Lesson Plans
Elementary School Students
Path to Mars
Source: DiscoverySchool.com
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/thepathtomars/
3rd-5th
Students compare and contrast the geological features of Mars and Earth.
People and Space
Source: DiscoverySchool.com
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/peopleandspace/
K-2nd
Students learn the meaning of the word ""dehydrated"" by understanding the concept of space food.
Bringing the Solar System to Life
Source: LessonPlanCentral.com
http://ofcn.org/cyber.serv/academy/ace/sci/cecsci/cecsci067.html
2nd-3rd
Use model representations to recreate the rotation and revolution of the planets around the sun.
Understanding the Planets
Source: LessonPlanCentral.com
http://eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Science/Space_Sciences/SPA0200.html
3rd-4th
The student will follow a guided research process to identify main and subordinate ideas for a report about the planets.
Planets of Our Solar System
Source: The Educator's Reference Desk
http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Science/Space_Sciences/SPA0026.html
3rd
Students use models of the solar system to put the planets in order, name them, and become familiar with their other characteristics.
Bringing the Solar System to Life
Source: The Educator’s Reference Desk
http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Science/Astronomy/AST0003.html
2nd-3rd
Students make a model of the solar system and demonstrate the ideas of “revolution” and “rotation.”
How Do We Explore Strange Environments?
Source: Challenger Center for Space Science Education
http://www.challenger.org/lessons/28.pdf
K-4th
Students learn about space exploration and design a robot that will be able to explore new places such as the planets.
Middle School Students
Classroom Planetarium
Source: DiscoverySchool.com
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/classroomplanetarium/
5th-6th
Students learn the concept of the solar system by building a model of it.
Destination Mars
Source: DiscoverySchool.com
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/destinationmars/
6th-8th
Students research the surface of Mars and then design a transportation vehicle to travel across this terrain. Students also study the surrounding atmosphere and discover why it is difficult to get to Mars.
Planetary Weather
Source: DiscoverySchool.com
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/planetaryweather/
6th-8th
Students learn about weather conditions on different planets and create a display representing these weather conditions.
Lotto or Life: What are the Chances?
Source: LessonPlanCentral.com
http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/teachers/lessons/lotto/lotto.html
6th-9th
Using decahedron dice and other materials, students perform a probability experiment, hypothesizing the chance of other life in outer space.
Flight Paths of Orbiting Satellites
Source: LessonPlanCentral.com
http://eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Science/Space_Sciences/SPA0008.html
4th-9th
Students learn why a satellite's orbit around the earth typically looks wavy. With this lesson, they learn the relationship of time, motion, and space in relation to an object orbiting the earth.
How Satellites See
Source: Teacher-Deveolped Earth and Space Science Lessons and Classroom Activities
http://cse.ssl.berkeley.edu/lessons/indiv/wilder/summary.html,http://cse.ssl.berkeley.edu/lessons/indiv/wilder/summary.html
3rd-8th
Compare 3 different NASA satellites and discover the different ways they "see."
Interplanetary Distance and Travel Time
Source: The Educator's Reference Desk
http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Science/Space_Sciences/SPA0011.html
5th-9th
Students currently do not grasp how large space really is. We would need to construct a 3 mile model in order to see an accurate model. With this activity, students realize how long it takes to travel specific distances at different speeds by modeling and comparisons.
An Illustrated Astronomy Glossary
Source: Teachervision.com
3rd-8th
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/page/1679.html?mail-09-19
Students learn a list of astronomy terms, illustrate the terms, and create a book
Adventure to Mars
Source: Challenger Center for Space Science Education
http://www.challenger.org/lessons/48.pdf
4th-8th
Three activities:
1st: Students research what challenges humans will face living on Mars and invent a piece of technology that will help humans live on Mars.
2nd: Students research moons and the solar system, research rovers, and then design and build a rover.
3rd: Students research topics related to Mars, create pertinent news stories related to Mars, and then create an electronic newspaper.
High School Students
The Solar System
Source: DiscoverySchool.com
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/solarsystem/
9th-12th
Students research the different options NASA has for its space program and develop a case for the plan they think is best.
Astronomical Scale
Source: DiscoverySchool.com
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/programs/scale/
9th-12th
Students learn equations that relate real distance measurements to astronomical distances.
Measuring the Diameter of the Sun
Source: LessonPlanCentral.com
http://eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Science/Space_Sciences/SPA0014.html
9th-12th
Construct an instrument that gives a relatively accurate estimation of the Sun's diameter.
Crashed on the Moon
Source: The Educator's Reference Desk
http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Science/Space_Sciences/SPA0005.html
7th-12th
Stimulates student thinking about what life might be like on the moon, and catalyzes conversation about life on environments of other planets.
Ethics of Exploration
Source: Challenger Center for Space Science Education
http://www.challenger.org/lessons/82.pdf
9th-12th
Students learn about the International Space Station and discuss the ethics of space exploration. Then they expand their arguments and thought by reading an article addressing the topic.
Miscellaneous Teacher Resources
Proteacher
http://www.proteacher.com/110020.shtml
Message board for teachers to trade lesson plan ideas.
NASA
Mars Exploration Rover Mission: Classroom
http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/classroom/
Lots of different neat resources for teachers including free posters.
Mars Student Imaging Project
http://msip.asu.edu/
5th-college sophomore
Students have the opportunity to work with scientists, mission planners and educators on the THEMIS team at ASU’s Mars Space Flight Facility, to image a site on Mars using the THEMIS visible wavelength camera onboard the
Mars Odyssey spacecraft which is currently orbiting Mars every 2 hours.
Imagine Mars
http://imaginemars.jpl.nasa.gov/index3.html
As part of the Imagine Mars Project students explore their own community and decide which arts, scientific and cultural elements will be important on Mars. Then they develop their ideal community, from an inter-disciplinary perspective of arts, sciences and technology.
Sources for Additional Lesson Plans
DiscoverySchool.com
Title: DiscoverySchool: Astronomy/Space
http://school.discovery.com/lessonplans/astronomy.html
Description: More lesson plans are located at this website.
LessonPlanCentral.com
Title: Lesson Plan Central
http://lessonplancentral.com/lessons/Space/
Teacher-Developed Earth and Space Science Lessons and Classroom Activities
http://cse.ssl.berkeley.edu/lessons/lessons_teacherdeveloped.html
teachervison.com
Title: Lesson Planning Center
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/page/5775.html
The Educator's Reference Desk
Title: Space Sciences Lesson Plans
http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/lessons.cgi/Science/Space_Sciences
teachervison.com
Title: Lesson Planning Center
http://www.teachervision.fen.com/page/5775.html
Challenger Center for Space Science Education
http://www.challenger.org/teachers/lessons/index.cfm
Multiple space lesson plans organized by grade, lesson title, and program.
