Scale Models
Without being informed of the expected product, the students will make a Play-doh model of the Earth-Moon system, scaled to […]
Color of Stars
Students observe colors in the flame of a burning candle to explore connections between matter, light, color, and temperature —
Properties of Dust
Students carry out a scientific investigation of dust in their classroom, then extend their experience to properties of dust in space.
Super Gelatin
Students measure the angles of refraction of laser light traveling through gelatin, then plot their data to calculate the gelatin’s
Telescope Allocation Committee
This activity acquaints the students with the telescopes and instruments available at an astronomical observatory: McDonald Observatory.Astronomers apply for observing
Astro-Madness
In this activity, students learn about the different telescopes and instruments that are available at McDonald Observatory using the “What
Delta, Delta, Delta
In this experiment, students construct an equilateral triangle using graph paper, pencil, protractor and a ruler. They also make a
Hot Air
Students witness light refracting through air everyday.On hot days, “ripples” rise from the ground or roadways. Stars twinkle in the
Ongoing Explorations
January 12 NASA’s New Horizons mission is scheduled to begin scanning Pluto and its entourage of moons. It will fly
Do all planets orbit the Sun in the same direction?
While not all of the planets rotate on their individual axes in the same direction — Uranus and Venus both
Do all planets orbit the Sun in the same direction? Read More »