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In this activity, learners make an equatorial sundial, which is simple to construct and teaches fundamental astronomical concepts. Learners use the provided template and a straw to build the sundial.

In this activity (page 18 of PDF), learners will measure the volume of impact craters created by projectiles of different masses.

In this activity (on page 5 of PDF), learners use dry ice and household materials to make scientifically accurate models of comets.

In this activity, learners build a simple solar oven out of household materials to melt chocolate and marshmallow between graham crackers--known as s'mores.

This lesson plan provides learners with two activities to explore the connections between events in their lives and the seasons of the year.

Use this Moon Map Guide to help learners identify features on the Moon, while looking through a telescope.

In this two-part activity, learners map a navigation plan to get from Earth to Mars and back. In activity one, learners represent the orbital paths of Earth through dance and dramatic movement.

In this activity, learners are challenged to calculate their own weight on various planets using a scale and calculator. Older learners may be challenged to do so without using calculators.

In this two-part activity, learners explore the Earth and Sun's positions in relation to the constellations of the ecliptic with a small model.

This activity encourages visitors to build an electroscope—a simplified version of one of the tools scientists use to study the invisible forces on Earth and in space.

“Exploring the Solar System: Pocket Solar System” is a hands-on activity in which visitors make a scale model of the distances between objects in our solar system.

Learners follow directions to construct a solar oven that really cooks! The solar oven uses aluminum foil to reflect sunlight into a cooking chamber, which is painted black.

In this activity, learners work in teams to simulate the process used by Global Positioning Systems (GPS) to determine the location of a fallen meteorite in Antarctica.

"Exploring the Universe: Objects in Motion" encourages participants to explore the complex but predictable ways objects in the universe interact with each other.

In this activity, learners carry out a scientific investigation of dust in their classroom. Learners produce an analysis on graph paper of the dust they collect over the course of a few days.

“Exploring the Universe: Orbiting Objects” is a hands-on activity that invites visitors to experiment with different sized and weighted balls on a stretchy fabric gravity well.

In this activity (on pages 11-12 of PDF) learners create models of lava layers that have formed on the moon.

“Exploring the Universe: Imagining Life” is a hands-on activity in which visitors imagine and draw an extreme environment beyond Earth, then invent a living thing that could thrive in it.

In this activity, learners sort different natural phenomena into categories (they occur on Earth, on the Moon, or on both), and then model how energy moves during a quake using spring toys.

In this fun and simple hands-on astronomy activity, learners construct a model of our place in the Milky Way Galaxy and the distribution of stars, with a quarter and some birdseed.