Lesson Plans
Do you want to incorporate astronomy into your science curriculum? Astronomy offers an inviting way into the world and culture of science. Use our new dynamic lesson plans to build engaging classroom lessons and activities using the many audio and video resources from StarDate Online.
Color of Stars Students observe colors in the flame of a burning candle to explore connections between matter, light, color, and temperature — basic concepts of matter and energy. They elaborate on these basic concepts in a new context of astronomy and stars. When matter gets hot enough, it emits visible light. When heated to the same temperature, light bulb filaments, horseshoes, and stars will emit the same characteristic blend of color (or wavelengths) of light. Stars are different colors — white, blue, yellow, orange, and red. The color indicates the star’s temperature in its photosphere, the layer where the star emits most of its visible light.
Subject: Physical Science
Grade Level: 9-10
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Properties of Dust Students carry out a scientific investigation of dust in their classroom, then extend their experience to properties of dust in space.
Subject: Physical Science or Physics
Grade Level: 9-12
More information and downloads for Properties of Dust »
Super Gelatin Can gelatin (like Jell-O) change the speed of light? What is the index of refraction for gelatin that you can buy in a grocery store? Students will investigate the refraction properties of gelatin to calculate its index of refraction and discover that as the light travels through the gelatin, its speed and wavelength also change. This activity offers students a challenge to find the index of refraction of an everyday, intriguing, translucent substance outside the standard listing of materials and refraction indexes. During this activity, student must apply their knowledge of mathematics and physical science to calculate the gelatin’s index of refraction.
Subject: Physics and Physical Science
Grade Level: 9-12
More information and downloads for Super Gelatin »
Telescope Allocation Committee This activity acquaints the students with the telescopes and instruments available at an astronomical observatory: McDonald Observatory. Astronomers apply for observing time on research telescopes. They must communicate their research objectives clearly and concisely to members of the McDonald Observatory Telescope Allocation Committee. Based on an astronomer's research proposal, the TAC will decide who observes on what telescope at what time.
Note: We strongly recommend that students do "Astro-Madness" before "Tic TAC".
Subject: Physical Science
Grade Level: 9-12
More information and downloads for Telescope Allocation Committee »
Astro-Madness In this activity, students learn about the different telescopes and instruments that are available at McDonald Observatory using the "What Are Astronomers Doing" web site. They use this information to assist a group of scientists in deciding which of McDonald Observatory's resources will best suit their projects. As students learn about the instruments, they are also learning about the uses of electromagnetic waves in technological applications (telescopes and instruments). They are also thinking critically about what specific combinations of tools an astronomer requires to resolve each "problem situation".
Subject: Physical Science
Grade Level: 9-12
More information and downloads for Astro-Madness »
Delta, Delta, Delta In this experiment, students construct an equilateral triangle using graph paper, pencil, protractor and a ruler. They also make a "laser triangle" using a laser pointer and front-silvered mirrors. Students can use the geometric properties of an equilateral triangle combined with their understanding of the Law of Reflection to decide how to place the mirrors at each vertex so that the "laser triangle" fits their equilateral triangle.
Warning: Students should exercise extreme caution when using the laser pointers, since direct laser light entering the eye could cause retina damage.
Subject: Physical Science
Grade Level: 9-12
More information and downloads for Delta, Delta, Delta »
Hot Air Students witness light refracting through air everyday. On hot days, "ripples" rise from the ground or roadways. Stars twinkle in the night sky. The Sun looks squashed on the horizon at sunrise and sunset. Students can explore the interaction between air and light through this "Hot Air" activity in order to understand more complicated everyday phenomena.
Subject: Physical Science
Grade Level: 9-12: Integrated Physics and Chemistry (IPC), Physics, and Astronomy
More information and downloads for Hot Air »
Spectroscope This lesson guides students to build a spectroscope, use it as tool, and interpret their observations by applying concepts of conservation of energy and properties of matter. Students will observe all three kinds of spectra: continuous, emission, and absorption.
Subject: Physical Science
Grade Level: 9-12: Integrated Physics and Chemistry (IPC), Physics, and Astronomy
More information and downloads for Spectroscope »
Mirror, Mirror In this activity, students test the Law of Reflection based on experimental evidence. However, the back-silvered glass mirrors present a twist. As light travels from air into glass, it changes direction (refracts), reflects off the shiny metal back coating, then changes direction again upon emerging from the glass. The reflected ray may not match up with students' expectations, and offers them a challenge to work out what happened as the light traveled into and out of the mirror. Mirrors are everywhere: in our cars, bathrooms, shiny metal surfaces, water, and windows. Large astronomical telescopes use curved mirrors (rigid glass or polymer coated with a metal) to focus star light on to electronic detectors.
Subject: Physical Science
Grade Level: 9-12: Integrated Physics and Chemistry (IPC), Physics, and Astronomy
More information and downloads for Mirror, Mirror »
*TEKS are Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills. For more information, visit http://www.tea.state.tx.us/teks/. StarDate lesson plans were made possible by a grant from the University of Texas UTOPIA Project.
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