Links & Activities for younger students K-6

The Aurora Explained  Site created by Neal Brown. Aurora education, facts, teacher's resources and lesson plans.
Around the Solar System  Web site for 3-6 grade level from the Space Science Telescope Institute. Provides interactive Solar System activities. Students will learn about the solar system using online space trading cards, complete teacher's lesson plans & guide with several links to related sources.
Ask Dr. Universe  Science questions and answers for everyone, search engine, science links.
Earth & Sky Homepage  The Earth & Sky web site offers a number of features. The Earth & Sky daily show is available on the Radio or from the web site in Real Player format, they broadcast a new show daily on a variety of science topics. Other features available include, in-depth articles, "Tonight's Sky" a daily observing guide with images & text, a teachers lounge, kids section has articles, activities, and links for kids, and a Q & A section, and a section called "Scientist profiles", which introduces various scientists.
EducationHelper.com  Solar System worksheets, puzzles, printable materials, lesson plans, crafts. Solar system links. This site does require a subscription to access it's full services.
Electronic Universe  Created by Dr. Greg Bothun of the University of Oregon. Provides access to various Astronomy & Physics courses available online from the U of O. Also available are links to articles on Space Science, Earth Science, Our Environment, JavaLab which is a collection of Java based Physics applets, a link to Pine Mountain Observatory (Oregon). Links are available to related resources.
Every Day Classroom Tools  Web site from the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory. Classroom activities for K-6 downloadable PDF files and links to outside Internet resources. Topics focus on the Sun and understanding Light. Many links to related web sites.
Everything About Mars  Find out all about our neighboring planet Mars. This is a great time to observe Mars as it makes it's closest approach to Earth in August. On August 27, 2003 Mars will be only 34,646,418 miles from Earth! This will be the closest approach in over 60,000 years! Web site provides Mars facts, Mars missions, interactive games & quizzes, image gallery, and many links to other Mars resources.
Everything About the Moon  Find out all about the Moon. Online games, activities, Missions to the Moon, Moon facts, Moon quiz, resources, Moon images, Astronauts, and many links to related web sites.
Exploratorium San Francisco CA  Map sun spots, build a model solar system, make a telescope or a spectroscope, make a salt volcano, many other fun activities. All activities use common household items.
Eyes on the Sky  Web site from the Smithsonian Institution. Appropriate for Grades 2-6.  Explore Astronomy with hundreds of hands on activities provided in an Electronic Book. Chapters cover The Earth's Rotation, Earth's Orbit, Time & The Calendar, Maps & Mapping, The Solar System, and The Moon. Site uses external links and resources for it's content. Links to related web sites included.
Genesis Mission for Kids  NASA web site for kids that teaches kids about the Genesis mission. The Genesis spacecraft was launched on August 8, 2001, on board a Boeing Delta II rocket. It's mission is to capture some of the Sun's particles and return a sample to Earth in 2004. The Genesis web site provides a background on the mission, games & reading activities, interactive games, images and drawings of the spacecraft, current news & mission updates.
Hands on Universe Activities University of California Berkley  Make a sky wheel, lunar crafts, puzzles. Discover the color of stars.
Hubble Fun & Games  Web site from the Hubble Space Telescope. Provides many interactive educational games. Build a model of the Hubble Telescope, Space Trivia games, Where's Hubble Now? Learn about Comets and Galaxies. A large web site that uses several Java Applets. Many links to related web sites for educational purposes and resources.
HubbleSite Black Holes Explore Black Holes & Gravity site from Hubble. Offers an in-depth encyclopedia, narrated animation, Journey to a Black Hole, Physics and Astronomy of Black Holes. Current news and information about Black Holes.
Interstellar Trip Planner  Web page from NASA's Planet Quest program. Fun interactive Flash player lets you select an object and then a vehicle for transport. Helps to understand the time required to reach nearby Planets and distant stars.
Kids Astronomy.com  Explore the Solar System, Deep Space, Galaxies, Black Holes Nebulae, and Quasars. Site includes a sky tonight sky chart, Astronomy Dictionary, a Teachers Corner, and interactive lesson plans.
Kids Central Online Resources Help with homework astronomy and space links.
Kids Cosmos  Educational web site created by amateur astronomers, teachers, and parents. The goal of Kids Cosmos is to bring astronomy to the classroom. The "Field Trip to Mars" is a virtual tour to provide a comparison of Earth to Mars. This program was featured at the 1999 Astronomical League convention. Other features of the site include a glossary, and a tour of the Solar System, "Ask the scientist", planetary scavenger hunt, prominent women in astronomy, Space exploration, stars, galaxies, comets, asteroids, basic astronomy with a brief history of astronomy, and monthly star charts. The web site uses text, images, and Java applets to explain measurements. Numerous links to related web sites are also provided.
Kids Space  Web site from "Windows to the Universe" at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) A very engaging interactive web site that provides activities and games at 3 levels Primary, Intermediate, and High School. Students can learn by exploring many Solar System topics through numerous games, Coloring pages, Flip Books, and Java Applets. Lots of fun and education for students of all ages.
Liftoff to Space NASA Kids  Creative educational web site from NASA that provides many wonderful interactive projects, games, tutorials, and information about Rockets, the Space Shuttle, satellites, our Solar System, Deep Space, Astronauts, and many other topics. Links to related web sites included.
Make a Kitchen Comet  Make a model of a comet using dry ice, ammonia, dirt, and other common household items, very fun !
Make a Sun Clock  From the Exploratorium in San Francisco, Ca. Make your own sun clock with a few simple household items, and a print out of the sun clock. Fun project for kids of all ages.
McDonald Observatory Classroom Online  Web site that provides many interactive games and activities, for grades K-12. Links to the rest of the McDonald Observatory are available. Stargazing tips, beginners guide, sky almanac, image gallery, solar system, planets and many other resources.
NASA After School Activities  NASA's After School Astronomy Clubs provide students, families, and educators with a unique opportunity to experience the wonders of astronomy outside of the traditional school day. Includes space flight, solar system, Earth, Sun Earth connection, and astrophysics. Activities available for  K-12.
Ocean World's  Web site from NASA/JPL that helps children explore the science of Ocean Topography and Climate changes. This interesting web site contains many web pages, and offers numerous fun learning activities. They provide lesson plans, links to oceanography teaching materials, coloring books, quizzes, make El Nino pudding, an Image Gallery, a Glossary, FAQ's and many links to related web sites.
Powers of Ten  Web site from Florida Sate University, focusing on optics and light. View the Milky Way at 10 million light years from the Earth. Then move through space towards the Earth in successive orders of magnitude. Very engaging web site. Site also has an Optics Timeline to understand the history of optics, student activities for grades 6-12, Teachers resources, interactive tutorials, and links to related web sites.
safeabc  Family safe directory provides listings of websites in a multiple categories suitable for all ages. Currently they list 13 links in the Astronomy category to help with homework, or just for fun.
Satellite Tracking Guide  NASA Web site From NASA Spacelink program offers guides to Satellites and satellite tracking. Includes Educator's Guide to Spotting Satellites, Current Satellite Tracking elements, Satellite Tracking software, and several links to additional Satellite web sites and resources.
Science News for Kids  Educational and fun science news web site for grades 4-9 providing current news, stories and activities in numerous science categories. Topics range from agriculture to weather. Activities available include puzzles, brain teasers, game zone, Sci-Fi zone, Science Fair, Lab Zone and a teachers resource & lesson plan guide. Links for further reading are provided.
Sky Calls  Sky Calls is a new educational program offered by the creators of "Thursday's Classroom", and NASA. This is a wonderful program for educators, home school students, and in traditional school classes. Each week you will receive educational materials based on the latest news in science and astronomy. The materials are suitable for 4th through 8th grade.
Sky Puppies  Sky Puppies is a new observing program for children offered by the Astronomical League. It is for children 10 years of age or younger. It provides a young stargazer the opportunity to develop basic observing skills. The participant or their parent must be a member of the A.L. to participate.
Solar System Activities Page This site provides activities to help understand our Solar System, and other related topics. Lesson plans and interactive guides.
Solar System Collision  Throw an asteroid from space to a solar system object and see the results of the impact ! Lots of fun and yet at the same time educational. Thank you to Dr. Douglas Hamilton for this great site.
Solar System Experience  Web site from NASA/JPL using Flash 6 plug in and Quicktime movies. Follow the Voyager, Cassini, and Mars Rover explorers in a multimedia format. Also you can create a spacecraft and mission to Jupiter's moon Europa.
Star Child  NASA educational web site that provides interactive Solar System activities and games for kids. Web site provides 2 levels one for primary grades and one for elementary grades. Topics include Galaxies, Black Holes, Solar System, Stars, Cosmology, and a Glossary for both levels. Links to related web sites are provided.
Stars and Planets  Web Site from Fact Monster online atlas, encyclopedia and almanac. Section pertaining to stars and planets, includes Space glossary, origin of the Universe, formation of the solar system, Sun & Moon facts and information, eclipse guides, planet & satellite name guide, star legends, constellation guide, comets, and several other related topics. Links back to main web site which provides additional almanac information and a games & facts section.
Welcome to the Planets  Web site from NASA/JPL features a guide to the Solar System using the best images from NASA's Planetary Exploration program. Many images of planets, solar system objects, and spacecraft with text & audio, and a linked glossary, and related links.
Windows to the Universe  Web site from the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) An engaging web site with three levels for elementary, middle, & high school levels. This is a very large web site using various multimedia tools and text. Topics include Earth, our Solar System, Space Weather, Astronomy and the Universe, Space missions, Geology, Weather, Physics, Comets & Asteroids, Images, Mythology, News about Space, games, student projects, and resources & links for teachers. A fun & very thorough web site.
World Almanac for Kids  The World Almanac for Kids, grades 4-8, provides a section dedicated to Space and the Solar System. Topics include Planet Facts, Big Question FAQ's, Astronauts, Unmanned Space Missions,  Planetary directory, a linked glossary, images, diagrams, and numerous links for further reading.
 

Links & Activities for students 6-HS 

A View from the Back of the Envelope  A superb web site provided by Mitchell Charity which provides lessons in approximation and math concepts. Just a few of the topics include Counting by Powers of Ten, How to Simplify a Number, Fermi Questions, Scaling the Universe to your Desktop, and a Body Ruler. This is a very engaging web site for any grade level that will help with your math quandaries. Links to related resources are included.
Abrams Planetarium Skywatchers Diary  Online monthly sky watchers diary, lets you know what to observe and viewing tips.
All-Sky Panorama  An interesting site created by Axel Mellinger for all ages. Features a "virtual reality" view of our Milky way Galaxy. Requires Java support to view. This project took Mr. Mellinger 3 years to acquire images to complete the program. Very interesting and entertaining, just click your mouse to view the entire panorama, or in fixed increments.
Amateur Astronomy Foundation Online courses web site offering a basic Astronomy course online. This is a non-accredited course offering intended for educational and informational purposes. Contents offer two levels; Certificate level provides a basic introduction to Astronomy in two modules. The Diploma level provides more advanced topics divided into 5 modules.
Amazing Space From the Space Telescope Institute  Web site from Space Telescope Institute, engaging site with interactive activities, topics include Planet Impact, Comets, Hubble Space Telescope, Black Holes, Space Trading Cards, many appealing games and tutorials. Section for Teachers and outreach, provides classroom projects and additional resources. Links to related web sites.
An Atlas of the Universe  There are nine main maps on this web page, each one approximately ten times the scale of the previous one. The first map shows the nearest stars, then the other maps slowly expand out until they reach the scale of the entire visible universe. Nice tool to visualize and comprehend how small our local galaxy is. Similar to the discussion and images on the size of our Universe in Terence Dickinson's book "Nightwatch".
Analemma  Web site provided by the Stanford Solar Center. What is an Analemma, photographs, how to to photograph an analemma, and links to related web sites.
Ask the Astronomer  Web site maintained by volunteer graduate students from the Astronomy Department at Cornell University. Wonderful web site that allows you to ask questions about Astronomy. The web site provides lots of information and links in addition to the questions forum. Topics include the Solar System, the Universe, Observational Astronomy, Astronomy careers, Astronomy History, and general Physics. Many web pages and numerous links to related information.
Astronomy Dictionary for the Young Astronomer  From Enchanted Learning.com. Elementary Astronomy Dictionary complete with diagrams and drawings to help explain definitions.
Basics of Space Flight  Web site from NASA/JPL provides an in-depth interactive tutorial discussing interplanetary space exploration. Chapters include; The Solar System, Reference Systems, Gravity & Mechanics, Trajectories, Planetary Orbits, Electromagnetics. Flight Projects discusses Mission Inception, Experiments, Space Craft Classification, Telecommunications, Onboard Systems, Science Instruments, & Navigation. Operations includes Launch, Cruise, Encounter, Extended Ops., & Deep Space Network. Upon completion of the tutorial & quizzes, a non-credit certificate of completion can be received. Numerous links to related web sites and resources are provided.
Beyond Einstein   Web site from the Laboratory for High Energy Astrophysics at NASA/Goddard flight center. Discussions from the Big Bang to Black holes. Includes information on current and future space missions and programs, the Great Observatories, dark energy and the accelerating Universe, news & updates, image gallery, mission timelines, life cycles of matter & energy, and numerous links to related web sites and resources.
Build your Own Solar Viewer Easy Instructions to make a solar viewer from common household items.
Build a Soda Bottle Magnetometer  From NASA/P.O.E.T.R.Y. learn how to build and operate a simple magnetometer using a soda bottle and a bar magnet. This activity is suitable for grades 6-12. Very educational activity helps students to learn about how we monitor the Earth's magnetic fields. Provides a tutorial to accompany the activity by Dr. Sten Odenwald.
Canadian Astronomy Education  Website from the Canadian Astronomical Society provides educational material from K-12. Teachers curriculums and materials, general astronomy resource links, links to the Junior Astronomer Program, Science Fair projects, Scouts & Guides programs, and basic astronomy information and skills for the general public.
Challenger Center Activities  Challenger Center for Space Science Education. Site provides teachers with materials and lesson plans to stimulate students in their quest for space knowledge. Programs are available in PDF format, lessons include Comets, Moon, General Space, Space Shuttle, Mars, and the Solar System. Activities include building models, Build a Bottle Rocket (using antacid tablets) Plan a Lunar Biosphere and many other activities.
Comets An Internet Lesson in Astronomy  Web based tutorial on Comets provided by St Cloud State University. Tutorial covers the History of Comets, Cometary Orbits, Comet Composition, Comet Origins, and Cometary Leftovers. Includes a quiz with answers provided at the end of the lessons. Links to related web sites are offered as an aid to the tutorial.
Cool Cosmos  Superb web site from the IPAC (Infrared Processing & Analysis Center) & SIRTF (Space Infrared Telescope Facility) Grades 6-HS. This web site focuses on Infrared Astronomy, and understanding light. Lesson plans, classroom activities, Infrared Timeline, Multiwavelength Astronomy, Ask an Astronomer, reference guide,  Infrared missions & observatories, wonderful images, lessons, and multimedia activities. Web site is user friendly and easy to navigate. Numerous links to related resources.
Cosmic View  This is an online version of the wonderful book "Cosmic View : The Universe in 40 Jumps" by Kees Boeke originally published in 1957. The web site was compiled by Mitchell Charity. This classic book teaches the reader about learning the scale of things using text and images. It contains the entire book and links to related resources.
Cosmos in the Computer   Interesting web site from the University of Illinois. "Cosmos in the Computer" is an online exhibit which provides a multimedia tour of the birth of our Universe. Sections include "Cosmic Mystery Tour", How our Universe began, "Our Hierarchical Universe", present structure & fate of our Universe, "Cosmology goes Digital", why computers are essential to understanding our Universe, and "Frontiers of Cosmology", speculations on tomorrow's cosmologies. Large web site text, images, glossary, and movie files. Numerous links to related reading and additional web sites.
Cultural Astronomy  Web site from the University of Chicago's Digital Library. Educational site for K-12 provides a multimedia format with lessons and activities to explore archeoastronomy, or ethnoastronomy as it is also known. Includes lessons on China, India, the America's, Inuit, Druids, Anasazi, Vikings, Portuguese, and Nigerian cultures. Also guides to our solar system, observing, image gallery, and many links to related web sites.
Drive On Mars  Take a 3D tour of Mars from Digital Space. Requires Quicktime. Drive on the surface of Mars with a virtual rover. A variety of tours are including, Opportunity, Spirit, gentle terrain & hilly terrain. Use the RAT (rock abrasion tool), and select various targets to explore.
Eric Weisstein's World of Science  Eric is a brilliant Astronomer and has spent several years developing his Internet based encyclopedias. His web site provides an online encyclopedia for Astronomy, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, and biographies of Newton, Copernicus, Einstein, Edison, and Benjamin Franklin. The web site offers numerous link to related web sites.
Exploration of the Earth's Magnetosphere  An educational web site by Dr. David P. Stern and Mauricio Peredo. Topics include Magnetism, Electrons, Ions, Plasma, Radiation Belts, the Sun and Solar Wind, Exploring Earthspace, the Magnetosphere, and related information. An excellent introduction to Space weather, very thorough glossary, images, teachers resources, numerous links to related web sites.
Exploring Planets in the Classroom  The web site from the  University of Hawaii provides more than 25 hands-on science activities. They  are provided in classroom-ready pages for both teachers and students for exploring Earth, the planets, geology, and space sciences. Topics include: Introduction to the Solar System, Planetary Properties, Volcanology, Impact Craters, Dynamic Earth, Gradation, Gravity & Rockets, the Moon, Remote Sensing, and Mars.
From Stargazers to Starships David P Stern Earths motion, Newtonian mechanics, our Sun, Space flight and space craft, build a sundial, complete indexed tutorials.
FUSE  (Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer satellite) Web site and public outreach program from the FUSE mission. FUSE looks at light in the far ultraviolet portion of the electromagnetic spectrum (approximately 90 to 120 nanometers), which is unobservable with other telescopes. The FUSE satellite was launched on June 24, 1999 on board a Boeing Delta-II launch vehicle. The FUSE web site provides mission overview, science & technology of FUSE, status reports & updates, images, a series of classroom activities and a tutorial on the FUSE mission and Spectroscopy. Several links to related web sites.
Galileo Activities Guide  K-12 activities, planets and their satellites, planetary surfaces, puzzles, tutorials, teacher resources.
GAPS  GAPS (Global Astronomy Project for schools) web site developed by Hilmar Boos, a teacher from Wadern, Germany. The project's purpose is to link together a collaboration of students working on astronomy projects from around the world. So far the students have provided links to 16 astronomy categories, along with several links to related information.
Gary's Astronomy Homework Help  Web site created by Gary Agranat. Site provides a large list of internet resources to assist with astronomy and science homework and research. Grades K-12. Large collection of educational resources.
History of Space Exploration  A very comprehensive web site compiled by Calvin J. Hamilton, offering a Chronological History of Space Exploration & Spaceflight. Dates from 1912-2005, includes images and links to related web sites.
History of women in Astronomy  Biographies of women scientists, references, photos, search by time or field of study.
Hubble Space Telescope  News resource center for the Hubble Space Telescope, keep up to date on the latest news for HST. Links to related web sites included.
Imagine the Universe NASA  NASA educational web site intended for students age 14 and up. The site covers a wide variety of Astronomy related topics such as Black Holes, The Electromagnetic Spectrum, X-Ray Astronomy, Gamma Ray Burst and many more excellent topics. The site uses a multimedia format and provides an Astronomy Dictionary, a teachers corner, and numerous links to related web sites and resources.
Infrared Astronomy  A web site from the  EPO group at the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center and the SIRTF Science Center. An engaging tutorial explaining Infrared technology and its use in astronomy. The web site provides a multimedia format using text, images & videos, and  activities to explore the science of Infrared technology. Numerous links to related resources are provided.
Mars Exploration Rover Missions  NASA web site featuring the Mars Rover missions "Spirit", "Opportunity", & "Odyssey". Large web site that provides all the latest news, updates, science & technology, and image gallery. Special educational guides, interactive activities, coloring, build spacecraft models, Mars FAQ's for K-12 students & teachers. Links to the Athena student Intern program & Mars Exploration Student Data Team are available. Numerous links to related web sites.
MarsQuest Online  MarsQuest Online a fun and educational website, provides virtual exploration of Mars by Rovers, and Mars images. You can launch a space vehicle to Mars, drive a Mars rover, fly over Mars in 3D, Mars Mysteries, explore volcanoes, canyons, and other Mars features. A large assortment of external links to related science and information are also available.
Multiwavelength Milky Way  NASA web site that discusses imaging the Milky Way in various wavelengths and how astronomers use this information to learn about our galaxy. The site provides text and images, discussing the Nature of Light, Mapping the Sky, Our Galaxy the Milky Way. Includes links to related web sites and additional resources.
Nature of the Universe  A wonderful enlightening tutorial from the University of Hong Kong Department of Physics and the Hong Kong Space Museum. This tutorial is very visual and uses text, graphics, and animations to provide a background on the observational aspects of Astronomy and our Solar System, and in section 2 the Evolution of Stars, Galaxies and our Universe. An especially appealing web site.
NASA Astronaut Biographies  NASA web site provides biographical information on the members of the space flight crews and candidates for future missions in NASA's space flight program. Includes Career Astronauts, Astronaut Candidates, Cosmonauts, Payload Specialists, Astronaut Information, Former and deceased astronauts, and numerous links to related web sites and resources.
NASA Education Programs  The NASA Education program web site is a wonderful resource for students, educators, and the general public. Programs are available for Elementary, and Secondary levels, and informal programs. Students and educators are able to study Earth, exploring the universe and the planets using current data, and conducting scientific experiments using the latest aerospace and space-based research methods. A very large web site encompassing many areas of NASA programs and numerous related links.
NASA Spacelink  Space link library, instructional materials, teachers resources, searchable index of NASA topics, electronic library. Easy to use search the database for hundreds of NASA links. Focus section available for teachers. Grades K-12, post graduate and the public.
Physics Classroom  Learn basic high school level physics concepts through these tutorials. The Physics Classroom tutorial pages were written by Tom Henderson, a science teacher at Glenbrook South High School in Glenview, Illinois. Discusses Kinematics, Newton's Laws, Vectors, Momentum, Work, Energy, Power, Circular Motion, Satellite Motion, Waves, Sound Waves, Light Waves, and Reflection and Refraction. Several multimedia animations, and physics help to practice physics concepts included. Quizzes provided for each lesson.
The Salopian Web  UK web site features include a Monthly Sky Guide, Constellations Guide, Basic information on Stars, and Planets, Solar Eclipses, Astronomy Dictionary, Astronomy books & software, Space page, and a Space Shuttle section. Numerous links and resources.
The Singing Sun  Listen to solar sounds recorded by Stanford University astronomers. Also educational information and articles about solar oscillations, a solar glossary, an introduction to Helioseismology, and links to several related web sites and additional resources.
SkyView Virtual Observatory  NASA/HEASARC web site that is linked to the 2MASS All-Sky Data. Several interfaces available to access the data: Non-astronomers, Basic, Advanced, JAVA, and customized searches. Help tutorial and many related links are provided.
SOHO Satellite  Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, SOHO was launched on 12/2/1995. SOHO's mission is to study the internal structure of the Sun, its extensive outer atmosphere and the origin of the solar wind, the stream of highly ionized gas that blows continuously outward through the Solar System. The SOHO spacecraft contains a wide array of instruments including the CDS (Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer), EIT (Extreme ultraviolet Imaging Telescope), LASCO (Large Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph), and the UVCS (Ultraviolet Coronagraph Spectrometer). SOHO is an invaluable resource for advancing our understanding of the complexities of our Sun. Images, gallery, real time solar activities, archives, classroom activities, FAQ's, and numerous links to related web sites.
Solar Flare Theory  NASA web site. Explanation and information to learn about solar flares. Fairly extensive, topics covered include Coronal Mass Ejections (CME's), Hard X-Rays, Gamma Ray Lines and Accelerated Ions, X-Ray Spectra and Energetic Electrons, and a description of RHESSI a spectroscopic imager, and the Powers of Ten explained. Solar Physics Glossary, FAQ's, links to related web sites and books for further reading.
Space.com  Keep up to date with the latest Space and Astronomy news. Site includes links to the Hubble Space Telescope, Stargazing and Astronomy guides and tips, Image of the Day, and Space Flight, and SETI.
Space Weather Resources  Web site from Rice University. Provides Space Weather education, real time Space Weather information and links. Space Weather Observatories, Space Weather satellites, Research Centers, and related web site links.
Starlore of Native America by Brad Snowder WWU  Web site created by Brad Snowder of Western Washington University Planetarium. Site has American Indian Starlore, Cosmic Quotations, Image Gallery from the Planetarium, and links to related web sites. Provides insight into the Native American culture.
University of Arizona Educational Resources  Web site provides a series of hands-on activities that teach, scaling and map reading, and knowledge of scientific notation. Topics include, Observational Astronomy, Astronomical Distances, Searching for Extrasolar Planets, Electromagnetics, Remote Sensing, Convection, and Radioactivity. Many tutorials and classroom projects, useful links for further study.
Whitney's Star Finder   Solar system, galaxies, backyard projects, constellations, dictionary, educational resources.
Why is the Sky Blue  Web site provided by Carl R. (Rod) Nave, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Georgia State University. Explains why our sky is blue and the physics involved in as a result of Rayleigh scattering. Technical web site also provides an online Physics tutorial, discussion of principles of Light, mirrors, optical, photometry, and vision information.

Links for Educators & Parents

AASTRA  The American Astronomical Society Teacher Resource Agent Program is a NSF teacher enhancement program for teachers of grades K-12. from the American Astronomical Society. The AASTRA has programs across the U.S. The web site provides links to many of the hands on activities and programs used in the AASTRA program, and many related web sites.
Amazing Space for Educators  From the Space Science Telescope Institute Teachers quick facts, resources from NASA, activities, lesson plans, black holes, comets, HST, math, gravity, help answering student questions in searchable format by topic.
AstroEd University of Washington K-12 Curriculum materials and online courses. Newsletters, Hypertext articles, astronomy history.
Astronomycenter.org  AstronomyCenter.org is a large web-based databank that provides educators with links to a wide range of teaching and learning resources for the Undergraduate Introductory Astronomy course. Topics Astrobiology, Cosmology, Galaxies, Large-Scale Structure, Planetary Sciences, Early Universe, and numerous additional topics and links.
Astronomy Lesson Plans-Ask Eric database grades K-12  A listing of Space Science educational resources for educators. Many links and files to choose from. Classroom activities and lesson plans. Many resources provided by science teachers.
Astronomy Society of the Pacific Education  Provides links to educational resources, workshops, and training materials for science teachers. Includes activities available from the ASP web site. Other materials are available on the Internet, however some of the sites and resources may require membership or registration fees to obtain materials.
Astronomy Society of the Pacific Project Astro  Connecting astronomers and educators to improve the teaching of astronomy and physical science in 4-9th grade classrooms, and in youth groups, by linking professional and amateur astronomers with local educators. Each astronomer is matched with an educator in a one-on-one partnership. Web site from the Astronomical Society of the Pacific provides an overview of the program, resources, publications, and several links to related topics.
Astronomy Workshop  Web site developed by Dr. Douglas P. Hamilton & Mike Ashbury. Educational site for those getting started in Astronomy; includes virtual viewers, solar calculators, and Orbital simulations. Excellent resources for both the educator and student.
Birthday Moons Lesson from Montana State University  A fun and easy classroom project in which students become familiar with Lunar phases and then create their own Birthday Moon stories. All materials are available to download from the web site. Excellent and entertaining method to teach students about Lunar phases.
CERES  The Center for Educational Resources (CERES) Project, funded by NASA, contains a series of web-based interactive astronomy lessons created by faculty at Montana State University and classroom teachers.
Columbia Education Center  Web site from the Columbia Education Center in Portland, OR. Links to lesson plans, and web activities, Funding Resources, and Teacher resources.
EducationHelper.com  Web site created by teachers. This site does require a subscription to access it's full services. Astronomy topics available include the Solar System, the Earth's Crust, Volcanoes, Light, Force & Motion and other related topics.
Family Friendly Sites  At a site displaying the Family-Friendly Sites Emblem, families can expect to find content and links that support their physical, mental, and emotional development in a healthy way. A useful web site with links to many educational sites that are safe for families and children. They provide a search engine and offer a wide range of topics. AstronomywebGuide.com is a member of Family Friendly Sites.
Hands-On Universe  From the Lawrence Hall of Science at UC Berkeley. Web site offers hands on interactive activities in science, math,and technology. A large web site providing many web pages discussing the solar system, stars, Lunar images, Messier gallery, and many other related topics.
Home School Portal  Web site that provides a comprehensive listing of educational resources, websites, and businesses that provide support to the home schooling community. Astronomywebguide.com is a member of the Home School Portal.
Landsat-7 Teachers Guide  Informative web site from NASA for middle school-HS grade level. Provides activities and information about the Landsat-7 satellite for the classroom. Landsat-7 was launched in 1999. The satellite is an Earth observing satellite that monitors deforestation, sea level rise, droughts, famines, destruction of natural habitats, and urbanization. Teaches students about satellite structure, image interpretation, satellite orbits, and measuring reflectance of ground materials ( reflectance spectrometer). Some additional links provided.
Mars Teachers Resources NASA  NASA web site provides a series of activities and simple lesson plans and resources for K-12 students. They have a brilliant Mars activity book available in a PDF file that you can download for classroom activities and study. Also a link to the Imagine Mars Project.
McDonald Observatory Classroom Online  Interactive web site from the University of Texas McDonald Observatory. Hands on activities for children to explore Astronomy. Grades K-12. The activities require common household items to build a spectroscope, a Reflective Solar cooker, make a Sundial, and several other fun activities. Links to related web sites and additional resources.
NASA Education Programs  The NASA Education program web site is a wonderful resource for students, educators, and the general public. Programs are available for Elementary, and Secondary levels, and informal programs. Students and educators are able to study Earth, exploring the universe and the planets using current data, and conducting scientific experiments using the latest aerospace and space-based research methods. A very large web site encompassing many areas of NASA programs and numerous related links.
NASA Spacelink  Official homepage for NASA's Spacelink program. Web site is a source for NASA education division electronic publications and the NASA resource library. Provides an A-Z searchable database, index includes Educational services, Instructional materials, NASA Projects, NASA News, NASA overview, and a NASA FAQ's. Huge resource of links, lesson plans, and activities.
National Science Teachers Association  The National Science Teachers Association was founded in 1944. It is the largest organization in the world committed to promoting excellence and innovation in science teaching and learning for all. The NSTA offers message boards, journals full of ideas, conventions, workshops, and many more aids and support for science teachers. A wonderful resource guide for all science educators.
Newton BBS  The Newton BBS program "Ask a Scientist", has been operating since 1991, and is operated by the Division of Educational Programs under Argonne National Laboratory in Argonne, IL. and the Department of Energy. Currently their archive contains records for over 20,000 questions! The program was developed for Teachers and students K-12 as a site to retrieve information in Math, Computing, and Science, by communicating with research scientists from all over the world. Links provided include a search engine and archives, question of the week, Teacher Curriculum development page, Science Fair information, Newton Outreach programs, links to Astronomy through Zoology.
OfficeMax Print & Document Services  OfficeMax has partnered with NASA to provide you with a convenient way to access NASA materials in the most economical, productive and efficient way. If you find a document or material that is large quantity (number of pages), and don't have the resources to print them yourself, let OfficeMax provide them for you. Available at over 1,000 stores nationwide.
Physicsfront.org  The PhysicsFront is a web-based site for High School teachers of Conceptual, AP and Algebra-based physics, and Physical Sciences. This material is meant to serve as a resource to enrich the high school physics experience. Includes lesson plans, activities, Labs and demonstrations. Very large searchable database.
Project CLEA Suitable for HS/College level, develops laboratory exercises to illustrate modern astronomy techniques. Downloadable software available on the web site.
Project Learn Earth & Atmospheres  Web site designed for middle school teachers. Content of this site focuses on Climate Change, the Ozone, the Stratospheric and Tropospheric zones. Site contains a very appealing tutorial and includes diagrams and images to compliment the text.
Sites for Teachers  Search engine for teachers. Links to sites that contain teacher resources and materials.
Space Educators Handbook NASA  Large website from NASA. Index page contains a vast assortment of links to educational resources, teaching guides, all contained within the website and on CDROM. Program was originally developed in 1989. Topics include Space astronomy, Space Robotics, Kids Space, Space technology, Space Calendar, Apollo 13, and Space Mathematics, resources. Lots of activities for grades K-12.
Space Explorers  Web site from the Texas Space Grant Consortium at the University of Texas. This web site offers teachers a space exploration education program designed for grades 5-8. PDF downloads provide several appealing Aerospace related activities.
Space Science Education Resources Directory  Web site from NASA. Provides a directory of NASA Space education resources searchable by grade level, topic, or a custom search. Also offered are featured web sites and Topics of the Day, and links to related web sites
TeachersZone.com  Web site that provides a list of Internet based Science resources and tutorials.
Thursday's Classroom  NASA web site for educators and parents. Provides activities and lesson plans for teachers, and an email newsletter.
TERC  The TERC program resources include, curricula, supplemental materials, professional development, student math activities, games & software, for pre-kindergarten through college and include adult basic education and informal learning at museums, at home, and in after school programs. Several external links to related information.
To Mars with MER (Mars Explorer Rover) Interact  Interactive web site to explore the Mars Explorer program. Follow the program on TV, Online, and Video. Site contains a section for hands on activities. Activities include Rocket Science, build a model of our Solar System, Egg Drop Challenge, Build a Rover from household items, and other fun activities. Kids corner and resources for teachers. Links to related web sites are available.
VOYAGE Educator Newsletter  Online newsletter for Teachers, from the University of Texas, Texas Space Grant Consortium. The newsletter is published every two weeks and is available free. The newsletter is a wonderful resource providing curriculum ideas, and Internet links and programs for science teachers K-12. The web site maintains an archive to back issues as well,

* For College level or advanced students in astronomy please see Tutorials links