For three and a half years, the NASA Kepler spacecraft will be searching
for potentially life-supporting Earth size planets orbiting Sun-like stars.
The Kepler mission is a first step to really answer the age old question, “Are
there other other life-supporting planets like Earth and if so, how common
are they?”
Lawrence Hall of Science (LHS) is an official Education Lead Institution for this mission. To increase the public’s understanding of this exciting mission, we have produced educational materials including hands-on models, a planetarium show, an online interactive simulation, and multi-media classroom materials.
LHS Classroom activities on the Kepler website: http://kepler.nasa.gov/ed/activities/
For Visitors to Lawrence Hall of Science
Strange Planets (for ages 8 years and up)
Coming to Holt
Planetarium at LHS, beginning June 15
Create a mini solar system with planets and a star. What happens on the Star Brightness Meter as a planet passes between the light sensor and the star? The Kepler mission is collecting data on the brightness of 100,000 stars every half-hour to determine if there are planets in the orbits of those stars.
At Home, in the Classroom, in the Community
Uncle
Al’s Kepler Starwheels
Online Activity
Kepler
Exoplanet Transit Hunt-How Kepler Discovers Planets
An online interactive simulation developed by ScienceView at
LHS.
For the Classroom
GEMS Space
Science Sequence for Grades 3-5, 6-8
FOSS Planetary
Science for Grades 6-8 plus Professional Development
For more information about the Kepler mission, visit NASA's
Kepler mission web site.