TeachersFirst Universe and Space - Science Resources
This collection of resources will help you research information about the universe and space. Read the descriptions to find out whether a site sounds right for what you want to know. Some sites may be more challenging reading, while others may offer solid basic information. Be sure to try several sources. Read through the content sites and find lesson ideas and interactives.
If you cannot find what you need here, you may want to try searching on TeachersFirst for specific keywords.
If you want to explore even more information, peruse this tagged list of resources related to the universe and space.
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Space Science Projects - Fizzics Education
Grades
5 to 9
This site includes advertising.
tag(s): gravity (49), moon (84), rockets (14), science fairs (19), space (235)
In the Classroom
Have students work in teams to design a space mission and choose one experiment from the Fizzics Education site to support their mission goal. They will present their mission plan, explain the science behind the experiment, and describe what they hope to discover. Students can use Acast reviewed here to video record themselves conducting the experiment. Have students use Seesaw reviewed here as a journal while doing their experiment.You must be registered and logged in to add items to your favorites.
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How the Universe is Way Bigger Than You Think - RealLifeLore
Grades
5 to 9This site includes advertising.
tag(s): solar system (122)
In the Classroom
Students can use Figma, reviewed here to compare and contrast different videos that share information about the size of the universe. Have your students use Kiddle, reviewed here to continue to research the universe or the various places highlighted in the video. Students can use Google Keep, reviewed here to take notes as they are watching the video.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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How Big is The Universe? - Science Time
Grades
5 to 9This site includes advertising.
tag(s): moon (84), solar system (122), stars (78), sun (83)
In the Classroom
Students can use Google Keep, reviewed here to take notes as they are watching the video. Students can create a word cloud of their feelings after watching the video using WordClouds, reviewed here. Students can use Lino, reviewed here to share a fact that they learned from the video.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Size of Space - Neal Agarwal
Grades
K to 5tag(s): moon (84), planets (123), solar system (122), space (235)
In the Classroom
Students can use Kiddle, reviewed here to research the planets, moons, or other objects that were mentioned on the site. Students can use Lino, reviewed here to post what they are interested in learning more about. Students can use WordClouds, reviewed here to create a word cloud of their feelings after visiting the site.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Earth and Space Science - PBS LearningMedia
Grades
K to 12tag(s): earth (188), gravity (49), planets (123), solar system (122), telescopes (13)
In the Classroom
Students can post facts or questions after watching a video on Padlet reviewed here. Students can use Kiddle reviewed here to continue learning more about a specific topic. Students can use Google Drawings reviewed here to compare and contrast planets.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Scale of the Universe - Scale of the Universe
Grades
3 to 8This site includes advertising.
tag(s): measurement (117), planets (123), space (235), states (126)
In the Classroom
Students can compare and contrast object measurements using Figma, reviewed here. Students can use Google Drawings, reviewed here to put objects in order from smallest to biggest. Students can use Google Keep, reviewed here to write facts that they learned.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Space Kahoots - Museum of Science
Grades
2 to 12tag(s): game based learning (254), planets (123), solar system (122), space (235), telescopes (13)
In the Classroom
While students are playing the Kahoots, they can use Seesaw, reviewed here to write notes about what they learned about space. Students can post 1-2 facts on Padlet, reviewed here that they learned. Students can click on the links provided in Kahoot to continue exploring space.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The National Science and Technology Medals Foundation Lab Gravity - The National Science and Technology Medals Foundation Lab Grav
Grades
6 to 12In the Classroom
Students can use Webnote, reviewed here to document their experiences using the simulation. Students can use Scratch, reviewed here to create their own galaxy that needs to be safe from objects colliding with it. Finally, students can use Dotstorming, reviewed here to share their reactions to the site.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Space Explorer - National Geographic Kids
Grades
K to 6tag(s): planets (123), solar system (122), space (235)
In the Classroom
Students can use Padlet, reviewed here to post which planet they would visit and why. Students can use Visme, reviewed here to create a planet's book. Finally, students can use Figma, reviewed here to compare and contrast planets.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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NASA - Games and Interactives - NASA
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): nasa (35), solar system (122), space (235), stars (78), STEM (333), virtual field trips (130)
In the Classroom
Guide students through a virtual tour of the solar system. Have them pick a planet or moon to "visit" and record three fascinating facts about it. After exploring how NASA designs spacesuits, students can work in teams to create a "paper prototype" for a next-gen spacesuit, labeling each layer's function. Let students try landing a rover on Mars using the simulator. Discuss the challenges involved and have them write a short paragraph about their experience.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Sky.org Online Planetarium - Dominic Ford
Grades
4 to 12In the Classroom
Have students use the live sky map to locate and label 5-10 constellations visible from their location. Have students view the sky map weekly and record any changes in visible constellations, the moon's phase, or the positions of planets. Over several weeks, students can use a sky map to track a specific planet (such as Mars or Jupiter) and graph its movement across the sky. The graphs can be made on paper or digitally using ClassTools reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Stellarium Web Online Star Map - Stellarium
Grades
3 to 12tag(s): myths and legends (43), planets (123), space (235), stars (78)
In the Classroom
Set the Stellarium view to the current night sky and challenge students to find and name visible constellations. Have them use the search tool or guide them to "hunt" for constellations like Orion, Ursa Major, or Cassiopeia. Have students explore planets in Stellarium Web (clicking on planets reveals data), then have them complete a "planet passport" by recording information such as size, number of moons, temperature, or visibility. The passport can be made on paper or using a digital tool such as ePubEditor reviewed here. After identifying constellations, students can research the mythology behind one of them (ex., Perseus or Hercules). Assign them to write a summary or create a comic strip using Free Comic Strip Maker reviewed here retelling the story of the constellation.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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NASA's Eyes on the Solar System - NASA
Grades
5 to 12tag(s): gravity (49), rockets (14), simulations (43), space (235)
In the Classroom
Assign each student a planet, moon, or asteroid and have them use "Eyes on the Solar System" to gather facts (orbit, surface features, missions, etc.). They can create a mini digital report using Genially reviewed here or Canva Edu reviewed here. Have students select a spacecraft and simulate its path from Earth to its target. Afterward, discuss how gravity assists and orbital mechanics work. In small groups, assign students to design their space mission: target, goals, launch date, route, etc. They can use the website to simulate where and when the mission would travel and explain their choices.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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SPACEX- ISS Docking Simulator - Shane Mielke
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): problem solving (244), simulations (43), space (235)
In the Classroom
Students can attempt to dock the Crew Dragon spacecraft to the ISS manually. Time their attempts or track how many tries it takes to succeed. Break the class into two teams: one uses only translation controls (X, Y, Z), the other uses only rotation (pitch, yaw, roll). Then have them combine both to complete the docking. Have students create a step-by-step guide or video tutorial for new "astronaut trainees" explaining how to use the simulator. They can use moovly reviewed hereAdd your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Gravity Simulator - Darrell A. Huffman
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): gravity (49), mass (21), planets (123), simulations (43), solar system (122), space (235)
In the Classroom
In groups, have students design a solar system with a star and 3-4 planets on the website. They adjust mass and distance to create stable orbits. Students can launch an asteroid using GravitySimulator.org toward Earth and try to change its path using gravity from other planets or objects. Have students select an exoplanet simulation and compare it to our solar system.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Best Podcasts About Space - Find that Pod
Grades
4 to 12tag(s): nasa (35), planets (123), podcasts (138), space (235), stars (78)
In the Classroom
Assign each student a space topic they heard about (ex., black holes, astronauts, Mars rovers) and have them research their topic further and present findings in Google Slides reviewed here or a diorama. In pairs or small groups, students can write and record their own 2-3 minute podcast episodes on a topic related to space that they have learned about. Students can use Acast reviewed here or Castbox Creator Studio reviewed here to create their podcasts. Have students keep a journal with ePubEditor reviewed here where they summarize episodes and illustrate one big idea they learned.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Infiniscope - NASA and ASU
Grades
K to 12tag(s): earth (188), fossils (44), light (55), moon (84), planets (123), plate tectonics (28), professional development (285), seasons (56), space (235), stars (78)
In the Classroom
Science teachers of all grade levels will want to add this site to their list of resources to find lesson and student activity ideas. Engage students by sharing Infiniscope's virtual field trips and games as part of whole class or small group learning. Use the provided tools to enhance learning through hands-on opportunities to participate in gathering data or to view complex concepts using interactive visualizations. Extend learning by encouraging students to learn more about Earth and space science as project-based learning opportunities. Ideas include exploring Earth's temperature over time, creating a Solar System travel agency, or designing a trip to form a colony on Mars. Learn more about Project Based Learning (PBL) at TeachersFirst Special Topics Page: Project-Based Learning, reviewed here.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Nova Education - PBS
Grades
6 to 12tag(s): archeology (26), engineering (134), environment (245), forensics (12), paleontology (28), space (235)
In the Classroom
Enjoy the interactives, videos, and text on an interactive whiteboard or projector. Use selected activities as a center (station). Share the included articles and videos with students to supplement your STEM curriculum. If articles are too difficult for students, use a text leveler tool like the one available at Brisk, reviewed here to match student reading abilities.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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Saturday Morning Astrophysics - Purdue University Dept of Physics & Astronomy
Grades
7 to 12tag(s): light (55), planets (123), solar system (122), space (235), stars (78), sun (83)
In the Classroom
Take advantage of the many free materials offered by SMAP to find lessons and activities to engage students in learning about astronomy research. Share the monthly SMAP schedule with students and invite them to share their learning with peers upon completing the monthly activity by creating a website using Canva for Education, reviewed here using one of the many shared templates. Ask students to include interactive elements found within Canva, such as infographics and quizzes, to engage their audience.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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The Wonder of Science - Paul Andersen
Grades
K to 12tag(s): biodiversity (34), chemicals (37), climate (95), earth (188), ecology (116), ecosystems (96), energy (137), environment (245), forces (45), genetics (82), life cycles (22), light (55), matter (49), molecules (41), motion (53), oceans (137), planets (123), sound (73), space (235), stars (78), weather (166)
In the Classroom
This site is a must-have for all science teachers, providing high-quality lessons and teaching materials. Be sure to visit the Phenomena section to find the Master List of Phenomena Google Document, which shares suggestions for observable science events, or to find phenomena by grade level. Engage students in learning by sharing videos on this site, then use edpuzzle, reviewed here to add questions and focus comments to the videos to support student learning. Use the ideas and resources on this site to create flipped and blended learning lessons or playlists to encourage students' choice of learning activities.Add your comments below (available only to members) | Become a Member
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