Here is a compilation of the current resources we are providing to teachers who visit the

observatory!

Kindergarten
http://spaceweather.com/
Information on meteor showers, comets, and all sorts of cool stuff! This
website has a live feed of the sun so you can see the position of all its
sunspots, as well as the current speed of the solar wind.

Constellation Activity:

This activity will help students identify common constellations in the night sky.

http://www.astrosociety.org/edu/family/materials/constellationdetective.pdf

Oreo Moon Phase Activity:

It’s just like the title suggests—students create moon phases out of Oreo cookies.
Here is a helpful template for this activity, but students can also create their own:

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Phases-of-the-Moon-Oreo-Activity-
FREEBIE-158654

More Astronomy Crafts:

This page has everything from a paper sun activity to instructions on building a
solar system model! Easy-to-do crafts that your students will love.

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/astronomy/

First Grade
Helpful Websites and Videos:

http://spaceweather.com/
Information on meteor showers, comets, and all sorts of cool stuff! This
website has a live feed of the sun so you can see the position of all its
 sunspots, as well as the current speed of the solar wind. Students can even
track a specific sunspot to determine how fast the sun is rotating.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ovMh2A3P5k
Where does sound come from? This video explains how vibrations create
sound, how sound travels, and more!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gKoN4yPzy4
If we didn’t show this clip on our tour (or if you wish to revisit it), this
amazing video compares our sun with the truly colossal largest known stars.

Sundial Activity:
If we didn’t already do so on the tour, making sundials is an easy craft that students
can take home for their own enjoyment. The steps for making a simple sundial are
as follows:
1. To make the base of the sundial, cut a circle out of cardboard or a similar
material that is eight inches in diameter. Mark the center with a pencil or
pen.
2. Get an item that will act as the hand or “gnomon” of your sundial. This
will cast a shadow onto the base. A pencil, pen, or something similar
should do the trick.
3. Print out a sundial face diagram from the NASA website:
http://er.jsc.nasa.gov/seh/sundialn.pdf
4. Follow the instructions on the diagram—Atlanta’s latitude is about 34
degrees.
5. Line up the diagram with your circular base. Copy the lines onto your
base, labeling each line with the corresponding hour.
6. Insert your gnomon so that it lines up with the vertical line on your circle.
If it doesn’t stay upright, tape it in place.
7. Your sundial is now ready to use! Take it outside and, using a compass,
point the gnomon North. The shadow should fall on the correct hour.

Oreo Moon Phase Activity:

It’s just like the title suggests—students create moon phases out of Oreo cookies.
Here is a helpful template for this activity, but students can also create their own:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Phases-of-the-Moon-Oreo-Activity-
FREEBIE-158654

Constellation Activity:
This activity will help students identify common constellations in the night sky.
http://www.astrosociety.org/edu/family/materials/constellationdetective.pdf

More Astronomy Crafts:

This page has everything from a paper sun activity to instructions on building a
solar system model! Easy-to-do crafts that your students will love.

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/astronomy/

Second Grade
Helpful Websites and Videos:

http://spaceweather.com/
Information on meteor showers, comets, and all sorts of cool stuff! This
website has a live feed of the sun so you can see the position of all its
sunspots, as well as the current speed of the solar wind. Students can even
track a specific sunspot to determine how fast the sun is rotating.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gKoN4yPzy4
If we didn’t show this clip on our tour (or if you wish to revisit it), this
amazing video compares our sun with the truly colossal, largest known stars.

Sundial Activity:
If we didn’t already do so on the tour, making sundials is an easy craft that students
can take home for their own enjoyment. The steps for making a simple sundial are
as follows:
1. To make the base of the sundial, cut a circle out of cardboard or a similar
material that is eight inches in diameter. Mark the center with a pencil or
pen.
2. Get an item that will act as the hand or “gnomon” of your sundial. This
will cast a shadow onto the base. A pencil, pen, or something similar
should do the trick.
3. Print out a sundial face diagram from the NASA website:
http://er.jsc.nasa.gov/seh/sundialn.pdf
 4. Follow the instructions on the diagram—Atlanta’s latitude is about 34
degrees.
5. Line up the diagram with your circular base. Copy the lines onto your
base, labeling each line with the corresponding hour.
6. Insert your gnomon so that it lines up with the vertical line on your circle.
If it doesn’t stay upright, tape it in place.
7. Your sundial is now ready to use! Take it outside and, using a compass,
point the gnomon North. The shadow should fall on the correct hour.

Oreo Moon Phase Activity:

It’s just like the title suggests—students create moon phases out of Oreo cookies.
Here is a helpful template for this activity, but students can also create their own:

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Phases-of-the-Moon-Oreo-Activity-
FREEBIE-158654

Create-Your-Own Star Wheel Activity:

An easy template to create a star wheel, which is great for finding objects in the
night sky:

https://www.lawrencehallofscience.org/do_science_now/science_apps_and_activiti
es/star_wheels

Third Grade
Helpful Websites and Videos:

http://spaceweather.com/
Information on meteor showers, comets, and all sorts of cool stuff! This
website has a live feed of the sun so you can see the position of all its
sunspots, as well as the current speed of the solar wind. Students can even
track a specific sunspot to determine how fast the sun is rotating.

http://scienceforkids.kidipede.com/chemistry/atoms/heat.htm
This page explains how heat and temperature work, complete with a Bill
Nye video!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gKoN4yPzy4
 If we didn’t show this clip on our tour (or if you wish to revisit it), this
amazing video compares our sun with the truly colossal largest known stars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhokvJZFURg
This video provides a thorough explanation of the phases of the moon.

Simulations and Games:

“Planet Hop”
Students can calculate their own weight and age on different planets in the
solar system (and check their answers) on this website:
http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/solar_system_level2/activity/pl
anet_hop.html

Interactive Seasons Simulation

Here students can see how a planet’s seasons are affected by axial tilt as well
as compare the axial tilts of different planets in the solar system. A short
quiz is available below the simulation. Link to website:
http://highered.mcgraw-
hill.com/sites/007299181x/student_view0/chapter2/seasons_interactive.html

Oreo Moon Phase Activity:

It’s just like the title suggests—students create moon phases out of Oreo cookies.
Here is a helpful template for this activity, but students can also create their own:

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Phases-of-the-Moon-Oreo-Activity-
FREEBIE-158654

Create-Your-Own Star Wheel Activity:

Here is an easy template to create a star wheel, which is great for finding objects in
the night sky:

http://www.lawrencehallofscience.org/starclock/starwheel.pdf
Sundial Activity:

If we didn’t already do so on the tour, making sundials is an easy craft that students
can take home for their own enjoyment. The steps for making a simple sundial are
as follows:
1. To make the base of the sundial, cut a circle out of cardboard or a similar
material that is eight inches in diameter. Mark the center with a pencil or
pen.
2. Get an item that will act as the hand or “gnomon” of your sundial. This
will cast a shadow onto the base. A pencil, pen, or something similar
should do the trick.
3. Print out a sundial face diagram from the NASA website:
http://er.jsc.nasa.gov/seh/sundialn.pdf
4. Follow the instructions on the diagram—Atlanta’s latitude is about 34
degrees.
5. Line up the diagram with your circular base. Copy the lines onto your
base, labeling each line with the corresponding hour.
6. Insert your gnomon so that it lines up with the vertical line on your circle.
If it doesn’t stay upright, tape it in place.
7. Your sundial is now ready to use! Take it outside and, using a compass,
point the gnomon North. The shadow should fall on the correct hour.

Setting Sun Activity:

If you carefully watch the sunset day after day, you will notice that the sun does
not always set in the same place on the horizon. Here a helpful visualization:

Have your students draw a picture

or take a photograph of the sun a
couple times a week for the
remainder of the school year so
they can observe this motion for
themselves.
Fourth Grade
Helpful Websites and Videos:

http://spaceweather.com/
Information on meteor showers, comets, and all sorts of cool stuff! This
website has a live feed of the sun so you can see the position of all its
sunspots, as well as the current speed of the solar wind. Students can even
track a specific sunspot to determine how fast the sun is rotating.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gKoN4yPzy4
This amazing video compares our sun with the truly colossal largest known
stars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhokvJZFURg
This video provides a thorough explanation of the phases of the moon.

http://www.neok12.com/video/Telescope/zX5f016756667557795f557b.htm
How do telescopes work? This helpful video explains the basics of what
telescopes do and how they are used in astronomy.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/0/20937803
This article gives a more in-depth (but still easy to understand) explanation
of different telescopes with helpful diagrams.

Simulations and Games:

“Planet Hop”
Students can calculate their own weight and age on different planets in the
solar system (and check their answers) on this website:
http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/solar_system_level2/activity/pl
anet_hop.html

Interactive Seasons Simulation

Here students can see how a planet’s seasons are affected by axial tilt as well
as compare the axial tilts of different planets in the solar system. A short
quiz is available below the simulation. Link to website:
 http://highered.mcgraw-
hill.com/sites/007299181x/student_view0/chapter2/seasons_interactive.html

Moon Phase Simulation

Here students can see the relative positions of the Earth, Sun, and Moon
during the different moon phases. Simple but effective. Link to website:
http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/moon_phases/index.html

Setting Sun Activity:

If you carefully watch the sunset day after day, you will notice that the sun does
not always set in the same place on the horizon. Here a helpful visualization:

Have your students draw a picture or take a photograph of the sun a couple times a
week for the remainder of the school year so they can observe this motion for
themselves.
Oreo Moon Phase Activity:

It’s just like the title suggests—students create moon phases out of Oreo cookies.
Here is a helpful template for this activity, but students can also create their own:

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Phases-of-the-Moon-Oreo-Activity-
FREEBIE-158654

Create-Your-Own Star Wheel Activity:

An easy template to create a star wheel, which is great for finding objects in the
night sky:

http://www.lawrencehallofscience.org/starclock/starwheel.pdf

Fifth Grade
Helpful Websites and Videos:

http://spaceweather.com/
Information on meteor showers, comets, and all sorts of cool stuff! This
website has a live feed of the sun so you can see the position of all its
sunspots, as well as the current speed of the solar wind. Students can even
track a specific sunspot to determine how fast the sun is rotating.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gKoN4yPzy4
This amazing video compares our sun with the truly colossal largest known
stars.

http://www.neok12.com/video/Telescope/zX5f016756667557795f557b.htm
How do telescopes work? This helpful video explains the basics of what
telescopes do and how they are used in astronomy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnnpLaKsqGU
This video clearly and concisely explains how an electric circuit works in
less than three minutes!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8tyjwB42X4
This video explains the difference between physical and chemical changes
with easy-to-understand examples.

Simulations and Games:

“Planet Hop”
Students can calculate their own weight and age on different planets in the
solar system (and check their answers) on this website:
http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/solar_system_level2/activity/pl
anet_hop.html

Electric Circuit Simulation

Here, students can play with an online electric circuit to make a virtual bulb
glow more brightly:
http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/gamesactivities/electricitycircuits.html

Interactive Seasons Simulation

Here students can see how a planet’s seasons are affected by axial tilt as well
as compare the axial tilts of different planets in the solar system. A short
quiz is available below the simulation. Link to website:
http://highered.mcgraw-
hill.com/sites/007299181x/student_view0/chapter2/seasons_interactive.html

SolarBeat
Explore the planets’ various orbital speeds while listening to the music of the solar
system.
http://www.whitevinyldesign.com/solarbeat/

An easy template to create a star wheel, which is great for finding objects in the
night sky:
http://www.lawrencehallofscience.org/starclock/starwheel.pdf

Setting Sun Activity:

If you carefully watch the sunset day after day, you will notice that the sun does
not always set in the same place on the horizon. Here a helpful visualization:
Have your students draw a picture or take a photograph of the sun a couple times a
week for the remainder of the school year so they can observe this motion for
themselves.

Sixth Grade
Helpful Websites and Videos:

http://spaceweather.com/
Information on meteor showers, comets, and all sorts of cool stuff! This
website has a live feed of the sun so you can see the position of all its
sunspots, as well as the current speed of the solar wind. Students can even
track a specific sunspot to determine how fast the sun is rotating.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gKoN4yPzy4
This amazing video compares our sun with the truly colossal largest known
stars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhokvJZFURg
This video provides a thorough explanation of the phases of the moon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGTq14qCwJk
“What is a Comet?” A short but comprehensive video on comets.

Simulations and Games:

Interactive Seasons Simulation
http://highered.mcgraw-
hill.com/sites/007299181x/student_view0/chapter2/seasons_interactive.html
Here students can see how a planet’s seasons are affected by axial tilt as well
as compare the axial tilts of different planets in the solar system. A short
quiz is available below the simulation.

“If The Moon Were Only a Pixel”

http://joshworth.com/dev/pixelspace/pixelspace_solarsystem.html
“A tediously accurate scale model of the solar system,” this simulation
highlights the vast distances in our solar system.

Moon Phase Simulation

http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/moon_phases/index.html
Here students can see the relative positions of the Earth, Sun, and Moon
during the different moon phases. Simple but effective.

SolarBeat
http://www.whitevinyldesign.com/solarbeat/
Explore the planets’ various orbital speeds while listening to the music of
the solar system.

Eclipse Simulation
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/olcweb/cgi/pluginpop.cgi?
it=swf::800::600::/sites/dl/free/0072482621/78778/Eclipses_Nav.swf::Eclips
e+Interactive
This simulation is very helpful in understanding the nature of lunar and solar
eclipses.

Setting Sun Activity:

If you carefully watch the sunset day after day, you will notice that the sun does
not always set in the same place on the horizon. Here a helpful visualization:
Have your students draw a picture or take a photograph of the sun a couple times a
week for the remainder of the school year so they can observe this motion for
themselves.

Create-Your-Own Star Wheel Activity:

An easy template to create a star wheel, which is great for finding objects in the
night sky:
http://www.lawrencehallofscience.org/do_science_now/science_apps_and_activiti
es/starwheels

Help Save the Milky Way for Future Generations:

Information and access to resources regarding light pollution awareness and

prevention:
https://www.iau-100.org/darkskies-for-all

Seventh Grade
Helpful Websites and Videos:

http://spaceweather.com/
Information on meteor showers, comets, and all sorts of cool stuff! This
website has a live feed of the sun so you can see the position of all its
sunspots, as well as the current speed of the solar wind. Students can even
track a specific sunspot to determine how fast the sun is rotating.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gKoN4yPzy4
This amazing video compares our sun with the truly colossal largest known
stars.

http://www.history.com/shows/the-universe/videos/the-universe-astrobiology
This 45-minute episode of “The Universe” deals with the search for
extraterrestrial life.

Simulations and Games:

Interactive Seasons Simulation

http://highered.mcgraw-
hill.com/sites/007299181x/student_view0/chapter2/seasons_interactive.html
Here students can see how a planet’s seasons are affected by axial tilt as well
as compare the axial tilts of different planets in the solar system. A short
quiz is available below the simulation.

“If The Moon Were Only a Pixel”

http://joshworth.com/dev/pixelspace/pixelspace_solarsystem.html
“A tediously accurate scale model of the solar system,” this simulation
highlights the vast distances in our solar system.

Moon Phase Simulation

http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/moon_phases/index.html
Here students can see the relative positions of the Earth, Sun, and Moon
during the different moon phases. Simple but effective.

SolarBeat
http://www.whitevinyldesign.com/solarbeat/
Explore the planets’ various orbital speeds while listening to the music of
the solar system.

Eclipse Simulation
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/olcweb/cgi/pluginpop.cgi?
it=swf::800::600::/sites/dl/free/0072482621/78778/Eclipses_Nav.swf::Eclips
e+Interactive
This simulation is very helpful in understanding the nature of lunar and solar
eclipses.
Setting Sun Activity:

If you carefully watch the sunset day after day, you will notice that the sun does
not always set in the same place on the horizon. Here a helpful visualization:

Have your students draw a picture or take a photograph of the sun a couple times a
week for the remainder of the school year so they can observe this motion for
themselves.

Create-Your-Own Star Wheel Activity:

An easy template to create a star wheel, which is great for finding objects in the
night sky:

http://www.lawrencehallofscience.org/do_science_now/science_apps_and_activiti
es/starwheels
Help Save the Milky Way for Future Generations:

Information and access to resources regarding light pollution awareness and

prevention:
https://www.iau-100.org/darkskies-for-all

Eighth Grade
Helpful Websites and Videos:

http://spaceweather.com/
Information on meteor showers, comets, and all sorts of cool stuff! This
website has a live feed of the sun so you can see the position of all its
sunspots, as well as the current speed of the solar wind. Students can even
track a specific sunspot to determine how fast the sun is rotating.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gKoN4yPzy4
This amazing video compares our sun with the truly colossal largest known
stars.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMbmQzV-Ezs
This video explains the difference between solids, liquids, and gas, in terms
of the particles which compose the object.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2S6e11NBwiw
The Law of Conservation of Matter explained in less than five minutes.

http://www.cosi.org/downloads/activities/simplemachines/sm1.html
Demonstrates how simple machines work, and how they are useful.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPcAWNlVl-8
This 30-minute video gives a thorough introduction to basic
electromagnetic radiation concepts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTY1Kje0yLg
“Gravity Visualized.” An excellent video for students who have difficulty
visualizing gravity, curved space-time, etc.

https://www.iau-100.org/darkskies-for-all
 Information and access to resources regarding light pollution awareness
and prevention.

Simulations and Games:

Interactive Seasons Simulation

http://highered.mcgraw-
hill.com/sites/007299181x/student_view0/chapter2/seasons_interactive.html
Here students can see how a planet’s seasons are affected by axial tilt as well
as compare the axial tilts of different planets in the solar system. A short
quiz is available below the simulation.

“If The Moon Were Only a Pixel”

http://joshworth.com/dev/pixelspace/pixelspace_solarsystem.html
“A tediously accurate scale model of the solar system,” this simulation
highlights the vast distances in our solar system.

“Build a Molecule” Simulation

https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/legacy/build-a-molecule
This simulation allows students to build their own molecules. Runs using
JavaScript:

Circuit Construction Kit

https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/circuit-construction-kit-dc
This simulation allows students to build their own circuits. Runs using
JavaScript:

SolarBeat
http://www.whitevinyldesign.com/solarbeat/
Explore the planets’ various orbital speeds while listening to the music of
the solar system.

Eclipse Simulation
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/olcweb/cgi/pluginpop.cgi?
it=swf::800::600::/sites/dl/free/0072482621/78778/Eclipses_Nav.swf::Eclips
e+Interactive
This simulation is very helpful in understanding the nature of lunar and solar
eclipses.
Activities:

Exploring Galaxies and the Cosmos

http://mcdonaldobservatory.org/teachers/classroom/Galaxies.html
Three activities are available on this website—one for classifying galaxies,
one for spectroscopy, and another for stellar evolution.

Make Your Own Spectroscope

http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/cosmic_games/spectra/makeGrating.htm
Just as the title suggests!

Planetary Billiards
http://greatballsoffireexhibit.org/docs/Planetary_Billiards.pdf
A collection of activities exploring how the force of gravity is used to
modify the trajectory of a spacecraft.

High School
Helpful Websites and Videos:

http://spaceweather.com/
Information on meteor showers, comets, and all sorts of cool stuff! This
website has a live feed of the sun so you can see the position of all its
sunspots, as well as the current speed of the solar wind. Students can even
track a specific sunspot to determine how fast the sun is rotating.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gKoN4yPzy4
This amazing video compares our sun with the truly colossal largest known
stars.

Simulations and Games:

Interactive Seasons Simulation

http://highered.mcgraw-
hill.com/sites/007299181x/student_view0/chapter2/seasons_interactive.html
 Here students can see how a planet’s seasons are affected by axial tilt as well
as compare the axial tilts of different planets in the solar system. A short
quiz is available below the simulation.

“If The Moon Were Only a Pixel”

http://joshworth.com/dev/pixelspace/pixelspace_solarsystem.html
“A tediously accurate scale model of the solar system,” this simulation
highlights the vast distances in our solar system.

Moon Phase Simulation

http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/moon_phases/index.html
Here students can see the relative positions of the Earth, Sun, and Moon
during the different moon phases. Simple but effective.

SolarBeat
http://www.whitevinyldesign.com/solarbeat/
Explore the planets’ various orbital speeds while listening to the music of
the solar system.

Eclipse Simulation
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/olcweb/cgi/pluginpop.cgi?
it=swf::800::600::/sites/dl/free/0072482621/78778/Eclipses_Nav.swf::Eclips
e+Interactive
This simulation is very helpful in understanding the nature of lunar and solar
eclipses.

Activities:

Exploring Galaxies and the Cosmos

http://mcdonaldobservatory.org/teachers/classroom/Galaxies.html
Three activities are available on this website—one for classifying galaxies,
one for spectroscopy, and another for stellar evolution.

Make Your Own Spectroscope

http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/cosmic_games/spectra/makeGrating.htm
Just as the title suggests!

Fusion Reactions
 http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/teachers/lessons/xray_spectra/activity-
fusion.html
This activity is geared towards older students (11-12 grade).

Planetary Billiards
http://greatballsoffireexhibit.org/docs/Planetary_Billiards.pdf
A collection of activities exploring how the force of gravity is used to
modify the trajectory of a spacecraft.

Step Up 4 Women:
https://www.aps.org/programs/education/su4w/index.cfm
A resource to help high school teachers encourage women to study
undergraduate physics.

Help Save the Milky Way for Future Generations:

https://www.iau-100.org/darkskies-for-all
Information and access to resources regarding light pollution awareness and
prevention