• Defining comets, asteroids, and meteors

The Path to Mars
Students will learn the characteristics and movement patterns of the nine planets in our solar system

The Spinning Sun
Students use images of the sun to calculate the rotation period of the sun, and discover that it does not spin the same way from the equator to the polar regions!

Planetary Profiles
Characteristics and movement patterns of the nine planets in our solar system.

Solar System Trading Cards
The purpose of this lesson is for students to acquire information about objects in the solar system while collecting solar system trading cards through interactive computer use.

Classroom Planetarium 
Students will understand the relationship of the nine planets in our solar system to the sun by creating a three-dimensional representation.

Discovering the Earth's Journey Around the Sun
The revolution of the earth around the sun is a phenomenon that is hard for students to deal with concretely.  The following lesson will help students to more fully understand our planet's relationship to the sun.

Glowing Glimpses Of Our Universe
The purpose of these activities is to bring space "home" to young people.

Grade Three Science - The Solar System
Recognize the the revolution of the Earth around the Sun produces the seasons.  This site includes many additional resources.

Track the Meteor Storm Online! 
Students will use the Internet to research and complete a  scavenger hunt which also includes several cross-curricular activities that can be used to extend the lesson.

Constellations
The activities in this lesson provide students with success-oriented practice in locating and recognizing stars in the sky.

Magic School Bus Lost In Space
In this lesson, students learn where each planet is located and characteristics of each planet.
 

Comets, Asteroids and Meteors List of resource links

Astronomy: Our Place in Space  List of links and resources about our solar system

Science Online A must see! Great site for links to Blueprint Skills, Lesson Plans, Topical Sites, Interactive Websites for Students and Worksheets

Science Clips You will find an alphabetical list of science interactive movie clips.

Kidsastronomy.com This website has interactive activities about space.

Suggestions for English Language Learners (ELLs):
(E/B=Entering/Beginning, D=Developing, E=Expanding) 

E/B: Students will make a model of the solar system and then label or dictate a simple sentence to attach to each planet; D: ...and will write several descriptive sentences about each planet; E: ...and will write a short paragraph about each planet.
E/B: Students use a ball, globe and light source to explain the phases of the moon. Students demonstrate knowledge using simple language and answering yes/no questions; D: Students will demonstrate knowledge using descriptive language and answering simple questions; E: ...and will demonstrate knowledge using more complex and detailed language and answering more complex questions.
E/B: Students will use photos from NASA to make drawings of 5 different components of the solar system. They will label each drawing and write a simple sentence about the picture; D: ...and will write several descriptive sentences about each picture; E: ...and will write a short paragraph about each picture.

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