Transit Math
This series of activities from NASA take a mathematical approach to looking at transits, eclipses and occultations. They are intended as supplementary problems for students looking for additional challenges in mathematics and physical science from age 11 to 19 years. The problems were created to be authentic glimpses of modern science…
Space Weather Math
This series of activities from NASA take a mathematical approach to looking at space weather. They are intended as supplementary problems for students looking for additional challenges in mathematics and physical science from age 11 to 19 years. The problems were created to be authentic glimpses of modern science and engineering…
Electromagnetic Math
This series of activities from NASA take a mathematical approach to looking at electromagnetic radiation. They are intended as supplementary problems for students looking for additional challenges in mathematics and physical science from age 11 to 19 years. The problems were created to be authentic glimpses of modern science and…
Earth Math
This series of activities from NASA take a mathematical approach to looking at the Earth and its atmosphere. They are intended as supplementary problems for students looking for additional challenges in mathematics and physical science from age 11 to 19 years. The problems were created to be authentic glimpses of modern science and…
Magnetic Math
This series of activities from NASA take a mathematical approach to looking at magnetism. They are intended as supplementary problems for students looking for additional challenges in mathematics and physical science from age 14 to 19 years. The problems were created to be authentic glimpses of modern science and engineering issues,…
Radiation Math
This series of activities from NASA take a mathematical approach to looking at radiation, and will make the student familiar with many forms of radiation, how it is measured, and what different doses can lead to over time. They are intended as supplementary problems for students looking for additional challenges in mathematics and…
Image Scale Math
This series of activities from NASA take a mathematical approach to looking at image scaling, which is an important first step that all astronomers perform when looking at image data. They are intended as supplementary problems for students looking for additional challenges in mathematics and physical science from age 11 to 14 years.…
Lunar Math
This series of activities from NASA take a mathematical approach to looking at Lunar exploration. They are intended as supplementary problems for students looking for additional challenges in mathematics and physical science from age 11 to 19 years. The problems were created to be authentic glimpses of modern science and engineering…
Solar Math
This series of activities from NASA take a mathematical approach to looking at the Sun-Earth system. They are intended as supplementary problems for students looking for additional challenges in mathematics and physical science from age 11 to 16 years. The problems were created to be authentic glimpses of modern science and engineering…
Space Math I - VI
This series of activities from NASA are based on a weekly series of space science problems distributed to teachers in the US, from 2004 to 2010. They were intended for students looking for additional challenges in the mathematics and physical science curriculum, from ages 9 to 19 years. The problems were created to be authentic glimpses…
Rocket Images and Video
NASA's Space Shuttle may be a well-known launch vehicle, but the majority of launches still take place using rockets. These regularly carry satellites into orbit. These materials show images of rockets, such as the Saturn V which powered the Apollo missions and current Delta and Atlas rockets. There is also a video showing the…
4/5- Publication year: 2000 - 2009
- Video
Rocket Science Activities
From NASA, these activities look at the scientific, technological, engineering and mathematical foundations of rocketry to provide exciting classroom opportunities for authentic hands-on experimentation. Rockets have formed the basis of space exploration. Extensive teachers' notes, guidance and lesson plans contained in this…
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2000 - 2009
- Teacher guidance
Space Shuttle Mission Images
The space shuttle has been used by NASA as a re-usable orbiter since 1981. The programme's last flight is scheduled for 2011. These resources show all stages of a mission, from launch to landing. It includes a video of the launch of the space shuttle Atlantis.
- 4/5
- Publication year: 2000 - 2009
- Video
Stars, Nebulae, Galaxies
NASA has been responsible for some fantastic images of space, especially from the Hubble Space Telescope. These are a few of the images of stars, nebulae and galaxies. More images are available from the NASA website.
Solar System Scale Model
From NASA, this activity helps students see the relative distances from the sun of the planets in our solar system. Astronomers refer to the distance from the sun to the Earth as one 'astronomical unit' or AU. This activity demonstrates an easy way to calculate the distances of the other planets from the sun and build a…
Solar System: Images of Individual Planets
From NASA, these high resolution images show separately the planets of our solar system. Images in this resource include: Sun, Earth, Moon, Mars, Venus, Neptune, Mercury, Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus and Pluto.
Drinking Straw Rocket
This simple activity from NASA allows classrooms to study rocket stability as students construct and fly small "indoor" paper rockets. The rockets can be used for a range of activities into forces and movement in which students collect data and interpret the results.
Lunar Rover Images
Humans have landed on the Moon. These images, from NASA, show some of the Lunar rovers that have been involved in manned Lunar explorations and some that may be developed for future missions to the Moon.
Satellites
This video from NASA shows why satellites are used and how they work. The video describes the four components of a satellite, the processes of uplinking and downlinking, and the information that satellites provide to scientists. The segment also explains the difference between geostationary and orbiting satellites.
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2000 - 2009
- Video
Phoenix Mars Lander
This video, from NASA, examines the Phoenix Lander mission which provided new information about Mars and the possibility of life on the Red Planet. The Phoenix Lander explored Mars' polar region and the thick layer of ice directly below the planet's surface. Phoenix looked for signs of life on Mars and NASA scientists believe…
Science and Engineering on the Moon Challenge
These NASA materials describe hands-on science and engineering challenges for students, using space exploration as an engaging context. The activities are related to NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite missions. Students design and build: • an air-powered…
- 4/5
- Publication year: 2000 - 2009
- Teacher guidance
Images of Astronauts
From NASA, these images show astronauts from early space missions, to the space shuttle and international space station. The images can be used to illustrate human space exploration in a range of resources. Yuri Gagarin was the first human in space and Neil Armstrong, part of the Apollo 11 mission, was the first man on the moon.
Hubble Space Telescope
This video clip from NASA shows how the Hubble Space Telescope has changed the way scientists look at the universe, without the interference of Earth's atmosphere. Find out how this telescope works and a bit of history about the man after whom it is named. The presentation is aimed at primary students but the content is also…
Light and Optics Teacher Resource and Class Activities
This teacher guidance from NASA describes color and light activities that can be used with students from Key Stage Two to Four. Using lenses, prisms and mirrors students create telescopes, periscopes, microscopes and kaleidoscopes. Other activities include finding focal length and understanding reflection, refraction and diffraction.…
Robotic Landers: Small with Big Benefits
NASA and the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory are creating a new generation of smart, versatile robotic landers for exploring the moon, asteroids, and other airless bodies in our solar system. As small as a golf cart but big in performance, these multi-use landers will enable a variety of exciting missions into…
Food in Space
This clip, from NASA, shows what types of food astronauts eat in space and how the food must be lightweight, nutritional, take up little volume and be long-lasting. A classroom activity is also included that investigates suitable foods and containers. This may be used at Key Stage Three or adapted for use at Key Stage Two.
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2000 - 2009
- Video
Onboard the International Space Station
This video clip, from NASA, shows the global cooperation that built the International Space Station, or ISS. Life on board the ISS is shown. The video shows a simple model to demonstrate the amazing mathematical relationship between the Earth and moon and see how the low-Earth orbit of ISS compares.
Recycling on the International Space Station
This clip, from NASA, joins engineers at NASA and astronauts on board the International Space Station to learn about the importance of recycling. Find out how NASA is solving the challenge of giving astronauts water to use without wasting any with the new Water Recovery System.
Moon Landing: Apollo 11
On July 20, 1969, the astronaut Neil Armstrong was the first human to set foot on the moon. From NASA, these images illustrate the story behind "One small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind." Truly a milestone moment in space exploration.
Exploring Mars: Landers
These images, from NASA, show crafts that have been used in the surface exploration of Mars. They illustrate space exploration including the Mars Viking lander which looked for signs of life on Mars.
- 5/5
- Publication year: 2000 - 2009
- Image
Mars Viking Mission
This video clip from NASA examines space exploration by the Viking missions to Mars and considers if life can exist on the Red Planet. After describing the components of the Viking orbiters and landers, the programme notes how scientific experiments performed on the surface of Mars revealed a lack of organic material in the Martian…
Solar System Puzzle Kit
Produced by NASA, this activity contains information about the planets of the solar system. The main activity allows students to create an eight-cube paper puzzle of the solar system. In assembling the puzzle, students colour images of the Sun, planets and asteroids. In addition to puzzle pieces, the kit contains interesting…