Educators' Index

An index of classroom resources from Imagine the Universe!, StarChild, APOD, and Cosmicopia

By Type of Resource

By Topic

APOD in the Classroom - Teachers share how they have used APOD in their classrooms.
APOD's Educational Links - A list of resources that excel in astronomy education.
Cosmicopia Teacher Resource Links - A list of useful astrophysics-related educational resources and activities.
- Education Briefs
  - Composition of Matter, Atomic Structure -- NASA GSFC Ambassador Program - Grades 9-12
  - Cosmology and Stellar Evolution -- NASA GSFC Ambassador Program - Grades 9-12
  - Space Weather -- NASA GSFC Ambassador Program - Grades 9-12
- Classroom investigations and activities
  - ACE RTSW Data and Traditional Physics Problems -- NASA GSFC Ambassador Program - Grades 9-12
  - Interpreting Realtime ACE Data From Space -- NASA GSFC Ambassador Program - Grades 9-12
  - Space Weather and You! Introduction 1 -- NASA GSFC Ambassador Program - Grades 5-8, or grades 9-12 as an introductory activity
  - Space Weather and You! Introduction 2 -- NASA GSFC Ambassador Program - Grades 9-12
  - Space Weather and You -- NASA GSFC Ambassador Program - Grades 9-12
  - The Sun or the Supernova? -- NASA GSFC Ambassador Program - Grades 9-12
StarChild Teachers' Center - Lesson plans which show you some of the ways you can use StarChild in your teaching.
- Lesson Plans
  - StarChild Scavenger Hunt - Level I - Get to know the StarChild Web site by finding the answers to questions there! (K-3rd)
  - StarChild Scavenger Hunt - Level II - Get to know the StarChild Web site by finding the answers to questions there! (4th-8th)
  - Star Art - Recognize that patterns of stars can be observed in the sky. (K-8th)
  - Planet Tac Toe - Identify the planets and their relationship to the Sun. (K-3rd)
  - Solar System Search - Recognize names and descriptions of the planets of the solar system. (K-3rd)
  - The Planets and Moons of Our Solar System - Engage your students not only in learning about the solar system, but in practicing important language arts skills. (K-3rd)
  - Spinning Does More Than Make You Dizzy - Investigate the results of rapid spinning and how it effects the planets in our solar system. (4th-8th)
  - Round and Round They Go! - As you introduce students to the orbits of the planets around our Sun, it is important that they understand more than just the order based on distances. (4th-8th)
  - Planetary Densities (4th-8th)
  - Gravity and Its Effect on Planetary Orbits (4th-8th)
  - Sunrise, Sunset: Apparent Motion of the Sun (K-8th)
  - Moon Glow (4th-8th)
  - Asteroids, Meteoroids, and Comets (4th-8th)
  - Just How Big is this Place? - Students often have difficulty comprehending just how immense the Universe actually is. In an effort to help them grasp this abstract concept, this lesson develops a path along which they encounter increasingly larger numbers. (4th-8th)
StarChild Activities
- Solar System Activities - Level 1 (K-3rd)
  - Where, Oh Where Does That Little Planet Go? - Each of the nine planets orbits around the Sun in a very special way and in a very special place. Can you arrange them correctly?
  - Solar System Shuffle - Use the clues to sort the deck of solar system cards!
  - Planet Tac Toe - You can win only if you have become a solar system expert!
  - Pair Me Up, Scottie - Match pictures of objects found in our solar system.
- Solar System Activities - Level 2 (4th-8th)
  - A Song for All Seasons - This activity features Vivaldi's masterpiece "The Four Seasons" and tests your ability to relate the seasons of the year to the Earth's orbit around the Sun.
  - Planet Hop - Your weight and age calculated for a wide variety of solar system destinations...
  - Moonlight Madness - In what phase is the Moon?
- Universe Activities - Level 1 (K-3rd)
  - Mathy Way - Break the mathematical code to reveal a Universe secret!
  - Universal Chaos - Words from the Universe are in there... somewhere! Can you find them?
  - Letters Lost In Space - Seven universe terms have been badly scrambled in space. Try to unscramble them.
  - Cosmic Couples - Match pictures of objects found in our universe.
- Universe Activities - Level 2 (4th-8th)
  - Phenomenally Pfun Puzzle - Can you solve our crossword puzzle? All the answers to the clues come from the Universe pages.
  - Star Art - Read a set of different culture's constellation myths and try to match the star charts to the myths.
  - A Universal Puzzler - Use your knowledge of space terminology to solve this puzzle.
- Space Activities - Level 1 (K-3rd)
  - Astro-logically speaking - Use your powers of logic to solve these astronaut problems!
  - Cosmic Connection - A very important piece of space equipment has been hidden among the stars. Use your mathematical skills to find it!
  - Astro Trek - You must find your way back to the command module by following a path marked by Space Stuff terms.
  - Color Me! - This is a picture for you to color.
  - Hello... Calling Earth - Your job is to find the path which will get the information from the satellite to the scientists on Earth.
  - Where In The World - Try to match each astronaut with the country in which they were born.
- Space Activities - Level 2 (4th-8th)
  - Problems In Space - You've crashed on the Moon... What are you going to need to do to survive and get rescued?
  - All Things Logical - You're at a scientific convention and seating is important... Where do you sit?
  - Draw A Space Shuttle - Make your own Space Shuttle... We'll show you how!
  - Time After Time - Your mission is to create a timeline by placing astronomical events in chronological order.
  - Blast Off Boutique - Match a description with the correct part of the Space Shuttle EMU.
  - There's No Space Like Home - These space pioneers are depending on your map skills to get them safely back home.
Imagine the Universe! Teachers' Corner (Disc 1) - Resources for teachers on the Imagine the Universe! site.
- Lesson Plans (Disc 1)
  - What's the frequency, Roy G. Biv? (Disc 1) - Wavelengths & frequencies in the E-M Spectrum (6th-8th)
  - How Big is That Star? (Disc 1) - Determining the sizes of stars in eclipsing binary star systems. (6th-8th)
  - Detective Digit and the Slap Happy Computer Caper (Disc 1) - Using the binary number system. (6th-9th)
  - Lotto or Life: What Are the Chances? (Disc 1) - Probability of life elsewhere in the universe. (6th-9th)
  - Get The Picture! (Disc 1) - Constructing and analyzing images from digital satellite data. (6th-10th)
  - Time that Period! (Disc 1) - Measuring periodic behavior. (7th-12th)
  - Stars and Slopes (Disc 1) - Logarithmic plotting and classification of objects by their mathematical behavior. (9th-12th)
  - X-ray Spectroscopy and the Chemistry of Supernova Remnants (Disc 1) - Multi-lesson unit on the origin of the elements and their identification in supernova remnants. (9th-12th)
  - Supernova Chemistry (Disc 1) - Identifying elements using spectroscopy. (11th-12th)
  - How Far... How Powerful (Disc 1) - Find out how far away and how powerful gamma-ray bursts truly are. (11th-12th)
  - Hera (Disc 1) - Let students analyze data. (9th-12th)
- Posters/Booklets/Lithographs
  - Life Cycle of Stars (Disc 1) (K-12th)
  - Gamma-Ray Bursts (Disc 1) (K-12th)
  - The Anatomy of Black Holes (Disc 1) (K-12th)
  - Hidden Lives of Galaxies (Disc 1) (9th-12th)
  - What is Your Cosmic Connection to the Elements? (Disc 1) (9th-12th)
  - Got Calcium? (Disc 1) (9th-12th)

Imagine the Universe! Topic Quizzes

Electromagnetic Spectrum Quiz (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
Electromagnetic Spectrum Quiz (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
X-ray Astronomy History (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
History of High Energy Astrophysics (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
Gamma-ray Astronomy (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
Gamma-ray Astronomy (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
Multiwavelength Astronomy (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
Multiwavelength Astronomy (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
Lightcurves, Spectra, and Images (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
Stars (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
Stars (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
Active Galaxies (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
Active Galaxies (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
White Dwarfs (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
White Dwarfs (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
X-ray Binaries (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
X-ray Binaries (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
Diffuse Background (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
Diffuse Background (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
X-ray Transients (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
X-ray Transients (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
Cosmic Rays (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
Cosmic Rays (Disc 1) (11th-12th)

Black Holes (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
Black Holes (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
The Sun (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
The Sun (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
Dark Matter (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
Dark Matter (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
Pulsars (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
Pulsars (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
Supernovae (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
Supernovae (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
X-ray Telescopes (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
X-ray Telescopes (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
Spectral Analysis (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
Spectral Analysis (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
Timing Analysis (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
Timing Analysis (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
Gamma Detectors (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
Gamma Detectors (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
X-ray Detectors (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
X-ray Detectors (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
X-ray Generation From Atoms (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
X-ray Generation from Electrons (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
Cataclysmic Variables (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
Gamma-ray Bursts (Disc 1) (11th-12th)

Imagine the Universe! "Try This" Activities

Electromagnetic Spectrum (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
Electromagnetic Spectrum (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
X-ray Astronomy (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
Gamma-ray Astronomy (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
Multiwavelength Astronomy (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
Multiwavelength Astronomy (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
Lightcurves, Spectra, and Images (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
Lightcurves, Spectra, and Images (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
Stars (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
Stars (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
Active Galaxies and Quasars (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
White Dwarfs (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
White Dwarfs (Disc 1) (11th-12th)

Binary Systems (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
Diffuse Background (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
Cosmic Rays (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
Black Holes (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
Black Holes (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
The Sun (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
The Sun (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
Dark Matter (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
Dark Matter (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
Pulsars (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
Supernovae (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
Supernovae (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
How Gamma Rays are Generated (Disc 1) (11th-12th)

Educators' Index

By Topic

By Type of Resource

Astrobiology
- Lotto or Life: What Are the Chances? (Disc 1) - Probability of life elsewhere in the universe. (Lesson Plan)
Black Holes
- The Anatomy of Black Holes (Disc 1) (Poster and Booklet)
- Imagine the Universe! Topic Quizzes
  - Black Holes (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
  - Black Holes (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
- Imagine the Universe! "Try This" Activities
  - Black Holes (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
  - Black Holes (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
Cosmology
- Cosmology and Stellar Evolution -- NASA GSFC Ambassador Program - Grades 9-12 (Education Brief)
- StarChild Scavenger Hunt - Level I (Lesson Plan)
- StarChild Scavenger Hunt - Level II (Lesson Plan)
- Origin of the Chemical Elements
  - Composition of Matter, Atomic Structure -- NASA GSFC Ambassador Program - Grades 9-12 (Education Brief)
  - What is Your Cosmic Connection to the Elements? (Disc 1) (Poster and Booklet)
  - Got Calcium? (Disc 1) (Lithograph)
Galaxies
- Hidden Lives of Galaxies (Disc 1) (Poster and Booklet)
- Imagine the Universe! Topic Quizzes
  - Active Galaxies (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
  - Active Galaxies (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
- Imagine the Universe! "Try This" Activities
  - Active Galaxies and Quasars (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
Gamma-ray Bursts
- How Far... How Powerful (Disc 1) (Lesson Plan)
- Gamma-ray Bursts (Disc 1) (Poster & Booklet)
- Gamma-ray Bursts (Disc 1) (Quiz, 11th-12th)
Other Objects
- Imagine the Universe! Topic Quizzes
  - Diffuse Background (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
  - Diffuse Background (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
  - X-ray Transients (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
  - X-ray Transients (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
  - Cosmic Rays (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
  - Cosmic Rays (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
  - Dark Matter (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
  - Dark Matter (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
- Imagine the Universe! "Try This" Activities
  - Diffuse Background (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
  - Cosmic Rays (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
  - Dark Matter (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
  - Dark Matter (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
- StarChild Activities
  - Universe Activities - Level 1 (K-3rd)
    - Mathy Way - Break the mathematical code to reveal a Universe secret!
    - Universal Chaos - Words from the Universe are in there... somewhere! Can you find them?
    - Letters Lost In Space - Seven universe terms have been badly scrambled in space. Try to unscramble them.
    - Cosmic Couples - Match pictures of objects found in our universe.
  - Universe Activities - Level 2 (4th-8th)
    - Phenomenally Pfun Puzzle - Can you solve our crossword puzzle? All the answers to the clues come from the Universe pages.
    - Star Art - Read a set of different culture's constellation myths and try to match the star charts to the myths.
    - A Universal Puzzler - Use your knowledge of space terminology to solve this puzzle.
The Search for Answers
- Satellites and Space Technology
  - Data
    - Hera (Disc 1) (Let students analyze data.)
    - Get The Picture! (Disc 1) - Constructing and analyzing images from digital satellite data. (Lesson Plan)
    - ACE RTSW Data and Traditional Physics Problems -- NASA GSFC Ambassador Program - Grades 9-12 (Activity)
    - Interpreting Realtime ACE Data From Space -- NASA GSFC Ambassador Program - Grades 9-12 (Activity)
Space Travel
- StarChild Space Activities - Level 1 (K-3rd)
  - Astro-logically speaking - Use your powers of logic to solve these astronaut problems!
  - Cosmic Connection - A very important piece of space equipment has been hidden among the stars. Use your mathematical skills to find it!
  - Astro Trek - You must find your way back to the command module by following a path marked by Space Stuff terms.
  - Color Me! - This is a picture for you to color.
  - Hello... Calling Earth - Your job is to find the path which will get the information from the satellite to the scientists on Earth.
  - Where In The World - Try to match each astronaut with the country in which they were born.
- StarChild Space Activities - Level 2 (4th-8th)
  - Problems In Space - You've crashed on the Moon... What are you going to need to do to survive and get rescued?
  - All Things Logical - You're at a scientific convention and seating is important... Where do you sit?
  - Draw A Space Shuttle - Make your own Space Shuttle... We'll show you how!
  - Time After Time - Your mission is to create a timeline by placing astronomical events in chronological order.
  - Blast Off Boutique - Match a description with the correct part of the Space Shuttle EMU.
  - There's No Space Like Home - These space pioneers are depending on your map skills to get them safely back home.
Space Weather
- Space Weather -- NASA GSFC Ambassador Program - Grades 9-12 (Education Brief)
- Space Weather and You! Introduction 1 -- NASA GSFC Ambassador Program - Grades 5-8, or grades 9-12 as an introductory activity (Activity)
- Space Weather and You! Introduction 2 -- NASA GSFC Ambassador Program - Grades 9-12 (Activity)
- Space Weather and You -- NASA GSFC Ambassador Program - Grades 9-12 (Activity)
Solar System
- Planet Tac Toe (Lesson Plan - Identify the planets and their relationship to the Sun.)
- Solar System Search (Lesson Plan - Recognize names and descriptions of the planets of the solar system.)
- The Planets and Moons of Our Solar System (Lesson Plan)
- Spinning Does More Than Make You Dizzy (Lesson Plan)
- Round and Round They Go! (Lesson Plan)
- Planetary Densities (Lesson Plan)
- Gravity and Its Effect on Planetary Orbits (Lesson Plan)
- Sunrise, Sunset: Apparent Motion of the Sun (Lesson Plan)
- Moon Glow (Lesson Plan)
- Asteroids, Meteoroids, and Comets (Lesson Plan)
- StarChild Activities
  - Solar System Activities - Level 1 (K-3rd)
    - Where, Oh Where Does That Little Planet Go? - Each of the nine planets orbits around the Sun in a very special way and in a very special place. Can you arrange them correctly?
    - Solar System Shuffle - Use the clues to sort the deck of solar system cards!
    - Planet Tac Toe - You can win only if you have become a solar system expert!
    - Pair Me Up, Scottie - Match pictures of objects found in our solar system.
  - Solar System Activities - Level 2 (4th-8th)
    - A Song for All Seasons - This activity features Vivaldi's masterpiece "The Four Seasons" and tests your ability to relate the seasons of the year to the Earth's orbit around the Sun.
    - Planet Hop - Your weight and age calculated for a wide variety of solar system destinations...
    - Moonlight Madness - In what phase is the Moon?
Science Processes and Skills
- What's the frequency, Roy G. Biv? (Disc 1) - Wavelengths & frequencies in the E-M Spectrum (Lesson Plan)
- Just How Big is this Place? (Lesson Plan)
- Detective Digit and the Slap Happy Computer Caper (Disc 1) - Using the binary number system. (Lesson Plan)
- Time that Period! (Disc 1) - Measuring periodic behavior. (Lesson Plan)
- Stars and Slopes (Disc 1) - Logarithmic plotting and classification of objects by their mathematical behavior. (Lesson Plan)
- The Sun or the Supernova? -- NASA GSFC Ambassador Program - Grades 9-12 (Activity)
Stars
- Cosmology and Stellar Evolution -- NASA GSFC Ambassador Program - Grades 9-12
- Star Art (Lesson Plan - Recognize that patterns of stars can be observed in the sky)
- How Big is That Star? (Disc 1) - Determining the sizes of stars in eclipsing binary star systems. (Lesson Plan)
- Life Cycle of Stars (Disc 1) (Poster and Booklet)
- What is Your Cosmic Connection to the Elements? (Disc 1) (Poster and Booklet)
- Supernovae
  - X-ray Spectroscopy and the Chemistry of Supernova Remnants (Disc 1) - Multi-lesson unit on the origin of the elements and their identification in supernova remnants. (Lesson Plan)
  - Supernova Chemistry (Disc 1) - Identifying elements using spectroscopy. (Lesson Plan)
- Imagine the Universe! Topic Quizzes
  - Stars (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
  - Stars (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
  - White Dwarfs (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
  - White Dwarfs (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
  - X-ray Binaries (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
  - X-ray Binaries (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
  - The Sun (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
  - The Sun (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
  - Pulsars (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
  - Pulsars (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
  - Supernovae (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
  - Supernovae (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
  - Cataclysmic Variables (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
- Imagine the Universe! "Try This" Activities
  - Stars (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
  - Stars (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
  - White Dwarfs (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
  - White Dwarfs (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
  - Binary Systems (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
  - The Sun (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
  - The Sun (Disc 1) (11th-12th)
  - Pulsars (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
  - Supernovae (Disc 1) (9th-10th)
  - Supernovae (Disc 1) (11th-12th)

CD Table of Contents