Astronomy can be a daunting subject in the classroom – for students and teachers. Help your students reach for the stars with these hands-on, teacher-tested activities that teach the concepts of astronomy.

Science Monthly is taking a summer break in June and July. During the next few months, we'll be gathering more articles, activities, and ideas to help make your back-to-school days a huge success. The next issue will be delivered to your email box in August.

Have a great summer!

	In This Issue Meteors and More Grade Levels: All Learn about meteors, comets, asteroids, and more with these space lessons, astronomy terms, and reference articles. Our Solar System Quiz Grade Levels: Primary A multiple-choice quiz on the planets in the Solar System. Space Pictures Grade Levels: Primary, Intermediate In this art activity, students make illustrations of space using crayons and black wash paint. Space Theme Grade Levels: All Cross-curricular lessons, references, quizzes, and more on the fascinating topic of space. The following lessons are excerpted from Project Earth Science: Astronomy, an NSTA Press publication. The journal articles are from NSTA's award-winning professional journals. Creature Feature Grade Levels: Intermediate, Middle, Secondary Students consider some of the characteristics of Venus and Mars that make those planets uninhabitable for life as we know it. It's Only a Paper Moon Grade Levels: Intermediate, Middle, Secondary In this activity, students learn how angular diameters can be used to measure the true diameter of the moon. Reason for the Seasons Grade Levels: Intermediate, Middle, Secondary This activity gives students an understanding of why Earth has seasons. Solar System Scale Grade Levels: Intermediate, Middle, Secondary Students build a scale model of the planetary distances in the Solar System in this lesson. Solar System Soup Grade Levels: Intermediate, Middle, Secondary The object of this lesson is to observe a model of how the Solar System would have originated according to the accretion theory. From Science and Children Grade Levels: Primary Backyard Astronomy Party with the Stars Storytelling and Astronomy From Science Scope Grade Levels: Intermediate/Middle Celestial Storytelling Radio Astronomers for a Day Teaching Astronomy with Multicultural Mythology From The Science Teacher Grade Levels: Secondary Interactive Astronomy Portable Planetarium Sidewalk Astronomy

	NSTA Related Resources Changes in the length of daylight hours profoundly affect the daily and annual rhythms of our lives. Yet studies have shown that even college graduates fail to understand the relationships between the Sun and the Earth that cause these changes (Sadler and Schneps 1988). For more information about Astronomy with a Stick, visit http://www.nsta.org/awsday. The 2002 Astronomy Resource Manual and Planetarium Guide is a free, 60-page color catalog featuring astronomy and geology teaching materials. It contains thousands of 35mm color slides, CD-ROMs, videos, software, Sun-Earth-Moon models, and observing aids. For ordering information go to http://www.mmicorporation.com. Building a Presence for Science is the largest networking initiative of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA). The award-winning program is designed to improve the teaching and learning of science from kindergarten through 12th grade. Family Education Network Related Resources Get an early start on preparing your students for summer with TeacherVision's summer reading lists. Arranged by grade level, this collection of book titles will meet the interests of even the most finicky readers. Awards and certificates can make a lasting impression on a deserving student. Whether the positive reinforcement is for good grades, excellent behavior, or perfect manners, the power is in your hands to make a child smile. What an awesome power to have! Encourage community members and parents to shop online and soon everyone will be making easy money for your school! With SchoolCash, every time a purchase is made from a participating merchant, money is donated to your school. Barnes and Noble, Office Max, Oriental Trading Company, Kaplan Test Prep, and Discovery.com are just a few of the participating merchants. Check out this free software offer! Find titles such as Arthur's Teacher Trouble, Carmen Sandiego Word Detective, Just Grandma and Me, Ultimate Writing & Creativity Center, and more. You pay only shipping and handling! Arranged by subject area and grade level, TeacherVision's theme library includes a collection of cross-curricular lessons and resources. In this month's featured themes you'll find flag facts, patriotic songs, a Father's Day writing activity, and more! Flag Day Memorial Day Summer Father's Day

	The National Science Teachers Association Resources Universe at Your Fingertips Set Grade Levels: 4-9 Compiled as a result of the Project ASTRO teacher training program, these ready-to-use activities help students discover astronomy for themselves. Backyard Stars Grade Levels: 5-8 The world's simplest constellation guide is colorful, fun, easy to understand, free of jargon, and designed for smoggy city skies. Our Solar System Grade Levels: 6-10 Your students will have fun exploring the scale of the solar system, studying Kepler's laws, and learning all about planets, orbits, phases of the moon, comets, and meteors. NSTA Recommends Grades 5-12 The New Book of Popular Science Series: Astronomy, Space Science, Mathematics This book covers topics from planets, constellations, and black holes to the history of space exploration, the future of the space program, and the search for extraterrestrial life. Project Earth Science: Astronomy Many of this book's activities deal with the observable qualities of the Moon, while others can help students develop an understanding of scales of distance and size in the solar system at large. Grades 9-12 Stargazing: Astronomy Without a Telescope This volume is loaded with information on how to find constellations and other heavenly bodies, as well as historical information to add significance to personal discoveries.