Astronomy Lesson James Webb Space Telescope NASA
Astronomy and James Webb Space Telescope Lessons


Activate Learning has developed a set of astronomy lessons for elementary, middle school, and high school to support teachers in educating students about the James Webb Space Telescope and its potential impact on our understanding of the universe. Each lesson includes a comprehensive reading and discussion questions that you can use in your classroom or in a remote setting. Each lesson includes a student and teacher edition (with answers to questions) and an audio recording. In addition, we have created a complementary poster (PDF download) that makes a great classroom and remote teaching resource.
Elementary School


How Big is the Universe?
What is the Universe made of, how did it begin, and why are telescopes important for learning about it?
The James Webb Space Telescope
What are the characteristics of the James Webb Space Telescope, what kind of light does it see, and what can it tell us about the Universe?
Middle School


How Did the Universe Begin?
How does the Big Bang Theory explain how the Universe might have formed, and what can scientists tell by looking deeper into space?
The James Webb Space Telescope
The James Webb Space Telescope shows us the Universe as we have never seen it before. What is different about this telescope?
High School


How Did the Universe Form?
How did the energy in the Universe form matter, stars, planets, and galaxies, and is the Universe fully formed?
The James Webb Space Telescope
The James Webb Space Telescope sees what the Universe was like 200 million years after the Universe formed; how can this help scientists understand the Universe and our place in it?