Student slideshow: English | Spanish

Teacher printout: English & Spanish

What Do A.M. and P.M. Mean?

In this reading, students learn where "A.M." and "P.M." come from.

How Does a Leaf Know When to Change Its Color?

In this reading, students learn that leaves start changing color in the fall because the length of day changes in the fall.

The Many Names for a Full Moon

In this reading, students learn about different names Algonquian peoples have traditionally used for the full moon during different months of the year.

Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD)

Each day, APOD features a different photograph of the universe, along with a short explanation by an astronomer. There's also a searchable APOD Archive.

Here are a few photos to get you started:

• Look for Orion here — and then search for the bright stars of his belt in this snapshot from the International Space Station
• Your students may have heard of the Big Dipper and the Little Dipper, but have they seen them in the sky? Move your mouse onto the photo to see the connecting lines.

• Sky Heroes — Students work in groups to identify a hero and to create a constellation to honor that person. Activity created by PBS is here and sky maps are here.

• Finding Your Way to Mars, Pennsylvania — Students search the atlas for towns and natural landmarks with astronomical names.