Before you start, make sure you have reviewed our Educators/Caregivers Launch Pad.
The steps in blue below are the steps also included on the Youth Road Map. As the educator, familiarize yourself with each of the steps before you assist your youth. You may even want to go through all of the steps and create your own exhibit just like they will.
Solar System
This section provides an overview of our own solar system and how solar systems function.
Watch Out For: Our solar system is not the only one in the universe. Visit the Other Solar Systems / Other Earths theme to learn more.
Life and Death of a Planetary System
Chapters 2 and 3 are good introductions to solar system and planet formation.
Crash Course Astronomy: Introduction to the Solar System
Runtime: 9 minutes 57 seconds
Runtime: 1 minute 44 seconds
Where Does the Solar System End?
Runtime: 1 minute 38 seconds
Space Shorts: What is a Dwarf Planet?
Runtime: 59 seconds
NASA Space Place: Solar System
Runtime: 1 minute 44 seconds
Where Does the Solar System End?
Runtime: 1 minute 38 seconds
Space Shorts: What is a Dwarf Planet?
Runtime: 59 seconds
Watch Out For:
- Youth will need an email address in order to get access to their images.
- It will take at least 24 hours to acquire an image, so allow two days for this part of the project (one for collecting, one for processing).
Youth can process the image they took, or use one from the archives.
Watch Out For: It will take at least one day for images to be available to process after requesting them. Plan accordingly.
Image Gallery: Our Solar System
Your youth should use these templates, which are PowerPoint files, to create their exhibits. Encourage your youth to follow the specified guidelines for text and picture boxes.
Be sure to include proper credits for your images. You may include a logo of your program, school, or organization if desired.
Download A Template:
Watch Out For: If you do not have printing capabilities, you can display these on screens as PowerPoint presentations.
Milky Way Galaxy
This section provides an overview of some parts of our galaxy, the Milky Way.
Watch Out For: To learn more about stars, nebulae, and stellar black holes, visit the Life and Death of Stars theme.
Watch Out For: There are "Basic" and "Advanced" versions of this page.
Beyond Our Solar System - In Depth
Imagine The Universe!: The Milky Way
Our Milky Way Galaxy: How Big is Space?
Runtime: 1 minute 46 seconds
Crash Course Astronomy: The Milky Way
Runtime: 10 minutes 58 seconds
StarChild: The Milky Way (Level 2)
Chandra: Learn About the Milky Way
Our Milky Way Galaxy: How Big is Space?
Runtime: 1 minute 46 seconds
Our Neighborhood in the Universe
Watch Out For:
- Youth will need an email address in order to get access to their images.
- It will take at least 24 hours to acquire an image, so allow two days for this part of the project (one for collecting, one for processing).
Youth can process the image they took, or use one from the archives.
Watch Out For: It will take at least one day for images to be available to process after requesting them. Plan accordingly.
Image Gallery: Milky Way Galaxy
Your youth should use these templates, which are PowerPoint files, to create their exhibits. Encourage your youth to follow the specified guidelines for text and picture boxes.
Be sure to include proper credits for your images. You may include a logo of your program, school, or organization if desired.
Download A Template:
Watch Out For: If you do not have printing capabilities, you can display these on screens as PowerPoint presentations.
Galaxies
This section focuses on the formation of galaxies, as well as the types and classifications of galaxies.
Types and Classifications of Galaxies
Runtime: 2 minutes 29 seconds
Crash Course Astronomy: Galaxies, Part 1
Runtime: 11 minutes 51 seconds
Imagine the Universe!: Galaxies
Runtime: 2 minutes 29 seconds
ViewSpace - Interacting Galaxies: Future of the Milky Way
Watch Out For: ViewSpace is a great resource to understand the different types of light used when studying astronomical objects. When using this site, begin with this page to help understand how the website works.
Imagine the Universe!: What is the Velocity of M31?
Galaxy Hunter: A Cosmic Photo Safari
Watch Out For: This is an advanced activity intended for high school youth.
Watch Out For:
- Youth will need an email address in order to get access to their images.
- It will take at least 24 hours to acquire an image, so allow two days for this part of the project (one for collecting, one for processing).
Youth can process the image they took, or use one from the archives.
Watch Out For: It will take at least one day for images to be available to process after requesting them. Plan accordingly.
Your youth should use these templates, which are PowerPoint files, to create their exhibits. Encourage your youth to follow the specified guidelines for text and picture boxes.
Be sure to include proper credits for your images. You may include a logo of your program, school, or organization if desired.
Download A Template:
Watch Out For: If you do not have printing capabilities, you can display these on screens as PowerPoint presentations.
Clusters of Galaxies
This section focuses on clusters of galaxies in the universe.
Galaxies, Clusters, and Superclusters
Imagine the Universe!: Clusters of Galaxies
Crash Course Astronomy: Galaxies, Part 2
Runtime: 15 minutes 20 seconds
Watch Out For: This is an advanced video that goes more in depth about the structure of the universe, including active galaxies and galaxy clusters. You may be unfamiliar with the terms "filaments" and "voids."
Runtime: 4 minutes 20 seconds
Watch Out For: This is also an advanced video that goes in depth about the structure of the universe, including galaxy clusters and filaments.
Runtime: 4 minutes 20 seconds
Coma Cluster Student Activity Sheet
Watch Out For:
- Youth will need an email address in order to get access to their images.
- It will take at least 24 hours to acquire an image, so allow two days for this part of the project (one for collecting, one for processing).
Youth can process the image they took, or use one from the archives.
Watch Out For: It will take at least one day for images to be available to process after requesting them. Plan accordingly.
Image Gallery: Galaxy Clusters
Image Gallery: Hubble Deep Field
Your youth should use these templates, which are PowerPoint files, to create their exhibits. Encourage your youth to follow the specified guidelines for text and picture boxes.
Be sure to include proper credits for your images. You may include a logo of your program, school, or organization if desired.
Download A Template:
Watch Out For: If you do not have printing capabilities, you can display these on screens as PowerPoint presentations.
Cosmic Microwave Background
Planck and the Cosmic Microwave Background
Cosmic Microwave Background Explained
Runtime: 7 minutes 9 seconds
Cosmic Microwave Background Explained
Runtime: 7 minutes 9 seconds
The Cosmic Microwave Background
Watch Out For:
- Youth will need an email address in order to get access to their images.
- It will take at least 24 hours to acquire an image, so allow two days for this part of the project (one for collecting, one for processing).
Youth can process the image they took, or use one from the archives.
Watch Out For: It will take at least one day for images to be available to process after requesting them. Plan accordingly.
Your youth should use these templates, which are PowerPoint files, to create their exhibits. Encourage your youth to follow the specified guidelines for text and picture boxes.
Be sure to include proper credits for your images. You may include a logo of your program, school, or organization if desired.
Download A Template:
Watch Out For: If you do not have printing capabilities, you can display these on screens as PowerPoint presentations.
Big Bang
How the Universe Sprang into Existence
Runtime: 27 seconds
NOVA: What's the Universe Made Of?
Runtime: 4 minutes 11 seconds
Crash Course Astronomy: A Brief History of the Universe
Runtime: 12 minutes 21 seconds
Cosmology: The Study of the Universe
What is the Big Bang? (Spanish)
Runtime: 27 seconds
NOVA Wonders: What's the Universe Made Of?
Runtime: 4 minutes 11 seconds
Data, Prediction and Linear Functions
Watch Out For:
- Youth will need an email address in order to get access to their images.
- It will take at least 24 hours to acquire an image, so allow two days for this part of the project (one for collecting, one for processing).
Youth can process the image they took, or use one from the archives.
Watch Out For: It will take at least one day for images to be available to process after requesting them. Plan accordingly.
Your youth should use these templates, which are PowerPoint files, to create their exhibits. Encourage your youth to follow the specified guidelines for text and picture boxes.
Be sure to include proper credits for your images. You may include a logo of your program, school, or organization if desired.
Download A Template:
Watch Out For: If you do not have printing capabilities, you can display these on screens as PowerPoint presentations.
Dark Energy
Universe Forum: Dark Energy - Where did the Idea come from?
Universe Forum: Dark Energy - What might dark energy be?
Uiverse Forum: Dark Energy - Why do we Care?
Watch Out For: This resource discusses both dark energy and dark matter.
Unraveling the Mysteries of Dark Energy with NASA's WFIRST
Runtime: 3 minutes 19 seconds
Watch Out For: This video discusses advanced science techniques that could be confusing to you and your youth.
Watch Out For: This resource discusses both dark energy and dark matter; however, its focus is on dark energy.
What is Dark Matter? (Spanish)
Watch Out For: This resource discusses both dark energy and dark matter; however, its focus is on dark energy.
Dark Matter
The Mystery of the Dark Universe
StarChild Level 1: Dark Matter
StarChild Level 2: Dark Matter
Ask an Astrophysicist: Dark Matter
NOVA: How Scientists Discovered Dark Matter
Runtime: 2 minutes 37 seconds
Size and Scale
Our Milky Way Galaxy: How Big is Space?
Runtime: 1 minute 46 seconds
How Do You Measure the Size of the Universe?
Runtime: 2 minutes 40 seconds
Our Milky Way Galaxy: How Big is Space?
Runtime: 1 minute 46 seconds
The Incredible Two-Inch Universe
Cosmic Survey: What are your ideas about the Universe?
