Distance in Space
In this activity, the students will learn how to use a scale distance to accurately depict large distances in space.  They will gain an understanding of the vastness of space and why the use of astronomical units is necessary.  Using adding machine tape, they will construct a scale distance for the planets and use this scale to calculate the distance between the planets and the Sun.

Understanding Distance in Space
the function of this activity is to give the students an understanding that constellations are not flat pictures in the sky, but rather the product of three-dimensional space.  Activity 4-17

How Long?
Perceiving distance in space can be much more difficult than on Earth, since our normal visual cues are not present.  Your class need not go into space in order to explore how visual cues can cause you to misinterpret size and distance.  The problems of perception and its effect on measurement can be explored through the Muller-Lyer illusion.

Where Are We in the Milky Way?
Activities and lesson plans about the Milky Way.  This can be modified for the 6th grade classroom.

Finding Our Top Speed
Students experiment with distance and time to calculate speed in order to understand the vast distances and time necessary to travel in space.

Measuring distance from the Sun
Question from student about distance from sun with answer.

 

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