1. Wikipedia. "Dwarf Planet" Wikipedia Foundation: May 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwarf_planet>This online reference is handy for teachers who need a quick answer to a question or an explanation in teachable terms to share with the class about almost anything.
2. Boeing Satellite Systems Development Center. "What is a Satellite?" http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/space/bss/sat101.html> This corporate homepage gives specific information about its industry and products it services.
3. Northwestern University. "What is in Space?" http://www.qrg.northwestern.edu/projects/vss/docs/space-environment/1-asteroid-planetiod-meteoroid.html> This collegiate webpage provides information on student's past projects. It provides very helpful background information for teachers when planning a unit.
4. Astronomical Institute. "Astronomy Answer Book: Gravity" April 2007. http://www.astro.uu.nl/~strous/AA/en/antwoorden/zwaartekracht.html#v32> This is a fantastic resource for teachers. It provides detailed information about all aspects covered by astronomy. You simply click on your question and it provides answers!
5. Simon, Seymour. Our Solar System. New York: Morrow Junior Books,1992. A comprehensive guide that upon first viewing looks like a science picture book, (which adds to its character as students chose to look through it and read it), but instead this non-fiction text is packed full of information for both teachers and students alike. This book gives a detailed look at our solar system including facts from its origin, the 9 planets (before Pluto was named a dwarf planet) and their moons, the Sun and even a look at the Apollo Space Program.
6. Campbell, Ann-Jeanette. Amazing Space. New York: New York Public Library and Stonesong Press,1997. This book is a handy reference to own when doing a unit on the universe because it is written in question/ answer form and the author writes as if she were talking to you. This easy to understand book begins with an introduction to astronomy but gives information about the universe and its galaxies, the stars and the Sun, the planets and their moons, as well as a timeline of space exploration.
7. Spudis, Paul D. "Moon." World Book Online Reference Center. 2004. World Book, Inc. http://www.worldbookonline.com/wb/Article?id=ar370060> This is an online encyclopedia that is very helpful when teachers are looking for background information about almost any topic when planning a unit.
8. Chang, Maria. Ed. Teaching Science, Yes You Can. New York: Scholastic. 2007. This sourcebook for teachers includes lesson plan ideas and background information for the teacher for all areas of science, including Earth and Space (i.e. crystals, soils and plate tectonics, weather, the seasons the Moon and its phase) ,Life Science ( i.e. plants, germination, animal adaptations and the human body), and Physical Science (i.e. energy, magnets, mirrors and changes in matter).
9. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. "Lunar Prospector" October 2001. http://lunar.arc.nasa.gov/science/phases.htm> NASA's website is an excellent resource for any student or teacher doing research about the universe. It provides detailed information including data tables, figures and animations.
10. National Aeronautics and Space Administration "Total Lunar Eclipse of March 2003" http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/OH/OH2007.html#2007Mar03T> NASA's website is an excellent resource for any student or teacher doing research about the universe
11. Freedman, R.A. & Kaufmann W.J. The Universe. 6th Ed. New York: WH Freeman and Co.2002.This textbook is an excellent source for teachers who are teaching a unit about the universe. It provides answers to questions that both teachers and students alike may have during the study. This easy to understand extensive textbook organizes its information about the universe including, but not limited to The nature of light, optics and telescopes, the Solar System, the birth and death of the stars and the galaxies.
12. Russell, Randy. "Windows to the Universe - Our Moon." University Corporaation for Atmospheric Research. October 2005. http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/mythology/planets/Earth/moon.html> This website gives many examples of celebrated myths about the Moon from around the world. It also includes student friendly work and projects to use as examples when modeling a lesson plan.
13. Brueton, Diana. Many Moons. New York: Prentice Hall Press. 1991. Many Moons gives information about the myth and magic that surrounds our Moon. It contains cross cultural myths and the stories behind it. The guide also includes a brief scientific look at the moon, its origin and exploration.
14. Moroney, Lynn. Moontellers. Northland Publishers: Arizona. 1995. Moontellers is a compilation of various myths told about the Moon and its origin from the viewpoints of people from different parts of the world, like Australia, China, Mexico, Bolivia and Scandinavia to name a few. It also gives readers background information about that culture to help the reader better understand how the myth came to be told.
15. Bess, Clayton. The Truth About the Moon. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. 1983. The Truth About The Moon is a fictional story about a young African boy named Samu who is curious about the changes he notices in the Moon. This tale is written as a quest to find answers beyond the legends told by his family.
16. Carson, Mary-Kay. Exploring the Solar System. Chicago: Review Press.2006. This nonfiction text is written in kid friendly terms but intended for teachers. It contains background information about our solar system including its' history from the ancient astronomers and their tools to the Apollo missions and the planets and their moons. It also gives teachers various classroom activities to compliment their lessons.
17. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. "NASA's Mars Exploration Program." March 2006. http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/science/human/index.html One of NASA's goals is to one day prepare for a mission to Mars. This exploration program is designed to motivate and captivate student interest in astronomy.
18. National Aeronautics and Space Administration "Astronaut Selection." January 2007. http://www.nasajobs.nasa.gov/astronauts/default.htm> This webpage is for anyone who ever wanted to know how astronauts are selected. There are also links to view recent astronaut candidates and an astronaut fact book for background material or the curious
19. National Aeronautics and Space Administration . "Selection and Training of Astronauts" February 1995. http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/academy/astronauts/training.html> This webpage is designed for teachers and older students alike to teach them how about the many different jobs an astronaut has and how he or she is trained to accomplish the task.
20. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. "So You Want to be an Astronaut." September 1995. http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/academy/astronauts/wannabe.html> This webpage references what you need to do in order to prepare for a future as an astronaut. It also gives data about what an astronaut's life is like including the benefits and drawbacks.
21. Moore, Jo Ellen. Exploring Space: Science Works for Kids. Monterey, CA: Evan -Moor Corp. 1998. This is a teacher resource book that gives great ideas for lesson plans across the science curriculum including but not limited to plants, the human body and space. It's great for planning inquiry based science lessons, labs and science fair projects!
22. Panchyk, Richard. Galileo for Kids, His Life and Ideas. Chicago: Chicago Review Press. 2007. This is a teacher resource book that concentrates on the life of Galileo and his work as a mathematician and astronomer. This nonfiction text includes classroom activities intended for students nine years and older.