This problem-based learning activity uses Hurricane Katrina as the context for students to conduct an Earth system analyses in order the answer the following questions: Are recent increases in the number and strength of hurricanes a result of an increased greenhouse effect and a warmer climate? Or are they the result of a natural cycle? Full description.

In this activity, which serves as an introduction to an astronomy unit or to a classroom visit by an astronomer or space scientist, students are asked to imagine an astronomer and then draw a picture. In the instructions, no clues are given about the astronomer's race, sex, or age. Students discuss why they drew the pictures they drew and why they have the mental images of scientists that they have. ... Full description.

This resource includes over 88 paper plate activities, where scientists put their research into laymen?s terms and develop paper plate activities that illustrate their respective pursuits. Paper Plate Education asserts that anything worth teaching ought be reducible to a paper plate. This is also known as Paper Plate Reduction. There are lessons in space science, music theory, archeology, celestial ... Full description.

This model aims to help illustrate the purpose and methodology of NASA's Kepler mission. It includes (1) a hand-cranked or motorized orrery (moving model of a planet system) made of LEGO parts, (2) a light sensor representing the Kepler photometer, (3) computer software for graphing light curves, representing Kepler Science Office - data analysis. A light bulb at the center of the orrery represents ... Full description.

This collection features images taken by the Chandra X-ray Observatory, including image descriptions and comparison with optical images. Includes Cycle 1 Science Images, Chandra's First Images, Images by category, Chronological Listing, and a sky map. Printable handouts of images with captions. Full description.

This classroom activity explains how clouds and pollution in the atmosphere are important to climate, and the need to study whether pollution may be changing Earth's climate in undesirable ways. It introduces NASA's Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) mission. The activity includes building a MISR-lite model to demonstrate how looking at the same thing (i.e., Earth's atmosphere) from different ... Full description.

This classroom activity explains how the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites work to provide precise location information to positions on the ground, as well as to other satellites whose job is to map the surface of Earth. The activity is specifically tied to NASA's Jason-1 and Topex/Poseidon spacecraft in their mission to map ocean topography. In addition to the concepts of distance vs. time ... Full description.

This product contains lesson plans and an activity composed of a three-part questionnaire that launches students on discussions about where objects in space are located, and when they were formed, as well as an introduction to the concepts of structure and evolution of the universe. Full description.

In this activity, students work in teams to construct the components of the High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (HESSI) spacecraft model and make presentations on the results of their effort. Note: HESSI is now the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager. Full description.

These modules are related to NASA's MESSENGER mission to Mercury. They cover topics in comparative planetary science, Solar System studies through history, and the process of designing, constructing, and sending a spacecraft to another planet. The unit Staying Cool explores the challenges imposed on spacecraft design by the harsh near-Mercurian environment. Full description.