Astronomy Websites for Schools
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Armagh Observatory / http://www.arm.ac.ukArmagh Planetarium / http://www.armaghplanet.com
UNAWE International / http://www.unawe.org/
UNAWE UK / http://uk.unawe.org/
UNAWE Educational Material / http://www.unawe.org/resources/education/
UNAWE Activity Sheets - upcoming area of website - may not be live yet / http://www.unawe.org/resources/activities/
Our Creativity video / http://star.arm.ac.uk/~lmk/Armagh-Observatory-CreativityNI.mp4
Universe in a box activity book, don’t forget zip file has the images to use / http://www.unawe.org/resources/education/Universe_in_Box_activitybook/
Kepler/NASA information - exoplanet counter in gold bar / http://kepler.nasa.gov/education/
BBC Stargazing LIVE / http://www.bbc.co.uk/tv/features/stargazing/star-guides.shtml
Armagh Observatory FETTU Posters / http://star.arm.ac.uk/fettu/
Moon phase worksheet / http://sciencenetlinks.com/media/filer/2011/10/14/moon_worksheet.html
Paper plate resources / http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/stars/
ESA for younger kids: follow Paxi / http://www.esa.int/esaKIDSen/LifeinSpace.html
ESA Materials – online / http://www.esa.int/Education
ESA Education / http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Lessons_online/index.html
NASA Mars Rover Curiosity: latest info / http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/news/whatsnew/
UFO paper bowl craft for kids / http://www.daniellesplace.com/html/outer-space-crafts.html#paperplateufo
Heavens Above, configure your location "From Database" on page that opens and save as your home location / http://www.heavens-above.com
Beautiful time Lapse of ISS journey over Earth / http://vimeo.com/61487989
Views from the International Space Station (ISS) / http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/around-the-world-in-90-minutes/
IAU Origin of the Constellations / http://www.iau.org/public/constellations/
Details of the night sky each month / http://www.jodrellbank.manchester.ac.uk/astronomy/nightsky/nskyaug12.html
Send your school message into space in 2013!!! / http://uk.eu-unawe.org/updates/gathering/
NASA Kids / http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/kidsclub/flash/index.html
Keep up with Kepler discoveries with NASA / http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/kepler/main/index.html
NASA Picture of the Day index / http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
NASA Picture of the Day archive / http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
UNAWE DIY Solar System, icosahedrons / http://www.unawe.org/activity/eu-unawe1328/
Scholastic, buy books or download very useful worksheets / http://education.scholastic.co.uk/search/search?age_type=&log=t&now=query&search%5Bquery%5D=space&search%5Bsection_id%5D=
Irish Astronomical Association / http://irishastro.org.uk/
Astronomy Ireland / http://astronomy.ie/
Aurora alerts to your email / http://aurorawatch.lancs.ac.uk/alerts
BBC Universe Through Time poster / http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/tv/stargazinglive/sgl_universe_through_time.pdf
Eclipse table – Sun and Moon / http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse.html
Hubble Space Telescope Gallery / http://hubblesite.org
Nine Planets, general audience information / http://nineplanets.org
Planet factsheet from NASA / http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet
NASA young astronomers / http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/StarChild.html
What is Aboriginal Astronomy? / http://www.atnf.csiro.au/research/AboriginalAstronomy/whatis.htm
DCAL NI Learning Strategy / http://www.dcalni.gov.uk/quick_links-dcal_learning_strategy
Discover Science and Engineering (DSE) / http://www.discover-science.ie/
DSE links with ESERO / http://www.discover-science.ie/programmes-and-audiences/esero-and-dse
Mars Rover Landing Video / http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/video/index.php?id=1090
Nursery Age Star Movie – slow to download / http://star.arm.ac.uk/~mdp/IYA-beyond/news/universe-awareness/nursery-astronomy-mov.mov
Word search generators / http://tools.atozteacherstuff.com/word-search-maker/wordsearch.php
BBC’s Explore the solar system / http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/solarsystem
Children's University Manchester - Astronomy / http://www.childrensuniversity.manchester.ac.uk/interactives/science/earthandbeyond/
Near Mars Comet October 2014 / http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2013/26mar_marscomet/
Ideas from other countries / http://www.guardian.co.uk/teacher-network/2012/sep/28/teaching-education-ideas-from-other-countries?newsfeed=true&utm_source=buffer&buffer_share=77254
Stellarium, the sky at your location - downloadable / http://www.stellarium.org
Royal Astronomical Society / http://www.ras.org.uk/
Teacher's Pet (currently £12 per year subscription) / http://activities.tpet.co.uk/#/Search/space
Music inspired by Astronomy / http://aer.aas.org/resource/1/aerscz/v11/i1/p010303_s1?view=fulltext
Monty Python Galaxy Song / http://dingo.care2.com/cards/flash/5409/galaxy.swf
Geogentric explanation / http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geocentric_model
Solar eclipses visible from UK to 2090 / http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_solar_eclipses_visible_from_the_United_Kingdom_AD_1000–2090
BBC Sky at night / http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006mk7h
BBC Moore Marathon / http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006mk7h/clips
Plough – cultural stories / http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00cydkv
Orion – stars in the constellation / http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00fd2qx
Transit of Venus in June 2012 / http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2155140/Transit-Venus-2012-Spectacular-seen-time-2117.html?ito=feeds-newsxml
Pictures from just after Big Bang / http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2156273/Amazing-new-pictures-moments-following-Big-Bang.html
More advanced lectures for parents and teachers / http://www.gresham.ac.uk/professors-and-speakers/professor-ian-morison
National STEM Centre – you may have to register free / http://www.nationalstemcentre.org.uk/elibrary/resource/1922/birth-of-the-solar-system
STEM Centre, mass, gravity etc. / http://www.playbackschools.org.uk/programme/3020/ks2-science-forces-mass-weight-and-gravity
Science News Daily: Life from space? / http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120924144751.htm
Women in Astronomy - from the past / http://www.sheisanastronomer.org/index.php/history
Women in Astronomy - modern Day / http://www.sheisanastronomer.org/index.php/profiles
Black Hole event 2013 and other videos / http://www.space.com/16332-milky-way-black-hole-eats-gas-cloud-coming-2013-video.html
Constellations and Astrology etc. / http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidereal_and_tropical_astrology
FORA.tv a conference channel with over 100 astronomy videos / http://fora.tv/search_video?q=astronomy
Gravity question and video / http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/earth/geophysics/question232.htm
NASA Trading Cards / http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/multimedia/downloads/SSE_trading_card.pdf
Armagh Observatory Annual Report / http://star.arm.ac.uk/annrep/annrep2012/annrep2012_small.pdf
BBC Scientists - Galileo / http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/space/solarsystem/scientists/galileo_galilei#p006hq3n
ESA videos / http://spaceinvideos.esa.int/Videos/2013/08/Did_you_know_How_often_do_astronauts_wash_their_clothes_in_space
CLEAPSS H&S etc. use your UK school’s membership password / http://www.cleapss.org.uk/ L198 Earth in Space KS2 and safe observing of Sun PS17
Mars crater / http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2156466/Meteor-carved-30-mile-crater-Mars-reveals-buried-layers-carved-ancient-water-flows.html
Posters / http://www.daydreameducation.co.uk
A day in the life of European Southern Observatory ESO / http://www.eso.org/public/outreach/50years/webcast.html
“Good sites for Kids” / http://www.goodsitesforkids.org/Astronomy.htm
International Projects / http://www.guardian.co.uk/teacher-network/2012/sep/24/international-collaboration-curriculum-learning/print
International Astronomical Union (IAU) Defining our place in the cosmos / http://www.iau.org/public/place_in_cosmos/
Met Office weather conditions for observing / http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/
For real?!! / http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/borowitzreport/2013/02/house-science-committee-questions-existence-of-meteors.html
STFC – download or order materials / http://www.so.stfc.ac.uk/publications/publorderform.aspx#PSA
STFC Public Engagement / http://www.stfc.ac.uk/1360.aspx
Teachit Primary UK (can do free registration) / http://www.teachitprimary.co.uk/index.asp?CurrMenu=1405
Silicon Valley Astronomy Lectures / http://www.youtube.com/SVAstronomyLectures/
Comet ISON / http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2013/18jan_cometison/
“Babies are born scientists” / http://nsf.gov/news/news_summ.jsp?cntn_id=125575&org=NSF&from=news&utm_source=buffer&buffer_share=3e565
Were the Aboriginal Australians the world's first astronomers? / http://www.atnf.csiro.au/people/rnorris/papers/_n217.pdf
World Space Week 4-10th October / http://www.worldspaceweek.org/wsw/index.php
XEphem – Astronomical software / http://www.clearskyinstitute.com/xephem/
KS2 Resources from Royal Obs Greenwich / http://www.rmg.co.uk/schools/royal-observatory/classroom-resources/key-stage-2/
RTE interview Irish Scientists at CERN / http://www.rte.ie/news/special-reports/2013/0718/463278-irish-scientists-at-cerns-cutting-edge/
Children chatting with an ISS astronaut / http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzKVPnmI-8Q
Reccomendations from ESERO Ireland:
Online resources for Primary Teachers linked to the
International Space Station (ISS) Education Kit
Section 1 : Gravity, the earth & the moon
· Discover Primary Science & Maths (DPSM) Gravity Activity
· Weightlessness/Free-Fall animation-http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/issedukit/en/html/t040505r1.html
· DPSM Cosmic Collisions
· Greenwave – what is spring?
· Met Eireann Education Resources http://www.met.ie/education
· The earth & the moon (Orrery) Stargazing Live (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00wnvpf)
http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/tv/guides/bbc_stargazing_live_activity_pack.pdf
· Make a Moon Watch Flip book http://www.amnh.org/ology/features/stufftodo_astro/imgs/moonflipbook.pdf
· DPSM The moon, craters and meteorites
· DPSM – How big is the moon?
· Scale Models : Playdoh : Playdoh Earth and Moon
Section 2 : Being an Astronaut and travelling to Space
· DPSM Make your own hovercraft
(Note: we have found that using bluetak is just as effective as glue for this activity)
· DPSM Aeroplanes
· DPSM Rockets (note foam rockets will be added soon)
· The NASA Rocket Educator’s Guide
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Rockets.html
· Mission V Train Like an Astronaut http://trainlikeanastronaut.org/mission-data a physical education linked series of activities – with maths and space an integral part.
· Eggnaut – bring your astronaut (egg) safely back to earth! http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/edu/Eggnaut_EN.pdf
· European Astronauts http://www.esa.int/esaHS/eurastronauts.html
· Timeline of space exploration http://www.instantdisplay.co.uk/spacetraveltimeline.jpg
http://www.spacekids.co.uk/spacehistory
Section 3 : On Board the ISS
· Building the ISS – DPSM Design a bridge
· DPSM Amazing Triangles
· DPSM Satellites & Reflection
· Earth Observation http://www.esa.int/esaEO/index.html
· DPSM Astronomy & Football
· Receipt roll/cash register (Pocket) Solar System is at: http://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/download-view.cfm?Doc_ID=392
· Calulate relative size & distance to the Sun of all the planets in the Solar System http://www.exploratorium.edu/ronh/solar_system/
· The 3-D Big Dipper / Plough is at the American Museum of Natural History Site: http://clccomet.wikispaces.com/file/view/3DConst.pdf
· Make a Star Wheel (planisphere)
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/letsgo/familyfun/Make_a_Star_Wheel.html
· Make a star finder: http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/starfinder/
· Use this model of the Milky Way and other galaxies to indicate relative distances to other galaxies. A Universe of Galaxys is at: http://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/download-view.cfm?Doc_ID=389
· Observing the sun safely
http://resources.yesican-science.ca/trek/eclipse0602/pinhole2.html
http://solar-center.stanford.edu/observe/#section1
Section 4 : Living in Space
· Daily schedule for crew of ISS
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/timelines/index.html
· Where/when to see the ISS : Heavens Above (printable sky map, times of sunrise and sunset, ISS spotting) http://www.heavens-above.com/
· Flash for the Mars Rover Driving
http://www.marsquestonline.org/tour/rovers/drivearover/index.html
· Little Green Martians http://www.athena.cornell.edu/kids/home_08.html
· Mars Express http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Express/index.html
· Daily updates and images from Mars Rover Curiosity http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/msl/index.html
Other useful links/references
· http://spacemath.gsfc.nasa.gov/
use with caution – the suggested American grade levels are not good matches, and some of the language used in the sheets is too advanced. Great use of visuals though.
Kindergarten – aged 5, will turn 6; 1st grade – 6 yrs; 2nd grade – 7 yrs; 3rd grade – 8 yrs; 4th grade – 9 yrs; 5th grade - 10 yrs; 6th grade – 11 yrs, so grades are a near enough match for classes-but the grade references are not always suitable
· Night Sky Network – wonderful searchable list of activities: http://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/download-search.cfm
· Black Holes is at: http://nightsky.jpl.nasa.gov/download-view.cfm?Doc_ID=317
· Galaxy Zoo, Moon Zoo and Ice Hunters: http://www.galaxyzoo.org/ http://www.moonzoo.org/ http://www.icehunters.org/ all linked, require free registration.
· Astronomy Picture of the Day http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/
· Multimedia imagery http://www.esa.int/esammg/mmg.pl?b=b&type=IVA&keyword=IOW&start=2
· Hubble images http://hubblesite.org/gallery/
· Daily images of the sun http://www.esa.int/esaCP/ASE08Y9KOYC_Protecting_0.html
· Aboriginal: http://www.atnf.csiro.au/people/rnorris/papers/_n217.pdf
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