This lesson introduces "pre-trigonometry," the estimate of the distance to a far-away point. Students will use "pre-trigonometry" to calcuate distance and will use the "thumb method" of estimating distances in the field and understand the reason it works. Finally, they will understand how astronomers used the diameter of the Earth's orbit around the Sun as a baseline for estimating the distance of ... Full description.

In this activity, students develop and demonstrate their ability to use textual information and data to persuade a reading audience of the benefits of using microcalorimeter detectors to do X-ray astronomy. They will summarize in their own words various reading selections, and use results from previous exercises in their persuasion writing. This final assignment will serve as closure. Students have ... Full description.

In this lesson plan, students explore how the universe has evolved since the theoretical Big Bang and create dramatizations of various eras in cosmic evolution. This page provides objectives, resources/materials, a related article and timeline, activities, follow-up questions, evaluation ideas, vocabulary, interdisciplinary connections, and links to additional information. Full description.

This activity is part of Planet Diary and is an online investigation of where earthquakes occur. Students research past earthquakes to see if any have occurred in their region. This activity has an accompanying page of websites for further research. Full description.

This educational module is designed to teach students about predicting weather. This includes a series of activites about clouds, moisture, air and rain for students to complete. There are curriculum connections to art, writing and math as well as links for more resources and live weather data. Full description.

This project provides an opportunity for students to research the changing shorelines of Texas. It engages high school students who live along the coast in the study of their natural environment including dune and beach dynamics on the Texas coast. Scientists from the University of Texas at Austin provide the tools and training needed for scientific investigation. Students and teachers learn how to ... Full description.

This applet provides practice in contour drawing using real-time data plots. There are six colors for drawing isolines and a button for erasing the last line. There is also a link to other contour analysis exercises. Full description.

This lesson plan is part of a high school course on astronomy, Newtonian mechanics and spaceflight and provides a closer look at the pole star and the neighboring constellations, especially the Big Dipper and Cassiopeia. One objective is for the student to know the constellations of the Big Dipper and Cassiopeia, and their use in finding the Pole Star. The student will also realize that other celestial ... Full description.

In this lesson the ellipse is studied in polar coordinates (r,f), with the function cos(f). This places the origin point at a focus (more appropriate for planetary motion) and introduces the eccentricity e. It is also noted that planets actually orbit the center of gravity of the solar system and that distant planets may be detected by motions of their central star around the centers of gravity of ... Full description.

This lesson presents an introduction to solar observations by eye or telescope and during eclipse. It also explores the distance to the Sun, its layers, the corona and the solar wind. Safety rules for observing the Sun are stressed as students are informed about the visible layers of the Sun - photosphere, chromosphere, corona. Students learn about the high temperature of the corona, the evidence ... Full description.