: | Students will draw three dots on an unblown balloon to represent three different galaxies. They will measure the distance between these "galaxies" and then blow up the balloon in three stages, measuring the distance between the "galaxies" at each stage. |
| Gravity! What the deal?: | This lesson teaches the students how distance and mass affect gravity in a system using centripetal force. This is best done when correlating to the formation of the solar system. |
| A Change for Every Season: | A Change for Every Season highlights how the sun affects Earth's seasons. The activity asks students to pack a suitcase for a vacation in the Southern Hemisphere. The goal of this lesson is to demonstrate that the tilt of the Earth on its axis, direct and indirect sunlight determines the seasons. The lesson will only address the portion of the standard SC.8.E.5.9 pertaining to seasons. |
| What's Up With Venus? : | In this POE-based lesson, students will explore the relationships between several variables for the inner-terrestrial planets in our solar system. |
| The Attractive Moon: | Students will create a tidal range graph for one month worth of data and compare it to the moon phases for that month to see the connection between the moon phase and the tidal range. |
| Modeling the Phases of the Moon: | Provide your students with the opportunity to experience the gradually changing phases of the moon. By the end of this activity students will be able to model the relative positions of the sun, moon, and Earth for any moon phase and explain why the moon appears to go through phases that gradually change throughout the month. Students will model the revolution of the moon around Earth in 3 dimensions and make careful observations of the way the moon looks to them as the shadows on the moon gradually change. Students will draw what the moon looks like from their perspective at strategic positions that model the relative positions of the sun, moon, and Earth at New Moon, Waxing Crescent, 1st Quarter, Waxing Gibbous, Full Moon, Waning Gibbous, Last Quarter, and Waning Crescent. |
| Models of the Solar System: | In this lesson, students will create a poster showing comparisons of historical models of the Solar System, including the geocentric and heliocentric. |
| Electromagnetic Spectrum Poster Project: | In this lesson, students conduct a brief review on frequency and wavelengh. Students are then assigned a specific region of the Eectromagnetic Spectrum to research in small groups. Posters representing their assigned region are created following specific guidelines. Posters will include frequency, wavelength, energy level and appplications of their assigned radiation. Students will then display their posters during a class gallery walk with guiding questions. This allows students to compare the research they conducted with that of fellow classmates. |
| Galaxy Exploration: Clear or Nebula?: | In this activity, students will gain basic knowledge of the different types of galaxies. To measure their understanding, they will complete a lab activity that will help them classify pictures of different galaxy types. Students will need two days to complete this activity. |
| Our Solar System's Only Star: | In this activity, students will work collaboratively in groups of 3 or 4 to create a model of the Sun's interior layers (core, radiative zone, and convection zone), atmosphere (photosphere, chromosphere, and corona) and solar activity (prominences, solar flares, and sunspots) and will implement the properties of all layers into their model. |
| Star Scatter Plots: | In this lesson, students plot temperature and luminosity data from a provided star table to create a scatter plot. They will analyze the data to sequence the colors of stars from hottest to coolest and to describe the relationship between temperature and luminosity. This lesson does not address differentiation between absolute and apparent magnitude. |
| The Sun's Layers and Features: | This is a two day lesson that will teach students about the layers and features of the Sun. On day one, students will research and describe the layers of the Sun using websites. On day two, students will learn about the features of the Sun in a PowerPoint and then show the knowledge they have gained by completing a foldable ending with three critical thinking closure questions. |
| Galactic Goodies: | Students will use inquiry to find out how many sugar crystals are in one packet of sugar. They will explore the number one billion and they will use this number to understand how many stars are in a galaxy and how many galaxies are in the universe. They will then create a 3-D model of a galaxy (edible model suggested). Students will then tie all of their information they have learned into a foldable activity. |
| Starry Science: | In this engaging lesson, students will investigate and explore the effects of temperature, size, and magnitude on the luminosity and life span of stars using glow sticks. This lesson includes a guided inquiry lab and website exploration. |
| Dear Uni Verse: Advice Column for Stars and Planets: | In this lesson students will explore The Law of Universal Gravitation. Students will respond to fictional letters from planets and stars seeking advice on topics that deal with gravity. The advice column will reinforce the concept of Universal Gravitation and give students an opportunity to practice argumentation as they formulate their responses. |
| Spectra and Stars: | This lesson expands students’ understanding of how electromagnetic waves are used to reveal information from imagery taken in space by using c-spectra or spectroscopes, light sources, and colored gel filters. |
| Structure of the Sun: | In this lesson, students will learn the layers of the sun (core, radiative zone, convective zone, photosphere, chromosphere, and corona) and three types of solar activity (sunspots, solar flares, and prominences). They will be able to build a model of the sun with labels and descriptions. |
| Exposing a common misconception: The distance the Earth is from the Sun causes seasons, right?: | This lab exposes a common misconception: that the distance the Earth is from the Sun causes the change in seasons. In this lab experience students will start with a exploratory lab to model the distance between the Earth and Sun during aphelion and perihelion. To dispel this misconception, students then engage in one of two suggested labs that address the true cause for the seasons, Earth's tilt. During both of these labs students will learn that the tilt of the Earth causes one hemisphere to receive more direct sunlight than the other. Earth's axis doesn't tilt in its orbit but as the Earth progresses through its orbit the hemispheres receive varying amounts of direct and indirect sunlight. |
| NASAnt hire Space Company: | This is a NASA-themed, MEA (Model Eliciting Activity), STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) lesson designed to challenge students to solve a real world open ended problem. It also promotes collaboration through teamwork. This particular lesson asks students to assist a client in choosing the best three companies (rank in order) to be considered for hire to launch an orbiter into space. The students' original decision (and "twist") will be based on information from the client's letter(s) and data set(s). Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom. |
| NASA: Roving for the right wheel! 3D + MEA: | In this MEA, students will evaluate wheel designs from different companies to determine which wheel is appropriate for the mission. Further 3D printing is integrated by 3D printing different wheel models which can be directly tested using a LEGO Mindsorms Robot or Simple Rubber Band Powered Sled and different Regolith Simulants for the Moon and Titan. Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom. |
| 3-D Printers: Cost Effective for the Quality?: | Students will compare the cost of pre-made solar car kits to cars made from a 3-D printer. In the second part of the activity, students will research other available 3-D printers and determine what attributes are important to consider. There is also an optional solar panel car race for day 3. Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom. |
| Search for Extraterrestrial Life: | Students rank locations that NASA should search within our solar system for life. Students begin by reading about the origins of life on Earth and locations within our solar system with the potential for life. After students create a ranked list, they must report their findings to NASA in the form of a letter that also includes the procedure used in ranking their choices. A second request is sent from NASA to include distance from Earth as a factor in the ranking of locations and students must return a letter with their revised rankings and the new procedure used. Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom. |
| Discovering Kepler's Law for the Periods of Planets: | Students listen to a video that describes Kepler's determination that planetary orbits are elliptical and then will use data for the solar distance and periods of several of the planets in the solar system, then investigate several hypotheses to determine which is supported by the data. |
| Scientific calculations from a distant planet: | Students will act as mathematicians and scientists as they use models, observations and space science concepts to perform calculations and draw inferences regarding a fictional solar system with three planets in circular orbits around a sun. Among the calculations are estimates of the size of the home planet (using a method more than 2000 years old) and the relative distances of the planets from their sun. |
| Moon Formation Theories: | Students will learn about moon formation theories, the evidence scientists have to support the current one, and how models can be used to support the theory. |
| Starry, Starry Night: | The students will learn about different stars. They will categorize them according to their temperature, color and mass. They will also use their imagination to create a star poster project and present their creation. They will name their new star and include its mass, color and temperature. They will present it through a report, song or poem in a poster form. They may work alone or in pairs (teacher's choice). |
| Blast off! The Space Coast and the Economy: | In this lesson, students will research and summarize the effects of space exploration on the economy and culture of Florida and then create a giant flowchart. |
| Quest For Life: Space Exploration: | Students must decide the destination of a multi-billion dollar space flight to an unexplored world. The location must be selected based on its potential for valuable research opportunities. Some locations may have life, while others could hold the answers to global warming or our energy crisis. Students must choose the destination that they feel will be most helpful to human-kind.
Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. MEAs resemble engineering problems and encourage students to create solutions in the form of mathematical and scientific models. Students work in teams to apply their knowledge of science and mathematics to solve an open-ended problem, while considering constraints and tradeoffs. Students integrate their ELA skills into MEAs as they are asked to clearly document their thought process. MEAs follow a problem-based, student centered approach to learning, where students are encouraged to grapple with the problem while the teacher acts as a facilitator. To learn more about MEA’s visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx |
| What Spinoff Is In Your Closet?: | In this lesson, students will research NASA spinoffs. The students will organize their research by developing a report which will include highlights of the positive impact the spinoffs have had on society. |
| To Infinity & Beyond: | Identify characteristics of stars. |
| Measuring the Universe: | This activity will help students understand why astronomers use large units and scientific notation to describe distances in the universe. |
| Space Spinoffs: | This activity will help students investigate how a metallic coating developed for use in space was "spun off," or adapted, and used to make thermal survival blankets. |
| Moons in Motion: | Students should understand that the observed phase of the moon is determined by the moon's position relative to the Earth and sun. |
| Mars Rovers: | Students will work in teams to conduct research and compare Mars and Earth. They will develop a procedure and explain their reasoning to rank different rover models to determine which one could be the best to deploy as a part of Mars Exploration Project. Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom. |
| "Tasty" Moon Phases: | The students will demonstrate their knowledge of moon phases by creating the moon phases using cream filled chocolate cookies (Oreos). Students will also complete a moon phase handout depicting the placement of the moon Earth and Sun. |
| Earth Science: | Students will understand relative distances between objects (planets, stars, and galaxies) in the universe. A light-year (also light year, symbol: ly) is a unit of length (distance), not time. |
| Asteroids: | In this lesson, students show and discuss that the planets' orbits follows a pattern, compare sizes of asteroids relative to the size of Earth and Earth's moon, make asteroid models, research impact craters, and discuss the likelihood and effects of an asteroid impact on Earth. |
| Creativity in Science: | Scientists and engineers, who know a lot about technology, worked together to create satellites so many different things could be studied. In this lesson, students will learn about the launch of the Swift satellite and the data that the satellite collects and sends to Earth. The focus of the lesson is on the people involved in the project and their careers and cooperative activities. Students also explore the different job roles in the development of satellites and web pages used to communicate scientific discoveries from those satellites, with a particular focus on gamma ray bursts. |
| Comparison of Historical Models of the Solar System: | The students will be able to explain the differences between the geocentric and heliocentric models of the solar system. The students will become familiar with the astronomical tools of the sixteenth century and those of the twenty-first century. |
| Designing a Scale Model of the Solar System: | In this lesson, students complete a paper model of the solar system that demonstrates both size and distance from the Sun. |
| Lesson 2 Voyage of Discovery: | This lesson allows students to model and compare the distance of planets from the Sun, as well as, compare the relative sizes of the planets using everyday items. |
| Lesson 3 How Far is Far?: | Using a pinhole viewer students will look at a reflected image of the Sun to calculate how far the Sun is from Earth. This activity would be used for enrichment or for advanced students. This lesson requires pre-planning for the teacher to practice making and using the viewers. Simple math calculations are required by the students to complete the assignment. |
| Margot's Venus: | This lesson incorporates Florida Standard elements while teaching the characteristics of Venus and the importance of the Sun to our existence. |
| Seeing the Solar System through a Historical Lens: | This lesson provides students with an opportunity to investigate the major scientists related to the various models of the solar system. Students participate in a mock trial to determine an appropriate model of the solar system. Students conclude this lesson with a gallery walk of the models that they have produced. |
| Space Telescope: Optics and the EM Spectrum: | In this MEA, students will:
- identify and compare characteristics of the electromagnetic spectrum such as wavelength, frequency, and energy.
- understand the benefits of studying astronomy using the electromagnetic spectrum and appreciate the amount of knowledge available through data and observations such as planetary images and satellite photographs.
- assess the value of technology in science for such purposes as access to outer space and other remote locations, sample collection, measurement, data collection and storage, computation, and communication of information.
- be able to describe the vast distances between objects in space using an understanding of light and how it travels.
- be able to analyze scientific texts and support their findings with textual evidence.
Model Eliciting Activities, MEAs, are open-ended, interdisciplinary problem-solving activities that are meant to reveal students’ thinking about the concepts embedded in realistic situations. Click here to learn more about MEAs and how they can transform your classroom. |
| Water On the Move: | This lesson focuses on the influence of gravity on the the Earth's tides, but addresses every part of the standard SC.8.E.5.9 except seasons and eclipses. Seasons and Eclipses should be taught at another time. Students will be using an online simulator to complete an observation sheet in order to determine the cause of the tides. Students will also apply the knowledge from their observations and notes to real-time data on a graph. |
| Name |
Description |
| Sun's Nearest Stellar Neighbor May Have Earth-Like Planet: | This resource is intended to support reading in the content area. The text includes information on a newly discovered planet that orbits the nearest star to our sun. Proxima b, while close, is actually quite far—more than four light years from our sun—yet it shows potential for life, close enough for the planet to receive radiation and energy from its star. The article also discusses the possibility of sending robotic missions there using new technology that could perhaps reach the planet in twenty years. |
| Amazing Moons: | This informational text resource is designed to support reading in the content area. This article from NASA addresses how our solar system’s moons may be a more interesting study than some of the planets because they show a possibility of harboring life due to their composition, atmospheres and presence of water. |
| Satellite Data Help Australian Ranchers Meet the Rising Demand for Meat in a Changing World: | This informational text resource is designed to support reading in the content area. The article is provided by NASA and discusses how farmers in Australia are able to use digital data provided by U.S. satellites. These farmers are able to use this satellite data to monitor the condition of their land, and enables them to better manage their farms. The author also provides additional examples of how this data is used by countries throughout the world. The article helps demonstrate how space technology positively impacts the world. The text also discusses the impact of human activities on the environment. |
| Sun Sibling Spotted: | This informational text resource is intended to support reading in the content area. Scientists may have found a star created from the same nebula that produced our sun. The spectrograph composition data, the motion of the star through the Milky Way, and its age all suggest that it is a "sibling" to our Sun. |
| We Are Stardust: | This informational text resource is intended to support reading in the content area. This text examines how humans and all things around us are made of elements created in stars. The article references fusion, the powerful collision of enormous stars, and the intense explosion of supernovas. All of this is tied to the creation of heavier elements that hurtle through space, to be reassembled as distant solar systems. |
| How the Outer Sun Gets So Hot: | This informational text resource is intended to support reading in the content area. This article describes a theory explaining why the outer layer of the sun, the corona, is much hotter than some inner layers. The theory states that magnetic waves transport heat energy from the sun's center to its outer layers. They may be "shuttled" by gas jets that originate deeper within the sun. |
| Dusty Remains from a Dead Star: | This informational text resource is intended to support reading in the content area. Scientists have been observing a supernova that first appeared in 1987. Specifically, they have measured a large amount of star dust that formed as a result of the supernova. This dust is thought to be the material that forms new stars and studying it may tell scientists something about how stars formed early in the history of the universe. |
| Curiosity Lands on Mars!: | This informational text resource is intended to support reading in the content area. In 2012, the rover Curiosity was sent on a mission to Mars in order to explore the planet for signs of life. This article describes the research required to build the rover, its flight and landing on Mars, and the objectives of its mission. |
| Jupiter's Long-Lasting Storm: | This informational text resource is intended to support reading in the content area. Most studies of Jupiter's Great Red Spot (a storm) predict that it should have disappeared long ago, and so its continued existence puzzles scientists. A new study that considers the vertical winds within the storm is able to explain why the spot has existed for over 200 years, and could even continue for hundreds of years longer. |
| "Genius Materials" on the ISS: | This informational text resource is intended to support reading in the content area. Gorilla Glass on your phone? Magnetic fluid shocks in your car? With applications here on Earth, "smart" materials like these are being studied in the microgravity of space. The programmed rearrangement of particles on a molecular level enhances materials in new high-tech products. |
| Failed "Star" Found in Sun's Backyard: | This informational text resource is intended to support reading in the content area. A brown dwarf, which is essentially a failed star, has been discovered close to our solar system. The brown dwarf is the coldest and one of the smallest yet discovered. Telescopic images and data helped scientists to find and characterize the failed star. |
| The Sun's Giant Heat Elevators: | This informational text resource is intended to support reading in the content area. The article describes the discovery of mega-plumes of plasma within the sun. These long-lasting, larger than Earth heat elevators may be the reason the latitudes of the sun rotate at different speeds. Two different scientists have analyzed data that support this possible explanation. |
| Defying Gravity: Eye-Opening Science Adventures On a Weightless Flight: | This article describes a weightless flight taken by student researchers investigating several questions all centering on zero gravity. NASA's Reduced Gravity Education Flight Program uses flights by the commercial Zero Gravity Corporation to perform weightless science. |
| Light and Telescopes: | This informational text resource is intended to support reading in the content area. This article explains the types of light on the electromagnetic spectrum that our eyes cannot detect; to make them visible, scientists use telescopes to take amazing photographs. Computers turn the data into color that the human eye can see, so the colors are actually "false colors." The article includes additional links, including the Hubble Space Telescope website gallery of photographs. |
| The Most Popular Stars : | This informational text resource is intended to support reading in the content area. This article discusses how stars are classified, especially the different types of dwarf stars. It is still under debate how some star-like objects, like brown dwarfs, should be classified. The text also describes the life cycle of stars, explaining how they change in size and mass over time and eventually expand and die. |
| Brightest Stars: Luminosity & Magnitude: | This informational text resource is intended to support reading in the content area. This text briefly describes how astronomers have measured and quantified the apparent brightness and magnitude of stars as astrophysics has evolved over time. This article also discusses the limitations of absolute magnitude in terms of the technology tools utilized. |
| End of an Era: | This informational text resource is intended to support reading in the content area. This article describes the history of NASA's space shuttle program as it comes to an end. It discusses the scientific advancements that have resulted from the program and the possible next steps in human space flight. |
| A "Goldilocks" World?: | This informational text resource is intended to support reading in the content area. The article describes how astronomers have found a new exoplanet, Kepler-186f, orbiting a distant star. Research suggests that this planet is in the habitable "Goldilocks" zone—not too close and not too far—of the red dwarf star it orbits. If the planet is in the habitable zone, it mimics the earth/sun relationship we have, and astronomers believe liquid water might be present on this planet. Water, of course, is the key to (extraterrestrial) life. |
| Tiny Planet Mercury Shrinks Further: | The text’s grade band recommendation is based on a text complexity analysis of a quantitative measure, qualitative rubric, and reader and task considerations. |
| How Many Satellites are in Space?: | This informational text resource is intended to support reading in the content area. This article from Universe Today describes the quantity of operational satellites and "space junk" orbiting the Earth. Those figures are broken down by the satellites' various orbits and include examples of the types of objects found in each area. |
| Urine May Make Mars Travel Possible: | This informational text resource is intended to support reading in the content area. The article describes how technology is developing to not only recycle the water out of human urine but to pull energy from it to help power its own recycling. The text describes why this is a necessary process for extended space travel and how a similar system is already in place on the International Space Station. The text concludes that this recycling method could have several Earth-borne uses as well. |
| Bon Voyage, Voyager 1: | This informational text resource is intended to support reading in the content area. This article describes the accomplishments of the Voyager 1 spacecraft since its launch in 1977. It also explains the arguments for determining the current location of the spacecraft—possibly interstellar space—and what will happen when it begins to shut down entirely. |
| How Does Going To The Bathroom in Space Work?: | This informational text resource is intended to support reading in the content area. This is a clearly organized high-interest informative text explaining how astronauts use the bathroom, sleep and eat in zero gravity. The web version has a video, library of photos, and many other related sites that students can independently investigate. |
| Baby Stars in the Rosette Cloud: | Images recently discovered by the Herschel telescope reveal the formation of previously unseen high-mass star formations. These new findings help us learn more about our own galaxy as well as star formation, and will lead to a better understanding of larger distant galaxies. |
| 91 New Species Described by California Academy Of Sciences in 2013: | Technological advances and partnerships with technology companies help with research on biodiversity. Satellites – used in conjunction with GPS-enabled tablets loaded with imaging software – can assist scientists with uncovering, locating, and collecting data on species that would normally not have been discovered. |
| When is a Comet Not a Comet?: | This informational text resource is intended to support reading in the content area. The discovery of a comet-like asteroid baffles scientists and poses questions about its formation, make-up, and changing appearance. |
| Weather/ Whiz Kids/ Climate: | This informational text is intended to support reading in the content area. The text covers many topics about weather and climate including the water cycle, seasons, greenhouse effect, and climate change. |
| Kepler A Search For Habitable Planets: | This informational text resource is intended to support reading in the content area. The text describes NASA's "Kepler" mission, which uses a photometer telescope to examine our region of the Milky Way Galaxy for habitable planets similar to Earth. |
| Titanic Sunk by "Supermoon" and Celestial Alignment?: | This informational text is intended to support reading in the content area. This news article describes an astronomer's theory that a particularly strong series of tides contributed to an abundance of icebergs and may have resulted in the sinking of the Titanic. It is complete with the evidence behind the theory and a contrary opinion from another astronomer. |
| Moon Crash, Splash: | This resource is intended to support reading in the content area. This article describes how NASA sent a Centaur rocket attached to a mother craft (LCROSS) to the moon. The rocket detached, crashed and stirred up a plume of debris. The mother craft flew through the debris plume, took pictures and analyzed the plume's contents. The measurements revealed the presence of water in significant quantities. |
| Astronomy Online: | This website is a collection of references, images, and information for general astronomy. This work covers topics from the basics of science and observation through the solar system, stars, cosmology, and telephotography. The material is clearly organized by topic using links to reference materials on the web. |
| The Solar System: | This website provides an overview of objects in the solar system. The user can click on different links to learn about objects such as the inner and outer planets and minor bodies. It also includes a link to explorations and activities. This is the on-line version of the printed "StarDate: the solar system" guide. |
| Kennedy Space Center Annual Report 2012: | The 2012 Report of the Kennedy Space Center includes significant events, engineering achievements, partnerships, environmental work, education work, and outreach. In addition, the final section includes the economic impact and work force diversity. |
| NASA Electromagnetic Spectrum: | This is a very interesting web site about the electromagnetic spectrum. It gives great background information and examples on the different types of waves. |
| Why Isn't Pluto A Planet?: | This Frequently Asked Question page can be used by educators and students as a scientific resource to answer the question, "Why isn't Pluto a planet?". From the International Astronomical Union, the definitive answer from the governing body that classified Pluto as a dwarf planet. |
| Name |
Description |
| Creating New Tools for Exploration: | In this video, new observation technologies are presented. National Geographic is developing and using these technologies to better capture the world. |
| Inquiry and Ocean Exploration: | Ocean explorer Robert Ballard gives a TED Talk relating to the mysteries of the ocean, and the importance of its continued exploration. |
| Billion-Pixel View of Mars from Curiosity Rover: | - This interactive tool contains views of Mars taken from Curiosity Rover
- Students get to observe the a close view of the surface of Mars
- Snap shots of different things identified on the surface are also displayed
|
| Earth from Orbit in 2012: | This video contains a collection of the best images of the Earth taken from space in 2012 |
| What is a Planet?: | This video provides a historical background about the definition of a planet and how different objects discovered in space were classified as planets or fir into a different category |
| Mars Science Laboratory-Curiosity Rover-Mission Animation: | This animation depicts key events of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission, which launched in late 2011 and landed a rover, Curiosity, on Mars in August 2012. |
| AtmosModeler Simulator: |
- Illustrate the change in temperature and pressure of the atmosphere with altitude
- Show the difference in temperature and pressure of the Earth's atmosphere versus the Martian atmosphere for the same altitude
|
| Science Crossword Puzzles: | A collection of crossword puzzles that test the knowledge of students about some of the terms, processes, and classifications covered in science topics |
| Gamma-ray Burst Theories: | This video clip explores some of the possible theories that might help explain what causes gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). Scientists have only been studying GRBs since 1967, even though they originated billions of years ago. Once they were found, it took scientists another four years to determine what these flashes of nuclear energy were. |
| 27 Storms: Arlene to Zeta: | This video from NASA presents the 2005 hurricane season with actual data that NASA and NOAA satellites measured. Sea surface temperatures, clouds, storm tracks, and hurricane category labels are shown as the hurricane season progresses. |
| Galileo: Sun-Centered System: | Prior to the seventeenth century, it was generally believed that the center of the universe was Earth. Galileo Galilei challenged this belief with his published work which supported the sun-centered Copernican theory. In this NOVA-adapted video clip, learn about these two opposing worldviews, as well as the strong piece of evidence he presented in support of the heliocentric theory. |
| Solar Eclipses: | Every now and then, the Sun, Earth, and Moon align so that, when viewed from parts of the Earth, the Moon eclipses the Sun's light. Solar eclipses are fairly common -- the Moon will block out some portion of the Sun at least twice a year. However, it is still a special event to be able to witness a total solar eclipse. In this video segment adapted from NASA, learn how solar eclipses happen and why they are so difficult to witness. |
| Jupiter: Earth's Shield: | More than 155 planets have been found outside of our solar system since the first extra-solar planet was identified in 1995. The search has long been heavily biased towards finding massive planets with short orbits. Now, to find an Earth-like planet, scientists are looking for a planetary setup that is similar to our own, in which a Jupiter-like planet lies a good distance away from its sun. This video segment adapted from NOVA explores how the arrangement of planets in our solar system may have affected the development of life on Earth. |
| Solar Wind's Effect on Earth: | The Sun produces a solar wind — a continuous flow of charged particles — that can affect us on Earth. It can, for example, disrupt communications, navigation systems, and satellites. Solar activity can also cause power outages, such as the extensive Canadian blackout in 1989. In this video segment adapted from NASA, learn about solar storms and their effects on Earth. |
| Why Doesn't the Moon Fall Down?: | The Moon, Earth's natural satellite, seems to hover in the sky,
unaffected by gravity. However, the reason the Moon stays in orbit is
precisely because of gravity -- a universal force that attracts
objects. With the right combination of speed and gravity, satellites
can fall around, instead of into, the body that they orbit. In this
animated video segment adapted from NASA, learn about how the Moon
stays in orbit around Earth.
|
| Eclipse of the Century: | In July 1991, the alignment of the Sun, Moon, and Earth produced a rare opportunity — a total solar eclipse with a particularly long duration and a path that crossed easily accessible locations, including a major astronomical observatory in Hawaii. In this video segment adapted from NOVA, learn about the mechanics of solar eclipses and observe the rare 1991 eclipse from the top of Mauna Kea. |
| Distances Between the Planets Animation: | This animation simulates a voyage from the sun past all nine planets. For convenience, the planets are lined up in the same direction. The animation shows each planet's average distance from the sun. |
| Space School Musical: | Join teenager Hannah on a trip through the solar system in this "hip-hopera" that uses song and dance to introduce the planets, moons, asteroids and more. Download the lyrics for students to learn and perform or just play the videos in class. |
Vetted resources students can use to learn the concepts and skills in this topic.
Vetted resources caregivers can use to help students learn the concepts and skills in this topic.
