Science 5: Space

In this episode of Crash Course Astronomy, Phil takes you through the cause and name of the Moon's phases.

From lighting up our skies to maintaining a geological record of our solar system’s history, Earth’s closest celestial neighbor plays a pivotal role in the studies of our planet and our solar system.

An explanation about why the moon seems to change shape each night

A 6 minute animated explanation about the phases of the moon.

Players of this free online game will visit the surface of Earth’s moon and learn about several Cree constellations from Wilfred Buck a.k.a. “Star Guy.”

This is a slideshow about the moon. Click on the images on the right to move through the slides and learn more about the moon.

In this 1-minute video from CBC, Elder Wilfred Buck explains how the Cree observe the shortest day and the longest night of the year.

Aerin Murphy explains how the Earth’s tilt causes the longest day of the year, known as the summer solstice, in the Northern Hemisphere.

This video explains the cyclical phenomena at work in the universe. Learn about the subtle changes in the sky as the Earth circles the sun.

Ever wonder why we have seasons? A lot of people think it's because the Earth gets further away from the sun in winter, and closer in the summer. But, it's actually more interesting than that.

Learn what Equinox is in this science video!

This page explain what a lunar calendar is and how it measures time.

This is a 12-minute video explaining the sun's arc through the sky at different points in the year, including the solstice and equinox. (for older elementary or secondary students)

A two minute video that explains how the lunar calendar works.

This site has a slide show for 7-14 year olds. The slide show answers: when is the solstice, what does solstice mean, and why is this interesting?

Explore how the tilt of the Earth’s axis leads to longer and shorter days, as well as some wacky effects at the equator and the poles. (requires free login)

Learn why it's VERY IMPORTANT to protect your eyes during a solar eclipse!

When the moon passes through the Earth's shadow, we see the moon in different phases. But twice a year something very different happens!

Why does the moon look red during a lunar eclipse? Find out here!

Learn some fun facts about lunar and solar eclipses!

In this article, students will learn about solar and lunar eclipses.

When we talk about eclipses, we have to discuss orbits. What is an orbit though?

It’s the middle of the day—so why is the sky getting dark? It’s a solar eclipse!

The northern lights are a spectacular light display that appears over countries including Canada and Russia.

SciShow tackles a Quick Question with a longish answer: What causes auroras?

Explore the science behind what causes the incredible light and color of the Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis. Related Lesson

This science video includes a mention of the stories that other cultures have to explain what the north lights are.

In this short video, students will get an overview of auroras

A news video that explains the cultural significance of the Northern Lights to Indigenous people.

In this video, Wilfred Buck shares an intriguing star story from his childhood.

Students will be asked to take a learning journey. They will be guided by videos and an avatar that will provide prompts and further instructions along the way.

Wilfred Buck, a respected Cree knowledge keeper, provides an night sky overview from the Cree perspective and demonstrates how Indigenous knowledge systems can help to advance the fields of STEM.

A simple science lesson on what causes the phases on the moon for kids in 3rd, 4th and 5th grade!

This lesson accompanies the BrainPOP topic Solstice and Equinox, and supports the standard of using a model of the Sun, Earth, and Moon to describe seasons.