Teaching space

online Resources

General Science 9 Space Exploration Resources

• My Science 9 google drive of resources in French or English (Needs to be reorganized)
• My YouTube Space playlist
• Pinterest - My Space board and Martian Garden board
• Mrs Arsenault has amazing resources online for science 9 and also amazing PBL activities
• BGRS Science 9 resources
• Edquest grade 9 resources for Science Focus and Science In Action text books

Identify different perspectives on the nature of Earth and space, based on culture and science

• FNMI Astronomy - have students find stories, create artwork, and share traditional views of the understanding and tracking of celestial bodies. Sit around a "fire" and share lessons and stories using oral traditions.
  • Sky Stories
  • Mista Muskwa: the Grizzly Bear constellation
  • Ancient Astronomy
• Other traditional cultures
  • The world's oldest observatory (Australia Aboriginal Traditions)
  • Ancient Mayan Astronomy
  • Chichen Itza - El Caracol and El Castillo
  • Solar events and man-made structures
  • Stone Henge and the movement of the sun
  • Pyramids of Giza and Orion

Investigate and illustrate the contributions of technological advances-including optical telescopes, spectral analysis and space travel-to a scientific understanding of space

• Build your own virtual space telescope
• Build your own spectroscope. Make sure to look at different light sources to show the variation between stars etc.
• Make your iPhone into a spectroscope

Identify evidence for-and describe characteristics of-bodies that make up the solar system, and compare their characteristics with those of Earth

• Solar System QR Code game

Describe and apply techniques for determining the position and motion of objects in space - construct and interpret drawings and physical models that illustrate the motion to objects in space

• Orbits of comets around the Sun using a looped string model - NASA
• Day and Night Earth Models with marshmallows
• Model solar events (solstice, equinox, eclipse, seasons) using a lamp, beach ball, and tennis ball.

Describe techniques used to estimate distances of objects in space and to determine their motions

• Build a solar system necklace/bracelet. Use beads and calculate AU needed to make it proportional.
• Toilet paper solar system to scale
• Interactive scale of matter - from sub-atomic particles to the universe!
• Solar system to scale video

Describe the position of objects in space, using angular coordinates

• Build your own astrolabe and with a compass have a class scavenger hunt!
• Astrolabe and compass lesson
• ISS - Spot The Station

Investigate predictions about the motions, alignments, and collision of bodies in space; and critically examine the evidence on which they are based

• Build your own eclipse viewer - CSA
• Comet, meteor or meteorite? - CSA

Describe technologies for space transport, and interpret scientific principles involved

• Building a Mars lander challenge (TPT$)
• All things SpaceX
• Paper airplane shuttle model - SNC Dreamchaser
• See our Martian Garden project below

Explain, in general terms, the operation of optical telescopes, including telescopes that are positioned in space environments

• Make your own telescope
• Hubble Deep Field Academy
• Build a model of Hubble

Explain the role of radio and optical telescopes in determining characteristics of stars and star systems

• Seeing the World Through Radio Eyes
• Doppler Effect demonstration (requires some equipment)

Describe Canadian contributions to space research and development and to the astronaut program

• CSA Candarm simulation for kids and general information
• CSA 4 Canadian Astronauts!
• CSA History