Solar System & Space Exploration
NASA Kids Club
NASA’s many sites have a wealth of information about aerospace science, the solar system, astronomy and more. Information meets a variety of interest levels from very basic information to complex research. Students will enjoy kid-friendly exploration of the planets, aircraft, space pioneers, and more at NASA Kids and the interactive crafts, games, and other activities of Space Place. Teachers will want to visit NASA Quest & Spacelink. NASA Quest highlights programs and activities that use the Internet to bring NASA people and science to K-12 classrooms. Also the Hot Topics and Cool Picks here highlight NASA news, materials, and sites.
The Nine Planets: a Multimedia Tour of the Solar System
This well-organized multimedia and information site on the planets presents an overview of the history, mythology, and current scientific knowledge of each of the planets and moons in our system. Each page has text and images, some have sound and movies, along with references to additional related information. Good for grades 6 and above.
Amazing Space
Eleven activities – Planet Impact, Mission Mastermind, Comets, Galaxy Hunter, Solar System Trading Cards, and more – provide Web-based interactive lessons for K-12 students. Each activity has several parts. Excellent teacher support make the activities easy to incorporate in the classroom. Teachers will find very thorough lesson plans that identify target grade levels and National Science Standards, specify computer needs, provide background scientific information, and share a wealth of further resources. Excellent combination of technology (Shockwave activities, videos, photos, animation, etc.) and teacher support makes this site “classroom ready.” Lessons were created by summer institute science teachers at the Space Telescope Science Institute.
Windows to the Universe
This user-friendly site explores astronomy, physics, and related topics. Sections are thoroughly hyperlinked so readers can connect easily to related topics, definitions, and other information. Subjects include: current space and science news, space missions, our solar system, book and video recommendations, geology, teacher resources, and more. Content pages are viewed by default at an intermediate level and can also be viewed as beginner or advanced, making content suitable for grades 5-12.
ThinkQuest Library: Astronomy & Space Exploration
Student-created sites offer wonderful opportunities for encountering engaging material and encouraging critical exploration of content. Archived ThinkQuest entries showcase some of the best student research and multimedia production on the web. Dozens of space related sites are here for browsing, don’t miss the finalist sites marked with red dots.
Space Day
Each year in May, astronauts, scientists, and other experts come together with students and teachers to celebrate the extraordinary achievements, benefits, and opportunities in the exploration and use of space. Space Day events advance science, math, and technology education and inspire students. The Space Day website offers year-round access to many of these Space Day activities, including space games and activities, a web rebroadcast of the Space Day CyberCast featuring interviews with scientists and experts, complex Design Challenge projects that promote classroom critical thinking, and a teacher section that highlights lessons and resources for space education.
NASA Human Spaceflight
Looking for more on the exploration of space? This NASA site covers space exploration history and provides up-to-date coverage of Space Shuttle and International Space Station missions, launches, and other issues. Resources related to the Space Station include links to space programs in other countries.
Sky and Telescope
Sky & Telescope magazine’s website is a great place for beginning stargazers to find astronomy news, star maps, weekly sky-at-a-glance reports, and other viewing tips. The How To section includes articles on choosing a telescope, viewing with binoculars, using a star map, photographing the night sky, names of stars, and more.