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Showing results 1 to 16 of 16
Build a Solar System
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In this activity, learners make a scale model of the Solar System and learn the real definition of "space." Learners use the online calculator to create an appropriate scale to use as a basis for thei
Human-powered Orrery
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In this space science activity, learners work together to create a human-powered orrery to model the movements of the four inner planets.
Transit Tracks
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In this space science activity, learners explore transits and the conditions when a transit may be seen.
Modeling the Night Sky
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In this two-part activity, learners explore the Earth and Sun's positions in relation to the constellations of the ecliptic with a small model.
Colors of Stars
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In this activity, learners observe colors in the flame of a burning candle to explore connections between matter, light, color and temperature -- basic concepts of matter and energy.
Using a Simple Astrolabe
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In this activity, learners use an astrolabe to measure the altitude of objects. Learners will first practice taking measurements by measuring the altitude of trees and buildings.
Scale Model of Sun and Earth
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In this activity, learners explore the relative size of the Sun and Earth as well as the distance between them.
Finding the Size of the Sun and Moon
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In this activity, learners build a simple pinhole viewer. They use this apparatus to project images from a variety of light sources, including a candle, the Sun, and the Moon.
The Size and Distance of the Planets
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In this activity, learners investigate the concepts of relative size and distance by creating a basic model of the solar system.
The Shadow Knows I
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In this activity, learners will measure the length of their shadow from the Sun and compare it three to four months later.
The Thousand-Yard Model
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This is a classic exercise for visualizing the scale of the Solar System.
Postcards from Space
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Using information from the My Place in Space lithograph, learners write and/or draw a postcard to friends and family as if they had gone beyond the interstellar boundary of our Solar System, into the
Measure the Sun's Size
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In this activity, learners make their own pinhole viewer in order to measure the size of the sun.
Size it Up
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Learners investigate why the Sun and Moon appear the same size in the sky even though the Sun is over 400 times larger in diameter.
Sizing Up the Universe
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In this online interactive challenge, learners choose items to represent the Earth or solar system, then determine other items to represent the Moon, or Milky Way based on their relative size.
Eclipse: How can the little Moon hide the giant Sun?
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In this activity, learners explore how distance can affect the way we perceive the size of an object.