Astronomy/Space Science
Curriculum Ideas for Grades 5-9
Space Science Curriculum for 6-8 weeks

• I. Early History of Astronomy
  These early Astronomers could be discussed by teacher presentations or students could give reports on early discoveries found in the solar system.

  • Examples of Early Astronomers:
        1. Aristotle - http://turnbull.mcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Biographies/Aristotle.html
        2. Copernicus - http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Copernicus.html
        3. Galileo http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Galileo.html
        4. Kepler - http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Kepler.html
        5. Newton - http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Mathematicians/Newton.html
        6. More Astronomers http://cnr2.kent.edu/~manley/astronomers.html
     

• II. Planets
  Student Projects: PowerPoint presentation of planets and objects in the sky.

  • A. Our Solar System Lithograph Set http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Our_Solar_System_Lithograph_Set.html

  • B. Earth Lithograph http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Earth_Lithograph.html
    1. Seasons
    2. Moon http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Earths_Moon_Lithograph.html

    • a. Moon phases

    • b. Moon Craters – NASA – Exploring the Moon Educator Guide.

    • c. Earth Atmosphere
      http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Exploring.the.Moon.html 
      Clouds, pollution, heat currents. NASA Space Based Astronomy: Educator Guide.
       http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Space.Based.Astronomy.html 
      d. Constellations
      Starry Night: non-NASA computer program for purchase
      (to find product go to search engine such as Google and type in Starry Night educators)
      Cost: K-4 classroom -- $99
      Middle school classroom -- $199
      High School classroom -- $199

  • C. Mars
    1. Earth/Mars Comparison Cards http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/pdf/lesson_6.pdf 
    2. Remote Sensing http://www.uwgb.edu/wsgc/k12/curriculum/topographic_mapping.pdf
    Topographic mapping boxes at WSGC Office
    3. Activity where and why to land a rover here: Mars Image Analysis Activity.
    http://www.uwgb.edu/wsgc/k12/curriculum/mars_image_analysis_activity.pdf
    4. Marsbound Mission to the Red Planet
    http://www.uwgb.edu/wsgc/k12/curriculum/marsbound_student_guide.pdf
    http://www.uwgb.edu/wsgc/k12/curriculum/marsbound_teacher_guide.pdf
    http://www.uwgb.edu/wsgc/k12/curriculum/marsbound_cards.pdf
    http://www.uwgb.edu/wsgc/k12/curriculum/marsbound_design.pdf

    • a. Activity 1&2 Science Goals

    • b. Activity 3 Engineering constraints

    • c. Activity 4 Building Your Spacecraft

  III. Selected Hands-on Activities for Size and Distance of Planets

  • A. Activity for Size and Distance in our Solar System
    http://www.uwgb.edu/wsgc/k12/curriculum/activity_for_size_and_distance.pdf

  • B. Scale Models of the Solar System
    Astronomical units (A.U.) as toilet paper From: Stardust Activity Guide (sheet 2)
    http://www.uwgb.edu/wsgc/k12/curriculum/scale_models_of_solar_system.pdf
    C. The 100 Apple Solar System
    From: Touching the Future – Linking the Classroom with Space
    http://www.uwgb.edu/wsgc/k12/curriculum/100_apple_solar_system.pdf
     

• IV. Rockets

  • A. History
    1. Sputnik - http://history.nasa.gov/sputnik/index.html 
    2. Apollo - http://history.nasa.gov/apollo.html 
    3. Pathfinder - http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mars-pathfinder/ 

  • B. Rockets – NASA – Rockets Educator Guide http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Rockets.html
    1. Rocket Car -
    http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Rocket_Racer.html
    2. Paper Rocket -
    http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Paper_Rockets.html
    3. 2-liter Bottle Rocket -
    http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Bottle_Rocket.html
     

• V. NASA Missions http://www.nasa.gov/missions/index.html

  • A. Examples for PowerPoint presentation with missions that could include:
    1. Mission Patch
    2. Mission Objective
    3. Mission Pictures
    4. Mission Success

  • B. Sputnik - http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/explorer/sputnik-20071002.html

  • C. Vanguard - http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/masterCatalog.do?sc=1958-002B

  • D. Luna - http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/masterCatalog.do?sc=1959-012A

  • E. Mariner - http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/mars/mariner.html

  • F. Apollo - http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/apollo/index.html

  • G. Hubble Space Telescope - http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/hubble/main/index.html

  • H. Mars Global Surveyor - http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mgs/index.html

  • I. Cassini - http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/main/index.html

  • J. Mars Rovers Spirit and Opportunity - http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mer/index.html

  • K. Deep Impact - http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/deepimpact/main/index.html

  • L. Dawn - http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/dawn/main/index.html

  • M. Mars Scientific Laboratory - http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/future/msl.html
     

• VI. Robotics

  • A. MarsBots http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/edu_robotics_lessons.php 
    Lesson 11: Program It! – http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/pdf/lesson_11.pdf 
    Lesson 12: The Phoenix Mission: Uncovering Martian Water –
    http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/pdf/lesson_12.pdf 
    Lesson 13: Phoenix's Robotic Arm -
    http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/pdf/lesson_13.pdf 
    Lesson 14: Lander Design - http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/pdf/lesson_14.pdf 
    Lesson 15: Egg Drop Lander - http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/pdf/lesson_15.pdf 

  • B. Mars Rovers Spirit and Opportunity
    http://www.uwgb.edu/wsgc/k12/curriculum/mars_lithograph.pdf
     

• VII. NASA Center for Astronomy Education – Additional website information http://astronomy101.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm