Astronomy - Space Exploration - Space Probes

The Voyager Probes Boldly Go Where None Have Gone Before

The Kingfisher Space Encyclopedia

Discussion:
Space probes - purpose, design, capabilities, limits
Probes currently operating
(Review of pictures already studied when learning earlier topics)

Activity:
Picture gallery sent back from probes

Astronomy - Space Exploration - GPS

How Does GPS Work

The Kingfisher Space Encyclopedia

Discussion:
GPS - development
three-dimensional positioning

Activity:
Use GPS on phone to go geocaching

Astronomy - Space Exploration - Satellites

The Kingfisher Space Encyclopedia
Beyond the Solar System by Kay Carson

Discussion:
Types of satellites
Uses of satellites
Sizes, shapes, construction

Activity:
Build a mobile with satellites

Astronomy - Space Exploration - International Space Station

A Cool and Candid Look at the International Space Station Hosted by Astronaut Suni Williams

The Amazing International Space Station by the Editors of YES Mag

Discussion:
Building the ISS
Life on the ISS
Science at ISS

Activity:
Try some of the activities in the book mentioned above

Astronomy - Space Exploration - Space Shuttle

Space Shuttle Launch NASA Atlantis to the International Space Station
CNN: Challenger Disaster Live on CNN

Space Shuttle Story by Andrew Wilson
The Kingfisher Space Encyclopedia

Discussion:
Purpose of the shuttle
Soviet shuttle plans
Problems with the program

Activity:
Visit the space shuttle at the National Air and Space Museum - Dulles

Astronomy - Space Exploration - Moon Landings

Neil Armstrong - First Moon Landing
Apollo 13 re-entry and splashdown as seen on live TV

History of Rockets by Ron Miller
The Kingfisher Space Encyclopedia

Discussion:
The Apollo missions - sending man to the moon
Apollo 13
End of the Apollo program

Activity:
Watch Apollo 13 for movie night

Astronomy - Space Exploration - The Space Race

Sputnik 1 CBS News Special Report on TV, October 6, 1957
Glenn Flight Thrills World (1962)
Who Won the Space Race?

The Kingfisher Space Encyclopedia
The History of Rockets 

Discussion:
USA and USSR compete to put people in orbit/on the moon
Types of technology developed
Sputnik and Yuri Gagarin

Activity:
Timeline of major space race events

Astronomy - Space Exploration - Rocket Fuel Types and Payload

A History of Rockets
The Kingfisher Space Encyclopedia

Discussion:
Types of fuel used in propelling rockets
What rockets can carry and how

Activity:
Make a chart listing the uses of different kinds of rocket fuel

Astronomy - Space Exploration - Rockets

History of Rockets
The Kingfisher Space Encyclopedia

Discussion:
How a rocket works
Fuel types
Escaping gravity and going into orbit

Activity:
Build and launch a rocket (small, non-gravity-escaping type)

Astronomy - Observational Astronomy - Observatories

The Kingfisher Space Encyclopedia

Discussion:
Terrestrial observatories
Space observatories - advantages

Activity:
Field trip to our local observatory (terrestrial, obviously)

Astronomy - Observational Astronomy - Radio Telescopes

The Kingfisher Space Encyclopedia
The Telescope by Tamra Orr

Discussion:
How a radio telescope works
Locations, types of objects/information viewed

Activity:
Picture study - parts of the radio telescope

Astronomy - Observational Astronomy - Constellations - Perseus Group

Dot to Dot in the Sky by Joan Marie Galat
First Field Guide to the Night Sky by the National Audubon Society

Discussion:
Constellation group of the Perseus story - identification of its constellations and where they are relative to each other

Activity:
Observation

Astronomy - Observational Astronomy - Constellations - Taurus

First Field Guide to the Night Sky by the National Audubon Society

Discussion:
Recognizing Taurus
Mythology of Taurus

Activity:
Draw Taurus - show how it resembles what it is named for
Explain its location on a diagram of the sky
Identify in sky

Astronomy - Observational Astronomy - Constellations - Leo

First Field Guide to the Night Sky by the National Audubon Society

Discussion:
Recognizing Leo
Mythology of Leo

Activity:
Draw Leo - show how it resembles what it is named for
Explain its location on a diagram of the sky
Identify in sky

Astronomy - Observational Astronomy - Constellations - Andromeda

First Field Guide to the Night Sky by the National Audubon Society

Discussion:
Recognizing Andromeda
Mythology of Andromeda

Activity:
Draw Andromeda - show how it resembles what it is named for
Explain its location on a diagram of the sky
Identify in sky

Astronomy - Observational Astronomy - Constellations - Draco

First Field Guide to the Night Sky by the National Audubon Society

Discussion:
Recognizing Draco
Mythology of Draco

Activity:
Draw Draco - show how it resembles what it is named for
Explain its location on a diagram of the sky
Identify in sky

Astronomy - Observational Astronomy - Constellations - Orion

First Field Guide to the Night Sky by the National Audubon Society

Discussion:
Recognizing Orion
Mythology of Orion

Activity:
Draw Orion - show how it resembles what it is named for
Explain its location on a diagram of the sky
Identify in sky

Astronomy - Observational Astronomy - Constellations - Scorpius

First Field Guide to the Night Sky by the National Audubon Society

Discussion:
Recognizing Scorpius
Mythology of Scorpius

Activity:
Draw Scorpius - show how it resembles what it is named for
Explain its location on a diagram of the sky
Identify in sky

Astronomy - Observational Astronomy - Constellations - Ursa Major

First Field Guide to the Night Sky by the National Audubon Society

Discussion:
Recognizing Ursa Major
Polaris - Ursa Minor

Activity:
Draw Ursa Major - show how it resembles what it is named for
Explain its location on a diagram of the sky
Identify in sky

Astronomy - Observation - Telescopes II

Beyond the Solar System by Mary Kay Carson

Discussion:
Isaac Newton - improving the telescope
Spectroscopes

Activity:
Split white light using a CD