This section of the Windows to the Universe web site provides information and images about understanding the sky including detailed information about the motion of planets, the motion of the Moon, Earth's motion, and seasons. Links at the top of each page allow users to navigate between beginner, intermediate and advanced levels.

Resource Type: Audio/Visual - Illustration, Reference Material - Nonfiction Reference, Reference Material - Nonfiction Reference, Audio/Visual - Illustration
Grade Level: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Examine the phases of the moon from Earth and space

http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es2503/es250...

This animation can be used to help students follow the phases of the moon and learn to distinguish between waxing and waning, crescent and gibbous, and first and third quarter moons. After learning to correlate these terms to the moon's appearance, they can watch the moon for a month and keep a record of their observations. Although the resource was designed to accompany a specific Earth science textbook, it can be used without that text.

Resource Type: Reference Material - Nonfiction Reference, Audio/Visual - Movie/Animation
Grade Level: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Observe solar eclipses

http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es2505/es250...

After viewing the animations, teachers can ask students to explain why each type of solar eclipse looks different from the others. Students can also develop a model to illustrate their explanation. Teachers can have students make their own animation flip book by sketching the sequence of one of the eclipses. Although the resource was designed to accompany a specific Earth science textbook, it can be used without that text.

Resource Type: Reference Material - Nonfiction Reference, Audio/Visual - Movie/Animation
Grade Level: 4, 5, 6

The Earth and the Moon - The Tides

http://www.ioncmaste.ca/homepage/resources/web_resources/CSA_Astro/files/content/html...

This lesson designed for middle school students contains an applet which visualizes the relationship between the Earth, moon and tides, in which learners gain an understanding of why the Earth experiences tides. In the process they are asked to observe and explain how the relative positions of Earth, the moon, and the sun are responsible for the moon phases, eclipses, and tides. Through guided discussions, students will also gain an appreciation of the benefits of Earths tides.

Resource Type: Instructional Material - Lesson/Lesson Plan
Grade Level: 5, 6

Astronomy for Kids

http://www.dustbunny.com/afk/index.html

This site gives information about space. Included are facts and photos of the solar system and the planets. Click on Sky Wonders for more information on meteors and meteor showers, red shift and lunar eclipses.

Resource Type: Reference Material - Nonfiction Reference, Audio/Visual - Illustration, Audio/Visual - Image/Image Set, Audio/Visual - Photograph
Grade Level: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Seasons - Why Its Essential

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/lessons/07/g912/seasons.html

Though intended as a lesson designed for high school students, learners can review the basics of the seasons, the science behind the seasons, and learn some theories about Stonehenge, Medicine Wheel, and other monuments. Learners can reflect on the methods in their own culture of commemorating the passing of the seasons.

Resource Type: Instructional Material - Instructor Guide/Manual, Audio/Visual - Photograph
Grade Level: 3, 4, 5, 6

A Reason for the Season

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/xpeditions/activities/07/season.html

This website is part of National Geographics Xpeditions Hall and includes lesson plans and activities related to the topic of the seasons. Using images and text, this site teaches why the seasons occur here on Earth, how they affect different animals, and how ancient civilizations celebrated and explained the phenomenon of seasons. A short quiz tests people on their knowledge of the solstices and equinoxes in relation to the position of the Earth around the Sun.

Resource Type: Instructional Material - Instructor Guide/Manual
Grade Level: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Time zones - it's afternoon in San Francisco, what time is it in Cairo, Egypt?

http://www.figurethis.org/challenges/c46/challenge.htm

This is an activity featuring a time zone map useful when teaching an interdisciplinary social studies and math unit focusing on geography and the time zones. It underscores the role of the earth s rotation in everyday life, and the need to understand the relationships between earth rotation, day and night, and time zones around the world.

Resource Type: Instructional Material - Activity
Grade Level: K, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

What causes eclipses of the sun?

http://www.hartrao.ac.za/other/eclipse2002/ecl_cause.html

This resource s illustrations and photographs clearly convey the concept of eclipses and the physical relationships between the sun, moon, and earth.

Resource Type: Instructional Material - Model, Reference Material - Article, Reference Material - Nonfiction Reference, Audio/Visual - Illustration, Audio/Visual - Photograph
Grade Level: 4, 5, 6

MIRA's field trips to the stars internet education program - comets

http://www.mira.org/fts0/planets/102/text/txt001x.htm

This article describes what comets are in general, some specific comets, and some astronomers associated with finding and understanding comets. Photographs are included.

Resource Type: Reference Material - Nonfiction Reference, Audio/Visual - Illustration, Audio/Visual - Photograph
Grade Level: 4, 5, 6

Hertzsprung-Russell diagram

http://sunshine.chpc.utah.edu/labs/star_life/hr_diagram.html

This page is from a longer tutorial on stars. The H-R diagram is presented and its utility is described. Further, stars that fall out of the main sequence are discussed.

Resource Type: Reference Material - Nonfiction Reference, Audio/Visual - Graph, Audio/Visual - Illustration
Grade Level: 5, 6

Observe some regular, irregular, and very peculiar galaxies

http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es2809/es280...

Hubble's classification system for galaxies is presented in this interactive image. Learners can click on any artifact in the classification scheme to see an exemplar photograph.

Resource Type: Audio/Visual - Illustration
Grade Level: 5, 6

Star life cycle

http://sunshine.chpc.utah.edu/labs/star_life/starlife_main.html

This self-paced comprehensive tutorial allows the learner to study deeply or skim briefly the concepts. Many illustrations, photographs and hotlinks enhance the resource.

Resource Type: Instructional Material - Tutorial, Audio/Visual - Image/Image Set, Audio/Visual - Photograph
Grade Level: 5, 6

Observe the change in a star's spectrum as its motion changes

http://www.classzone.com/books/earth_science/terc/content/visualizations/es2802/es280...

This interactive image allows the learner to view and conceptualize the meaning of Red-shift and Blue-shift as it relates to moving stars. The learner chooses whether to move the star closer to or further from the earth, while simultaneously seeing the star s spectrum shift.

Resource Type: Reference Material - Nonfiction Reference, Audio/Visual - Image/Image Set
Grade Level: 5, 6

Cosmology 101 - structures in the universe

http://map.gsfc.nasa.gov/m_uni/uni_101structures.html

This page is all about the formation of the universe, and its structure. Several hotlinks are imbedded in the discussion for further information. Photographs from the Hubble Space telescope are included.

Resource Type: Reference Material - Article, Reference Material - Nonfiction Reference, Audio/Visual - Photograph
Grade Level: 5, 6

Solar Systems Formation

http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/our_solar_system/formation.html

This page, from a multi page tutorial, discusses a theory of our solar system formation. It contains a link to the evolution of the solar system. An illustration and embedded hot links are included.

Resource Type: Instructional Material - Tutorial, Reference Material - Nonfiction Reference, Audio/Visual - Illustration
Grade Level: 5, 6

Meteors

http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/academy/space/solarsystem/meteors/Meteors.html

This page is part of a larger tutorial from NASA, and defines and describes meteors. Click on the next page to learn about meteor showers. In left navigation bar is a glossary of these terms including meteoroid, meteor, meteorite, fireball and bolide.

Resource Type: Reference Material - Glossary/Index, Reference Material - Nonfiction Reference
Grade Level: 4, 5, 6