Windows to the Universe Lesson Plans and Activities for the Classroom www.windows2universe.org Beginner Level
Welcome educators! Click the topics to the right to find hands-on activites for your classroom that relate to Windows to the Universe content. Some of the activities in this section were developed by our team of content developers and expert teachers. Others are ones that we use and recomend. These activities are appropriate (or could be easily adapted) for elementary school (i.e. K-5 classrooms). The Science Standards addressed are on each activity page.		Find activities about... Our Solar System Atmosphere and Weather Geology, Oceans, and Life Sun and Spaceweather Physics and Chemistry Special Curriculum from NASA

The Solar System

• Clay Planets Using clay models to learn about the solar system
• The Magnetometer Build your own magnetometer, use this to learn about planetary magnetic fields.
• A Solar System Coloring BookA ready-to-use coloring book applet!
• Terrabagga Activity Use a homemade magnetometer instrument to learn about planetary magnetic fields.

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Atmosphere and Weather

• Create a Tornado Create a tornado in a bottle!
• Create Your Own Cloud A cloud activity
• Create Your Own Fog An activity on making fog
• Create Your Own Lightning An activity on making lightning
• Make it Rain! A rain activity
• Shadows... Shadows and their relationship to the time of day/season
• Three Clouds Activity One demonstration and two hands-on activities - all about clouds!
• Thunder and Lightning A simple activity
• Watch the Sky A great activity to get your students thinking about what they see in the sky
• Weather and Careers Exercise A lesson that looks at how weather affects diffrent jobs
• Weather Crossword Puzzle A reading and puzzle exercise available at three levels

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Geology, Oceans, and Life

• Let's Take a Rock Apart! A hands-on exploration of the minerals that make up a rock...
• Thirsty Rocks Investigate porosity and permeability using sandstone.
• Making Sedimentary Rocks! Students make a model of sedimentary rock layers to understand how rocks form layers and represent ancient environments.
• Snack Tectonics Students create a tasty model that illustrates plate tectonic motions.
• Shake, Rattle and Roll An easy way to show how surface area affects weathering
• Take a Stab! Model-building activity that will help students visualize what lies below a surface
• Tetrahedron Model Students build a tetrahedron model using simple materials. Activity focuses on silica tetrahedron.
• Exploring Density of Salt and Fresh Water: Par 5 A fun activity that involves the interaction between fresh water and salt water
• Thermal Expansion and Sea Level Rise Discover how thermal expansion of water might affect sea level!
• Polishing the Petoskey Students will wear away and then polish a Petoskey stone...
• Adaptation Investigation Investigate how shape and structure of beaks affects the type of food that birds are able to eat.

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Sun and Spaceweather

• Ulysses Solar Word Search Game A different game for each level! The words have to do with the Ulysses solar mission.
• Solar Concentration Game A great game to be played on the internet!
• Sun-Earth Flip Books A fun, easy way to learn about the Sun...

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Physics and Chemistry

• The Magnetometer Build your own magnetometer, use this to learn which materials are magnetic.
• Magnetic Levitation Learn basic concepts of magnetism and forces by levitating magnets.
• Is Air a Fluid? Discover how gasses can flow!
• Frozen Film A hands-on activity dealing with light (this could also act as an art project!)
• Spectral Surprise A model that displays the rainbow colors of the spectrum
• Tetrahedron Model Students build a tetrahedron model using simple materials. Activity focuses on silica tetrahedron.

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Special Curriculum from NASA

Galileo Curriculum Module Activities based on the Jupiter Galileo mission including many puzzles, math activities, questions and answers

• Contents, Crossword Puzzle
• What do you know already?
• Volume Calculation Exercise
• Planet Structure & Interior
• Jupiter's Monstrous Magnetosphere
• Catch a Wave
• What does the Galileo Spacecraft Look Like?
• Jupiter's Weather Forecast
• The Moons of Jupiter
• Data Handling Techniques
• Hearing Galileo's Whisper Across the Solar System
• Answer Key

	Windows to the Universe Lesson Plans and Activities for the Classroom www.windows2universe.org Intermediate Level
Welcome educators! Click the topics to the right to find hands-on activites for your classroom that relate to Windows to the Universe content. Some of the activities in this section were developed by our team of content developers and expert teachers. Others are ones that we use and recomend. These activities are appropriate (or could be easily adapted) for middle school (i.e. grades 6-9). The Science Standards addressed are on each activity page.		Find activities about... Our Solar System Atmosphere and Weather Geology and Geography Climate, Oceans, and Life Sun and Spaceweather Physics and Chemistry Special Curriculum from NASA

The Solar System

• Clay Planets Using clay models to learn about the solar system
• I don't know my solar system. . .please ex-planet! An activity that leads students in writing a report on a given planet
• Lunar Lollipops Learn the phases of the Moon!
• The Magnetometer Build your own magnetometer, use this to learn about planetary magnetic fields.
• Terrabagga Activity Use a homemade magnetometer instrument to learn about planetary magnetic fields.
• Windows to the Universe Scavenger Hunt Questions that have students explore the Space Missions, Solar System and Sun section of the Windows to the Universe site
• A Solar System Coloring Book A ready-to-use coloring book applet!
  

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Atmosphere and Weather

• Create a Tornado Create a tornado in a bottle!
• Create Your Own Cloud A cloud activity
• Create Your Own Fog An activity on making fog
• Create Your Own Lightning An activity on making lightning
• Create Your Own Thermometer An activity on making a thermometer starting with a straw
• Introduction to Ozone Reading Activity An article to read with an accompanying worksheet for students
• Latent Heat and Clouds A hands-on exploration of latent heat and its relation to clouds...
• Let's Make Oxygen Show the presence of oxygen and how to burn steel...
• Make it Rain! A rain activity
• Shadows... Shadows and their relationship to the time of day/season
• Three Clouds Activity One demonstration and two hands-on activities - all about clouds!
• Thunder and Lightning A simple activity
• Watch the Sky A great activity to get your students thinking about what they see in the sky
• Weather and Careers Exercise A lesson that looks at how weather affects different jobs
• Weather Crossword Puzzle A reading and puzzle exercise available at three levels

Back to top

Geology and Geography

• Geology
  • The Magnetometer Build your own magnetometer, use it to learn about magnetic fields (and use it in the Magnetometer Extensions Activity!).
  • Magnetometer Extensions Activity Use your homemade magnetometer to learn about sea floor spreading and finding ore deposits.
  • Layers of Rock Create and investigate a model of sedimentary layers.
  • Let's Take a Rock Apart! A hands-on exploration of the minerals that make up a rock...
  • Pangaea Puzzle A fun activity that explains plate tectonics
  • Thirsty Rocks Investigate porosity and permeability using sandstone.
  • Making Sedimentary Rocks! Students make a model of sedimentary rock layers to understand how rocks form layers and represent ancient environments.
  • Snack Tectonics Students create a tasty model that illustrates plate tectonic motions.
  • Shake, Rattle and Roll An easy way to show how surface area affects weathering
  • Take a Stab! Model-building activity that will help students visualize what lies below a surface
  • Tetrahedron Model Students build a tetrahedron model using simple materials. Activity focuses on silica tetrahedron.
  • Who's on First? A Relative Dating Activity from the Learning from the Fossil Record Module (Opens new window)
• Geography
• Geographic Regions and Backyard Geology with the USGS Tapestry Map Students investigate maps in class or online!
• Mapping Ancient Coastlines Explore bathymetric contour lines and sea level change!
• Mapping Potato Island Students make a countour map of a potato!
• Cookie Mapping In this yummy activity, students make a geologic map of a chocolate chip cookie!
• The Geography of Land Planning Students plan towns and learn how planning affects the environment and the larger community.
• Introduction to Maps This quick lesson exposes students to a variety of types of maps.
• Mapping Your Classroom Students construct a map of the desk locations.

Climate, Oceans, and Life

• Climate and Global Change
• Carbon Dioxide - Sources and Sinks Experiment with the carbon cycle!
• Thermal Expansion and Sea Level Rise Discover how thermal expansion of water might affect sea level!
• Mapping Ancient Coastlines Explore bathymetric contour lines and sea level change!
• Paleoclimates and Pollen Conduct a classroom paleoclimate study!
• Making Sedimentary Rocks! Students make a model of sedimentary rock layers to understand how rocks form layers and represent ancient environments.
• The Geography of Land Planning Students plan towns and learn how planning affects the environment and the larger community.
• Oceans
  • Exploring Density of Salt and Fresh Water: Par 5 A fun activity that involves the interaction between fresh water and salt water
  • Thermal Expansion and Sea Level Rise Discover how thermal expansion of water might affect sea level!
  • Mapping Ancient Coastlines Explore bathymetric contour lines and sea level change!
• Life
  • The Nitrogen Cycle Game Become a nitrogen atom and travel through the cycle!
  • Carbon Dioxide - Sources and Sinks Experiment with the carbon cycle!
  • Polishing the Petoskey Students will wear away and then polish a Petoskey stone...
  • Adaptation Investigation Investigate how shape and structure of beaks affects the type of food that birds are able to eat.

Back to top

Sun and Spaceweather

• Graphing Sunspot Cycles Helps your students determine sunspot number cycles and make predictions in the near future.
• Plotting Sunspot Activity A comprehensive activity that will help your students understand sunspots
• Solar Concentration Game A great game to be played on the internet!
• Sun-Earth Flip Books A fun, easy way to learn about the Sun...
• Tracking an Active Sunspot Region An activity that will help your students understand how a single sunspot moves across the Sun
• Ulysses Solar Word Search Game A different game for each level! The words chosen are ones that have to do with the Ulysses solar mission.

Back to top

Physics and Chemistry

• The Magnetometer Build your own magnetometer, use it to learn about magnetic fields (and use it in the Magnetometer Extensions Activity!).
• Magnetic Levitation Learn basic concepts of magnetism and forces via magnetic levitation.
• Is Air a Fluid? Discover how gasses can flow!
• Diving Raisins An activity dealing with density
• Floating Golf Ball A demonstration dealing with density
• Frozen Film A hands-on activity dealing with light interference
• Par 5 An exercise dealing with the density of fresh water and salt water
• Spectral Surprise A model that displays the rainbow colors of the spectrum
• Spectral Surprise Extensions including a Electromagnetic Spectrum power point presentation and a student worksheet
• Tetrahedron Model Students build a tetrahedron model using simple materials. Activity focuses on silica tetrahedron.
• Weightlessness Demonstration Uses everyday materials!

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Special Curriculum from NASA

These activities do not appear in the normal Windows to the Universe format. They are full units (many lasting more than a week) that NASA has offered that may be helpful in the classroom.

Charting the Planets Using charts to discover planet characteristics

Galileo Curriculum Module Activities based on the Jupiter Galileo mission including many puzzles, math activities, questions and answers

• Contents, Crossword Puzzle
• What do you know already?
• Volume Calculation Exercise
• Planet Structure & Interior
• Jupiter's Monstrous Magnetosphere
• Catch a Wave
• What does the Galileo Spacecraft Look Like?
• Jupiter's Weather Forecast
• The Moons of Jupiter
• Data Handling Techniques
• Hearing Galileo's Whisper Across the Solar System
• Answer Key

Space Based Astronomy Teacher's Guide Activities, experiments, and readings dealing with NASA's space based astronomy

• Contents
• The Atmospheric Filter
• The Electromagnetic Spectrum
• Collecting Electromagnetic Radiation
• Down to Earth

The Whole World in Your Hands Activities dealing with hydrology, scientific observation and data gathering

• Acknowledgements
• Filling in the Gaps/Math Excursion
• Soda Bottle Hydrology Activity
• How When Affects What
• Cover Mapping Land
• ACCESSING AN EOSDIS DAAC/Technology Excursion

Back to top

	Windows to the Universe Lesson Plans and Activities for the Classroom www.windows2universe.org Advanced Level
Welcome educators! Click the topics to the right to find hands-on activites for your classroom that relate to Windows to the Universe content. Some of the activities in this section were developed by our team of content developers and expert teachers. Others are ones that we use and recomend. These activities are appropriate (or could be easily adapted) for high school (i.e. grades 9-12). The Science Standards addressed are on each activity page.		Find activities about... Our Solar System Atmosphere and Weather Geology and Geography Climate, Oceans, and Life Sun and Spaceweather Physics and Chemistry Special Curriculum from NASA

The Solar System

• I don't know my solar system. . .please ex-planet! An activity that leads students in writing a report on a given planet
• Looking at the World in a Different Light: Quiz Questions that go along with the Windows to the Universe tour Looking at the World in a Different Light
• Lunar Lollipops Learn the phases of the Moon!
• The Magnetometer Build your own magnetometer, use this to learn about planetary magnetic fields.
• A Solar System Coloring Book A ready-to-use coloring book applet!
• Terrabagga Activity Use a homemade magnetometer instrument to learn about planetary magnetic fields.
• Windows to the Universe Scavenger Hunt Questions that have students explore the Space Missions, Solar System and Sun section of the Windows to the Universe site

Back to top

Atmosphere and Weather

• Create a Tornado Create a tornado in a bottle!
• Create Your Own Cloud A cloud activity
• Create Your Own Fog An activity on making fog
• Create Your Own Lightning An activity on making lightning
• Create Your Own Thermometer An activity on making a thermometer starting with a straw
• Introduction to Ozone Reading Activity An article to read with an accompanying worksheet for students
• Latent Heat and Clouds A hands-on exploration of latent heat and its relation to clouds...
• Let's Make Oxygen Show the presence of oxygen and how to burn steel...
• Make it Rain! A rain activity
• Three Clouds Activity One demonstration and two hands-on activities - all about clouds!
• Thunder and Lightning A simple activity
• Watch the Sky A great activity to get your students thinking about what they see in the sky
• Weather Crossword Puzzle A reading and puzzle exercise available at three levels
  

Back to top

Geology and Geography

• Geology
  • The Magnetometer Build your own magnetometer, use it to learn about magnetic fields (and use it in the Magnetometer Extensions Activity!).
  • Magnetometer Extensions Activity Use your homemade magnetometer to learn about sea floor spreading and finding ore deposits.
  • Layers of Rock Create and investigate a model of sedimentary layers.
  • Let's Take a Rock Apart! A hands-on exploration of the minerals that make up a rock...
  • Pangaea Puzzle A fun activity that explains plate tectonics
  • Thirsty Rocks Investigate porosity and permeability using sandstone.
  • Making Sedimentary Rocks! Students make a model of sedimentary rock layers to understand how rocks form layers and represent ancient environments.
  • Snack Tectonics Students create a tasty model that illustrates plate tectonic motions.
  • Shake, Rattle and Roll An easy way to show how surface area affects weathering
  • Take a Stab! Model-building activity that will help students visualize what lies below a surface
  • Tetrahedron Model Students build a tetrahedron model using simple materials. Activity focuses on silica tetrahedron.
  • Who's on First? A Relative Dating Activity from the Learning from the Fossil Record Module (Opens new window)
• Geography
• Geographic Regions and Backyard Geology with the USGS Tapestry Map Students investiage maps in class or online!
• Mapping Ancient Coastlines Explore bathymetric contour lines and sea level change!
• Mapping Potato Island Students make a countour map of a potato!
• Cookie Mapping In this yummy activity, students make a geologic map of a chocolate chip cookie!
• The Geography of Land Planning Students plan towns and learn how planning affects the environment and the larger community.
• Introduction to Maps This quick lesson exposes students to a variety of types of maps.
• Mapping Your Classroom Students construct a map of the desk locations.

Climate, Oceans, and Life

• Climate and Global Change
• Carbon Dioxide - Sources and Sinks Experiment with the carbon cycle!
• Thermal Expansion and Sea Level Rise Discover how thermal expansion of water might affect sea level!
• Mapping Ancient Coastlines Explore bathymetric contour lines and sea level change!
• Paleoclimates and Pollen Conduct a classroom paleoclimate study!
• Making Sedimentary Rocks! Students make a model of sedimentary rock layers to understand how rocks form layers and represent ancient environments.
• The Geography of Land Planning Students plan towns and learn how planning affects the environment and the larger community.
• Oceans
  • Exploring Density of Salt and Fresh Water: Par 5 A fun activity that involves the interaction between fresh water and salt water
  • Thermal Expansion and Sea Level Rise Discover how thermal expansion of water might affect sea level!
  • Mapping Ancient Coastlines Explore bathymetric contour lines and sea level change!
• Life
  • The Nitrogen Cycle Game Become a nitrogen atom and travel through the cycle!
  • Carbon Dioxide - Sources and Sinks Experiment with the carbon cycle!
  • Polishing the Petoskey Students will wear away and then polish a Petoskey stone...
  • Adaptation Investigation Investigate how shape and structure of beaks affects the type of food that birds are able to eat.

Back to top

Sun and Spaceweather

• A Peek Into the Lives of Stars Quiz This quiz corresponds to the Tour on the Windows to the Universe site called A Peek into the Lives of Stars .
• Graphing Sunspot Cycles Helps your students determine sunspot number cycles and make predictions in the near future.
• Plotting Sunspot Activity A comprehensive activity that will help your students understand sunspots
• Solar Concentration Game A great game to be played on the internet!
• Ulysses Solar Word Search Game A different game for each level! The words chosen are ones that have to do with the Ulysses solar mission.
• Tracking an Active Sunspot Region An activity that will help your students understand how a single sunspot moves across the Sun
  

Back to top

Physics and Chemistry

• Is Air a Fluid? Discover how gasses can flow!
• Diving Raisins An activity dealing with density
• Floating Golf Ball A demonstration dealing with density
• Frozen Film A hands-on activity dealing with light interference
• Magnetic Levitation Learn basic concepts of magnetism and forces via magnetic levitation.
• Par 5 An exercise dealing with the density of fresh water and salt water
• Spectral Surprise A model that displays the rainbow colors of the spectrum
• Spectral Surprise Extensions including a Electromagnetic Spectrum power point presentation and a student worksheet
• Tetrahedron Model Students build a tetrahedron model using simple materials. Activity focuses on silica tetrahedron.
• Weightlessness Demonstration Uses everyday materials!

Back to top

Special Curriculum from NASA

Charting the Planets Using charts to discover planet characteristics

Galileo Curriculum Module Activities based on the Jupiter Galileo mission including many puzzles, math activities, questions and answers

• Contents, Crossword Puzzle
• What do you know already?
• Volume Calculation Exercise
• Planet Structure & Interior
• Jupiter's Monstrous Magnetosphere
• Catch a Wave
• What does the Galileo Spacecraft Look Like?
• Jupiter's Weather Forecast
• The Moons of Jupiter
• Data Handling Techniques
• Hearing Galileo's Whisper Across the Solar System
• Answer Key

• Contents
• The Atmospheric Filter
• The Electromagnetic Spectrum
• Collecting Electromagnetic Radiation
• Down to Earth

The Whole World in Your Hands Activities dealing with hydrology, scientific observation and data gathering

• Acknowledgements
• Filling in the Gaps/Math Excursion
• Soda Bottle Hydrology Activity
• How When Affects What
• Cover Mapping Land
• ACCESSING AN EOSDIS DAAC/Technology Excursion

Back to top

Last modified August 24, 2005 by Lisa Gardiner.
The source of this material is Windows to the Universe, at http://www.windows2universe.org/ at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). ©1995-1999, 2000 The Regents of the University of Michigan; ©2000-05 University Corporation for Atmospheric Research. All Rights Reserved. Site policies and disclaimer