Astronomy

Sky Lights Science Blog  (M, O, T)
Sky Lights, a science blog from retired teacher Dan Heim, "is an ad-free website already in use by many teachers and students. I cover topics from astronomy, meteorology, and earth science. I also take questions from readers. With over 400 posts to date there's a wealth of information available in the archives, and more to come. The content includes 2D and 3D animations, slideshows, and original photos and graphics. Links are included in most posts for greater depth and further research. I taught science for 30+ years, am now retired, and provide this content gratis." Dan has a page for educators explaining how to best make use of his blog and he welcomes questions.

AstroVenture  (M)

Make a comet   (Y,M)
From the Lunar and Planetary Institute. This activity introduces kids to the structure of comets and the interactions between comets and our Sun. Activity for space unit. (Y,M)

Styrofoam Planets  (Y,M)
You guessed it: make styrofoam planets.

Outer Space Crafts  (Y,M)
Great hands on crafts for younger students studying space.

Comets Teacher Page from Amazing Space  (M)
From the Space Telescope Science Institute. Amazing space provides teachers with some facts about comets. The site includes lesson plans for three online activities: "Make a Comet," "Comet Tails," and "Comet Facts, Myths & Legends." Grade Level: 6-8

The Comet's Tale  (Y,M,O,T)
From the Science Engineering Gateway for Berkeley education. A look at all aspects of comet's from history to predicting future killer comets. Instructions for making a comet.

Google Earth  (Y,M,O,T)
Want to know more about a specific location? Dive right in -- Google Earth combines satellite imagery, maps and the power of Google Search to put the world's geographic information at your fingertips.

On the Moon Activity Guide  (Y,M,O,T)
Six activities that bring engineering and NASA's moon missions to life. Two activities--Launch It and Touchdown--are for grades 3-8 (and work well at events). Three activities--Roving on the Moon, Heavy Lifting, and On Target--are for grades 6-12. One activity--Feel the Heat--is for grades 9-12.

Lunar Landing  (M,O)
NASA's Math and Science at Work.

NASA's Moonbase Alpha  (M,O)
Moonbase Alpha is a NASA-funded multiplayer game.

The Animated Virtual Planetarium  (Y,M,O,T)

The Nine Planets  (Y,M,O,T)
A Multimedia Tour of the Solar System: one star, eight planets, and more

Uranus  (Y,M,O,T)
from EnchantedLearning.com

Uranus  (Y,M,O,T)
from solarviews.com

WorldWide Telescope   (Y,M,O,T)
WorldWide Telescope (WWT) enables your computer to function as a virtual telescope.

Apollo 11   (Y,M,O,T)
From NASA.

National Air and Space Museum Educator Resources  (T)
Education resources including lessons and PDF posters

Ology  (Y,M,O,T)
American Museum of Natural History in NYC. Science-rich Website for Kids.

Astronomy: Our Place in Space  (Y,M,O,T)
From Ology - American Museum of Natural History.

A Trip Through Our Solar System An Internet Scavenger Hunt  (Y,M)
You have been selected by the National Space Travel Institute to take a high-speed voyage through our solar system. Your journey will begin on our star, the Sun. This fantastic round-trip voyage will take you all the way to Pluto and back again! You have been asked to find the answers to some interesting questions along the way.

Astronomy Picture of the Day  (Y,M,O,T)
Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

Blast Off Boutique  (Y)

Soaring Through Our Solar System  (Y)
Reading Comprehension worksheets for solar system unit. (Grades 2-4)

A Science Odyssey: People and Discoveries:  (M,O)
A databank consisting of 120 entries about 20th century scientists and their stories.

A Solar System Coloring Book--Beginner  (Y)
Please feel free to print out and duplicate these pages for non-profit use.

NASA Coloring Books  (M)
Please feel free to print out and duplicate these pages for non-profit use.

A Solar System Coloring Book - Intermediate Level  (M)
Please feel free to print out and duplicate these pages for non-profit use.

NASA's Kids Science News Network™  (Y,M,O,T)

The Space Place  (Y)
Games, animations, projects, and fun facts about Earth, space and technology.

NASA Kids Club  (Y,M)
Space science for kids!

The Aurora Page  (Y,M,O,T)
A source for Information, links and images about the "Northern Lights" on-line since the Web began

HubbleSite NewsCenter  (M)
NewsCenter is the complete collection of every Hubble Space Telescope news release and its supporting materials, along with tools and resources designed to further your knowledge of astronomy.

Space Weather Center  (Y,M,O,T)
With games, Activities and E-Cards.

National Science Foundation  (Y,M,O,T)
NSF - Where discoveries begin.

Living with a Star Program  (O)
The LWS Program provides missions to improve understanding of how and why the Sun varies, how the Earth and Solar System respond, and how the variability and response affects humanity in Space and on Earth.

Space Science Institute  (Y,M,O,T)
The Space Science Institute (SSI) is a nonprofit, public benefit corporation formed in 1992. Our purpose is to create and maintain an environment where scientific research and education programs can flourish in an integrated fashion.

Astronomy Trivia Games  (M)
A new one each day of the week

StarChild: A Learning Center for Young Astronomers  (Y,M)
The StarChild site is a service of the High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center (HEASARC), Dr. Alan Smale (Director), within the Astrophysics Science Division (ASD) at NASA.

NASA Teaching Materials  (Y,M,O,T)
Extensive database of downloadable educational materials searchable by subject, grade level and product type

SpaceWeather.com  (Y,M,O,T)
For the skywatchers among us, SpaceWeather.com is a wonderful site for predicting space events such as meteor showers, auroras (northern lights), falling asteroids, and more.

Free NASA Publications  (T)
Free Posters, Lithographs, Fact Sheets, Brochures and Interactive educational resources

Star Journey  (Y,M,O,T)
This site from National Geographic contains star charts, start attractions, and views from the Hubble telescope.

Solar System Wordsearch  (Y,M,O,T)
From ABC.teach

Amazing Space  (Y,M,O,T)
Web-based space activities for classroom use. This site is full of excellent lesson plans and activities, but be aware this site does present the Big Bang Theory in an understated way.

Interplanetary Virtual Tour  (Y,M,O,T)
This is an awesome collection of almost 100 pages of photos and information that can be explored systematically through the tour or overviewed through the "Express Tour". The images of the planets and their satellites will entertain the youngest students

Auroras  (Y,M,O,T)
Find out more about the mysterious phenomenon also called the Northern Lights. Beautiful photography and a teacher's guide with a few ideas for using the site in the classroom.

Zoom Astronomy  (Y)
A comprehensive on-line site about space and astronomy

Educational Publications from Goddard Space Flight Center  (M,O,T)
ICP lessons and modules are problem-based investigations for middle to high school

Apollo 11 Story  (Y,M)
On July 20, 1969, the human race accomplished its single greatest technological achievement of all time when a human first set foot on another celestial body. Get the Apollo 11 story from launch to splashdown.

Kennedy Space Center Educator Resources  (Y,M,O,T)
The NASA Educator Resource Center (ERC) at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex provides educational resources available include videos, slides, lesson plans, publications and lunar & meteorite samples.

Astronomy For Thinkers  (M,O,T)
Resources for Active Minded Astronomy Education

Night Vision: Homeschool Astronomy Activities

In many parts of the Northern Hemisphere, winter is downright chilling, and both the season and the change from Daylight Saving Time mean the sun sets early. An activity that works well for homeschoolers this time of year is amateur astronomy—and you don’t even have to stay up late to see the night sky!  Read More »