Big Idea 5: Earth in Space and Time

This interactive game uses the traditional hangman premise with all questions and answers involving science vocabulary. There are general sets of science vocabulary to choose from, as well as specific topics. You can even choose vocabulary pertaining to 5th or 8th grade FCAT Science Tests!

Type: Educational Game

This is a series of interactive modules on Engineering Interact, a free resource developed by the University of Cambridge Engineering department. It is a great whole group, small group, or individual interactive activity to explain a variety of concepts related to the solar system, including the rotation of the earth, what gives us our calendar, what causes the changes in seasons, how the planets are classified, and the phases of the moon.

Type: Educational Game

In this printable lesson, K-2 Students create a model of the Sun and Earth. They also put together a simple puzzle of the solar system.

Type: Educational Game

This NASA sponsored site is an excellent resource covering the solar system, stars, galaxies, and more. It has a great library of images and videos. Many of these images were taken from the Hubble Telescope.

Type: Image/Photograph

In this Model-Eliciting Activity (MEA), students have been asked by Space R Us to evaluate other planets in the solar system for possible human population. Students have to rank the planets in order and defend their choices.

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 processes. 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 MEAs visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will be challenged to use their knowledge of planets and the solar system. They will read passages to learn more about the characteristics of each planet and share that information with the class. They will use these characteristics to write a comparison response noting similarities and differences of one inner planet and one outer planet. The intent of this lesson is not necessarily to be the initial introduction to the aligned science standard, but as more of a demonstration of knowledge gained through writing.

Type: Lesson Plan

This Engineering Design Challenge is intended to help students research and investigate the characteristics of planets in our solar system for standard SC.5.E.5.2. It may also be used as introductory instruction of the content.

Type: Lesson Plan

This is an introductory lesson in vocabulary for a unit of study on space. It is designed to assist students with understanding the vocabulary in an engaging game while students and teacher can easily track student thinking and understanding of these vocabulary terms specific to the space content and standards.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this Model Eliciting Activity (MEA), students will read a passage about Asteroids, Comets and Meteors and discuss the material within their groups. Students will then read an article about telescopes and features of telescopes. As a group, students will rate a list of telescopes by deciding which features they feel are most important. Students will be assessed on their writing skills as well as the science material they learned during the supplemental reading.

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 processes. 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 MEAs visit: https://www.cpalms.org/cpalms/mea.aspx

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students will research properties of the inner and outer planets in our Solar System. They will organize their research by creating a Solar System poster that displays a comparison between the planets.

Type: Lesson Plan

In this lesson, students complete a paper model of the solar system that demonstrates both size and distance from the Sun.

Type: Lesson Plan

This lesson incorporates Florida Standard elements while teaching the characteristics of Venus and the importance of the Sun to our existence.

Type: Lesson Plan

Explore and compare objects in the solar system, including planets, moons, the Sun, comets, and asteroids, with this interactive research page.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Take a journey and investigate the objects that call our solar system home. In this interactive tutorial, you'll visit the Sun, planets, satellites, asteroids and comets and learn new and exciting information about our exploration of the solar system.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

Learn to identify components within a galaxy such as gas, dust, stars and objects that orbit stars with this interactive tutorial.

Type: Original Student Tutorial

This activity can be used to evaluate students understanding of the characteristics of inner and outer planets. This activity allows the students to create their own planet with the appropriate characteristics. 

Type: Project

This interactive uses Google maps to help students develop an understanding of scale for the distance between objects in the solar system, Milky Way, and other galaxies. Students can also read information about planets, the sun and the moon.

Type: Teaching Idea

Students help create and then navigate an outdoor course of the traditional "planets" (including dwarf planet Pluto), which are represented by small common objects.

Type: Teaching Idea

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.

Type: Text Resource

This resource is intended to support reading in the content area. The comet ISON, believed to originate from the frozen Oort cloud, has been studied in order to make predictions about its destiny – will it be destroyed by, or slung around, the sun?

Type: Text Resource

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.

Type: Text Resource

The students will learn all about outer space in this lesson. They will make a model of a galaxy and learn the vocabulary that relates to this topic. The students will also learn how to classify a planet and describe its features. They will be taught about the Earth's position in the solar system as well as that of the other planets in our solar system. The students will also learn how to classify between the different objects that are in our solar system.

Type: Unit/Lesson Sequence

While commonly referred to as "shooting stars," meteors and meteor showers are, in fact, unrelated to stars. Instead, these streaks of light are the glow of interplanetary debris crashing into Earth's atmosphere. In this animated video adapted from NASA, learn about these "shooting stars" and the reasons behind annual meteor showers.

Type: Video/Audio/Animation

Use this resource to view the images of various planets from different spots from within the solar system. Set the parameters in the drop down menus and then click run simulator.

Type: Virtual Manipulative

This interesting game require the students to help the comet get to the sun, by answering some simple questions regarding to the solar system.

Type: Virtual Manipulative

This resource provides an interactive tool for the exploration of the solar system. To navigate the interactive solar system move the mouse to hover the target over different objects, to learn more about each click to access images, information about scientists, homework help, articles, news, missions, time lines, and important facts.

Type: Virtual Manipulative

This website is designed by NASA for student use, so it provides the most current, accurate information regarding the objects in our solar system. Each object in the solar system is available on the first screen. Click on any of the names of the objects, and it links to a description of the object.

Type: Virtual Manipulative