Teacher resources & Lesson Ideas

To support your astronomy curriculum, check out the following Websites for science project ideas, lesson plans, and more. Note, while Spaced Out: A Cosmic Scene provides links to these web-based resources that we feel are appropriate, we cannot guarantee that all the content presented in these web resources is scientifically accurate. As an educator it is your responsibility to verify the accuracy of all resources used with your students.

Planet Panorama – Dr. Mangala Sharma, astronomer at Ohio University, has developed a display (which schools can borrow) and background information for distances in the solar system. Episode 5 “Planets are Spatial” is developed around the information on this website.
http://www.phy.ohiou.edu/~astro/PlanPan/Welcome.html

Great resource providing an overview of many aspects of our solar system. There are animations and web links with promise to be informative.
http://www.solarviews.com/eng/solarsys.htm

A partial Content list of site: The Solar System

View of our solar system from outside of the solar system. On February 14, 1990, the cameras of Voyager 1 pointed back toward the Sun and took a series of pictures of the Sun and the planets, making the first ever "portrait" of our solar system as seen from the outside. This image is a diagram of how the frames for the solar system portrait were taken. http://www.solarviews.com/cap/misc/vgr_fam2.htm

THE THOUSAND-YARD MODEL or, The Earth as a Peppercorn: This is a classic exercise for visualizing just how BIG our Solar System really is. Both the relative size and spacing of the planets are demonstrated in this outdoor exercise, using a mere peppercorn to represent the size of the Earth.

http://www.noao.edu/education/peppercorn/pcmain.html

Solar System Science
Guide to the Inverse Square Law
Multiwavelength Milky Way
http://www.solarviews.com/eng/edu/invsquar.htm

Scale model calculator for our solar system. This page will create a scale model of the Solar system, based on a series of preset Sun sizes. The sun may be selected from five different options.
http://www.geocities.com/humealumni/solarsys.htm

Math scale model resource – use of proportions. Students select a size of the earth than calculate the proportionate size of other objects in the  universe. ‘Jobs’ are provided with answer key. These ‘jobs’ could be used as student activities.
http://www.cavendishscience.org/phys/howfar/howfarhm.htm

Kepler Telescope and NASA mission
http://kepler.nasa.gov/about/
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/kepler/main/index.html
http://kepler.nasa.gov/ed/starwheel/
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/03/02/science/20080203-kepler-graphic.html

Solar System size and scale model activity kids could do at home – easily adopted so parents can drive son or daughter the recommended distances.
http://www.mos.org/sln/wtu/activities/scale.html

Astronomy Resources

Website for detecting planets – http://www.astronomynotes.com/solfluf/s12.htm

GLOBE at Night – http://www.globe.gov/GaN/
Find easy-to-follow instructions for participating in this project at this site, where students can also record their observations of the night sky. Prior to the star-hunting event, students can log on to learn about Orion's role in Greek mythology, star magnitude, and other topics.

International Year of Astronomy 2009 – http://www.globe.gov/GaN/
A list of global projects designed to promote awareness of astronomy and dark skies. Some activities are too advanced for elementary school students.

The GLOBE Program – http://www.globe.gov/r
Abundant resources for integrating related lessons about such topics as atmosphere and climate, clouds, and hydrology.

400 Years of the Telescope – http://www.400years.org/
Information about a new documentary that follows astronomical discoveries starting from Galileo's first peek through the telescope. The site offers a viewing schedule and "Profiles in Astronomy" that may serve as excellent bases for history lessons.

Hands-On Optics – http://www.hands-on-optics.org/home/
Six modules for teaching about optics. Lessons range from studies of lasers to magnification and communicating with light.

The International Dark-Sky Association – viewing the night sky and the importance of darkness for biological growth. Lessons on the solar system and the effects of light pollution on wildlife, as well as science, writing, and art projects for students ages 7-12. http://www.darksky.org/mc/page.do

This site even offers suggestions for a ‘Star Party’ with your students http://www.darksky.org/mc/page.do?sitePageId=56428&orgId=idsa

National Optical Astronomy Observatory http://www.noao.edu/ with a link to educational applications http://www.noao.edu/education/
NOAO is engaged in programs to develop the next generation of telescopes, instruments, and software tools necessary to enable exploration and investigation through the observable Universe, from planets orbiting other stars to the most distant galaxies in the Universe.

Sun As a Star: Science Learning Activities for Afterschool - The Sun As a Star activities teach concepts related to the sun with opportunities for the students to investigate each idea. Most of the nine sequential activities can be completed in about one hour.

Here you can download a 37-page teacher resource guide, which suggests 9 activities you can do with your students, many of these activities support information presented in Spaced Out: A Cosmic Scene episodes.